Mei Liang then faced the emperor with a smile she believed was her best. "Your Majesty, the weather is terribly hot today. It's the perfect time for cold dishes. This concubine would not normally indulge, but upon hearing that Your Majesty was coming, I asked the kitchen to prepare some. I figured Your Majesty must also be feeling the heat, especially after being so busy with state affairs and not having much rest."
Eunuch Zhao couldn't help but think Mei Wenyuan was truly bold—daring enough to lie right to the emperor's face. She claimed it was for him, when in truth, she simply wanted to eat cold food herself.
Mei Liang said this to Emperor Xiang Long Wei while glancing at the food on the table, secretly cursing him in her heart. Seeing the growing irritation on her face, Xiang Long Wei felt a trace of amusement—it was only when provoked that she showed her true colors, and he enjoyed teasing her just to see that.
"Then Zhen must thank beloved concubine for your thoughtfulness. Come, let's eat—it's getting late."
Hearing him say those words, Mei Liang felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her. Her appetite dulled instantly. Just moments ago, she had been looking forward to the meal. But now, the thought of sharing a bed with the emperor after dining made her stomach twist.
She ate slowly, dragging out each bite in hopes of stalling the night. But after Emperor Xiang Long Wei finished his portion, he noticed she was still picking at hers. Watching her deliberate pace, it became clear—she was stalling on purpose, trying to delay bedtime.
So, what she said at the Peach Forest was true after all. She truly had no interest in vying for his favor. Most concubines dreamed of catching his eye, yet she seemed to be running from it. Could it be that she already has someone she loves outside the palace? Xiang Long Wei found himself thinking. The more he watched her, the more intrigued he became.
"If beloved concubine is full, then the servants may take the food away," he said calmly.
Mei Liang could only nod. She had dragged it out long enough. What was meant to come, would come. She told herself to just treat it like sleeping with a slave… or even a dog. And unbeknownst to the emperor, she was already calling him one in her heart.
Lánxīn quickly came forward and cleared the dishes. "Cuìyù, prepare the bath. I feel sweaty after eating," Mei Liang said coolly.
Cuìyù nodded and went inside to ready the bathwater. Mei Liang followed shortly after to bathe, while the emperor remained in the room, changing into fresh robes.
When she returned, she found Emperor Xiang Long Wei seated on the bed, reviewing court affairs and writing over memorial scrolls. Cuìyù swiftly stepped forward to dry her mistress's hair, gathering it up to style it in a neat bun.
But Mei Liang felt there was no need for that. After all, she didn't want to waste time removing her hairpin again when she eventually went to bed with the emperor. Once Cuìyù finished drying her mistress's hair she let the hair down, she quietly excused herself, leaving the emperor and Mei Liang alone.
Mei Liang walked over to the bed and sat down. As a concubine, she could only sleep on the outer side—the side closer to the door—while the emperor took the inner side, a position that symbolized his supreme authority.
When Emperor Xiang Long Wei turned toward her, his eyes paused. She was dressed in a light pink sleeping robe, her skin still fresh from the bath, exuding a subtle peach fragrance that seemed to brighten the air.
"This concubine knows His Majesty is busy with state affairs. I will not disturb your Majesty and will go to sleep first," she said gently, her voice respectful and calm. On the surface, it sounded like she cared about his well-being, allowing him peace to focus on court matters.
But a concubine was expected to wait until the emperor retired before she could sleep. Her early retreat felt like a subtle refusal.
Xiang Long Wei watched her closely. There was something strange about this little concubine of his. Most concubines would never dare to show even a hint of coldness—they would rush to curry favor, desperate for his attention.
But she was the complete opposite. If he hadn't seen her expression in the Rocky Garden—that flash of raw hatred in her eyes—he might have thought she was merely aloof by nature.
But no. She was not like the others.
She wasn't just cold. She was hiding something—layers of masks and secrets he was growing increasingly curious to unravel.
"Beloved concubine need not worry. Zhen is not that busy," Xiang Long Wei said as he suddenly reached out and scooped Mei Liang into his arms.
"Or… is beloved concubine too tired?" he teased softly.
Mei Liang was stunned when the emperor touched her. Instinctively, she wanted to push him away—but she remembered her true purpose. Gritting her teeth inwardly, she forced herself to remain calm, placed her hands lightly on his shoulders, and looked up into his face.
He really was handsome.
Just take it as sleeping with a male prostitute, she told herself coldly, burying her disgust beneath a practiced smile.
Seeing Mei Liang suddenly take the initiative, Xiang Long Wei was momentarily stunned. He had expected her to lie stiffly like the others—following the rules and waiting for his move. But instead, she reached for his robe with practiced calm, her fingers brushing against his chest as she slowly undid the buttons.
Her touch was light, yet firm. Deliberate.
His breath caught as her fingers skimmed across his skin. He wasn't used to this—this kind of confidence. Most of the concubines in the palace were too scared to move, their eyes filled with trembling awe. But Mei Liang? She was different.
She leaned forward, her soft lips pressing against his neck, trailing slow kisses that left a warm, tingling path. Her scent, still fresh from her bath, clung to him like a ghost of peaches and warmth. It was almost maddening.
Then, to his shock, she kissed his lips.
He didn't like women kissing him, it was his unspoken rule. So no concubine dared to kiss the emperor directly—especially not there. It was an unspoken boundary no one crossed. But she did.
Everything I couldn't do in my past life… I will do it now, Mei Liang told herself.
The kiss was slow, a little awkward—her first, perhaps—but there was something raw and real about it. A quiet rebellion buried beneath silken robes.
Xiang Long Wei's mind blanked for a moment. Then his hands moved instinctively, pulling her closer, tightening around her waist. The heat in the room thickened.
He leaned into her, his breath brushing her ear. "So bold tonight, beloved concubine… Zhen didn't know you had this side to you."
Mei Liang met his gaze, her eyes dark and unreadable. "Your Majesty didn't ask."
That answer only made him want to peel back more of her secrets.
He swept her into his arms, laying her gently onto the bed. The soft rustle of silk echoed through the chamber as he leaned over her, eyes lingering on every inch of her like he was seeing her for the first time. Her robe slipped from her shoulders, revealing pale, smooth skin that seemed to glow under the lantern light.
Beneath him, Mei Liang closed her eyes. Her hands trembled slightly, but she did not push him away. Instead, she whispered in her heart:
Just take it as sleeping with a stranger… a tool…
But despite her cold thoughts, her hands gripped his sleeves.
And when their bodies drew close, when the room filled with the hush of shallow breaths and rising heat, neither of them spoke—because for the first time, there was no need for words.
Only the tension of two souls, dancing too close to the fire.