“What? Your Majesty is coming tonight?”

Li Lizhen, who was already well-prepared, was unable to contain her excitement upon hearing that Your Majesty would be visiting tonight.

She quickly had her personal maid bring some silver and stuffed it into the hands of the eunuch from the Imperial Household Department.

The eunuch hastily waved his hands and said, “Noble Lady Zhen, you mustn’t! Doing this will shorten my lifespan!”

Li Lizhen replied, “Eunuch, you need not worry, this is just a little something for you to enjoy some tea. It’s such a hot day, after all…”

The eunuch glanced at the silver in his hand, thought for a moment, and decided to accept it.

“Noble Lady Zhen, it’s been more than a year since Your Majesty last visited you; you must attend to him well!”

“Only then can I arrange the schedule favorably for you in the future, isn’t that right~?”

“Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right, eunuch.”

Li Lizhen said, “I shall prepare myself and wait for Your Majesty’s arrival.”

“Good, then I’ll take my leave for now.”

After the eunuch left, Dongyun Yu, standing behind Li Lizhen, suddenly pouted and said, “Mother, why are you trying so hard to please this eunuch?”

“You are a Noble Lady…”

Li Lizhen chuckled bitterly, “Yu’er, you don’t understand, there are over a hundred consorts of Noble Lady rank in the Imperial Palace, what am I compared to that?”

“If it weren’t for both of you staying by my side all this while supporting me… never mind, hurry and help me wash up, Your Majesty will soon arrive.”

“Okay, okay.”

With the assistance of her two daughters, Li Lizhen went to the bath, scattered petals, and began to wash.

At that moment, Li Lizhen was in her prime, with skin as smooth and fair as jade, and a figure voluptuous and alluring.

Especially with a peach-shaped buttocks and a deep midline, one could only imagine how many admirers were eager to be near her.

Her daughters were already sixteen, blossoming into young ladies, elegant and refined, even more beautiful than she had been in her youth.

Dongyun Jie, wiping Li Lizhen’s arm, said enviously, “Mother, you’re so beautiful, your skin feels so nice~ no wonder the Emperor Brother likes you so much~!”

Dongyun Yu echoed, “Yes, yes, Mother, you smell so good, and at night your bed is especially warm~”

“Not at all, Mother is already old, in the future, I’ll have to rely more on the both of you.”

Li Lizhen laughed, yet her expression dimmed slightly.

“Mother, what’s on your mind?”

“Nothing, nothing.”

Li Lizhen shook her head and said, “By the way, Jie’er and Yu’er, have you thought about it? Do you want to leave the palace?”

“Mother asked some old acquaintances, and with the wealth Your Majesty has bestowed upon us in recent years, we can easily buy a courtyard outside the palace, and then…”

“Mother!”

Dongyun Yu asked curiously, “Why do you want me and sister to live outside the palace?”

“Isn’t it better to live in the palace?”

“Not only can we be with you, Mother, but we can also occasionally see the Emperor Brother.”

“Last time, the Emperor Brother said he would teach us cultivation.”

“Cultivation…”

Li Lizhen’s lips moved, and in the end, she could only sigh inwardly.

Both of her daughters had potentials for cultivation, something she hadn’t anticipated.

Does this mean they are destined to spend their lives in the Imperial Palace?

At that moment, there was a knock on the door, and the voice of the personal maid Zhirui came in.

“Noble Lady, Your Majesty is just outside the palace…”

“What? Already so soon!”

Li Lizhen stood up abruptly from the bath, exclaiming, “Quickly, help me dress~”

After Li Lizhen was dressed, with her hair still damp, she walked into her bedchamber, where Zheng Yi was already seated on a stool, sipping tea.

“Your Majesty, I greet you!”

Li Lizhen hurriedly knelt to pay her respects, with Jie’er and Yu’er hastening to kneel as well, “Greetings to Your Majesty~”

“Stand up, all of you~!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Zhen’er, come closer, let me take a look.”

“Yes~”

Li Lizhen got up, blushing, and approached Zheng Yi, who took hold of her small hand.

“‘The water of the hot spring is smooth and nourishes the skin, making the emperor neglect his court duties.’ Zhen’er, you’ve just bathed, and you smell so delightful~”

Li Lizhen’s eyes brightened briefly, and she quickly said, “I-I did not realize Your Majesty would arrive so soon, I apologize for the delay, I ask Your Majesty to…”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Zheng Yi motioned for Li Lizhen to sit beside him, then beckoned to Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu.

“Jie’er, Yu’er, come here.”

“Greetings to Your Majesty~”

The two young girls quickly approached, bowing gently in respect.

Looking at the two almost identical, beautiful and pure Twin Lotus before him, Zheng Yi couldn’t help but praise, “So alike.”

“Jie’er and Yu’er have both grown up, they are of age to marry.”

Li Lizhen quickly said, “Yes, Your Majesty, they will be sixteen after the New Year, I mentioned to the Empress about finding suitors for Jie’er and Yu’er last time…”

“Suitors?”

Zheng Yi’s brow furrowed slightly, his voice cold, “Why was I not informed of this matter?”

Li Lizhen cautiously said, “It’s… it’s a trivial matter for women, I thought there was no need to trouble Your Majesty with…”

“Hmm?”

Zheng Yi took hold of the small hands of Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu and asked, “What do Jie’er and Yu’er think? Do you have anyone in mind?”

Dongyun Jie blushed, “N-no, I-I will listen to Mother and Your Majesty.”

“I have one!”

Dongyun Yu, however, lifted her head sincerely and said, “Emperor Brother, didn’t you used to say my sister and I are both your consorts? I only have you in my heart!”

“For my whole life, my sister and I will stay in the Imperial Palace and won’t go anywhere else, hmph!”

“This child…!”

Li Lizhen panicked and quickly stood up to pull her two daughters aside, “Your Majesty, Yu’er is speaking nonsense, please don’t take it to heart.”

“I-I will discipline her well in the future~”

“No need, I actually have something to discuss with you.”

Zheng Yi waved his hand and said, “Jie’er, Yu’er, you two go back to sleep first.”

Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu exchanged a glance and obediently replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

The two women left, and soon only Zheng Yi and Li Lizhen remained in the sleeping quarters.

Li Lizhen twisted her sleeves with both hands, like a young girl, and said, “What does Your Majesty wish to discuss? It’s already late, why not…”

“No rush.”

Zheng Yi took hold of Li Lizhen’s small hand again and pressed her down onto a stool.

“Regarding this matter, I will speak frankly.”

“I want to take Jie’er and Yu’er as consorts, what are your thoughts?”

“Wha, what…!”

Li Lizhen suddenly looked up, her face pale and filled with despair.

Her originally watery beautiful eyes were now full of shock, with a hint of anger.

“Your, Your Majesty, Jie’er and Yu’er are, are my daughters!”

“They, they are also your daughters, how can you…”

Zheng Yi said coldly, “I know, but Jie’er and Yu’er have special identities, I absolutely will not let them be lost to the outside.”

“And to keep hold of a woman, it is only possible by making her my woman and having her bear my bloodline.”

“Besides, Jie’er and Yu’er are innocent and adorable, I like them very much.”

“And I’ll bet they like me just as much.”

“Noble Lady Zhen should be magnanimous, rather than delaying Jie’er and Yu’er’s happiness for selfish gain.”

“I could also…!”

Li Lizhen hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, I can also bear you children, please spare Jie’er and Yu’er.”

“Otherwise, how will I face Jie’er and Yu’er in the future…”

Zheng Yi shook his head and said, “Noble Lady Zhen, I can negotiate other matters, but there is no room for negotiation on this matter.”

“Jie’er and Yu’er, I am determined to take.”

“If you agree, so be it, you mother and daughters will live in the Imperial Palace for a lifetime, enjoying endless riches and honor.”

“If you disagree… you will still have to agree!”

“I should have thought of this, I should have…”

Li Lizhen slumped down on the stool, filled with despair.

Zheng Yi helped Li Lizhen up, carried her towards the bed directly.

“Zhen’er, stop overthinking, if you marry Jie’er and Yu’er off, it’s fine if they marry well, but what if they don’t?”

“Not to mention that by then you’ll be in the Imperial Palace, and they outside, how many times will you meet each year?”

As he spoke, Zheng Yi had already thrown her onto the bed.

“If Jie’er and Yu’er become consorts, then the three of you can live together in a palace, seeing each other every day and night, better than being separated by distance.”

“It will also save you mother and daughters’ longing for each other.”

“Wuwuwu, Your Majesty… I, I am so confused, I, I don’t know what to do…”

“Confused?”

Zheng Yi said seriously, “Then let me check for you…”

In another wing room.

Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu lay asleep in their clothes, but how could these two beauties possibly sleep?

Their own mother and the man they admired were next door, the two girls’ minds were also a bit chaotic.

“Sister, what are you thinking about?”

“Nothing.”

“Are you thinking about Emperor Brother?”

“…”

“If you don’t answer, I’ll take it as a yes.”

Dongyun Yu sighed heavily, “I wonder what Emperor Brother and Mother are talking about, I really want to eavesdrop.”

Dongyun Jie turned over and asked, “Yu’er, what do you really think?”

“Not marrying off means staying in the Imperial Palace for a lifetime?”

“With Mother there, Emperor Brother couldn’t possibly…”

“What’s not possible?”

Dongyun Yu gritted her teeth, “We like Emperor Brother, and Emperor Brother likes us, isn’t that enough?”

“It’s not that simple.”

Dongyun Jie shook her head, “If Emperor Brother takes us, it will surely cause the Imperial Court to debate.”

“Especially the Ministry of Rites, they will definitely advocate moral principles to persuade His Majesty.”

“Sigh, I think we should listen to Mother and find a good match to marry.”

“I don’t want to…!”

“Yu’er.”

“I just don’t… huh? What’s that noise?”

The two girls suddenly paused, faint breathing sounds came from next door, growing heavier, with suppressed pained moans.

Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu exchanged a glance and noticed each other’s flushed faces.

It had already been more than a year since they had heard such sounds.

“So, so shameless!”

“Mother is too wanton!”

The two girls gritted their teeth, secretly listened for a while, then quickly covered their heads with the quilt, unclear what they were doing.

By morning, Li Lizhen and her daughters had hardly slept at all, and all of them had panda eyes.

By the time they woke up, Zheng Yi had long since left.

Left behind was only the eunuch declaring the decree.

“By order of the Emperor of Heaven, it is decreed!”

A eunuch from the Ritual Department smiled, “In handling the palace education, coordinating nine duties with mercy, upholding the Kun Ceremony and responding constructively to the four stars, adhering to customary rites. Granted favors and acknowledgment.”

“The daughters Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu, descendants of loyal virtue, their conduct gentle and well-mannered in etiquette and instruction.”

“Therefore, Dongyun Jie is honored as Consort Jie, Dongyun Yu as Consort Yu, and Noble Lady Zhen promoted to Concubine Zhen, to reside in Bingtai Palace. Pay heed to this!”

“Three Madams, please accept the decree~!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep