Chapter Thirty-Two: An Itch in the Heart, Impossible to Endure

Xuexue had not expected Ji Wuqing to arrive at this moment. She rose to her feet to offer a formal greeting, but Ji Wuqing had already gently supported her. “My beloved, please remain seated. Such formality between us feels too distant,” he said, placing his hand tenderly around her waist. The sudden intimacy made Xuexue slightly vexed. With so many people present, his actions—though no one dared to look directly—still struck her as somewhat odd.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, but decorum must not be neglected,” she replied with measured indifference.

The crowd was astonished by the king’s manner toward the queen. Although it was long rumored that the king doted on the queen, now seeing it firsthand, it seemed the rumors had not exaggerated in the least. Moreover, no one had expected the king to be so gentle.

“All right, you may all rise. Now, who will tell me what has just transpired?” His smile seemed light, even reaching the corners of his lips, but his gaze was deep and inscrutable, impossible to read.

In truth, no one dared meet his eyes, let alone look directly at him.

Xuexue sensed trouble brewing; Ji Wuqing seemed… angry?

A hush fell over the assembly, pressed by the sudden tension. They stood respectfully, heads bowed, eyes fixed on their feet. Even Yao Qianqian and Cao Xingyu, who had earlier dared to argue and provoke, were now subdued; after all, the king was a dragon among men.

Thinking thus, Yao Qianqian took a step forward. She did not lift her head but knelt in reverence. “It is my fault, Your Majesty. I have offended Her Majesty and ask for your punishment.”

This was a tactical retreat—men favored women who yielded and displayed gentle virtues, so she resorted to this ploy.

“Oh? Speak, then,” Ji Wuqing glanced at her, his expression ambiguous, somewhere between a smile and not.

“To reply, Your Majesty, Her Majesty has excluded both myself and my sister from the Cao family, and plans to send us out of the palace. This… is indeed my mistake,” Yao Qianqian said, appearing troubled, as if unsure whether to speak.

“Yao’s sister is right—it is our fault. We only hope Her Majesty will not be angered further, lest it harm her health,” Cao Xingyu, understanding the situation, also knelt. Their demeanor seemed pitiably aggrieved.

Ji Wuqing looked at both without speaking, as if waiting to hear what else they might say.

“It was indeed these two ladies who were disrespectful to Her Majesty…” came a soft voice, so faint it might have been missed were the atmosphere not so still. The maiden in plain dress realized she had spoken her thoughts aloud, quickly covered her mouth, and glanced nervously around—though she saw nothing.

“So that is why you were angry?” Ji Wuqing murmured, “What a pity—I thought Xue’er was jealous.”

Unexpectedly, he voiced this aloud, and everyone heard his words clearly.

“Your Majesty, I am not angry, only…” Xuexue replied helplessly. When had she ever been angry? She was merely disciplining these two reckless girls.

“All right, I understand. However, since they have entered the palace, there is no reason to send them out.”

Upon hearing this, Yao Qianqian and Cao Xingyu were secretly delighted. They had thought the queen was formidable and greatly favored, but perhaps she was not so powerful after all—the king was supporting them.

“Your Majesty, do you mean…” Xuexue’s heart stirred, her elegant brows rising. Was he about to overturn her decree?

“Since they’ve been removed from the selection of consorts, and as there are vacant positions for female officials in the palace, let them fill those roles. It will not be a wasted journey,” Ji Wuqing said casually, his handsome face serious.

It was as if Yao Qianqian and Cao Xingyu were not daughters of court ministers or candidates for consort selection, but merely girls sent to serve as palace maids.

“Do you mean to assign the women of the Cao and Yao families as palace maids?” Xuexue asked. The title of female official sounded grand, but in truth, it was simply a palace maid.

“If they cannot be consorts, then naturally they will be maids,” he replied, lips curling into a mischievous smile, as if he found the outcome amusing.

“Your Majesty… this seems improper,” Yao Qianqian protested, not expecting such a result. “I was carefully selected by the Empress Dowager, intended to serve you, Your Majesty. This is an expression of her goodwill.”

She invoked the Empress Dowager, hoping the king would show some deference. Yet—

“What, do you think a palace maid cannot serve the king?” Ji Wuqing appeared genuinely puzzled.

“No, that’s not what I meant,” Yao Qianqian hastily defended.

“Then it’s settled. I have fulfilled Mother’s wishes,” he said.

Thus, two ministers’ daughters found themselves as palace maids, while the ladies who had come from afar were all granted proper ranks— even those whose families were merely outer court officials received positions as selected attendants.

Once the eight beauties were properly assigned, Xuexue felt a brief relief. Yet she suspected the inner palace would be livelier than ever, with newcomers arriving, old residents grieving, and both causing trouble together…

After the others were dismissed, Xuexue kept the maiden in plain dress behind, her intentions unclear.

This was the girl who had spoken softly before, of gentle beauty and a timid nature, always lowering her head but without the petty air of a lesser household. Her timidity was, in fact, charming.

She wore a simple gown, not particularly luxurious, but her appearance was neat and appropriate.

“Chosen Attendant Qi, please follow me,” a maid from Anxue Palace guided her to the rear courtyard. Only then did the girl lift her head slightly to take in her surroundings.

Anxue Palace was truly vast; she had never seen a courtyard so large, far greater than her own, which, although her family held office, was quite respectable. Inside, the view opened even wider, the scenery so enchanting it felt like a fairyland—trees whose names she could not tell, rare flowers and plants she had never seen, all appearing precious and exquisite.

From the corner of her eye, she glimpsed the king and queen seated together, enjoying tea. She quickly lowered her head and followed the maid with care.

“Your subject… pays respects to Your Majesty and Her Majesty,” she said, voice timid and weak.

“Rise. Now that you are part of the palace, you have much to learn,” Xuexue replied, offering little further.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your guidance,” Qi Wanliang quickly nodded, her voice trembling slightly, betraying her nervousness.

“I grant you this pastry. Go and rest for now,” Xuexue said. A maid took a pastry from the table and gave it to Qi Wanliang, who gratefully accepted, turning to leave. As she departed, she happened to glimpse the king’s dark brocade robe, which only enhanced his handsome features. Her heart raced uncontrollably, and she hurried after the maid.

The king was indeed as handsome as rumor had it; none of the words she had learned could capture the beauty of that face.

“I never expected Xue’er to care so much for others. I must admit, I am quite jealous,” the king propped his head on his hand, gazing at the woman across from him.

She had changed into an exquisite dress, no longer the simple attire of the morning. Her demeanor was much colder now, especially as she held her teacup—like someone untouched by the mundane world, her expression serene.

“In this deep palace, no matter how much I care, it is never enough. She was simply too reckless, so…”

“So you wanted others to know that, with the queen’s support, she would be safe for a while,” he immediately guessed her subtle intentions.

“Does Your Majesty think I acted wrongly?” Xuexue asked, slightly puzzled.

“There is no right or wrong. But outsiders might suspect you are cultivating your own influence to secure the king’s favor.” Ji Wuqing rose quietly and moved behind her. “And surely, some will doubt your judgment.”

She paused. Securing favor—she had never seriously considered the possibility of losing it.

Perhaps everyone hoped she would one day fall from grace.

“Also, with newcomers in the palace, do you not feel the threat of divided favor? Yet you generously brought in eight more…” He bent down, enclosing her between the stone table and his chest.

“If a queen must be virtuous, then perhaps this is what it means,” she replied. Besides, his consorts were not the legendary three thousand beauties—otherwise…

She would rather be a queen out of favor.

“A virtuous queen—how amusing your words are, Xue’er,” he said.

Only then did Xuexue realize how close he had come, appearing as if by magic behind her.

She instinctively turned toward him, lifting her head as if to ‘look’ at him. Naturally, she could not see him, but the fringe above her eyes brushed against her lashes, making her squint.

The hair pricked her eyes, and she reached up to sweep her bangs aside—

But her hand struck Ji Wuqing’s chin with a crisp sound.

The atmosphere seemed to freeze. Ji Wuqing’s smile was ambiguous, and though Xuexue could not see his expression, she sensed something was amiss.

“Your Majesty, did I just hit you?” She reached out and found his chin, guessing she had struck it. “Are you all right?” She couldn’t have used much force.

She wanted to rub it for him, but felt the gesture too contrived.

Just as she tried to withdraw her hand, a warm palm caught it. “It doesn’t hurt—just tickles. Scratch it for me.”

“Your chin is itchy?”

“Actually, it’s my heart—it aches for you.”

She fell silent, certain now that Ji Wuqing was teasing her.