Volume 1, Chapter 19: Entering the Palace?

Liu Qi cast a look of surprise at Sima Yun. He never imagined that in such a life-or-death moment, the person who would step forward to speak for him would be her.

He had assumed their relationship was merely physical—a flimsy bond that hardly warranted her intervention on his behalf. Yet, he had been wrong; she had truly stood up for him. Perhaps it was this very incident that destined Yang Yuqi to lose the chance to compete with Sima Yun—though that, of course, was a matter for another time.

"It seems you are quite fond of this boy," the Prince of Qi remarked, his words carrying a hidden meaning.

Sima Yun bowed slightly and said, "Your Highness, I simply feel that the lad is rather clever. Keeping him might prove useful in the future; it would be a pity to kill him."

"Lady Sima is truly deeply infatuated with him. Could it be that you have developed an addiction to a mere slave?" Yang Yuqi mocked with a sour, sarcastic tone.

Sima Yun offered a slight smile, her words sharp beneath a velvet exterior. "If General Yang has no use for him, I am quite willing to take him as a servant in my manor. After all, a fine treasure must be appreciated by someone who understands its worth."

Yang Yuqi scoffed. "I have heard that Lady Sima has a penchant for handsome men, but I thought it merely a rumor. It seems it is true, though your taste is truly concerning if you would lose your heart to a lowly slave."

Sima Yun smiled without warmth. "While I may have a penchant for such things, Lady Sima, at least I am bold enough to admit it."

"Are you implying that I, Yang Yuqi, am a coward?" Yang Yuqi asked, displeased.

"If you were bold enough, why not admit you want to keep him?" Sima Yun retorted.

"Ridiculous! A lowly slave—is he worthy of me keeping him? If I wanted to, I could round up hundreds or thousands of superior quality to my manor in a heartbeat," Yang Yuqi countered.

Sima Yun let out a scoffing laugh. "If the General is so capable, why make things difficult for one slave? You claim to have no use for him, yet you hold him here and refuse to let him leave. What is the meaning of this?"

"I am holding him? How absurd!" Yang Yuqi snorted coldly.

"If the General does not wish to keep him, then I shall take him." Sima Yun pulled Liu Qi, who was still kneeling, to his feet, her fingers lightly brushing his palm in a suggestive caress.

Liu Qi felt a prickle of sensation in his palm. He glanced over to see Sima Yun casting an ambiguous, alluring look his way. He feared that once they returned tonight, he would be drained of every ounce of energy.

Yang Yuqi paused, her eyes widening in mounting anger. With the Prince of Qi present, she could not lash out, so she simply huffed and said with ill grace, "Suit yourself!"

The Prince of Qi smiled faintly, waving his folding fan. "In that case, we shall take our leave. General Yang, if you have time, do come to my estate for a chat."

Yang Yuqi cupped her hands in a salute. "I am honored by Your Highness’s invitation; I am deeply grateful."

Sima Yun added, "Well then, General, we are off. Don't worry, and don't miss him too much—he will be back tomorrow." Her tone was dripping with irony and triumph, leaving Yang Yuqi flushed with fury.

Once inside the carriage, Liu Qi settled into a corner. Sima Yun leaned over, her hands roaming over him as if she could not get enough.

"Is this appropriate?" the Prince of Qi asked.

Sima Yun stuck out her tongue. "Your Highness, I am quite fond of this boy. How about letting him stay in my manor to serve me?"

"As long as the Empress has no objections," the Prince replied.

"The Empress? What does this have to do with the Empress?" Sima Yun asked, puzzled.

The Prince explained, "It is because of you and Yang Yuqi. The Emperor is growing stronger, and the Empress’s desires remain insatiable; she seeks out men of great virility to satisfy her needs."

"Who started such rumors?" Sima Yun asked.

"Rumors are rarely without foundation. The story of you and Yang Yuqi fighting over a male pet has already fermented among the common folk. Even the brothels have heard of it, and some storytellers have turned your tale into a legend, embellished to the point where they say, 'Liu Qi, with his virility, keeps the court in a trance.' It has grown wilder with every telling." The Prince shot Sima Yun a look of exasperation.

Sima Yun nearly burst into laughter. "Who is spreading this?"

"Never mind who. The talk has reached the Empress’s ears. While she says nothing publicly, she has privately ordered the Chief Eunuch to inquire about me," the Prince told her.

Liu Qi was stunned. Had the rumors really become that exaggerated? They had even reached the Empress. However, the Empress was quite daring to cuckold the Emperor. If she didn't fear death, that was one thing, but Liu Qi certainly didn't want to die!

Yet, there was an old saying: "If you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you capture the tiger's cub?"

While entering the palace was extremely dangerous, the potential rewards were immense. If Liu Qi could win the Empress's favor, he would gain power within the palace—at the very least, the freedom to move about at will. For someone like Liu Qi, who desperately needed to build his own influence, this was a heaven-sent opportunity.

Liu Qi pondered this, while the Prince of Qi harbored his own ulterior motives. The Prince was not born of the Empress, but a concubine; thus, she was not his mother. He reasoned that if Liu Qi had the capacity to sow chaos in the inner palace, he could file a complaint against the Empress. If the Emperor were to depose her, his own mother would have a chance to ascend to the position, giving him a massive advantage in the struggle for the throne.

Given his own abilities, seizing the throne was not impossible; his only drawback was his lineage. Liu Qi’s arrival provided the perfect solution to that weakness.

Sima Yun looked at Liu Qi and asked the Prince, "So, how do we send him into the palace?"

"In seven days, the palace will be selecting new eunuchs. I will find a way for him to bypass the castration process and enter directly. Someone will be there to receive him," the Prince said.

Sima Yun looked at Liu Qi with reluctance. "So, that means we only have seven more days to play..."

Liu Qi felt a sense of relief. Sima Yun was simply too frenetic; even with his robust constitution, he found it difficult to keep up. He just didn't know what the Empress was like—perhaps she would be even more unbridled than Sima Yun.

Yet, compared to the potential gains, even if the danger of entering the palace was greater, Liu Qi had to risk it. Otherwise, staying with Sima Yun meant remaining a mere servant, or at best, a steward.

Entering the palace was different. If he won the Empress's heart, he would at least gain the authority of an attendant who could walk freely in the Emperor's presence.

Upon returning to the Sima manor, the Prince of Qi gave Sima Yun a few final instructions before departing in his carriage.

The moment they were inside the residence, Sima Yun could no longer restrain her restless desire. She pushed Liu Qi into her boudoir and greedily demanded the value of her man.

"My Lady, please, let me undress first..." Liu Qi said.

"You do it." Sima Yun knelt on top of him, looking down at Liu Qi as he lay beneath her, and slowly loosened her sash. "Pull it."

Liu Qi pulled the sash, and Sima Yun’s robes fell open like butterfly wings, revealing her fair skin and a set of translucent black silk lingerie.

He didn't need to guess; it was undoubtedly another imported luxury from the northern tribes.