Chapter 27: The Cicada Beauty Serves in the Bedchamber
Agarwood Hall.
The Lady Cicada sat on the soft couch, idly twisting the handkerchief in her fingers, her gaze drifting restlessly. Beside her, her aunt paced nervously, repeatedly glancing out the window.
“Aunt, stop pacing,” Lady Cicada frowned. “You’re making my eyes spin.”
“Saintess, aren’t you anxious?” her aunt asked. “This is the fifth time in five months you’ve gone to seek the Emperor Emeritus. Why hasn’t he...”
“How should I know?” Lady Cicada shrugged. “Didn’t you bribe some of the junior eunuchs and get information from them?”
“For over a month, the Emperor Emeritus has barely summoned any beauties to his bed. He remains alone in his quiet chamber.”
“And last month, the Divine Martial Army moved the martial arts manuals from the Taiji Palace armory to him. I suppose he’s cultivating some internal martial technique.”
“Gathering the strengths of many schools? Is he trying to break through to the Refined Aperture Realm?”
“Perhaps, but I don’t have much faith in him,” Lady Cicada shook her head. “He’s past seventy, his vitality waning. He maintains his health well, but he’s no longer young.”
“If he manages to break through, it’ll be thanks to the abundance of royal holy medicines—a stroke of luck, really.”
“But to reach the Innate Realm? Nearly impossible.”
“My Benevolent Mother Sect has tens of thousands of followers, yet only two have reached that realm. In the entire palace, it’s barely a handful.”
“The Emperor Emeritus... it’s unlikely.”
Her aunt nodded. “Indeed, when a martial artist breaks through to the Innate Realm, strange phenomena occur. The area affected isn’t large, but it inevitably spreads across the entire Xingqing Palace.”
“In the past month, no such phenomena have occurred. It seems the Emperor Emeritus hasn’t succeeded...”
“Let’s just wait,” Lady Cicada tossed aside her handkerchief and stretched lazily. “It’s getting late, I—”
“Lady Cicada!”
“Lady Cicada...”
Just then, a young eunuch rushed in, visibly excited. “Lady Cicada, Eunuch Wang has arrived!”
“Eunuch Wang?”
The two women exchanged glances; her aunt quickly recovered and whispered, “Saint—Lady Cicada, hurry, go greet Eunuch Wang...”
“No need.” Wang Zhonghai’s voice sounded suddenly. He strode in, beaming, bowing toward Lady Cicada with a smile. “This humble servant greets Lady Cicada.”
“Congratulations, Lady Cicada! The Emperor Emeritus has summoned you for tonight’s service.”
Lady Cicada’s eyes sparkled. “Is it true?”
“Of course!” Wang Zhonghai chuckled. “Quick, Lady Cicada, prepare yourself. The Emperor’s sedan is already waiting outside.”
“Thank you, Eunuch Wang!” Lady Cicada steadied herself, exchanging a meaningful glance with her aunt.
Her aunt pulled out a small pouch of silver and discreetly pressed it into Wang Zhonghai’s hand.
He received it with a smile. “Lady Cicada, please, I’ll wait outside.”
With those words, he withdrew.
“Hurry, help me freshen up.”
“Yes, my lady~”
Qing’er and Yan’er hurried in, joining her aunt to escort Lady Cicada into the inner chamber.
The warm spring waters caressed her skin, steam rising in the air, stirring her heart. With the help of her two maids, Lady Cicada’s delicate, snow-white body was soon cleansed.
Her aunt personally dressed her. The pale pink, cloud-chasing moon palace robe wrapped gently around her figure, revealing only her slender, graceful neck and shoulders—white as snow, emitting an alluring glow.
As she dressed her, her aunt whispered, “Your Highness, the Mercy Enchantment Powder is fastened at your waist. With a single movement, you can release it; within ten feet, no man will escape its effects.”
Lady Cicada nodded.
“Remember, Your Highness, the powder’s efficacy against martial artists of the Refined Aperture Realm lasts only about two hours. Once the time passes, its effect diminishes greatly.”
“You must return to the Emperor Emeritus as quickly as possible afterwards; otherwise, suspicion may arise...”
“I understand,” Lady Cicada replied coolly. “With the Mercy Enchantment Powder and my secret arts of charm, how could an elderly man resist?”
“Once he’s under our control, won’t the entire Xingqing Palace fall under our Benevolent Mother Sect?”
Her aunt’s eyes gleamed. “We await your good news, Lady Cicada.”
“Hmm.”
In the darkness, a procession of eunuchs carried a delicate beauty toward the Flowering Harmony Pavilion.
Inside the Flowering Harmony Pavilion, Zheng Yi was being attended by palace maids, washing and preparing himself before stepping onto the rooftop platform, gazing toward Agarwood Hall.
“Lady Cicada—what is her true purpose?”
“I am but an aging old man; why vie so fiercely for favor?”
“After all, I’ve extended my grace equally to all fifteen beauties of Xingqing Palace...”
A wry smile curled Zheng Yi’s lips. “I must teach this beauty well tonight, see what she’s really after!”
“Reporting, Your Majesty—the Lady Cicada has arrived!”
“Bring her up.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Zheng Yi turned, returned to the grand hall on the third floor, and closed the doors against the cold outside.
Soon, led by a young eunuch, Lady Cicada ascended.
Seated on the throne, Zheng Yi’s eyes brightened.
Lady Cicada was clearly dressed with utmost care, like a sprite emerging from the night.
Her slender figure moved gracefully, as petals drifting on a spring breeze.
Her pink palace gown, embroidered with exquisite cloud-chasing moon motifs, swayed gently with each step.
At eighteen, her face was delicate and fresh, skin like polished jade, and her dark, shining eyes glowed in the gloom like moonlight.
Her eyebrows were long and fine, slightly arched, hinting at both playfulness and intelligence.
Her face bore no cosmetics, yet carried a natural charm; beneath her pert nose, cherry lips curved upward, innocence and allure mingling on her youthful countenance, radiating a mesmerizing aura.
“Your humble servant, Lady Cicada, greets the Emperor Emeritus!”
“May Your Majesty enjoy immortal blessings and longevity equal to heaven!”
“Hahaha, rise, my beauty!” Zheng Yi laughed, beckoning her closer. “Come, let me look at you!”
“Yes, Your Majesty~” Lady Cicada replied softly, rising to walk toward Zheng Yi.
Her steps were light, her gaze lifted in reverence—and, subtly, surprise.
Tonight, the Emperor Emeritus... seemed younger than ever.
As she reached him, Zheng Yi drew her into his arms without ceremony.
“Your Majesty~”
“My beauty grows ever more enchanting, your figure more alluring. Truly, you are worthy of my favor~”
“Your Majesty~” Lady Cicada composed herself, clinging to Zheng Yi’s arm, not daring to stop his hand, enduring her embarrassment. “I’ve just learned a new dance, would Your Majesty care to watch?”
Zheng Yi asked, “Oh? What dance?”
“It’s called—Celestial Maiden Dance.”
“Celestial Maiden Dance?”
Lady Cicada laughed sweetly, slipping from Zheng Yi’s embrace. With a light step, she floated into the hall.
At once, her sleeves billowed, her dance resplendent.
Unlike the palace dancers, Lady Cicada’s movements were daring and open, punctuated by coy smiles and lingering glances.
Her fair skin, delicate arms, and jade feet flashed as she moved, tempting Zheng Yi with every step.
Zheng Yi’s eyes were instantly captivated, his gaze fixed, burning with intensity.
As her dance soared, Lady Cicada drifted toward Zheng Yi, her hand brushing her waist. Instantly, her pink gown slipped away.
It revealed a pale lotus corset and slender, white arms.
A budding lotus, touched by a dragonfly.
“Your Majesty~” she murmured, her eyes seductive, emitting a rosy glow that flickered in her pupils.
A transparent, colorless powder, undetectable, wafted toward Zheng Yi with Lady Cicada’s movements.
In that moment, Zheng Yi was utterly entranced.