Volume One, Chapter Thirteen: The Empress Intoxicated, A Beauty Beyond Compare

After bathing for about fifteen minutes, the Empress finally felt a great relief in both body and mind.

Looking down at the snow-white softness before her that nearly obscured her vision, she sometimes wished it were smaller. That way, when she disguised herself as a man, it wouldn’t feel so burdensome.

It was almost suffocating.

Though it was said among the common folk that a woman whose gaze never drops below her toes is the epitome of earthly beauty.

But—

Who asked her to be an emperor!

With a splash, she rose from the pool, steam rising from her skin as her mighty qi instantly evaporated the water from her body.

She then put on her undergarments, changed into Cao Mo’s clothes and the facial mask for her male disguise, and donned the small eunuch’s hat.

Only then did she step out together with Nangong Li.

“Let’s go.”

Exiting the bathhouse, they saw Cao Mo already dressed in the dragon robe, wearing the male facial mask, waiting at the door.

“Your Majesty, have you forgotten something?” Cao Mo whispered in reminder.

“...”

The Empress cast a cold glance at Cao Mo, silently stepping back two paces and adjusting her posture to resemble a small eunuch.

She nearly forgot—Cao Mo was now the emperor.

Cao Mo smiled subtly, chest proud and stride majestic, as he walked toward the outside of Huaiqing Palace.

Behind him, Bai Hu’er stood with her sword, serving attentively, while the beautiful emperor bowed her head slightly, following closely with delicate steps.

Tsk tsk!

This is what it feels like to be emperor—truly exhilarating!

Now playing the role of the beautiful emperor once more, Cao Mo was no longer unfamiliar with the identity and confidently took his seat on the dragon sedan chair.

“Lift the sedan. Proceed to the Palace of Heavenly Tranquility.”

Nangong Li spoke coolly.

Immediately, a group of palace eunuchs lifted the dragon sedan, heading toward the Palace of Heavenly Tranquility.

Unlike last night’s wedding chamber, today followed ancestral customs: the emperor was to spend the night with the empress again, so they went to her bedchamber.

Before long, the sedan arrived before the palace, and the eunuchs and maidservants respectfully bowed.

“We welcome Your Majesty!”

“...”

Cao Mo stepped down from the sedan. Compared to the emperor’s bedchamber during the wedding night, there were noticeably fewer eunuchs and maidservants inside and outside the Palace of Heavenly Tranquility.

Still, his expression remained unchanged, maintaining imperial dignity as he strode directly into the bedchamber.

“Your Majesty, you’ve finally arrived~”

At the outer chamber, a voice, enchanting and soft, as if it could melt bones and souls, drifted from within.

The person had yet to appear, but the voice came first.

Cao Mo felt a shiver within his heart, his emotions instantly stirred. The empress’s voice remained as alluring and intoxicating as ever, evoking wild fantasies!

Then, from the inner chamber, an incredibly beautiful woman gracefully emerged.

Clad in a bright yellow phoenix robe, her figure slender and poised, skin pale as jade, her face breathtakingly beautiful, with an elegant yet tender and gentle aura—none other than Empress Su Luojin.

Her long hair was gathered in a dignified and elegant chignon, adorned with a phoenix crown. Every step she took swayed the phoenix robe, exuding the majesty and grace befitting the mother of the nation.

Seeing Cao Mo disguised as the emperor, she trailed the hem of her robe, a captivating fragrance enveloping her as she coquettishly threw herself into his arms.

“Ah!”

Cao Mo immediately felt overwhelmed!

Compared to last night’s innocence, the empress now carried the charming allure unique to a young woman blossoming in love.

The grace in her brows and eyes rivaled that of the Dowager Empress and the Grand Princess—both stunningly mature beauties.

Knowing that he had personally nurtured this charm in her, Cao Mo’s feelings grew complicated. He nearly lost control, eager to carry this beautiful empress straight to the phoenix bed.

But recalling the beautiful emperor’s instructions, Cao Mo took a deep breath to calm himself.

He was now playing the role of the beautiful emperor, who, to avoid unnecessary trouble later, had told him to feign disinterest in the empress tonight.

So that after the wedding, she wouldn’t cling to him and disturb their private chambers.

Of course, this was a command he clearly couldn’t fully obey, but with Bai Hu’er present, he dared not go too far.

“Today’s affairs were busy; I arrived late,” Cao Mo said calmly, gently pushing the empress away.

At the sudden unfamiliarity, the empress was momentarily surprised, but quickly understood.

Though Cao Mo still wore the emperor’s facial mask, the eyes beneath it did not lie.

The empress instantly recognized him as the same emperor from last night—the one who had looked at her beautiful face as if he wished to devour her.

The burden in her heart lifted.

If the emperor had changed, she would never have consented.

Since the emperor was a woman and could not consummate their marriage, allowing another to take his place was already a great humiliation.

If she were treated like a woman of easy virtue, randomly arranged with others to share her bed, she would never accept it.

Even if it meant opposing the emperor to the death, she would expose this secret.

As for now...

“Your Majesty has worked hard. Let me attend to you,” the empress said coquettishly, her gaze shifting to the maidservants inside the chamber and Nangong Li following Cao Mo.

She said coldly, “You all may leave and wait outside. Do not disturb me and His Majesty.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

The maidservants bowed and withdrew.

Nangong Li hesitated briefly but, seeing no flaw in Cao Mo’s demeanor, also left the chamber.

Now, no one remained in the spacious bedchamber.

The empress could no longer restrain herself. With the same enchanting fragrance, she threw her body against Cao Mo, her delicate hand looping around his neck as she rested her head near his ear, whispering like a fragrant breeze, “Have you missed me?”

“What do you think...” Cao Mo smiled, his large hand supporting the hem of her phoenix robe, lifting her fully into his arms.

He headed toward the inner chamber. “Today, Your Majesty granted me two hours, commanding that within these two hours, the empress’s voice must not cease, or I shall be punished for negligence.”

“Ah?”

“Two hours?!”

“That heartless man wants me dead, doesn’t he?”

The empress was stunned, then looked anxiously at Cao Mo: “Then... can you manage?”

“You’ll see soon enough,” Cao Mo smiled softly.

Arriving at a golden nanmu wood desk, he held the empress with one hand and picked up a wine bottle with the other, pouring her a cup.

“Empress, have a drink first?”

The empress gave him a glare. “Why should I drink? Didn’t you see last night? I have no tolerance for alcohol.”

“Just one cup.”

Cao Mo leaned close to her ear, smiling quietly, “An intoxicated empress is all the more enchanting.”

“You just know how to tease me~”

Hearing this, a flush instantly rose to the empress’s cheeks. She hadn’t forgotten the embarrassing scenes she caused last night after a few drinks.

Though reluctant, seeing Cao Mo insist, the empress grudgingly accepted the cup.

Her ruby lips parted gently, and she slowly drank.

The strong wine blurred the rouge on her lips, adding a delicate flush to her refined and stunning face, making her even more captivating.

She truly could not hold her liquor!

Seeing the empress transform into a beautiful drunkard, Cao Mo could no longer restrain himself.

It was said the imperial consort’s drunken beauty was unmatched, but he believed this empress, when drunk, was the true earthly wonder!

“Wait a moment—”

Moreover,

What surprised Cao Mo even more was that after drinking, the empress not only became more alluring but also bolder.

Her fingers, white and smooth as jade, brushed his face and suddenly tore off his facial mask.

“Husband, take off this thing. I... I want to see your face...”