Although the Underfloor Heating had been extinguished, large blocks of ice veiled by thick Brocade curtains in the four corners kept the room’s temperature meticulously controlled to a most pleasant level. It was the temperature Emperor Xia preferred, even though his level of power made such comforts unnecessary.
A cloying Suhe Fragrance filled the air, mixed with the faint scent of powder from the women. A faint, almost imperceptible trace of Dragon Saliva Fragrance, the scent of an Emperor, lingered everywhere.
Emperor Xia was half-reclined on the wide Purple Sandalwood Dragon Couch, clad only in a set of Bright Yellow silk nightclothes. His robe was loose, revealing a well-built chest, making him look like a man in his prime.
Though he was over a hundred years old, his Cultivation had reached Super Grade Perfection. His appearance was well-preserved, making him look no older than thirty. His posture was upright, his muscles clearly defined, and every fiber of his being held a terrifying amount of Qi Blood.
He toyed with a White Jade Wine Cup in his hand. The cup held amber-colored Wine from the Western Regions, its aroma rich and its aftertaste long-lasting. His gaze, however, was fixed on the three women kneeling before his couch.
These were the first batch of substitutes for Consort Ji, meticulously selected by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and sent to Qianqing Palace. All of them bore some resemblance to her.
The three of them all wore gauze robes as light as mist, each a different color.
One was dressed in rose-red, embroidered with a golden-threaded Peony. Another was in pale yellow, embroidered with a Silver Thread butterfly. The third wore light purple, embroidered with intertwining lotuses of the same hue. Each was carefully selected.
The gauze of their robes was exceedingly thin, appearing almost transparent under the lamplight. The crimson bodices and snow-white skin beneath were faintly visible, adding to their alluring charm.
They were all exceptionally beautiful; each could be called a peerless beauty. And in their eyes and brows, they all bore, to varying degrees, the shadow of the late Consort Ji, Ji Ruxue.
Perhaps it was the seductive upward tilt of their eyes, their light amber pupils, or their cherry-like lips... With a little Disguise, one might easily mistake them for Consort Ji.
They knelt with lowered eyes, their thick eyelashes casting small shadows on their cheeks. Their posture was gentle and docile, presenting an image of being his for the taking, not even daring to speak.
Emperor Xia’s gaze swept slowly across the three faces, and he nodded in satisfaction.
’They do look like her. There’s certainly a resemblance.’
Especially the one in the middle, dressed in the rose-red gauze. The natural upward curve of her eyes and the way they seemed to dance when she looked at someone... She bore a strong resemblance to Consort Ji, enough to leave him feeling a bit dazed.
And yet, for some reason, looking at this face stirred no excitement in his heart.
’Consort Ji was different. That woman was not only bewitchingly beautiful, but more importantly, possessed a rare physical gift. It seemed her very essence was naturally compatible with his, especially in bed, where they fit together in so many ways.’
’That night, decades ago, he had faintly touched the threshold of a breakthrough to the True Monarch realm with her. He had been just a hair’s breadth away from grasping it.’
’Though he had ultimately failed, he could never forget it. He saw her as his fated blessing, his hope of ascending to the Extraordinary realm, and had treasured her above all others.’
’Now that Consort Ji was dead, he could only place his hopes in these substitutes.’
Emperor Xia set down his wine cup. His voice was gentle, yet it carried an undeniable authority. "All of you, rise. Come closer, and let me have a good look at you."
"Yes." The three women answered in unison, their voices soft and melodious. They rose and glided forward, their every movement cautious.
They had clearly all undergone strict training. As they walked, their waists swayed gently and their steps were graceful. Their gauze robes rippled like water with their movements, revealing slender ankles and delicate toes, like figures in a painting.
Arriving about three feet from the couch, they gracefully prostrated themselves and lifted their faces. Their eyes held the perfect mixture of admiration and shyness, a look perfectly calibrated to inspire a man’s affection.
Emperor Xia reached out, his fingertips lifting the fair chin of the woman in rose-red.
’Her skin was fine and smooth, exquisite to the touch.’
The woman obediently raised her face, her light amber eyes meeting his. Her gaze flowed with a natural, soul-stirring seductiveness.
But Emperor Xia’s heart remained utterly calm. There was no thrill, none of that feeling of his blood surging, of his Qi Blood faintly beginning to boil.
’No matter how beautiful the woman before him was, she was just a lovely shell, no different from the other concubines in the palace. She couldn’t give him the feeling that Consort Ji did.’
He frowned slightly, released her, and turned his gaze to the other two young women.
The woman in pale yellow had an innocent look, with two faint dimples when she smiled. The woman in light purple had a gentle temperament and features as pretty as a painting.
’They were all one-in-ten-thousand beauties, but none of them was the catalyst he was looking for. None of them gave him the feeling of an impending breakthrough.’
Seeing the displeasure on Emperor Xia’s face, the woman in rose-red spoke softly, her voice as sweet as honey, "Your Majesty, this servant has practiced the qin since childhood. Might I play a piece for Your Majesty?"
Emperor Xia glanced at her and gave a casual nod.
Palace Attendants had already brought in a Jiaowei Guqin. The woman in rose-red sat before the instrument, her slender fingers lightly plucking the strings. The melody of "Spring River Flower Moon Night" flowed out, meandering through the entire palace.
’Her skill with the qin was indeed extraordinary. Her fingering was deft, the mood she created was ethereal, and her proficiency was high.’
But as Emperor Xia listened, he only grew more irritated.
’Wrong. It’s all wrong. This isn’t the feeling.’
’No matter how beautiful the music or how beautiful the woman, they failed to stir the slightest ripple in his heart.’
’This wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted that profound, mysterious catalyst that could resonate with his Qi Blood and allow him to touch the threshold of the Extraordinary realm, not a feeling like this.’
When the piece ended, the woman in rose-red looked up, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Emperor Xia, however, had already lost interest. He waved his hand. "Reward her."
His Personal Eunuch immediately stepped forward and presented a brocade box to each of the three women.
Inside were pieces of gold and silver Jewelry of considerable value, but it was clearly a gesture of dismissal. He had little interest in them.
A flash of disappointment crossed the three women’s eyes, but they dared not show it. They could only kowtow and express their gratitude.
Emperor Xia leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes, an indescribable sense of exhaustion and irritation welling up inside him.
’Consort Ji... Consort Ji... If only you were still here. How wonderful that would be. I could finally feel some true pleasure.’
As he was thinking this, the woman in pale yellow kneeling on the right suddenly spoke up timidly, "Your Majesty... this servant... this servant also knows how to perform the Hu Xuan Dance. Would you... like to see it?"
Emperor Xia opened his eyes and glanced at her.
’Fine. Since they’ve been sent here, I might as well give it a try. Who knows? The catalyst might appear in an unguarded moment.’
"Dance," he said flatly.
The woman in pale yellow kowtowed in delight, then rose and took a few steps back.
A Musician began to play Hu Music, and the woman began to dance. Her gauze robe spun open, fluttering through the air.
She was like a blossoming pale yellow flower. Her waist was impossibly supple, and as she twirled, her skirt flared out, revealing long, snow-white calves.
Emperor Xia watched quietly, his mind still wandering at first. But as he continued to watch, his gaze was gradually captivated by the spinning figure, and his expression grew more focused.
It wasn’t because of the beauty of her dance. It was because as she spun, the string of small Golden Bells at her waist jingled. The crisp sound actually created a strange, faint resonance with the circulation of his own Qi Blood!
It was very faint, almost imperceptible.
But for Emperor Xia, who had been stuck at Super Grade Perfection for decades and was extremely sensitive to any potential catalyst, this was no less than a single spark of firefly light in the dead of night.
His Spirit jolted. He sat up straight, a trace of delighted surprise appearing on his face.

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