75. Empress Mei

Hearing the voice, Qing and Elder Mu's faces changed in an instant.

"You…" Qing started, a spark of surprise flashing across her face as she spoke to the old eunuch in front of her. Before she could finish, she saw Elder Mu, quick to catch on, scramble to hide.

But as he looked around, he realized this place, shaped by Qing's immortal powers, had its jagged peaks and valleys smoothed into a flat, open space. After darting about for a moment, Elder Mu found no cover and slunk back to Qing's side, muttering sheepishly, "Immortal Lady, there's nowhere to hide!"

Qing stayed quiet for a beat, then raised her hand, a glowing orb of mana forming in her palm. Her lips moved softly, chanting an immortal spell Elder Mu couldn't make sense of. The light between her delicate fingers grew brighter, and she aimed it at the top of Elder Mu's head. Like a rushing stream, the radiant, colorful light poured down, washing over his bald scalp. A cool, soothing feeling spread from his head, and suddenly, a strange, twisting energy wrapped around him. The cool sensation raced through his arms and legs, and the glowing light spread across his body, wrapping him in a faint blue shimmer, like a see-through veil.

To his shock, Elder Mu saw his whole body swallowed by the clear light. As the glow faded, he turned invisible. His thin, wrinkled frame, his spotted, sagging thighs, and his rough, claw-like fingers all vanished. Panicked, he stammered, "Immortal Lady… uh?"

Realizing he could still talk, he reached out, feeling himself. The touch of his dry, shriveled fingers on his skin calmed him. He slid his hand down his chest, lower still, until he gripped his huge, thick manhood, letting out a relieved breath. Curious, he asked, "Immortal Lady, what's this?"

"Just a small trick," Qing said calmly, her sharp eyes fixed on where Elder Mu stood. "A basic invisibility spell. My mother won't see through it."

Such a simple trick was nothing special, easily seen through by anyone with a bit of magic. But Empress Mei, a refined woman skilled in poetry and manners, with no training in mystic arts, wouldn't suspect a thing.

"Oh," Elder Mu nodded, obedient.

Qing let out a soft breath, smoothing her slightly messy robes. But when she glanced down, a blush spread across her delicate face. Her breasts, firm and full, pressed hard against her elegant azure palace gown, their tips poking through the fabric, forming two cherry-like shapes. Elder Mu's earlier teasing had left them swollen, creating two clear, bold mounds.

Even with her steady cultivator's heart, calm as a still pond, Qing's thoughts fluttered like a kite with a broken string. She tugged at the fabric near her chest, loosening the tight silk to hide the obvious marks, then took a deep breath to chase the blush from her cheeks.

Qing stood tall, waiting. Soon, a tall, graceful figure appeared before her.

"Qing," Mei called gently.

Mei glided forward with an air of grace, her presence announced by a soft fragrance before she came into view. Mist swirled around her like a delicate veil, her form glowing and dreamlike. Qing dipped her head slightly, giving a respectful nod to her mother, whom she hadn't seen in days.

Empress Mei always had a solemn, graceful air, wrapped in layers of ornate phoenix robes, her hair neatly coiled and pinned with jade. Her regal clothes gave her a sense of dignity and calm, both grand and refined.

Mei's beauty was stunning, her face so like her daughters'. Both Qing and Li seemed carved from the same mold as their mother, sharing her fine brows, long phoenix eyes, and a noble, distant charm, like a peacock at its peak. Her slender neck, graceful as a phoenix in a painting, matched her elaborate phoenix-styled hair.

Her face had only a hint of makeup, her natural beauty bright enough to stop even Elder Mu, watching from the shadows, his breath catching. The polished grace of her scholarly roots and the quiet authority of her high role made her presence powerful, keeping others at a distance.

Under her feathered phoenix robes, Mei's figure was breathtaking, her full bosom even bolder than Qing's. Yet, unlike the daring women of the capital, who wore thin clothes to catch the emperor's eye, Mei was modest. She dressed carefully, her long skirts and thick robes hiding her curves, showing only the soft whiteness of her neck.

Seeing her daughter, Mei's face warmed with a smile. As she got closer, she noticed Qing's ornate palace gown, which showed glimpses of her slim, pale legs and smooth, jade-like shoulders. The gown had slipped a bit, revealing Qing's sharp collarbone and dazzlingly fair skin. Qing's perfect, ethereal face still held a touch of flush, her damp hair sticking to her skin, water droplets sliding down her glowing skin like dewdrops.

Spotting the steaming hot spring behind the palace, its mist curling like clouds, Mei realized Qing had just bathed. She stepped forward, gently pulling Qing's loosened gown back over her collarbone, scolding softly, "It's chilly out here. Why didn't you put on more after bathing? What if you get sick?"

"I was wrong, Mother," Qing said quietly, lowering her head to agree without arguing.

Mei touched Qing's shoulder, noticing no undergarment strap, and frowned again. "No undergarments either? What if you catch a cold? And you're still a maiden…"

Dressed so openly, what if someone saw her? A young woman's reputation could be ruined.

"Good thing I had the maids and eunuchs wait outside," Mei said, relieved.

"Mother…" Qing's blush grew deeper, catching her mother's meaning. Her eyes flicked to where Elder Mu hid, but she stayed quiet.

She couldn't tell Mei that her precious daughter had been fully seen by an old, ugly eunuch, every private part exposed. Nor could she admit that, just moments ago, she'd shared a heated kiss with him, her breasts touched by his shameless hands.

Qing pressed her lips together, still tasting the foul trace of Elder Mu's saliva. Looking at her chattering mother, she felt a strange thrill, her mouth watering.

Swallowing hard, her slender neck moved slightly, gulping down the lingering taste of Elder Mu's kiss. Her face grew even redder.

Mei, noticing Qing's odd behavior, saw her usually distant daughter with her head bowed, damp hair framing her flushed, shy face. Her perfect features trembled with a rare softness, captivating even Elder Mu, watching from the shadows, his heart pounding. Even Mei, a beauty herself, was briefly enchanted, before saying with a small smile, "I've been nagging too much. Your sister's been keeping secrets from me lately, making me worry, and I let it spill onto you."

She reached out, gently touching Qing's face, amazed at how the child who once cried in her arms had grown into a radiant young woman, bright as moonlight. Despite her calm, otherworldly air, Qing was still just an eighteen-year-old girl.

Mei's thoughts wandered. At Qing's age, she hadn't been so reserved. She remembered her youth, riding in a carriage, nervous and shy, lifting the curtain to catch sight of a handsome young man in the crowd. Their eyes met, and after a moment, they shared a smile that sealed their future.

How had it come to this?

Lost in her thoughts, Mei barely heard Qing mention her sister's strange behavior. Qing frowned, thinking of a certain troubling young man but held back, saying only, "Li's growing up. She has her own secrets now."

Mei snapped back to the present, pushing down her feelings. "I understand," she said, her voice heavy with tiredness.

Qing sensed her mother's distraction. In recent visits, whenever Mei talked about her youth, her husband, or love, she'd drift into memories, growing quiet and sad.

"Mother," Qing said, looking into Mei's distant eyes, "what happened between you and Father?"

Mei's hand froze on Qing's, her face tightening into forced calm. "Nothing happened between your father and me."

But Qing's clear, piercing gaze, like moonlight through a mirror, broke through her mask. Mei's eyes darted away, and she mumbled, "Who told you that?"

Qing didn't answer, only saying coldly, "Was it Consort Yu Fei?"

Her calm eyes flashed with a sharp, deadly intent.

Mei, knowing Qing might act on that look and kill Yu Fei, quickly said, "No! It's not her."

"Then who?" Qing asked, her pure face clouded with confusion.

Mei gave a bitter smile, stroking Qing's flawless face. "Without Yu Fei, there's still Consort Xiang, Consort Shu…"

Touching her daughter's face, as smooth as perfect jade, she sighed, "Love is tough to pin down. When you're in love, you find a hundred reasons to hold on. When it fades, you come up with a thousand ways to slip away. I don't know what's left between your father and me. We've just kept this quiet agreement, letting the years roll by. That's been okay…"

Her face showed a deep loneliness. "But I'm still a woman. I have… desires, needs. I want to feel loved, too."

Her words rushed out, and she felt unburdened, glad to finally say them, but still uneasy, worried Qing might think she was shameless.