Wanyan Ya wasn't a fool. From the moment she was detained alone in a palace, she had a vague suspicion that the young Emperor of Great Wei had taken a liking to her.
She wasn't surprised by this result.
Since childhood, she was strikingly beautiful. Before she came of age, she was traded several times among various slave owners, causing her "value" to increase. Eventually, she was bought by the Wanyan Tribe, adopted as the previous Queen's sister, and offered to the previous Great Khan.
However, the previous Great Khan was nearing the end of his life, in a state where his oil was depleted, and his lamp was dim. Taking her in was more to bring joy; he never had the vigor to touch her.
It was precisely because she was a virgin that Tuoba Hui favored her so much and defied opposition to make her the Queen.
In the end, she followed Tuoba Hui until now.
She was like a commodity, continually transferred from hand to hand, but understanding her role clearly as she did, she wasn't overly affected emotionally when Wanyan Xiaji died, or when the previous Queen passed away.
She understood that there was no familial bond between her and the Wanyan Tribe; it was merely a relationship between owner and property.
Tuoba Hui was somewhat different.
She spent a long time with him and could sense that Tuoba Hui genuinely liked her.
Had it not been for that will, upon learning of Tuoba Hui's death, she might have been deeply saddened, possibly even choosing to follow him in death.
But that will left a thorn in her heart.
Tuoba Hui's affection for her was only a pathological obsession.
Thus, she gradually accepted the reality of her capture and prepared herself to serve her next master.
Of course, there was another reason, one she hesitated to acknowledge.
She was reluctant to leave the luxurious life she had at the moment.
Born into slavery and having endured hardship, had she never become the Jin Xia Kedun and enjoyed such a life of decadence, it wouldn't have been much.
But having experienced it for quite some time, if she were to return to the life of a slave, she'd rather die.
Therefore, when a maid brought her a set of clean clothes and heated water and informed her of the evening's service to a Noble, she did not resist.
The reason she gazed at the clothes in a trance was because, as a person, as a woman, her emotions were unpredictable, suddenly caring about her dignity, wondering if she was too debased.
She hesitated for a long time, finally resolved, and called out, "Someone come."
"Noble." A maid entered, temporarily arranged by the Prefect of Youzhou.
"Help me change." Wanyan Ya said lightly, stepping out of the bath, causing the water to splash.
Her exquisite figure, resembling a deity's creation, proudly exposed in the slightly cool air, droplets of water trickling down to the ground, and in the orange-yellow lamplight, her bewitching face was seductive, with beautiful purple eyes revealing a trace of springlike tenderness.
Due to differing customs between the two nations, Wanyan Ya felt unbothered by being exposed in front of the maid, but the maid blushed, fingers trembling as she took the cloth to gently dry Wanyan Ya's body and hair, then helped her dress.
First came the corset, then the underpants, followed by the purple palace skirt.
Wanyan Ya frowned slightly, finding the Great Wei fashion a bit cumbersome.
Once everything was done, the maid's nervous, embarrassed mood calmed slightly, and she softly asked, "Noble, shall I do your makeup?"
Wanyan Ya shook her head, then sat at the dressing table and said, "Please style my hair."
"Certainly."
At that moment, another maid entered, removed the bathtub, tidied up Wanyan Ya's old clothes, opened the window to release the steamy air, and lit the hearth and incense burner.
Once Wanyan Ya's hair was done, another maid brought a cup of fragrant tea for her to rinse her mouth.
The maid who had styled Wanyan Ya's hair sprayed her with rose perfume imported from Qingzhou.
Wanyan Ya bit her lip lightly. Being groomed so meticulously suggested that the noble she was to serve tonight was none other than the Emperor of Great Wei.
"Noble, we'll take our leave." Once tidying up was complete, a group of maids departed one after another. The maid speaking looked at Wanyan Ya with a trace of envy.
After all, he was their esteemed Majesty; this noble was truly fortunate.
Wanyan Ya took a gentle breath, then sat by the bed, quietly waiting.
But she didn't wait long before the door opened, and a tall figure entered, closing it behind.
Wanyan Ya looked up, heart pounding wildly, filled with tension, and her thoughts scattered in chaos.
Perhaps due to differing climates between two countries, Tuoba Hui, as a man of the prairie, was tall and strong, robust waist, bushy beard, his chest even rivaled an average woman's.
Chen Mo was also tall, with a masculine kind of face, but his frame was smaller. Purely in terms of appearance, compared to Tuoba Hui, Chen Mo was like a little wolf dog.
Were it not for knowing that Tuoba Hui died at this man's hands, Wanyan Ya might harbor some "belittlement" in her heart.
"Your M... Majesty." Wanyan Ya quickly stood to pay her respects, mimicking the "Songs" by bending slightly.
"No need for formalities." Chen Mo stepped forward, holding Wanyan Ya's hand.