Before Joana knew what was happening, suggestions started flying at her from every side—little tips and tricks passed down by their mothers and softly whispered by the older sisters.
In no time, she found herself gently pulled toward the bathhouse by a group of excited girls. It was as if it wasn't she who was gonna get fucked but everyone in the Harem.
It wasn't just her victory—it felt like a win for all of them.
Inside the cool, dim bathhouse, the air buzzed with low chatter and the clatter of water against stone.
The other concubines helped her wash away the day's worries.
They carefully brushed out her long dark hair until it shone, and one of them even scrubbed her skin so thoroughly that it turned a rosy pink and felt almost raw.
A kind girl with a jar of white cream—something she'd bought during the last turn—worked to remove unwanted hairs from her underarms and legs, leaving only the natural brown curls between her thighs untouched. It was rumored that the emperors liked them...
One concubine took it upon herself to clean her insides. She used a round brush and inserted it in her backhole to clean it thoroughly and she used her fingers and inserted them in Joana's pink hole to clean it...
But only for a short while, not daring to make it a pleasure session for her.
If someone is caught in a self-pleasing act, then they will be thrown out of the Harem...
It was well known that, the previous emperor once caught a concubine pleasuring herself, she serviced the emperor the previous night, it was said that it was her first time getting fucked and she liked it so much that she couldn't control herself and ended up inserting her fingers...but alas, she was caught and thrown out of the Harem.
Another concubine took up the task of braiding her hair, working slowly and methodically, while a third tried to show her the basics of applying powder and red cream to her face in a way that made her features pop.
Only Concubine Marianne stayed quiet, her lips tightly pressed together as if she were holding back secrets or perhaps just didn't care to share her advice.
Before anyone realized it, the afternoon had crept up on them, and they were running late for their meal.
At the table, while Joana mechanically sipped a bowl of plain chicken broth, the chatter resumed in earnest. One girl casually urged her to let the Emperor do whatever he wanted, while another boldly suggested that she should take charge and show him exactly how much she enjoyed it. The clashing voices spun around in her head until she could barely focus on her meal.
The reality was harsh and undeniable: tonight, she was going to sleep with the Emperor.
In plain language, he was going to fuck her. The thought was both shocking and sobering. It wasn't just about an intimate encounter—it was a reminder of her place in this world. She was just a part of the harem, and no matter how much she might wish to refuse, there was no real option. The Emperor was the Emperor, and his word was final.
Joana couldn't help but reflect bitterly on how she'd always judged her mother, calling her names and thinking of her as nothing more than a whore.
And now, she wondered, how was she any different? Even though she had agreed to the Gracious Mother's deal—trading a part of herself, yes—she had accepted it because there was no other way. It wasn't about what was right or wrong anymore; it was about survival.
Later, when Meria Sand came to escort her to the private rooms specially set aside for concubines on such nights, Joana felt a strange calm settle in her chest. She was dressed simply in a blue dress, her long hair neatly braided down her back, and a thin layer of red cream tinted her lips.
Unlike the consorts or ladies, who waited for the Emperor in their own chambers, she was taken to a set of apartments prepared just for concubines like her.
As she walked steadily down the corridor, her eyes fixed ahead, she nearly bumped into Lady Margaery. Dressed in striking green and gold, with her hair tumbling gracefully over her shoulders, Lady Margaery carried herself with an air of self-assuredness.
With a casual hand resting on her flat stomach, she murmured, "Enjoy it while it lasts. You're just a distraction while I'm with a child. Once I give birth, the Emperor's favor will be all mine again."
Meria Sand said nothing as Lady Margaery moved aside, and Joana couldn't tell if this was a test from the Gracious Mother or just the bitter truth of their world. Still, she managed a small, respectful smile and slightly bent her knees in acknowledgment. No matter how difficult things were, Lady Margaery still held a higher place, and Joana knew it.
Trying to lighten the moment, Joana spoke softly, "We all serve the Emperor the best way we can, Lady Margaery. I'm truly honored that His Majesty sees something in me. It fills me with hope to think that maybe one day I can be as respected as you. And if I ever have the chance to bear an imperial child, I promise I'll be just as kind to the lady in his light as you've been to me."
Lady Margaery didn't reply, but her brown eyes lingered on Joana for a moment, as if she were trying to figure out whether Joana was a threat or simply another pawn in this relentless game.
With a slight curl of her lips, she stepped carefully around the pregnant woman and moved on. As Joana watched her leave, she couldn't help but wonder if even in pregnancy, Lady Margaery had expected the Emperor's loyalty to remain with her alone.
At that moment, Joana made up her mind. She wouldn't repeat her mother's mistakes. She resolved to hold onto her dignity and never let herself be just another casualty of the Emperor's whims.