Concubine Xian said, "Though, by tradition, a consort over the age of forty is no longer called for the Emperor's bed. But the Emperor is not a man of fickleness and ungratefulness. From time to time, he will visit the rooms of the consorts who have given him children. Especially ones like us, who still have connections in our birth families, we have to appear important to sustain the morale of the court."
"The last time the Emperor visited us here was over a month ago, and even then, his stay was brief. As for spending the night…it must have been seven or eight years since that last happened."
Concubine Xian nodded silently.
Though she appeared serene, she, as a woman, had not aged to the extent of completely losing a woman's desires.
She too had desires.
However, her man was the Emperor, the man to whom over a hundred consorts belonged.
He had countless women at his disposal. His affections were not infinite and could not be shared equally.