He was the chief eunuch from the Empress’s palace. Since the Empress was the Crown Prince’s mother, the servants of the Crown Prince’s residence naturally dared not stop him.
Taoxi made his way straight to the inner courtyard and instructed Nanny Zhou to take him to the Princess Consort’s quarters. Nanny Zhou did not dare refuse and could only lead them to Shuangxue Courtyard.
Just as they approached the gate, they happened to encounter Princess Consort Rui coming out. Both sides halted. Taoxi bowed respectfully:
“Your servant greets Princess Consort Rui.”
“There’s no need for such courtesy, Eunuch Tao,” Princess Consort Rui smiled. “Miss Mingyue says she does not wish to enter the palace. The Crown Prince’s concubine is a tolerant mistress, willing to indulge her maid. Such devotion between master and servant is truly enviable.”
Nanny Zhou’s expression changed.
“So, she refuses to enter the palace.” Taoxi turned to glance at Nanny Zhou, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Unfortunately, I fear today she won’t have a choice.” Speaking, he strode straight into the courtyard.
Princess Consort Rui took her people and left.
Nanny Zhou couldn’t help spitting in her direction, then turned to follow Eunuch Taoxi.
Taoxi reached the doorway, turned his head, and signaled Nanny Zhou to open it.
Nanny Zhou hesitated for a moment, then reported from outside: “Princess Consort, Eunuch Taoxi requests to see you.”
The door opened once again.
“Is this never-ending?” Mingyue’s expression was annoyed. “My lady wishes to rest, can’t she? If it’s not this visitor, it’s that one—day after day, endless visits!”
Taoxi stared at her in astonishment. “You—”
“Mingyue, don’t be rude,” Nanny Zhou quickly tried to smooth things over. “This is Eunuch Taoxi, the chief steward of the Empress’s palace.”
Taoxi adjusted his expression, narrowed his eyes, and waited arrogantly for Mingyue to show fear and unease.
But Mingyue merely looked him up and down, then stepped aside: “Come in.”
Taoxi’s face stiffened, then he forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes:
“Mingyue, the Empress wishes to see you. She specially ordered me to come and escort you into the palace.”
Mingyue’s face remained blank: “My lady is accustomed to being served by me. I cannot leave her side.”
Taoxi was dumbfounded. He was already in his thirties, having entered the palace as a child. He had seen countless masters come and go, and delivering imperial summons was nothing new. But in all his years, he had never encountered such a brazenly defiant maidservant.
The Empress’s decree—yet she dared not only to defy it, but to offer such a laughable excuse. Her lady is “accustomed to her service”?
The words left him momentarily speechless. When he finally recovered, his face turned from green to pale, and he actually laughed in fury: “Mingyue, your loyalty is truly remarkable. Even with your own life at risk, you still worry whether your lady will be comfortable with another attendant. This is the first time I’ve ever met someone like you.”
Mingyue frowned. “Life at risk?”
“What, you don’t know that defying an imperial decree is a capital crime?” Taoxi said darkly.
Mingyue instinctively stepped back, then slammed the door shut with a loud bang: “Then I absolutely won’t go into the palace with you. Entering the palace means losing my life—am I a fool?”
She closed the door without warning, fast and forceful. Taoxi had no time to react; the wooden door struck his nose hard, leaving him bleeding profusely.
The four young eunuchs behind him jumped in shock, scrambling to support him.
“Eunuch Taoxi, are you all right?”
“Ah! You’re bleeding!”
“Quick, a handkerchief! Press it down!”
Nanny Zhou stood dumbfounded for a long moment before she finally reacted: “Someone, bring a basin of water to wash Eunuch Taoxi’s face, then fetch a physician—”
“No need!” Taoxi pressed a handkerchief to his nose, glaring coldly at the door. “The Crown Prince’s consort is of noble status. I dare not offend her. I’ll return to the palace at once and report to the Empress!” With that, he turned and left.
“Eunuch Taoxi! Eunuch Taoxi!” Nanny Zhou called after him.
But Taoxi and the four eunuchs strode away without looking back.
Inside the room, Mingyue stood at the window, watching Taoxi’s embarrassed retreat. She snorted gleefully: “Serves him right! A bunch of bullies—his nose should’ve been smashed crooked!”
Xiao Qingxue gazed out expressionlessly, her eyes cold and detached.
Indeed, human nature was selfish and callous.
The Empress, who had once been grateful to her, now resorted to such ruthless tactics for Pei Ziyan’s claim to the heir’s seat. To force her compliance, she even tried to use Mingyue as leverage.
“Mingyue.”
“Yes, my lady?” Mingyue turned her head.
“I had hoped for a peaceful parting,” Xiao Qingxue said coolly. “But the attitude of the Yong dynasty’s royal family is truly chilling.”
Mingyue nodded. “They were never decent people to begin with. My lady ought to give them a lesson they’ll never forget.”
Yes, they deserved a lifelong lesson.
Xiao Qingxue’s lips curved into a cold, indifferent smile.
At that moment, Pei Ziyan had just left court, unaware of what had transpired at the Crown Prince’s residence. But as soon as he stepped out, a maid from Fengyi Palace delivered a message: “Your Highness, the Empress requests that you come to Fengyi Palace after court. She has words for you.”
Pei Ziyan replied calmly, “Understood.”
“Your Highness must be in quite a bind these past two days,” Prince Wu followed with a mocking tone. “I hear that the consort of Jin Palace, unwilling to be demoted from principal wife to concubine, is clamoring for divorce… This is the first time such a thing has happened since the founding of Yong.”
Pei Ziyan shot him an annoyed glance.
Prince Rui spoke arrogantly: “In my view, women must be disciplined. Otherwise, they forget their place and think themselves important. Which man of noble birth doesn’t keep three wives and four concubines? And she, a mere physician’s daughter, dares to dream of ruling the inner palace?”
Prince Duan’s voice was cold and harsh: “If she insists on divorce, Your Highness should grant it—give her the papers, then confine her to the back courtyard as a concubine. Whip her daily until she bows her proud head. By then, if you restore her to consort, she’ll be grateful instead of rebellious.”
Pei Ziyan pressed his lips together, saying nothing, and walked toward Fengyi Palace. The princes’ words echoed in his ears. He knew they were mocking him, deliberately sowing discord to trouble him. Their intentions were malicious, hoping to stir strife between husband and wife.
Yet Pei Ziyan also knew the truth: he had indeed indulged Xiao Qingxue too much. First out of gratitude for saving his life, then because of his affection for her. That indulgence had emboldened her to make excessive demands again and again, until now—just as he was named Crown Prince—he had become the laughingstock of the entire capital.
He realized he could not continue to indulge Xiao Qingxue. Otherwise, the dignity of the royal family would be lost, and his authority as Crown Prince would crumble.
Inside Fengyi Palace, the atmosphere was heavy, like storm clouds gathering.
Pei Ziyan stepped through the doors.
The Empress sat upright on the phoenix throne, her face frosty, as though covered in ice.
The hall was filled with kneeling attendants; Taoxi was among them.
Pei Ziyan glanced around, confirmed that Xiao Qingxue was not present, then stepped forward to bow: “Your son greets Mother.”
“Ziyan, that consort of yours is truly formidable,” the Empress said coldly, no longer with the gentle gratitude she once showed when speaking of Xiao Qingxue. “Even a mere maid at her side dares defy an imperial decree. I wonder whose power she thinks she relies on!”