Xiao Shizhi gazed at the familiar aroma of milk tea before her, then shifted her eyes to Bai Fuxue.
Their eyes met, and in each other’s gaze, they detected a strange emotion.
Bai Fuxue asked, “Does Your Majesty not like it?”
Xiao Shizhi took a small sip. Not bad.
The round, chewy black sugar taro balls on the spoon were translucent, and the red beans added a sweetness that balanced the tea and milk flavors.
Xiao Shizhi’s mind buzzed as she silently drank more than half the bowl.
Li Dequan glanced sideways at Consort Bai. Truly remarkable.
It was rare for the Emperor to personally taste food sent by consorts most were simply discarded.
The only ones who had received such an honor were the woman before him and Consort Rong.
The lingering fragrance on Xiao Shizhi’s lips left her feeling perplexed.
If Bai Fuxue was from the modern era, could time travel really happen to anyone?
If she was that Bai Fuxue the one with the same name there were indeed familiar details, but the Bai Fuxue before her was as lazy as a salted fish, with none of the overachiever’s drive.
Whether it was the earlier pine needle soda or this bubble tea, all the ingredients used were available in ancient times.
It was hard to say whether it was Bai Fuxue’s innovation or the original author’s arrangement.
Xiao Shizhi smiled faintly. “The flavor is excellent. I like it very much.”
It tasted like home.
Bai Fuxue walked around the dragon desk, curled up on the young Empress’s lap, and giggled as she wrapped her arms around her.
Li Dequan tactfully withdrew, leaving the two alone.
The next day.
Bai Fuxue woke in the bedchamber of Zichen Hall, but Xiao Shizhi was no longer beside her.
Her body ached so much she could barely rise, a throbbing pain pulsing in her lower back.
Her ankle was bruised from being gripped, and the slender calf that could be encircled with one hand still bore teeth marks.
Songluo came to attend to her, saying, “Your Highness, it’s already late. You must get up now.”
Bai Fuxue groaned and mumbled in bed, feeling as if she’d worked herself to death.
Damn it in the real world, she’d slaved away for her boss, nearly dying at her desk.
Now, as a kept woman, she had to toil in bed.
Bai Fuxue muttered, “Money’s hard to earn, shit’s hard to swallow.”
Songluo didn’t understand her mistress’s words. She pulled her up, helped her wash, and urged anxiously,
“Your Highness, the Empress has personally instructed that you pay your respects to her every morning.”
Songluo held up a dazzling gem hairpin, comparing it against Bai Fuxue’s styled hair.
“Your Highness must dress properly.”
Bai Fuxue yawned. “Keep it simple. I’ll just go back to sleep afterward.”
Songluo exclaimed, “Your Highness!”
What favored consort didn’t bother to dress up? She had all the makings of a beloved concubine!
Their mistress was far too casual. “If Your Highness appears too plain, the other consorts will mock you for being neglected.”
Bai Fuxue chuckled. “No matter what I do, there will always be gossip behind my back. Would loading my hair with jewels stop the criticism?”
Bai Fuxue rose from the dressing table and, supported by her maid, left Zichen Hall.
Songluo clearly disagreed, hurrying alongside the sedan.
She whispered, “Your Highness, be alert. The Empress has no tolerance for carelessness.”
Everyone in the rear palace knew the Empress and the Emperor had a poor relationship, a purely political marriage.
Devoid of affection, driven solely by interests.
Ever since the Emperor brought Bai Fuxue out of the cold palace, she hadn’t even spared the Empress a second thought.
Songluo: “On the first and fifteenth of last month, and the first of this month, His Majesty didn’t come. It’s likely he won’t come on the fifteenth either.”
Songluo: “I heard the Empress was so angry she reprimanded all the imperial consorts and randomly punished several low-ranking consorts to copy Buddhist scriptures through the night.”
Songluo smiled: “Your Ladyship was spared from paying respects under His Majesty’s protection. Otherwise, the Empress’s misplaced anger would have definitely fallen on you.”
As Bai Fuxue listened to Songluo’s report, she sighed inwardly.
As long as the Empress didn’t make any major mistakes, she would enjoy a lifetime of wealth and honor, she had essentially found the perfect strategy for this life.
Bai Fuxue lay lazily on the palanquin, thinking that gains always come with losses.
Just like her she gained wealth but lost her worries.
Seeing that her mistress showed no sign of nervousness, Songluo felt genuinely relieved.
Bai Fuxue stepped down from the palanquin, facing the Chang’an Hall. Solemn and majestic, it lacked the feminine delicacy characteristic of the consorts’ palaces.
Supported by attendants, Bai Fuxue entered to find the hall already filled with consorts.
The moment Bai Fuxue appeared, all eyes turned toward her.
Their gazes were mixed some curious, some disdainful, some envious. Only Consort Lin showed genuine concern.
Bai Fuxue knelt properly to pay her respects.
The woman seated in the foremost position wore bright red robes, adorned with exquisite pearls and jade. She appeared kind and benevolent.
The Empress didn’t immediately permit Bai Fuxue to rise, instead saying leisurely:
“Consort Bai has been quite busy lately. I haven’t seen you around.”
Bai Fuxue replied: “Your Majesty, I have been attending to His Majesty. No palace staff reminded me to come pay respects.”
Everyone present frowned at once.
Listen to what she’s saying!
Noble Consort Rong gripped her fan until it creaked,
Is she flaunting the Emperor’s favor?!
The Empress’s composed smile froze for a moment at the corners of her mouth before she slowly said:
“Attending to His Majesty is indeed demanding. However, Consort Bai, you must understand that the moon waxes and wanes, and fortunes change. Do not let His Majesty’s favor weaken the bonds between sisters.”
The Empress’s smile grew even more amiable. “Do you understand, Consort Bai?”
Bai Fuxue nodded, but the Empress still didn’t permit her to rise.
She was determined to teach her a proper lesson.
Bai Fuxue frowned imperceptibly. From the beginning until the end of the audience, she remained kneeling in the center.
Though the carpeted floor wasn’t painful, the hierarchical treatment displeased her.
Yet, considering it as part of the package of her carefree life, she found it somewhat acceptable.
Such is life nothing to be ashamed of.
Noble Consort Rong sneered: “I see Sister Bai is quite delicate. If His Majesty stops visiting the Pearl Mirror Hall, I fear she might be heartbroken.”
As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, discussions began about organizing the evening banquet.
Low-ranking consorts were dismissed, leaving only mid-to-high ranking ones in the Chang’an Hall.
Bai Fuxue said curiously: “His Majesty goes where he pleases. Would he stay just because I tried to stop him?”
Bai Fuxue directly gave up resisting: “I don’t know what I’ve done wrong to deserve public kneeling. But if Your Majesty enjoys seeing me kneel in the center, I’d be happy to please you by kneeling here daily.”
The Empress’s composed smile vanished abruptly, her brow furrowing sharply.
What kind of talk is this!
Clearly, she lacks respect for hierarchy, yet it’s become my fault?!
Before Noble Consort Rong could speak, an announcement came: Her Majesty the Empress was arriving.
Before Xiao Shizhi even stepped inside, she saw a familiar figure kneeling upright behind the curtain.
Xiao Shizhi said coldly, “What’s going on here?”
Everyone immediately bowed respectfully upon seeing Xiao Shizhi’s arrival.
Xiao Shizhi helped Bai Fuxue up, instinctively glancing at her knees.
The Empress forced a smile and said, “Your Majesty, we were just discussing arrangements for the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. Your arrival is timely there are some decisions that require your approval.”
Xiao Shizhi stared coldly at the lavishly dressed woman before her.
Not being from ancient times herself, she couldn’t stand the practice of kneeling at every turn. Others might be tolerable, but Bai Fuxue was her only sense of familiarity in this strange world.
And now, here she was, kneeling in the middle of the room, made a spectacle for everyone to see.
Xiao Shizhi said sternly, “I’m asking why Consort Bai is kneeling in the middle. How long has she been kneeling?”
Having spent years in the workplace, Bai Fuxue had mastered the art of passive-aggression.
Before the Empress could speak, Bai Fuxue weakly tugged at Xiao Shizhi’s sleeve and whispered, “Your Majesty, please don’t be angry. Her Majesty the Empress enjoys watching me kneel, and I did so willingly. Seeing Her Majesty pleased brings me satisfaction.”
Not a single word mentioned “grievance,” yet every word reeked of it.
Empress: ” ???”
Everyone: ???
Xiao Shizhi: “.”
Such familiar tea-artistry she loved it.