Bai Fuxue sat at the small desk beside Xiao Shizhi’s imperial desk, facing a mountain of documents and account books that could rival a pile of memorials.
Bai Fuxue smiled faintly, “Your Majesty, where are you going?”
Xiao Shizhi walked back from the door in despair, stiffly sitting down on the soft chair.
Bai Fuxue said with a cheerful smile, “Your Majesty, if you go to the imperial garden, you’ll be looking for me. And now, I am right here.”
Xiao Shizhi maintained a calm expression, upholding the dignity of the empress, but inside, she was on the verge of breaking down.
Li Dequan whispered, “Your Majesty, Consort Bai coming here to review materials is considered overstepping her bounds.”
A cold smile curled on Xiao Shizhi’s lips, “Let’s see how long she can hold out.”
Her little beauty sat quietly in front of the desk, flipping through past cases page by page.
The breeze brushed through the strands of hair on her forehead, causing the hairpin to tinkle softly, yet it did not disturb her train of thought.
In contrast, Xiao Shizhi, whose eyes were supposed to be on the memorials, couldn’t help but drift towards Bai Fuxue.
Time passed minute by minute, and Xiao Shizhi waited for Bai Fuxue to give up.
Well, as expected of the protagonist from the original story, she truly had patience. In order to gain her favor and affection, she was stubbornly enduring the wait.
Xiao Shixhi chuckled inwardly, feeling quite pleased.
Bai Fuxue was engrossed in various data, using a charcoal pen to take notes on paper while Xiao Shizhi wasn’t paying attention.
The number of invited guests exceeded a thousand, six thousand performers and palace attendants, the average cost of meals for each consort was twenty taels of silver, the dishes from the Imperial Kitchen.
Bai Fuxue categorized everything, almost drawing tables by hand.
She completely failed to notice Xiao Shizhi’s gaze.
Only when a voice came from above did she hear:
“Fuxue, do you miss your family?”
Bai Fuxue, who was calculating the median, paused, “Huh?”
She looked up to see Xiao Shizhi speaking gently, “Tomorrow, I will have your father and mother come to the palace to see you.”
Seeing the little beauty so well-behaved, she deserved a reward.
Bai Fuxue: ?
Don’t cause me trouble, okay? Can’t you see I’m busy?
Xiao Shizhi had originally thought that Bai Fuxue would last at most half an hour, and certainly no more than an hour.
But it turned out to be the entire day!
A whole day! Except for meals, Xiao Shizhi didn’t leave that chair.
Li Dequan was stunned, trembling as he said, “Your Majesty, Consort, please take care of your health.”
In the modern world, Xiao Shizhi was a carefully pampered rich second generation.
As part of the company’s decision-making layer, she might be busy at times, but not constantly busy, especially in a well-established large company it was almost like being a slacker.
Working twelve hours a day, Xiao Shizhi felt like she was about to fall apart.
The workload she used to find tedious now seemed trivial in comparison.
Xiao Shizho said hoarsely, “Aren’t you tired, my beloved consort?”
Bai Fuxue took a sip of tea and said, “Is Your Majesty tired?”
Bai Fuxue sighed softly, “If Your Majesty is tired, you should rest well. I must go to the Palace Administration to take a look.”
After saying this, Bai Fuxue bowed and left.
Just as Xiao Shizhi breathed a sigh of relief, Bai Fuxue turned back and said, “Your Majesty, forgive me for speaking out of turn, but it is already late. Your Majesty should rest well and not exhaust yourself in the rear palace.”
Bai Fuxue apologized, “Tomorrow, I’m afraid I won’t have time to work here. I hope Your Majesty will understand.”
Xiao Shizhi: “Alright, spend time well with your parents.”
After Bai Fuxue left, Li Dequan carefully massaged Her Majesty’s shoulders and said,
“How could Consort Bai possibly restrain Your Majesty?”
“Her Majesty the Empress just sent someone to ask if Your Majesty would like to visit Chang’an Hall?”
Xiao Shizhi: “.”
No energy. Didn’t want to go anywhere.
Xiao Shizhi returned to her bedchamber dejected. She had originally thought Bai Fuxue would turn to her for help, would feel at a loss, would be bullied by others in the harem, this would have been the perfect opportunity for her to play the hero and save the beauty.
Too bad. Bai Fuxue didn’t need her to play the hero at all.
The next day, after the morning court session, Bai Nianyong and his wife, dressed formally, were led by Li Dequan to the rear palace.
As an external male, Bai Nianyong normally wouldn’t be allowed to enter, but by the Emperor’s grace, he was permitted to see his daughter.
Bai Nianyong cautiously asked, “Eunuch Li, how has my daughter been faring in the palace?”
Li Dequan beamed, “Very well, she’s been doing wonderfully. His Majesty dotes on her immensely, enough to make everyone else envious.”
Bai Nianyong nodded repeatedly, “My daughter has been timid since childhood, pure and kind-hearted, though a bit foolish. I only hope His Majesty doesn’t mind.”
Li Dequan’s smile stiffened slightly, “You worry too much, sir.”
By “foolish,” do you mean playing mahjong for a full day and night and swindling all the savings of three high-ranking consorts?
By “timid,” do you mean working alongside His Majesty all day until His Majesty was too exhausted to visit the Empress?
Yesterday, His Majesty was forced to be diligent and didn’t even have time for a stroll in the imperial garden.
Seeing Li Dequan’s strained smile, Bai Nianyong’s heart sank,
“Has my daughter been mischievous and done something improper in the palace, displeasing His Majesty?”
Beside him, Madame Bai was so worried that tears welled up in her eyes.
Their poor youngest daughter had entered the palace during the previous emperor’s reign. Just when she could have become a grand imperial consort and rested peacefully, the new emperor brought her back into the turmoil of the harem.
When they learned their daughter had been sent to the cold palace by His Majesty, Madame Bai fainted on the spot.
Now, although she’s in favor, given His Majesty’s temperament, it’s likely just a passing fancy.
Li Dequan led them to the gate of the Pearl Mirror Hall, his smile perfectly crafted,
“As long as His Majesty is pleased, nothing can be considered improper.”
The Pearl Mirror Hall was noble and magnificent, exquisitely beautiful. Bai Nianyong supported his wife as they entered together.
Bai Fuxue stood at the entrance to welcome them and bowed in greeting upon seeing her parents.
Bai Nianyong and his wife knelt down, “Your servant pays respects to Consort Bai. May the Consort be at peace.”
Bai Fuxue quickly helped her nominal parents to their feet and settled them in the flower hall.
Bai Nianyong carefully observed every brick, tile, plant, and tree in the Pearl Mirror Hall, each was exquisitely crafted.
Even priceless eastern pearls and red coral were placed in corners as ordinary decorations.
Enough to see the extent of His Majesty’s favor.
At the sight of his daughter, Bai Nianyong’s tears flowed like a spring. The old general choked up, “How has the Consort been… living in the palace?”
It’s been absolutely wonderful.
Except for the last couple of days, she’s been lounging around every day, with clothes handed to her and meals served to her living a perfect life.
Bai Fuxue smiled, “Your daughter is doing very well.”
After some pleasantries, Madame Bai cautiously asked, “Consort, yesterday I heard from the wife of the Minister of Rites that you met with officials alongside His Majesty in the Purple Dawn Hall?”
Bai Fuxue recalled that indeed happened.
Working (scratch that, on duty) with Xiao Shizhi would naturally involve meeting ministers who came to pay respects to His Majesty.
Bai Nianyong’s face slightly changed, and he said with a trembling voice, “Your Highness, you are confused. No matter where you are, keeping a low profile is always the most important. Although His Majesty is not pursuing the matter now, who knows what may happen in the future.”
Bai Nianyong glanced around to ensure no one was nearby and spoke with heartfelt sincerity, “Your Highness, His Majesty’s temperament is unpredictable. Serving the emperor is like serving a tiger, one must be cautious at all times!”
“The nail that sticks out gets hammered. A tall tree catches the wind. Your Highness must never draw attention to yourself.”
Xiao Shizhi was in the Zichen Hall, listening to the secret guard recount the conversation between Bai Nianyong and Bai Fuxue.
Xiao Shizhi said with a complicated expression, “What did Consort Bai say?”
The secret guard replied, “Your Majesty, Her Highness said that after the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, she will no longer take on any responsibilities in managing the palace affairs. She plans to live peacefully as a good-for-nothing.”
The secret guard couldn’t help but explain, “These were Her Highness’s exact words.”
Xiao Shizhi: “.?”
How much self-awareness must one have to utter the word “good-for-nothing” so calmly?
Xiao Shizhi raised an eyebrow and muttered to himself, “Retreating in order to advance, huh.”
He gently rubbed the head of a large Maine Coon cat. “The prosperity of the Bai family rests entirely on Bai Fuxue. To capture my attention, she truly has a deep and cunning mind.”
The large cat, who was also described as “deep and cunning,” let out a “meow” and rubbed its head vigorously against Xiao Shizhi’s neck.
Xiao Shizhi: “You think so too, don’t you, Tangyuan?”
Tangyuan: “Meow.”
Xiao Shizhi: “Xuexue has been neglecting me these past few days. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, she must make it all up to me, right?”
Tangyuan: “Meow.”
The large cat successfully received a whole fish as a reward.