Xiao Shizhi stood in the Empress’s bedchamber, watching as the Empress knelt on the floor in a flustered panic.
Rubbing her tired brow, Xiao Shizhi stated flatly, “You have been in close contact with my imperial uncle.”
It was a statement of fact, not a question.
The Empress’s beautiful face paled, her lovely eyes welling with tears that shimmered like troubled waters, a heartbreaking sight.
Covering her face with her hands, the Empress pleaded, “Your Majesty, this is all because of my jealous nature. I was blinded by envy of Consort Bai’s favor. This has nothing to do with my brother.”
Xiao Shizhi’s fingers tapped lightly on the table, producing a rhythmic tapping sound.
This was a lie.
Everyone knew of Prince Su’s ambitious nature. As his sister, the Empress had already chosen her side when she had no other choice.
The entire Chang’an Palace fell into a suffocating stillness.
Xiao Shizhi commanded, “Rise.”
The Empress wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, looking like a dew-kissed peony, pitiful and delicate.
Xiao Shizhi gazed at her with cold eyes. “As my Empress and the mother of the Great Xia Dynasty, I am willing to grant you the dignity you deserve. But if there is a next time, the consequences will not be so easily resolved.”
“The late Emperor’s memorial day is approaching. For the next two months, you shall copy scriptures in the palace’s small Buddhist hall. Do not leave unless necessary.”
Unlike Bai Fuxue’s captivating beauty, the Empress’s appearance leaned more toward solemn elegance. Raised in the inner chambers where every smile and glance followed strict rules, she lacked a certain liveliness.
The interests of her family were engraved in her bones.
The Empress’s face turned deathly pale. “Your Majesty!”
Xiao Shizhi dismissed her, “The Empress may retire.”
Rubbing her temples, Xiao Shizhi waved her hand, signaling for the Empress to be escorted away.
She sighed inwardly. If I can’t deal with my imperial uncle, can’t I at least handle you?
In the original novel, the rebellious Prince Su had nearly overthrown Xiao Shizhi, staining the capital with blood.
Although the Empress was a weak woman caught in political struggles, she was by no means innocent.
No matter how carefully one guards against external threats, internal treachery is hardest to prevent. Xiao Shizhi shuddered to think how terrifying it would have been if she hadn’t rescued Bai Fuxue during the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.
The Bai family would likely have had designs on the throne.
The mere thought made Xiao Shizhi break out in a cold sweat. She quickly took a sip of tea to calm her nerves.
Just as the palace fell into silence, Li Dequan came hurrying over.
Before he even arrived, Xiao Shizhi caught the refreshing scent of pomelo.
Li Dequan announced, “Your Majesty, Consort Bai has sent you a pomelo lantern to aid your sleep.”
The pomelo lantern had triangular eyes and a gap-toothed mouth resembling a Halloween jack-o’-lantern, giving it a rather eerie appearance.
Inside, a flickering candle burned, intensifying the pomelo’s fragrance as it warmed.
Xiao Shizhi asked, “Did Xuexue carve this herself?”
She really likes me!
Leaving the Empress’s Peace Palace, Xiao Shizhi carried the toy-like pomelo lantern.
Xiao Shizhi wondered aloud, “Did Bai Fuxue not say she missed me?”
She couldn’t believe it and felt thoroughly unsettled.
Was Bai Fuxue really so unconcerned about her spending the night in someone else’s bed?
Did she not feel even a hint of jealousy?!
Li Dequan hurried to keep up with the Empress’s pace, panting as he fabricated an explanation:
“Your Majesty, Consort Bai probably does miss you, but she dares not say it directly due to the Empress’s status. She’s also worried that her position as a consort of the late Emperor might invite gossip, so she can only express her feelings in this subtle way.”
“How considerate she is! Your Majesty, please don’t break her heart.”
Xiao Shizhi quite liked hearing that.
Bai Fuxue lay flat on the bed, watching as the moon had already risen to the center of the sky, the night was deep.
Songluo, beside her, was arranging the bedding for her mistress, wiping away tears as she said:
“Your Highness, Your Highness, at this hour, His Majesty has likely already retired for the night. Please don’t wait any longer.”
Bai Fuxue flopped onto the bed, wriggled a few times, and wrapped herself up like a silkworm cocoon.
Bai Fuxue: “I’m not waiting for her. I just can’t sleep.”
She had slept the entire day, and now was the perfect time to party.
Bai Fuxue stared wide-eyed, hardly able to believe it. Just a few months ago, she would still be at the office revising proposals at this hour.
Laughing to death, she barely managed four hours of sleep a day.
Songluo tucked her mistress in and said, “It’s good that Your Highness isn’t worried. His Majesty holds you in his heart. On his bedside table rests the pomelo lantern you carved with your own hands.”
Songluo thought her mistress was suffering in silence and carefully avoided prying further.
With a sigh, Songluo extinguished most of the candles and retreated to the outer chamber, squeezing into a bed with the other personal maids.
Songluo whispered to the maid beside her, “Her Highness is so deeply devoted. These nights must be terribly difficult for her.”
The other maid whispered back, “His Majesty does care for Her Highness, but as the Empress rules the four seas, all the beauties of the world belong to her. It’s inevitable that she cannot grant Her Highness exclusive favor.”
The two maids spoke in hushed tones, but every word was clearly heard by Xiao Shizhi, who stood outside the door.
Xiao Shizhi stood with a complicated expression at Bai Fuxue’s bedside, silently removing her clothes and slipping under the covers with Bai Fuxue.
She thought she was moving quietly, careful not to disturb the sleeping beauty.
But as soon as she lifted the quilt, their eyes met.
Xiao Shizhi: ?
Bai Fuxue: ?
The two stared at each other blankly for several minutes before Xiao Shizhi asked, “You’re still awake?”
Bai Fuxue pulled her into the bed, equally surprised. “Aren’t you supposed to be in the Empress’s tender embrace?”
Bai Fuxue blinked guiltily. “If I said I couldn’t sleep without Your Majesty’s company, would you believe me?”
Xiao Shizhi nodded. “I believe you.”
Bai Fuxue: ?
You’re so easy to fool.
Though her voice remained calm, Xiao Shizhi wrapped her arms tightly around her little beauty, holding her close and inhaling deeply several times.
My little beauty holds me in her heart!
The next day.
Bai Fuxue suddenly heard from her maids that the Empress had been punished by His Majesty and sent to the small prayer hall.
She stared in disbelief at Xiao Shizhi, who was reviewing memorials diagonally across from her.
Yes, Bai Fuxue had once again been summoned to the Zichen Hall.
Xiao Shizhi couldn’t stand to see her leisurely lifestyle sleeping half the day, picking fruits to brew wine in the afternoon, and soaking in hot springs at night.
Xiao Shizhi continued writing with her brush, as if unaware of Bai Fuxue’s gaze.
Inwardly, however, she was brimming with pride, hoping Bai Fuxue would ask.
But before Bai Fuxue could speak, the Minister of War requested an audience.
Bai Fuxue obediently and sensibly moved behind the screen, not wanting to be accused of meddling in court affairs.
The Minister of War knelt before the Empress, presenting a memorial with both hands.
For no apparent reason, Bai Fuxue’s heart skipped a beat, filled with unease.
Xiao Shizhi quickly scanned the document and frowned. “General Bai is short on clothing and provisions at the border. Having just repelled scattered raids from the Northern Court, their supplies are nearly depleted and can’t last more than five days?”
The Minister of War replied, “Yes, in the Ganzhou region, the autumn harvest grain has not yet been transported. Moreover, Ganzhou is rich in cattle and sheep. If we dispatch them urgently, they could reach General Bai in less than two days.”
Xiao Shizhi glanced at Bai Fuxue behind the screen. “The supplies in Ganzhou belong to the Northern Garrison Army, which is under the jurisdiction of my esteemed imperial uncle.”
The Vice Minister of War replied, “Your Majesty, the Northern Garrison Army is stationed near Jiayu Pass, which is also a crucial stronghold for resisting the Northern Court.”
Xiao Shizhi raised an eyebrow slightly but said nothing, waving his hand to dismiss the Vice Minister of War.
After the official left, Bai Fuxue immediately emerged from behind the screen, her delicate face pale with fright (or so Xiao Shizhi thought).
Bai Fuxue spoke timidly, “Your Majesty, my brother.”
Xiao Shizhi pinched her chin and smiled faintly, “Do you want me to help?”
See, his little beauty was just as the books described utterly dependent on him.
Even if she usually seemed aloof, in reality, she was nothing more than a clinging vine wrapped around his life.
Bai Fuxue: “…”
Do you know why the Bai family has so many charges against them?
If you don’t give them provisions, they’re practical people they’ll really resort to seizing them.
Generals in the field sometimes defy imperial orders, you know?
Pushed to the brink, they’ll overthrow a tyrant’s rule, you know?
Xiao Shizhi, in a very tyrannical manner, pinched the little beauty’s chin and said, “I’ve had some clothes made for you. My beloved consort, your usual attire is too plain and lacks the dignity befitting your rank.”
Xiao Shizhi narrowed his eyes greedily. “The lives of your brother and tens of thousands of soldiers now rest entirely in your hands.”
Bai Fuxue was instantly reluctant when she saw the clothes.
She couldn’t sell her soul.
Xiao Shizhi said, “If you don’t want to wear these clothes, that’s fine too. But you must come to the Zichen Hall every day to accompany me while I review memorials.”
Bai Fuxue was shocked by this person’s psychological distortion. After a long moment, she gritted her teeth and squeezed out a single word:
“I’ll wear them.”