Bai Fuxue had long heard the commotion from Xiao Shizhi’s side.
She walked unhurriedly toward the Zichen Hall.
Songluo clutched her handkerchief tightly, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
“Your Highness, the court officials are all saying you interfered in state affairs and bewitched the emperor to rescue General Bai.”
Songluo was so frantic that sweat beaded all over her forehead, nearly stumbling and falling to the ground.
Bai Fuxue yawned wearily, still wearing the luxurious gown bestowed upon her by Xiao Shizhi.
The same one with those sheer silk trousers underneath.
Another strange play added to the collection.
Feeling utterly resigned to her fate, Bai Fuxue soon encountered Consort Rong, who had come to gloat.
Sitting high on her palanquin, Consort Rong leisurely propped her head up and said,
“I wondered who it was. So it’s Sister Bai. Did you sleep well last night?”
Bai Fuxue: “With His Majesty by my side, I naturally slept quite well.”
Damn, this is no different from those nitpicking colleagues in the workplace.
Consort Rong snorted arrogantly, glancing sideways at Bai Fuxue.
“It seems Sister Bai only has her sharp tongue left. I wonder if you can still be so eloquent when facing those frenzied censors?”
Even Bai Fuxue’s normally laid-back temperament was irritated by Consort Rong.
“Are you psychologically twisted, Consort Rong? You can’t gain His Majesty’s favor, yet as a consort in the rear palace, you refuse to cater to his preferences or carefully study his character. Instead, you’re here stewing in jealousy. I truly worry you’ll go mad in this harem one day.”
This is what you call ineffective internal competition, Consort Rong is a perfect example.
She competes pointlessly and won’t let others live in peace!
Bai Fuxue spoke calmly, “I’ve said it before, Sister: if you want His Majesty to visit you, just jump into the Taiye Pool or find a white silk rope to pretend to hang yourself. His Majesty would be too worried not to come.”
Consort Rong’s face turned pale then flushed, her teeth grinding audibly. Bai Fuxue turned and walked away.
Songluo, trembling with fear, glanced back at Consort Rong and quickened her pace.
Songluo stopped and tugged at her mistress’s sleeve,
“Your Highness! The front of Zichen Hall is filled with censors, all kneeling there.”
Songluo looked at her mistress with concern, “Perhaps we shouldn’t go. If we’re caught, we’ll be drowned in their spit.”
Songluo felt her mistress was truly pitiable. It was clearly General Bai who lacked clothing and provisions, and her mistress only helped resolve it. Yet she’s accused of meddling in state affairs.
Sunlight glinted off Bai Fuxue’s jeweled hairpins. Her beautiful peach-blossom eyes smiled, clearer and brighter than the entire Taiye Pool.
Bai Fuxue slowly approached. The lead censor kneeling at the front suddenly turned his head, his wrinkled, gaunt face first stunned, then filled with rage.
Zhu Ta pointed a bony finger sharply at Bai Fuxue, “You.”
Bai Fuxue stared back coldly.
Zhu Ta spat out through gritted teeth, “This old minister greets Consort Bai.”
As the head censor, Zhu Ta naturally knelt at the very front.
All the other censors behind him watched intently.
Li Dequan, observing from a distance, felt his heart pound with fear. He wanted to step forward but worried about making things worse.
Sweat dripped from his forehead, trickling down his neck.
Zhu Ta snarled viciously, “You vile seductress! You bewitched the late emperor, seduced the new emperor, your crimes warrant execution! And now you dare meddle in court affairs? Truly a demon incarnate!”
Veins bulged on Zhu Ta’s forehead as he spat with fury.
Bai Fuxue: Is that all?
Zhu Ta had unleashed a torrent of harsh words, but when he scrutinized Bai Fuxue’s expression, he found not a trace of shame.
Zhu Ta: “The Bai family has produced generations of brave warriors, how could they spawn a disgrace like you?”
This was the most cutting insult of all.
Bai Fuxue curled her lips slightly, inwardly concerned about her own composure.
Zhu Ta had expected to reduce this enchanting consort to tears of humiliation.
Instead, Bai Fuxue’s expression remained utterly unchanged even indifferent.
Indifferent!
Damn it!
That look actually suggested she found him dull!
How could Bai Fuxue be so shameless!
Zhu Ta gasped for breath, his neck flushing red and swelling thick.
Bai Fuxue lowered her voice so only the two of them could hear, “Sir, I heard your son had a conflict with the heir of the Jin Prince’s estate?”
Zhu Ta’s pupils trembled, his gaze turning wary: “What are you implying, Your Highness!”
How could a woman confined to the deep palace know so clearly about events outside the walls?
It had only happened late last night, even his political rivals hadn’t caught wind of it yet.
Bai Fuxue smiled faintly, “I heard your son was beaten half to death. And he’s your most outstanding son, the one destined to inherit the family legacy, isn’t he?”
Bai Fuxue chuckled as she placed a hand on Zhu Ta’s shoulder, amused by how rigidly he knelt, her smile widening.
“If everyone were to learn that your highly esteemed son brawled with the Jin heir over a top courtesan and that the courtesan in question is actually a man, perhaps even more… impressively endowed than your son, imagine how all of the capital would laugh.”
As someone who had read the original novel, Bai Fuxue remembered this scene vividly.
She wondered what twisted humor the author possessed to design the capital’s most famous courtesan as a man.
The kind who was exceptionally striking when undressed.
Zhu Ta’s lips quivered, his teeth chattering, his hand shaking as he pointed at Bai Fuxue.
He nearly choked on his breath.
The laughter faded from Bai Fuxue’s peach-blossom eyes, replaced by an icy sharpness.
“Sir, consider this: even if I were to overstep in governance, the worst His Majesty would do is confine me to my quarters.”
“Your son, however, might spend the rest of his life bedridden, while the Jin heir merely receives a scolding.”
Zhu Ta stared at Bai Fuxue with his clouded eyes, seeing only the woman’s extraordinary beauty.
The venomous favored consort declared, “You’re hardly spotless yourself, yet you dare attack me? I wonder if your patron, Prince Su, can conjure up a new worthy son for you.”
After delivering this speech, Bai Fuxue felt parched and didn’t bother to observe the shock and terror on the faces behind her.
Supported by Li Dequan, Bai Fuxue entered the Zichen Hall and languidly collapsed onto the chaise lounge beside Xiao Shizhi.
Xiao Shizhi paused her brush, pinching the bridge of her nose in resignation. “Must you carry on like this?”
Bai Fuxue scooped up the loudly mewing cat, buried her face in its fluffy belly, and took a deep inhale!
Tangyuan: “Meow, rowr!”
Before long, the censors kneeling outside gradually dispersed, while a thick stack of letters was delivered to Prince Su’s residence.
Even an honest official can’t settle family disputes, let his master see clearly how many secrets his subordinates were hiding.
This was Xiao Shizhi’s sternest warning to her imperial uncle.
Xiao Shizhi helplessly walked to Bai Fuxue’s side, grabbed Tangyuan by the scruff of the neck, and tossed the large cat out the window.
Bai Fuxue’s arms now empty, she looked at her innocently.
“Your Majesty?”
Xiao Shizhi’s eyes turned dangerous. “Tomorrow, no one will continue to slander you. I’ve helped you solve this major problem. How will my beloved consort thank me?”
Bai Fuxue was too tired to move, gazing at her with lifeless eyes like a dead fish.
Those eyes, which had just been bright as sunlight, were now completely vacant.
Bai Fuxue perfunctorily kissed Xiao Shizhi’s cheek. “It’s getting late, Your Majesty should get to work. I’ll rest here for a while.”
With that, Bai Fuxue turned over and truly fell asleep.
Xiao Shizhi: ?
The beauty’s sleeping posture was charmingly naive, with a string of golden bells hanging from her ankle.
Xiao Shizhi stood in place with a deep gaze, fingers rubbing her prayer beads.
After pondering for a long time, Xiao Shizhi murmured to herself: “Is Xuexue silently tempting me?”
Xiao Shizhi sneered: “Very well, let’s see how long you can pretend to sleep.”
What a spoiled little vixen.
Xiao Shizhi sat back at the desk to review memorials, inwardly amused: She’s pretending quite convincingly. When it comes to endurance, who can match me?
Just wait until my beloved consort can’t keep up the act anymore, then we’ll see how I collect my due.
Xiao Shizhi chuckled softly: This scheming girl playing hard to get, completely unable to be apart from anyone.
The sleeping Xuexue: “.”