Faced with the young beauty’s repeated questioning, Xiao Shizhi felt as if her heart were breaking.
Xiao Shizhi took Bai Fuxue’s hand and lifted the delicate girl down from the rock.
“I love you. Taking new consorts is something I must do against my will. I promise you, they will merely occupy space in the rear palace.”
A sense of crisis immediately rose in Bai Fuxue’s heart, how was this any different from having a well-connected colleague parachuted into the workplace?
She felt like resigning on the spot.
Seeing Bai Fuxue remain silent, Xiao Shizhi said self-reproachfully, “The newcomer, Rong Xiuer, is Consort Rong’s younger sister. She was pampered and raised deep within a secluded mansion since childhood, likely a simple-minded young girl.”
Xiao Shizhi tapped Bai Fuxue’s forehead with her index finger. “Xuexue, don’t bully her too much.”
Bai Fuxue leaned softly against Xiao Shizhi’s shoulder, nodding like a delicate little bird.
“Everything is as Your Majesty wishes.”
As it was getting late, Xiao Shizhi returned to Zichen Hall with the eunuchs to continue her work.
With every step, she glanced back three times, unable to set her mind at ease about that delicate, adorable young beauty.
Xiao Shizhi said with a broken heart, “I thought Bai Fuxue would resist, but I never expected her to be so understanding…”
Li Dequan: “Her Ladyship is considerate, magnanimous, and tolerant naturally, she is excellent in every way.”
Xiao Shizhi cast a pensive glance at the chief eunuch beside her. “I don’t wish for her to be so fragile.”
In this devouring deep palace, any innocence or softness would inevitably be betrayed.
Time flew by, and half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Rong Xiuer was welcomed into the palace and granted the rank of Sixth Grade Baolin.
She resided in the same quarters as Consort Rong.
Inside Pearl Mirror Hall, Bai Fuxue listened to the lively commotion outside, feeling increasingly restless.
Songluo attended to her carefully: “Your Ladyship need not worry. His Majesty’s heart has always been with you. Your favor will surely remain undiminished.”
Bai Fuxue narrowed her eyes and let out a cold laugh. “All emperors are fickle never satisfied with what they have, always eyeing what’s next.”
She brewed the honey pomelo tea she had originally prepared for Xiao Shizhi and drank it herself.
A flicker of menace flashed in Bai Fuxue’s narrowed eyes.
If the newly arrived Baolin Rong was easy to get along with, then she would let bygones be bygones.
But if she didn’t know her place heh.
Songluo cautiously observed her mistress, breaking out in a cold sweat.
A few days later, a dignified matron of imposing presence entered Pearl Mirror Hall. “This humble servant pays respects to Consort Bai.”
Bai Fuxue was lying on her reclining couch like a dead fish. She tilted her head to look at the matron.
“Which palace do you serve? What business do you have with me?”
The matron had long heard that Bai Fuxue was excessively doted on by the Emperor. Seeing her today, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly!
Lying around like that in broad daylight, how improper!
Did this person have no bones in her body?
“This humble servant serves the Empress Dowager. Her Majesty requests Your Ladyship and Lady Lin Zhaoyi to join her for a chat to reminisce.”
Lin Zhaoyi was on good terms with Bai Fuxue (after the mahjong incident where Bai Fuxue won overwhelmingly, Lin Zhaoyi had been in a state of self-isolation). However, Lin Zhaoyi was not favored. Why would the Empress Dowager summon her?
Under the matron’s urging gaze, Bai Fuxue hastily threw on an outer robe and boarded a palanquin, swaying unsteadily as she made her way to the Empress Dowager’s palace.
The matron glanced at the languid Bai Fuxue and warned in a stern tone:
“Your Ladyship must be mindful in front of the Empress Dowager. Her Majesty values propriety and etiquette above all. Do not appear so lackadaisical.”
“Although Your Ladyship enjoys the Emperor’s favor, as a former consort of the late Emperor now in the current Emperor’s harem, you are inherently of lower standing than others.”
“Remember the hierarchy and order, Your Highness.”
The Empress Dowager resided in a remote palace. She was not Xiao Shizhi’s biological mother but had naturally become the current Empress Dowager as the former emperor’s empress.
The Empress Dowager frowned deeply, malice evident in her eyes. “Why hasn’t Consort Bai arrived yet? How presumptuous!”
The late emperor had doted on Bai Fuxue, treating his empress as merely a figurehead.
The Empress Dowager’s eyes brimmed with intense malice, and even her gaze toward Lin Zhaoyi turned cold.
She knew Bai Fuxue’s character was as gentle as a little white rabbit.
Without the late emperor’s protection, she would have been devoured without a trace long ago.
Lin Zhaoyi sat on pins and needles, while Rong Baolin, beside her, smiled amiably and sat close to the Empress Dowager.
After a long while, Bai Fuxue finally arrived leisurely.
The sedan bearers had walked extremely slowly under the pretext of safety, and it was clear they intended to make her late.
Bai Fuxue entered the dimly lit palace, faced the Empress Dowager, and slowly performed a curtsy.
The Empress Dowager glared at her coldly, as if looking at something utterly filthy.
“Seductive and bewitching, Consort Bai is truly remarkable.”
Rong Baolin, ever the troublemaker, giggled and said, “Aunt Dowager, you must seek justice for your niece! Since entering the palace, His Majesty has never once spent the night with me!”
Rong Baolin was very young, certainly not yet of age.
The Empress Dowager declared, “Consort Bai, you have corrupted the emperor’s heart. Do you admit your guilt?”
Bai Fuxue: “.”
I admit my guilt, it’s all because I was born too beautiful.
Bai Fuxue secretly added this thought in her mind.
With a headache, Bai Fuxue replied, “His Majesty has neither neglected state affairs nor arbitrarily punished any consorts. He has merely spent a few more nights with me. How have I committed any crime?”
Bai Fuxue had finally figured it out.
This was nothing but bullying the weak.
Unable to complain to Xiao Shizhi, they came to torment her instead.
The Empress Dowager trembled with rage, her temples throbbing. No one had ever dared to be so insolent in her presence!
Lin Zhaoyi was truly frightened and whispered urgently, “Sister, please say no more!”
The matron, catching the Empress Dowager’s signal, raised her hand to strike,
Bai Fuxue simply gave up: “Hitting me won’t solve the root of the problem. Will His Majesty go to Rong Baolin just because you strike me? Won’t he still come to comfort and cherish me?”
She didn’t dare say: For every insult you throw at me, Xiao Xiao will sleep with me once.
Though kneeling on the ground, Bai Fuxue’s demeanor was unyielding.
It almost seemed as if Rong Baolin should be the one kneeling.
The Empress Dowager’s hand trembled as she pointed at Bai Fuxue, her teeth chattering. “You”
Bai Fuxue wore an expression that said, “What can you do about it?” and added, “Your relationship with His Majesty has never been good, which is why you reside in this remote palace. Why make it worse now?”
Whether it was Consort Rong or Rong Baolin entering the palace, it was already a great honor bestowed upon the Empress Dowager’s family.
Bai Fuxue’s face showed a look that said, “You can’t be so greedy, child.”
Even in the workplace, one shouldn’t act like this. Knowing when to stop is the right way.
The Empress Dowager looked as if she was about to have a stroke.
Rong Baolin’s eyes reddened with grievance. “Sister Consort Bai, how can you be so arrogant!”
The Empress Dowager gritted her teeth, her well-maintained face contorted. “I plan to visit Xingguo Temple to pray. The three of you shall accompany me.”
The Empress Dowager had summoned Bai Fuxue to intimidate her.
Instead, Bai Fuxue remained unfazed, and the Empress Dowager found herself being lectured.
Once outside the palace, anything could happen.
Imperial Consort Lin Zhao looked at Bai Fuxue with deep concern, to which the other responded with a gentle smile.
A temple sounded wonderful in reality, Bai Fuxue had long wished to find a temple to reside in.
The Empress Dowager tried to read disappointment and fear on Bai Fuxue’s face, but instead, she only saw a trace of longing and anticipation.
Empress Dowager: ?
Upon hearing the news, Xiao Shizhi nearly dropped the brush in her hand.
“Bai Fuxue was summoned by the Empress Dowager?!”
Li Dequan replied, “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager was in a fierce temper and is likely to cause trouble for the consort.”
Xiao Shizhi’s heart raced with worry. She murmured to herself, “Xuexue is gentle and kind-hearted, and she has always been at odds with the Empress Dowager. Sending her into the lion’s den like this, I fear she will be bullied to death.”
Xiao Shizhi commanded, “Prepare the carriage for Xingqing Palace!”
Her delicate beauty, so tender and fragile, rarely ever stepped out of her chambers. This time, she must be terrified.