The Pearl Mirror Hall was not far from the Purple Palace where Xiao Shizhi resided.
It was the first palace the protagonist lived in after leaving the cold palace in the book.
Bai Fuxue stood before the opulent palace, lost in a long silence.
This place was too luxurious. It was close to the imperial garden, yet somewhat distant from the palaces of other consorts, making it a tranquil spot amidst the hustle and bustle.
But one must remember, the protagonist in the book had nearly been tortured to death in the cold palace before finally managing to move out.
Bai Fuxue murmured to herself, “It’s too easy.”
Songluo couldn’t stop smiling. “What is Your Ladyship saying? It’s because His Majesty favors you. His heart is full of you.”
Bai Fuxue: “…”
Admittedly, the change of location was quite pleasant. In the summer, there was ice, a whole crystal plate of fruits, and the cool mat on the bed was smooth and soft. Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t made of bamboo but of ivory.
Songluo smiled and said, “His Majesty is truly thoughtful.”
Bai Fuxue lay down on the chaise lounge, and immediately two young maids came to massage her legs.
Songluo hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. “Your Ladyship, you should go to express your gratitude.”
If she didn’t go to thank His Majesty, he might think her ignorant of etiquette and become angry.
Songluo trembled with fear, not daring to imagine the consequences.
Bai Fuxue lounged lazily on the chaise lounge and waved her hand.
“Isn’t she coming tonight? We’ll talk about it then.”
Songluo: “!”
Songluo was on the verge of tears from anxiety.
How could their mistress be so disrespectful to the emperor!
Bai Fuxue, comfortably attended to by the young maid, closed her eyes drowsily, breathing in the delicate floral scent from outside.
It was very hypnotic.
A woman’s sharp voice outside the window shattered the tranquility.
“I want to see just how arrogant this seductress without even a title can be!”
A group of people approached in a grand procession. Bai Fuxue drowsily opened her eyes.
The woman at the front was adorned with gold, silver, pearls, and jade. Just the phoenix hairpin alone was worth a fortune, and the pearl in her mouth shimmered with luxurious brilliance under the sunlight.
Bai Fuxue lay on the chaise lounge, watching blankly.
Her mind was empty. Who was this again?
Songluo immediately knelt to pay respects, pulling Bai Fuxue along. “Greetings to the Noble Consort. May the Noble Consort be at peace.”
Noble Consort Rong said coldly, “Sister, you truly have remarkable charm. At twenty-three, you still manage to win His Majesty’s favor.”
Noble Consort Rong sneered as she sat in the main seat. “I wonder what the late emperor would think if he saw this.”
Bai Fuxue brushed off her skirt and stood up. “…”
Another workplace troublemaker. Will this ever end?
The matron beside Noble Consort Rong scolded sharply, “Her Ladyship has not permitted you to rise.”
Bai Fuxue leaned against the armchair and yawned.
“But His Majesty has never asked me to kneel in his presence.”
Noble Consort Rong’s face darkened to the extreme, forcing a smile as she said,
“Summer is the perfect time to admire lotus flowers. I’ve been waiting at the Fragrance Hall for a long time, but the servants never brought the lotuses. It turns out they were all sent to you, sister.”
Noble Consort Rong elegantly adjusted her hairpin, which glittered with golden light.
“I wonder if a former consort like you can truly appreciate them.”
Bai Fuxue: ?
Bai Fuxue glanced back and saw that the courtyard was indeed filled with exceptionally beautiful lotus flowers.
She had moved in and immediately lazed around, completely unaware.
Bai Fuxue: “If Your Ladyship likes them, please take them.”
Noble Consort Rong slammed her hand on the armrest. “Are you saying this consort should take something you’ve used?!”
Bai Fuxue: ?
You’re so hard to please.
Even Xiao Shizhi isn’t as difficult as you.
Bai Fuxue leaned back in her chair, her face full of resignation.
As if silently saying: Do as you please. Take it or leave it.
Noble Consort Rong had intended to intimidate Bai Fuxue. Most young women would be trembling with fear upon seeing her, kneeling on the ground shaking.
But Bai Fuxue wasn’t afraid at all.
How audacious, relying on the emperor’s favor to be so disrespectful.
Noble Consort Rong shifted her gaze to the rug beneath Bai Fuxue. It was made of kesi silk.
And she was using it directly as a seat cushion.
When Noble Consort Rong had received similar fabric, she had delightfully made it into clothing and treasured it daily.
Bai Fuxue couldn’t understand Noble Consort Rong’s attitude.
Noble Consort Rong had everything she could want – a life free from worries about food and clothing. What was she still fighting for?
Noble Consort Rong was so angry her nails dug into her flesh, her beautiful eyes filled with red veins.
Bai Fuxue said, “Your Highness should take care of your health. Your complexion looks pale, appearing quite blood-deficient. You need quiet rest during summer.”
Noble Consort Rong could no longer maintain her smile, thinking Bai Fuxue was mocking her for lacking the emperor’s company and her fading beauty.
She gritted her teeth. “This consort wants to see how much longer you can remain so arrogant!”
Bai Fuxue: “…?”
Xiao Shizhi was buried under piles of memorials, her eyes vacant, her mind buzzing along with the cicadas outside.
Li Dequan: “Your Majesty, you should rest.”
The young empress, dressed in robes embroidered with golden dragons, leaned back in her chair with a bowl of strong tea beside her.
The dark tea seemed to whisper with every leaf: Work harder! Drive yourself to exhaustion!
Xiao Shizhi silently drank half the bowl, her voice hoarse:
“Has Bai Fuxue moved into the Pearl Mirror Palace?”
Xiao Shizhi wasn’t someone who couldn’t handle complicated government affairs, but as the saying goes:
If one had never seen the light, one could have endured the darkness.
Whenever Xiao Shizhi became busy, she remembered Bai Fuxue lounging empty-headed in her chair.
Suddenly, her mindset would become unsettled.
Li Dequan: “Your Majesty, the consort has moved into the palace, but.”
Xiao Shizhi raised an eyebrow. “But what?”
Li Dequan said: “Noble Consort Rong went to the Pearl Mirror Palace to see Consort Bai as soon as her house arrest ended.”
Noble Consort Rong was originally under house arrest for a month, but with the changing political situation, Xiao Shizhi had no choice but to release her early.
Bai Fuxue had been a consort during the previous emperor’s reign. Though the late emperor had intended to promote her to noble consort before his death, it was never implemented.
Now that her rank had been restored, her status was already quite high.
Xiao Shizhi became interested. “Go on.”
Li Dequan: “Your Majesty, Noble Consort Rong left in anger. After returning to the Chengxiang Palace, she smashed many things.”
Xiao Shizhi: “Oh.”
Li Dequan carefully observed the emperor’s expression, hoping to see some emotion toward Noble Consort Rong and her willfulness.
He worried for Bai Fuxue – Noble Consort Rong wasn’t someone to be offended lightly.
But there was none. Absolutely none.
Li Dequan was secretly astonished. Just how much had Bai Fuxue enchanted the emperor?
After finishing reviewing the memorials, Xiao Shizhi witnessed the emperor’s uncle’s faction arguing with the Bai family that evening.
Exhausted, she walked to the Pearl Mirror Palace gate.
Before even approaching, the place where Bai Fuxue resided seemed to possess a magical allure, drawing her in.
Xiao Shizhi ordered the palace attendants not to announce her arrival and slowly entered.
Perhaps because the midsummer heat was too oppressive, lightning suddenly flashed outside, and heavy rain began pouring down,
Xiao Shizhi paused in her steps, then deliberately walked inside with feigned calm.
Lifting the curtain, she saw the little beauty leaning alone by the window. A large ice block emitted threads of cool air, while a plate in front of her held grapes peeled by palace maids.
In a glazed dish was sugar-steamed custard (a type of dairy dessert).
Nearby, several palace musicians diligently played the guqin and pipa, among them a particularly pretty young maid singing a tune in a melodious voice.
What a scene of decadence.
Xiao Shizhi sat beside her with a complex gaze.
This finally roused the little beauty who had been feigning sleep with her eyes closed.
Bai Fuxue in her arms wore light, thin garments, her hand resting on the little beauty’s shoulder blades.
Upon closer look, the bluish-purple marks left from last night hadn’t yet faded.
Her breasts within the embroidered undergarment swayed slightly, pressing against Xiao Shizhi’s arm.
Xiao Shizhi said hoarsely, “You certainly know how to enjoy yourself.”
Bai Fuxue smiled sweetly and wrapped her arms around Xiao Shizhi’s arm, saying softly:
“Your humble consort thanks Your Majesty for your grace.”
Xiao Shizhi’s heart softened, her fingers threading through the beauty’s hair, the day’s fatigue melting away completely.
Outside, rain pattered softly, dispersing the sweltering heat.
Bai Fuxue said in a delicate, soft voice, “Would Your Majesty like to cool off from the heat and have something to drink?”
Xiao Shizhi smiled wryly, “Strong tea has numbed my tongue. What good things does A-Xue have here?”
Xiao Shizhi asked casually, not really expecting anything particularly tasty from Bai Fuxue.
After all, it was either tea or wine – nothing that could truly stimulate her senses.
Bai Fuxue took a glazed jar from the windowsill and said, “Would you like some soda?”
Xiao Shizhi: “No, wait ?! What did you say?!”
Bai Fuxue said: “A sweet drink with bubbles, would you like to try it?”
Xiao Shizhi: “Yes.”
Inside the transparent glazed jar were pine needles from an old pine tree, soaked in pure water, sealed and left to ferment in the sun, producing rich bubbles.
Bai Fuxue mixed it with prepared kumquat juice and added crushed ice.
Bai Fuxue thought to herself, if there were lemons, this would be Sprite.
What a pity.
Bai Fuxue smiled and said, “Your Majesty, please try it. It’s a new method I discovered, very refreshing and cooling.”
Surprisingly, Xiao Shizhi didn’t find it strange and took a sip.
It was the familiar tingling sensation of bubbles popping on her tongue.
Seeing her drink half the glass in one go, Bai Fuxue asked, “Aren’t you worried it might be poisonous, Your Majesty?”
After all, when she had Songluo taste it during the day, the girl almost thought her tongue was on fire.
Crying and refusing to take a second sip.
Xiao Shizhi: “It’s not poisonous. The taste is good.”
Xiao Shizhi’s eyes were complex as she tightly gripped the crystal cup, nearly moved to tears.
The taste of home, the happiness etched in her DNA.
She moved her lips but ultimately didn’t say a word.
She couldn’t remember the specific plot of that book, couldn’t recall if this scene existed in the original work.
A thunderclap exploded, making Xiao Shizhi’s body tremble slightly as she bit her lower lip hard.
Noticing something was wrong, Bai Fuxue immediately embraced her and asked softly, “Are you feeling unwell?”
Xiao Shizhi glanced at the lightning in the sky, pursed her lips and shook her head.
“It’s nothing, it’ll pass soon,” Xiao Shizhi said restrainedly.
With Bai Fuxue’s support, she sat on the bed.
Holding the slender shoulders of the little beauty, she buried her face in her neck and said muffledly:
“If I said I’m afraid of thunder, would you believe me?”
Someone so grown being afraid of thunder – it would be laughable if others knew.
Bai Fuxue gently held her, rubbing her arm comfortingly.
“I believe it.”
The person who shared the same name as Xiao Shizhi was also afraid of thunder.