Chapter Twenty-Three
LF woke up after a restful sleep. She saw XST standing next to NL who was sleeping on a table.
‘Why am I here?’ LF asked.
LF didn’t understand why NL would give up his bed for her when he was the emperor.
‘LF, you’re finally awake,’ XST said.
‘XST, why did I sleep here?’ LF asked.
XST signalled LF to follow him outside so they wouldn’t disturb NL’s sleep.
In NL’s courtyard, XST and LF sat at a table.
‘LF, do you remember fainting?’ XST asked.
LF remembered what happened before she fainted.
‘I remember fainting,’ LF said. ‘Why didn’t his majesty send me to a different bedchamber to sleep?’
‘His majesty was worried about you,’ XST said. ‘He took care of you the whole night. He didn’t let anyone take you to a different bedchamber.’
‘XST, I don’t understand why his majesty chose to take care of me,’ LF said.
‘LF, the truth is you’re someone important to his majesty,’ XST said. ‘His majesty is a prideful person so he doesn’t want to admit to you that he cares about you.’
‘XST, don’t jest,’ LF said. ‘His majesty hates me. He always tells me he wants me to leave the palace or he mocks me about being a wild bird that wants to become a phoenix.’
‘LF, why would I jest about his majesty liking you?’ XST asked. ‘You’re the first woman his majesty let sleep on his bed. You’re also the first woman who opposed and defeated his majesty. At the start, his majesty would grind his teeth and resented you. But after spending time with you, his majesty can’t take his eyes off you.’
‘XST, I think you’re mistaken,’ LF said.
‘I’m confident I’m not mistaken,’ XST said.
‘What am I supposed to do?’ LF asked.
‘LF, this is your fate,’ XST said. ‘Perhaps you’re meant to be his majesty’s empress.’
‘I don’t want to be empress,’ LF said.
‘LF…’ XST said.
‘And I don’t want to be his majesty’s consort either,’ LF said.
LF didn’t want a husband who had thousands of women.
‘LF, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity,’ XST said. ‘Thousands of women dream of being the empress.’
‘I’ll give this once in a lifetime opportunity to one of the women who wants to be the empress,’ LF said.
‘LF, do you hate his majesty?’ XST asked.
Chapter Twenty-Four
‘I’m not suited to climb to a high status,’ LF said. ‘Besides, his majesty wouldn’t like someone who is a better fighter than him, and who isn’t obedient.’
XST saw a shadow pa.s.sed by. He didn’t need to think twice to know it was NL eavesdropping.
‘Why don’t you give his majesty a chance?’ XST asked.
‘His majesty, can have any kind of woman he wants,’ LF said. ‘He doesn’t need a commoner like me.’
‘LF…’ XST said.
‘Enough,’ NL interrupted. ‘LF is right. There are thousands of women who wants to be by my side. Why would I want a small skinny eyesore?’
‘Your majesty, I won’t stay here and be an eyesore,’ LF said. ‘I’ll let your majesty rest.’
‘You’re not allowed to go anywhere,’ NL said. ‘Have you forgotten, someone poisoned you? XST, take LF back to one of the bedchambers in my courtyard. She’s only allowed to eat the same food as me.’
‘Your majesty, I can protect myself,’ LF said.
‘You’re staying in my courtyard,’ NL said.
‘LF, don’t be stubborn,’ XST said. ‘Whoever poisoned you won’t stop until they succeed.’
‘Thank you your majesty,’ LF conceded.
‘Guards, escort LF to her new bedchamber,’ XST said.
The guards took LF to one of bedchambers in NL’s courtyard, and they gave XST and NL privacy.
‘XST, am I a hateful person?’ NL asked.
‘Your majesty, you’re a brilliant and handsome man,’ XST said. ‘Thousands of women admire you. Don’t think too much. There are some women who can’t appreciate you.’
‘XST, what do women like?’ NL asked.
‘Usually women like jewellery, dresses and makeup,’ XST said.
‘But LF returned the jewellery, dresses and makeup I gave her,’ NL said. ‘What gift should I give her so she won’t reject it?’
Chapter Twenty-Five
‘Your majesty, women have soft hearts,’ XST said. ‘If you treat LF good, one day she’ll reciprocate your feelings.’
‘I don’t dote on women,’ NL said.
‘Your majesty can learn,’ XST said.
‘Alright,’ NL said. ‘I’ll learn. I believe I can receive LF’s heart.’
Days later, LF was used to living in one of the bedchambers in NL’s courtyard. She thought the flowers in his gardens were more beautiful than the flowers in the empress’ gardens. But she reminded herself it wasn’t her home.
‘Lady Ling,’ SY called.
‘SY, how did you know I’m here?’ LF asked.
‘XST asked me to come her to serve lady Ling because his majesty didn’t want you to be lonely here,’ SY said.
‘Is it true?’ LF asked suspiciously.
‘Of course it’s true,’ SY said. ‘Everyone in the palace knows about lady Ling staying in his majesty’s courtyard, and they speculated that you’ll be his majesty’s empress. Everyone admires you, including me.’
‘There is nothing between me and his majesty,’ LF said. ‘Don’t misunderstand.’
‘Lady Ling, it’s an honor to be his majesty’s woman,’ SY said. ‘I’m happy lady Ling will become the empress.’
‘I want to take a walk outside his majesty’s gardens,’ LF said and sighed.
SY escorted LF around the palace.
‘Lady Ling, is the rumor true about the ED choosing you to be the empress?’ SY asked.
‘Of course it’s not true,’ LF said.
‘Lady Ling, is how you and the ED met a secret?’ SY asked.
‘It’s no secret,’ LF said. ‘The ED and my parents met a couple of times.’
‘Lady Ling, is it true that your family name is Sun?’ SY asked.
‘How did you know?’ LF asked.
‘Lady Ling, after you live in the palace for a longer period, you’ll find out that there are no secrets in the palace,’ SY said. ‘Lady Ling, today I heard from the eunuchs that the ministers in the imperial court opposed the ED’s recommendation of making Lady Ling the empress. His majesty was angry at the ministers for opposing and he gave them a scolding.’
‘How is that possible?’ LF asked.
LF didn’t know if XST was right about NL liking her.
‘Lady Ling, look over there,’ SY said. ‘The older woman is consort Ha and the young woman next to consort Ha is her niece HKD. Lady Ling, you should avoid them. I heard consort Ha wants HKD to become his majesty’s consort, but his majesty refused.’
End of Chapters Twenty-Three to Twenty-Five summaries