Chapter 3
Greeting
After Bai Yu Chen’s footsteps disappear from Feng Qi Palace, Xia Hou Shang Yue heave in relief. It is only then did she finally realize how painful her wound is. Now that the reason for her to feign strength is gone, she collapse on the floor.
“Xue Wu….”
Her voice isn’t particularly loud, but since it is in the middle of the night, it is especially prominent. From outside the door, the sound of urgent footsteps can be heard as Xue Wu rushes to Xia Hou Shang Yue’s side.
“Mistress, this- What happened?”
Seeing the drops of blood on the floor, she studies Xia Hou Shang Yue’s pale face. Xue Wu helps her get up. When she saw her bleeding arms, her eyes immediately turns red.
Her mistress has always been doted on, she never thought she would receive such treatment just as she marries into the Yue Kingdom. While she was standing guard in the courtyard just now, she saw the emperor leaving with a disdainful face. She could immediately tell that her mistress has been wronged. But she did not think it would be this cruel.
“How could the emperor treat you like this? This is too much!”
“Xue Wu!”
Xia Hou Shang Yue suddenly scold her coldly, surprising Xue Wu. Mistress has never spoken so harshly to her. Seeing the solemn look on her face, Xue Wu nervously toys with her hand.
Xue Wu’s nerve helps soften Xia Hou Shang Yue’s expression, even her voice soften up.
“Xue Wu, this is not our Mu Kingdom. Your words and your deeds all have to be observed with caution. Remember, even walls have ears. We can no longer be as carefree as we were in Mu Kingdom.”
Xia Hou Shang Yue does not wish to court trouble, so every single people by her side must be careful and cautious. Hopefully, she can live the best she can.
“I understand. But, mistress’ arm…” Xue Wu whispered low.
The b.l.o.o.d.y trace on Xia Hou Shang Yue’s arm has already dries, leaving a hideous trail.
“It’s okay. It was inflicted by me myself. Hurry and prepare clean water to help me clean this.” Xia Hou Shang Yue gives a simple smile, at least there is still someone in Yue Kingdom who truly cares for her. That thought somewhat lessen the impact of Bai Yu Chen’s doings to her.
Xue Wu quickly prepared a bowl of warm water and carefully wipe Xia Hou Shang Yue’s wound with a brocade cloth. Her eyes slowly waters. She couldn’t hold it in and it slowly drops into Xia Hou Shang Yue’s arm.
Mistress, back in Mu Kingdom, has never received such a treatment. This is only her first day in Yue Kingdom and she has already been injured like this, how are they going to pa.s.s the remaining days?
The more she think, the harder she cry. Xia Hou Shang Yue, upon seeing Xue Wu in that condition, grasp her hand with a light smile.
“Xue Wu, I am fine. But you must remember, you must never tell this to anyone. If a word of this leaks out, our lives in the palace will be even harder. Including imperial father, understand?” Xia Hou Shang Yue whole-heartedly instructed Xue Wu. She does not want her father to dispatch troops against Yue Kingdom just because she received grievance here. She does not want the two kingdoms to exchange blows when her original purpose here was to bring peace.
“But mistress, the emperor-“
“I have my own idea when it comes to these things. You only need to watch your speech. Okay, go to sleep. We still have to pay respect to the Empress Dowager tomorrow.” Looking at the bandaged arm, Xia Hou Shang Yue admonish Xue Wu a little, before her telling to sleep.
Lying on her bed, Xia Hou Shang Yue could not sleep the entire night. Before she knows it, it is already nearing 5 am. She sigh before she gets up and sits in front of the mirror.
Her forehead that was knocked on the bed side last night has already turned purple. She bite her lips as she look at her own haggard reflection in the mirror before turning her eyes to the bandage on her arm.
In the end, she pick up a powder from her vanity, and uses it to gently cover the bruising on her forehead. Only then did she finally summon Xue Wu in.
After much fuss, Xia Hou Shang Yue put on a red phoenix dress, matched by the twinkling phoenix hairpin on her head.
“Where is the emperor?” Xia Hou Shang Yue asked a palace maid as she walk past the Feng Qi Palace’s courtyard.
“Answering the empress, His Majesty already went to Ci Ning Palace to greet the Empress Dowager.”
After hearing the palace maid, a taunting smile is formed on Xia Hou Shang Yue’s face. So he hates her so much that he didn’t want to greet the Empress Dowager with her.
This is his way of telling the people that she is just an unfavored empress and is already cast off the day after their wedding.
“Xue Wu, go and prepare the gifts imperial father sent. We will go to Ci Ning Palace to greet the Empress Dowager.”
She fling her long sleeves with a calm expression.
Xue Wu carries two golden boxes in both hands, following Xia Hou Shang Yue from behind to Ci Ning Palace.
“Look! That is the Mu Kingdom’s princess! She is so beautiful!”
“No matter how beautiful she is, it is of no use. Do you see the emperor accompanying her to Ci Ning Palace?”
“I heard the emperor did not spend a lot of time in Feng Qi Palace last night, seems like this princess did not have the emperor’s affection.”
Even though the maid and the eunuch’s voice are not loud, she can still hear them just fine.
She grasp her sleeves tightly before letting go. Eventually, a shallow smile can be seen in her face before she calmly continues her way to Ci Ning Palace.
Xue Wu who is carrying the two boxes is secretly feeling wronged for her mistress deep inside. If the emperor went over the line, then so be it, but now even the maids and eunuchs are disrespectful towards her mistress. The palace is really a place ruled by power and influences.
The two people unknowingly reached Ci Ning Palace’s gate. Before they can take another step, they hear the sharp voice of someone announcing, “The empress has arrived!”
Xia Hou Shang Yue smiles and continue walking. The moment they enter the hall, the sight of Bai Yu Chen sitting next to an elegant woman greets them. She should be Yue Kingdom’s Empress Dowager.
“Shang Yue pays respect to the Empress Dowager and the emperor!”
Xia Hou Shang Yue slowly kneels on the ground, followed by Xue Wu. Even though she is more than unwilling inside, she must not bring trouble to her mistress.
“You may get up, grant her a seat!”
“Shang Yue thank the Empress Dowager.”
Possessed a proper behavior and an extraordinary look, she is indeed Mu Kingdom’s beloved Princess Feng Yue. The Empress Dowager smiled and lightly nods her head.
She has taken an immediate liking towards this newly appointed empress upon one look on her. She is a lot more pleasing to the eye compared to the rest of the consorts in the palace.
“It must be really hard for princess to marry so far away for the peace of the common people for both countries. From now on, you may treat me as one of your family members in Mu Kingdom!”
The empress dowager’s words leave a warm feeling inside Xia Hou Shang Yue. On the outside, she maintains that cool composure of hers, but in her eyes, traces of smile can be seen.
“Then Empress Dowager should call Shang Yue by her name. Shang Yue does not dare to a.s.sume the word ‘princess’ in front of Empress Dowager.”