Chapter 5
Sending Gifts
The three people have their breakfast in Ci Ning Palace and chats about family lives. Over time, the empress dowager’s face start to show signs of fatigue. Xia Hou Shang Yue knits her eyebrows lightly.
“Empress dowager, Yue Er still have things to handle in Feng Qi Palace. I should retreat first.”
The empress dowager props her head on her hand, appearing to be sleepy. When she heard Xia Hou Shang Yue’s words, she opens her eyes and smiles while lightly nodding her head.
“Okay. Yue Er, from now on, call me Imperial Grandmother. Chen Er, you go and send Yue Er home, I need to rest.”
Just as they were about to perform their ceremonial formality, the empress dowager waves her sleeves. Without much word, the two people leave Ci Ning Palace. Bai Yu Chen who initially had a light smile on his face turns frosty as he size up Xia Hou Shang Yue the moment they step out of the palace. She actually supported him in front of the empress dowager, he really has no idea what she is up to.
Xia Hou Shang Yue can feel Bai Yu Chen’s eyes on her. She uses a calm and tranquil eyes to look at him back, neither of them speaking. Xue Wu who is on the side suddenly has a bad feeling about this, but she has no place to speak. She can only stand on the side with her head looking down in worry.
“If you think I will change my mind about you just because you speak for me in front of the empress dowager, you were wrong. It will not change the way I view or treat you!” Bai Yu Chen’s voice did not contain any emotion. The coldness that comes from his voice makes the atmosphere seems so cold. Xia Hou Shang Yue frowns. She did not even consider the possibility of Bai Yu Chen changing his att.i.tude to her just because of today!
“Your Majesty told the empress dowager that you already discussed this with me, doesn’t that mean you wanted me to support the idea of admitting Miss Yan’s into the harem? I thought everything went to Your Majesty’s liking today, don’t tell me I was wrong?”
Even though Xia Hou Shang Yue’s tone was light, but the words that came from her was neither haughty nor humble, not possessing the slightest discontent over not receiving favor, nor anger over the way Bai Yu Chen treats her.
She is like a silent lotus flower, managing to give people that calm and indifferent air just by standing on water. Really different than the air given by other people in the palace.
Bai Yu Chen stares at her. He originally thought she would avoid his eyes, but who would’ve thought she wouldn’t. Instead she looks at him with a pair of eyes that are colder and more indifferent than his own.
Bai Yu Chen scoffs after a while, giving Xia Hou Shang Yue a taunting smile.
“Since the empress is so virtuous, I will not disappoint you.” After he said that, Bai Yu Chen strides away to Yanshou Palace. Xia Hou Shang Yue fists her hand underneath the sleeves as she bit her lips, continuously reminding herself to hold it in.
“My lady, let’s go back.”
“Alright.”
Xia Hou Shang Yue turns to Xue Wu with a smile and before long, both master and servant made their way back to Feng Qi Palace. There is a big bitterness in Xue Wu’s heart. Her mistress has never been treated like that in Mu Kingdom.
She has only been in Yin Kingdom for 2 days and has already been humiliated by the emperor twice. This is the second day of the wedding and he already wants to take concubines, doesn’t that means he intends to put her mistress in a hard spot.
“My lady, right now the emperor wants to take a new concubine. This is so unfair to you!”
Xue Wu puts a tea cup in front of Xia Hou Shang Yue with a dissatisfied; indignant face. Xia Hou Shang Yue can’t help but laugh.
So what if it’s unfair? Who can she blame? Who told her to be born in a royal family and shoulder the responsibility that comes with it?
If she wants to blame anyone, she should blame herself for being born in a royal family and marrying into one. The daughters of royalties have lives that are better than normal girls, but once they got into political marriage, it is rare for them to not to be wronged. Just think about it, you got chosen to marry a complete stranger, the number of people who would readily accept that are small!
“Xue Wu, have you forgotten what I told you last night? Do not speak of the emperor’s matters no matter what happens. If you can’t remember my instruction, I will have no other choice but to send you back to Mu Kingdom.”
Xia Hou Shang Yue is rarely this solemn, Xue Wu immediately kneels on the floor, her face worried. If her mistress send her home like this, wouldn’t that mean she fails to fulfill what the emperor (TN: I think she means the female lead’s father) entrust her? If the emperor got upset, she probably wouldn’t be able to keep her life.
“My lady, I won’t dare to do this anymore. Please don’t sent Xue Wu away. The emperor told Xue Wu to take care of mistress properly, if mistress send me back, the emperor will definitely blame Xue Wu. Please spare Xue Wu this one time!”
Seeing the desperate expression on Xue Wu’s face, Xia Hou Shang Yue put down her cup. She also didn’t intend to send Xue Wu away, she just want Xue Wu to remember that dangers lurks everywhere in the imperial palace. Lives can be lost anytime. If she keeps talking with no filter like that, her mouth will harm her to death in the end!
“Xue Wu, if you don’t want to go back to Mu Kingdom, you must remember to be cautious at all time in front of everyone. Even to people close to you. You must not trust anyone easily, in the palace, anyone could be plotting for your life. Remember, your mistress is me alone. And only I can protect you from harm in the Yin Kingdom’s palace.”
At this moment, she only want Xue Wu to remember that she is her true mistress and only her can protect her. No matter what, she, Xia Hou Shang Yue is her true mistress!
“Xue Wu will remember!”
After that incident, Xue Wu no longer dares to say anything presumptuous. In the blink of a moment, she turns into a mature and cautious lady, Xia Hou Shang Yue is finally relieved.
Even though innocence is good, inside the palace, innocence is a chance for others to hurt you. She will not allow anyone to harm her and the people by her side.
“My lady, Miss Yan finally entered the palace!”
Xia Hou Shang Yue put down her book, from the window, she can hear the sounds of gongs of celebration. The palace maids are all talking about the emperor getting a new consort with no less festivity than the new empress’ wedding, perhaps this time is even grander.
When she hears such a thing, she can only smile. It is clear Bai Yu Chen is looking into giving her a hard time, since she already knows that, she couldn’t bring herself to care.
“Prepare gifts, send them on my behalf.”
Even though Xue Wu did not understand why Xia Hou Shang Yue, the empress would send a gift to a new consort, she knows she must have her own reasons. She immediately heads over to prepare the gift.
A simple smile can be seen at the corner of Xia Hou Shang Yue’s lips. She hopes, with this Yan Ruyu’s entrance to the harem, Bai Yu Chen’s attention will be on her. With that, her own days in the harem will be a little more peaceful.
“My lady, would you like to check?”
“No need, the gifts you choose has always been appropriate, there’s nothing for me to worry about. Hurry and send it over.”