Upon returning to the palace, it was time for the morning court. Shangguan Yin settled Yun Xiao onto his own dragon bed in Qingxiao Palace to sleep.
Yun Xiao dazedly opened her eyes, her body aching all over. The moment she opened them, Shangguan Yin leaned over, "Xiao'er, sleep a bit longer. I'm going to the morning court."
"Mmm."
Whether Yun Xiao heard him clearly or was still groggy, she closed her eyes and slept again. She was so tired; she hadn't slept half the night and had been through so much, her whole body felt like it was falling apart.
Inside Qingxiao Palace, the eunuch Fu Hai, while helping the Emperor get dressed, stole glances at the person on the bed. He couldn't see her face clearly, only a black head of hair. She was tightly wrapped, even the Emperor's fox fur cloak was pressed beneath her.
Fu Hai couldn't help but click his tongue. The Emperor truly doted on this girl. Who could she be?
As he was lost in thought, a sharp slap landed on his head. The Emperor's cold, icy voice rang out, "Where are you looking?"
Hearing this, Fu Hai quickly lowered his head. He had only looked curiously, and the Emperor was truly jealous.
However, he dared not say anything and became even more diligent. Once the Emperor was fully dressed in his dragon robe and had inspected himself, he said respectfully, "Your Majesty is ready."
"Mmm." Shangguan Yin walked towards the bedchamber door and turned back to instruct the eunuch Fu Hai, "Immediately send a few palace maids in to attend to her. Also, go to Jinhua Palace and retrieve clothes. Do not allow any unauthorized personnel to enter."
"Your servant obeys."
Fu Hai understood implicitly. These unauthorized personnel referred to them, the eunuchs, and it likely meant only palace maids were permitted to attend her.
The Emperor's jealousy was not just great; it was extremely, incredibly great. They were all eunuchs, after all.
But Fu Hai dared not voice this. He escorted the Emperor to the soft sedan outside the palace gates and stayed behind, ordering someone to fetch the clothes from Jinhua Palace.
He also specifically selected a few intelligent and quick-witted palace maids to enter the bedchamber and attend to the future new mistress.
It wasn't until everything settled down that Fu Hai had the chance to ponder one matter. Why did the Emperor want them to fetch clothes from Jinhua Palace? That was where the foolish Empress used to reside. He had heard that the foolish woman was no longer foolish.
Could the person in this bedchamber be the daughter of Prince Yun's estate?
Fu Hai shivered, sensing something was not quite right, and felt a sense of unease.
Inside Qingxiao Palace, Yun Xiao slept soundly while the Emperor attended the morning court.
Meanwhile, a commotion had broken out in the Hall of a Hundred Flowers. As dawn broke, Princess Murong Yingxue awoke. Hua Zhi had also awakened. Both of them were frightened by what had happened the previous night, but the current situation was far more shocking.
Hua Zhi raised her head, looked at the Princess, and let out a startled scream, pointing at Murong Yingxue's face and stammering,
"Princess, your face?"
Murong Yingxue was already angry. Hearing Hua Zhi's words, she snorted, "What's wrong with my face?"
As she spoke, she reached up to touch her cheek. She felt nothing, but Hua Zhi's expression was so terrible that she realized something must be on her face. She sternly commanded, "Bring the Luan mirror. I want to see what's on my face!"
Hua Zhi trembled slightly and slowly moved to retrieve the Luan mirror, muttering in her heart, "Heaven, are you not harming this servant? With the Princess's appearance, does this servant have any way to survive?" However, no matter how much she delayed, in such a small space, the Luan mirror quickly reached Murong Yingxue's hand.
At first, she was dismissive, glancing casually into it and lowering it, glaring at Hua Zhi with dissatisfaction. Then, as if remembering something, she raised the Luan mirror again.
Her alluring face instantly turned dark green, her pupils flashing with a ferocious light. With a flick of her large hand, she threw the Luan mirror, shattering it into pieces. Hua Zhi jumped in fright, knowing the Princess would fly into a rage.
On a face as beautiful as a blooming flower, the two words 'you slut' were boldly written. How could the Princess tolerate this?
Hua Zhi knelt down with a thud, "Princess, don't be angry. It can definitely be washed off."
Murong Yingxue ignored Hua Zhi, clenching her fists and screaming through gritted teeth, "Yun Xiao, I will not let you go! You damned woman, I swear we are irreconcilable!"
Hearing her words, Hua Zhi shivered. The daughter of Prince Yun's estate was likely not someone to be trifled with. The Princess had always been at a disadvantage, never gaining the upper hand. Why not choose to let go?
But she dared not say so and could only kneel cautiously.
After venting her anger, Murong Yingxue waved her hand and ordered Hua Zhi, "Go fetch water. I want to wash it off."
However, after a while, she finally understood the seriousness of the situation. The water could not wash off the words on her face at all. No matter how hard she tried or how much she rubbed, her fair cheeks had become red and swollen, but the words remained, not fading one bit.
Hua Zhi couldn't help but say, "My lady, it seems it cannot be washed off."
Murong Yingxue flung the cotton cloth in her hand. The cloth landed in the basin of water, splashing water everywhere. Thinking of the words 'you slut' on her face, she was about to go mad. She paced back and forth in the bedchamber, waving her hand and ordering Hua Zhi, "Immediately send someone to inquire if the Emperor has finished the morning court."
"Yes, Princess."
Hua Zhi went out. In the bedchamber, Murong Yingxue gnashed her teeth and cursed a certain woman, her face contorted and terrifying, especially with the prior rubbing.
She refused to believe that after being treated like this, her brother Murong would still turn a blind eye and allow that woman to act so wildly.
After Hua Zhi had ordered a eunuch to inquire about the situation, she re-entered. Seeing that the Princess's complexion had improved, she breathed a sigh of relief. She feared the Princess's anger the most, as those around her always suffered the consequences. It had always been this way, and it remained so.
"Princess, please have some breakfast."
"What is there to eat? Can I eat anything? I'm just waiting for the Emperor to deal with that little slut Yun Xiao."
Murong Yingxue roared, giving Hua Zhi a cold glare. Hua Zhi trembled and lowered her head to look at the ground. She had learned her lesson; when her mistress was angry, she had to be obedient and docile to avoid trouble.
However, she couldn't help but grumble inwardly, "The Princess really thinks too much. Would the Emperor offend the woman called Yun Xiao for her? If he would, it would have happened long ago, why wait until now?"
At the morning court today, all the ministers in the court could feel the Emperor's good mood. He was expansive and leisurely, his imperial yellow dragon robe exuding a powerful, icy aura, his imperial dignity easily radiating outwards.
Though his exceptionally handsome features were still shrouded in a cold frost, there was a hidden softness beneath the frost, emboldening the ministers in Guangming Hall.
Just two days ago, the Emperor had been terrifying, but now he was like a gentle spring breeze. The narrow peaks of his brows were raised in a devilish arch, his deep black pupils like an unfathomable ocean, stirring ripples. The corners of his lips curved into a faint, enigmatic smile, stunning the eyes of everyone in the hall.
Many lowered their heads, gazing at the smooth marble floor, their hearts filled with only one word: demonic.
Today's morning court saw envoys from three countries gathered to formally confirm the proposals made in the preceding days.
Because Shangguan Yin was in a good mood, the matter proceeded very smoothly.