Cui, watching two young maids follow her around the garden, found that wherever she went, palace maids and eunuchs were busy cleaning. Upon seeing her, they all bowed respectfully.
She couldn't help but sigh deeply. When the Emperor first granted her entry into Huaqing Palace, she had endured countless scornful glances from maids and eunuchs. Now, having ascended to the throne of Weiyang Palace, her status was utterly incomparable.
These people served her with extreme caution, fearful of making any mistakes. Liu Liu walked and thought, her expression carrying an air of authority, a smile playing on her lips, yet it held no hint of warmth.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong? Are you unhappy?"
Cui'er asked cautiously. Liu Liu stopped, a sudden melancholy arising within her. Even Cui'er treated her with such wariness; how much more so would others?
At some point, her status had erected a wall between her and everyone else, a barrier that no amount of effort could dismantle, simply because she was the Empress, second only to the Emperor, and deeply favored.
She let out a cold laugh. This gilded birdcage had imprisoned her very being; how could she ever spread her wings and fly? She tilted her head to gaze at the vast blue sky, clear and pristine, devoid of even a single wisp of cloud, extinguishing her longing to become a cloud.
"Cui'er, have you grown distant from your mistress?" Liu Liu's tone was faint, tinged with a chill. Before Cui'er could reply, she turned and walked away.
Cui'er, stunned, felt a prickle of moisture in her eyes. Her Majesty was overthinking things. She quickly caught up, speaking softly, "Your Majesty, Cui'er's feelings for you will never change. It's just that Cui'er doesn't want Your Majesty to suffer any unnecessary troubles."
Liu Liu paused, her steps not faltering. Being sharp-witted, she understood Cui'er's unspoken meaning.
Cui'er was merely trying to protect her. Any misstep on her part could be used as a weapon against her. Therefore, she could only adhere strictly to the palace rules. A smile touched her lips as she inwardly sighed, "Cui'er, believe that your mistress will leave this place, and when she does, she will definitely take you with her."
Liu Liu spent the entire morning exploring, finally getting a grasp of Weiyang Palace. Although there were still some areas she hadn't visited, she no longer wished to. She turned back and saw the maid Qiao'er rushing towards her, breathless, calling out repeatedly.
"Empress, Noble Consort Shu and Noble Consort De, along with other consorts, have arrived to pay their respects to Your Majesty."
"Oh," Liu Liu responded. She was aware of this; how could these women not come? Since she was the head of the three palaces, paying respects morning and evening was their duty.
However, she detested seeing those hypocritical faces. The smile on her lips grew colder. Without another word, she walked forward.
In the grand hall of Weiyang Palace, Noble Consort Shu, Noble Consort De, and the other consorts gazed with envy at the resplendent Weiyang Palace. Indeed, it was worthy of being the head of the three palaces, as if constructed from gold, exuding an aura of luxury and brilliance that dazzled the eye.
While the others merely felt envy, Jin Jiali and Lou Sijing harbored resentment, believing others had blocked their path. They surveyed the hall with cold, impassive faces, remaining silent.
A flicker of anger crossed Jin Jiali's face, while Lou Sijing remained outwardly placid. Both women had come to pay their respects unwillingly. As everyone in the hall harbored their own thoughts, the voice of a eunuch sounded from outside the palace doors.
"The Empress has arrived."
All the consorts immediately parted, standing respectfully with heads bowed. Liu Liu walked into the grand hall with a cool demeanor. The vast palace fell into silence, only the faint sound of her footsteps breaking the quiet. She proceeded to the majestic Phoenix couch and sat down, assisted by Cui'er.
Jin Jiali and Lou Sijing, leading the consorts behind them, bowed from a distance.
"Your humble servants greet the Empress."
"Rise, and be seated on either side," Liu Liu's voice was always a calm, steady stream, unaffected by any external force, as if nothing could perturb her.
Jin Jiali and Lou Sijing were most infuriated by her composure, which seemed to suggest she controlled everything. Though indignant, they dared not show it, offering their thanks to the Empress with gentle smiles.
"Your humble servants thank the Empress." The twelve women from the East and West Palaces took their seats on either side, and a line of consorts in elegant robes entered, serving tea in succession.
The grand hall was filled with the fragrant steam of tea. Liu Liu sipped her tea lightly, then looked down. She was confident these women would say something; otherwise, it would be entirely out of character for them.
As expected, Jin Jiali gracefully sipped her tea, placed the tea bowl down, and smiled enchantingly at Liu Liu on the high seat, her voice sweet as a warbler's.
"This morning, I heard that Your Majesty's carriage had moved to Weiyang Palace. I am truly happy for Your Majesty from the bottom of my heart."
Jin Jiali's remark nearly made Lou Sijing, who had just brought tea to her lips, spit it out. This woman was too theatrical. Couldn't she say something else?
Who had thrown a tantrum in the palace early this morning? And now she was playing the good Samaritan. Unwilling to be outdone, she placed her white jade tea bowl down and nodded with a smile.
"Indeed, I am also happy for Your Majesty. The thought that Your Majesty has finally overcome hardships fills me with joy."
The consorts from the East and West Palaces naturally echoed the sentiments of their respective palaces, and for a moment, the grand hall was filled with constant praise.
Liu Liu coldly observed everything before her. Her ink-black eyes flashed with a gem-like brilliance, yet they held a bone-chilling coldness. If she could, she would have banished these women one by one right then. However, she maintained a neutral expression.
"There's no need for happiness. I am a bit tired. Everyone can return. Henceforth, the morning and evening greeting rituals are dispensed with."
All the consorts below the hall were taken aback. Seeing the Empress's impatient expression and her lack of warmth towards them, they felt quite disheartened, yet simultaneously relieved. Since Her Majesty had waived the requirement, they felt at ease.
Only Jin Jiali's expression turned exceptionally grim. A shadow of darkness crept across her beautiful face, and she let out an awkward cold snort.
"Hmph, Liu Liu, don't think you can hold onto this Empress position just because the Emperor is momentarily fascinated with you. Perhaps this novelty will soon pass."
"Thank you, Empress," everyone said in unison. After all, being excused was preferable. Making the daily morning and evening visits was a chore, and the Empress was so aloof, disliking their polite exchanges. Why bother inviting trouble?
Jin Jiali and Lou Sijing led the other consorts in thanking the Empress and were about to leave Weiyang Palace when a young eunuch from Weiyang Palace came rushing in excitedly to announce.
"Empress, the Emperor has sent gifts, and the Empress Dowager also has gifts."
Liu Liu's brow furrowed, and her eyes, like still water, grew deep. She didn't favor these gifts. Why would Feng Xie bother with such gestures? And her aunt, why would she always bestow gifts? She waved her hand, gesturing to the young eunuch.
"Let them in."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the young eunuch withdrew and soon, the Emperor's personal eunuch, Xiao Wanzi, led a line of eunuchs into the hall. Each held a box of exquisite treasures, filled with gold, silver, and jewelry, all gleaming brightly, leaving the consorts in the hall wide-eyed.
The Emperor was truly generous. In the past, when he bestowed a couple of items upon them, they felt immensely honored and flaunted them everywhere. Compared to the Empress's gifts, theirs felt shameful.
The consorts' faces flushed with varying degrees of emotion. They silently gazed at the Empress on the high seat. The Empress appeared utterly indifferent, as if unaffected. Without moving, she simply waved and instructed Cui'er.
"Put these away."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Cui'er signaled, and the palace maids standing by the side of the hall quickly rushed forward, collecting all the Emperor's gifts. Liu Liu glanced at Xiao Wanzi and spoke indifferently, "Please convey my thanks to the Emperor."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will surely deliver your words," Xiao Wanzi replied respectfully. With a wave, he led the line of eunuchs out as they had come.
Following the Emperor's gifts were those from the Empress Dowager. Another procession of eunuchs arrived, bearing gifts from the Empress Dowager, no less numerous than the Emperor's. In an instant, the grand hall of Weiyang Palace was piled high with items. The consorts could only stare in awe, their hearts filled with envy and longing.
Among them, Zhang Xiuyi appeared the most composed, while Jin Jiali was the most incensed. Her entire beautiful face turned red, and her heart seethed with discontent, almost to the point of leaping up and roaring.
However, a sliver of rationality reminded her how irrational such an action would be, and thus, she managed to suppress her rage.