Fengluan Palace.
In the sleeping quarters, Mu Qingyao had just woken up. She stretched her arms, lazily moving her limbs. After a nap, she felt much refreshed.
Looking up, she saw the brilliant glow of the luminous pearls illuminating the palace. The wind blew in from the window, stirring the thin gauze, creating a graceful and ethereal dance.
A full moon hung outside the window lattice, its silver glow as pure as silk, illuminating the magnificent sleeping quarters.
Night had fallen.
Mu Qingyao’s gaze darkened, her expression turning cold. What was meant to come would eventually arrive. She looked up and asked Mo Chou, who stood by the bedside, "What time is it?"
"Replying to Your Ladyship, it's just past the hour of the Rooster. Your Ladyship should get up now. You will need to go to Liuli Palace later. His Majesty sent a eunuch to deliver a message saying he would come to fetch Your Ladyship to accompany him."
Mo Chou’s words were steady and reserved, calm like undisturbed water, capable of settling the most anxious heart. Mu Qingyao let out a breath and said calmly.
"Alright, attend to me."
Mei Xin immediately stepped forward to assist. Not a single extraneous person was present in the sleeping quarters; they had both dismissed everyone else, leaving only the two of them to attend to their lady's every need.
They were unsure how many people in Fengluan Palace were loyal to the Empress Dowager, and they feared someone might harm their lady in secret. Therefore, they always kept others away from their mistress and handled everything themselves.
Given the special occasion, Mei Xin had chosen a light blue palace gown for her mistress. Though a palace gown, it was simple and elegant, which Qingyao greatly admired.
Made of high-quality silk, it was tailored to fit perfectly, accentuating Qingyao’s slender and curvaceous figure. There were no extravagant embroideries, only a few tender green bamboo leaves on the hem, making her appear cool, noble, and refined, completely lacking the arrogant and overbearing opulence of royalty.
Mei Xin, always skillful with her hands, quickly fashioned an elegant chignon for her mistress. A few strands of hair loosely cascaded down, adorned with an exquisite plum blossom in her dark, lustrous hair. The jade plum blossom, carved from white jade, had a touch of alluring red in its center, exuding a faint fragrance that drew one's gaze, making it impossible to look away.
Mu Qingyao admired her reflection in the mirror, very pleased with her overall appearance. She turned to Mei Xin, thinking how this girl was increasingly to her liking, realizing she would be indispensable to her from now on.
"Mei Xin, your hands are truly skilled. Anyone you dress up becomes like a celestial being."
Mei Xin and Mo Chou, seeing their mistress in a good mood, both smiled. The room was filled with a gentle warmth. Mei Xin smiled and said, "It's because Your Ladyship is so beautiful. If she were an ugly monster, even I, with all my skill, would be powerless."
"Yes, Your Ladyship is truly beautiful," Mo Chou said, her eyes fixed on her mistress, unable to look away.
"You two little chatterboxes are so flattering. Alright, I'm ready. We should go. Is it almost time?"
As soon as she finished speaking, a palace maid’s voice was heard from outside the sleeping quarters.
"Reporting to Her Ladyship the Empress, His Majesty's palanquin is waiting outside the palace gate to fetch Your Ladyship to Liuli Palace."
Mu Qingyao's eyes deepened with a hint of coldness. This man was truly adept at putting on a show. They had nothing significant going on between them, having merely played chess in the palace for a night, yet listen to how grandly it was being conveyed.
"Understood."
Mu Qingyao responded and led the two maids out of the sleeping quarters.
A line of palace maids stood before the palace gate. The leader was none other than Hua Mei, the female official of Fengluan Palace. Seeing Mu Qingyao emerge, Hua Mei greeted her with a beaming smile, speaking respectfully and cautiously, "Your Ladyship has come out. His Majesty is waiting outside the palace."
"Mm, let's go."
Mu Qingyao cast a sideways glance at Hua Mei, certain that this Hua Mei was the Empress Dowager's person. This was evident from the air of superiority she exuded, unlike the other palace maids, which easily revealed her true allegiance.
Although Hua Mei was a female official in Fengluan Palace, her status was still that of a palace maid, albeit a chief one. However, her demeanor carried a natural superiority, clearly indicating she had backing within the palace, likely from the Empress Dowager herself.
A smile flickered across Mu Qingyao's lips, a cold, icy smile. She thought that trying to monitor her in Fengluan Palace was too naive. She would not allow ill-intentioned people to remain by her side.
Outside the Fengluan Palace gate, along the white jade balustrades and under the long corridors, stood a line of eunuchs and palace maids. Upon seeing Mu Qingyao, they all respectfully called out, "Greetings to Her Ladyship the Empress."
"Rise,"
Mu Qingyao waved her hand, leading Mei Xin and Mo Chou past the eunuchs and palace maids, and descended the stone steps directly.
The eunuchs and palace maids straightened up, watching the Empress depart.
A luxurious soft palanquin, inlaid with rubies, was parked on the open bluestone ground before the palace gate. A line of eunuchs stood by the palanquin, led by Eunuch Ah Jiu, the Emperor's personal attendant.
Upon seeing Mu Qingyao, he was momentarily stunned. He had not expected the Empress to be dressed so simply. Yet, it was this simplicity that made her appear as distant as the moon in the sky, cool and unapproachable.
"This servant greets Her Ladyship the Empress."
Mu Qingyao nodded, her gaze drifting casually towards the soft palanquin. Murong Liu Zun was likely seated within. He had come to fetch her to Liuli Palace, but why was there only one palanquin? Could it be that she was expected to share this confined space with him?
Mu Qingyao's gaze turned sharp and cold. She turned, about to instruct the eunuchs of Fengluan Palace to prepare another palanquin, when a deep voice sounded.
"Empress, the time has come."
A slender, fair hand parted the palanquin's curtain, and another hand reached out.
Mu Qingyao's cold, dark eyes fixed on the hand, her teeth gritted. She refused to enter the palanquin, stating calmly, "His Majesty's noble and precious person, how can Qingyao presume to share a carriage with His Majesty?"
Upon hearing this, Ah Jiu and Mo Chou, standing by the soft palanquin, stiffened. They immediately felt a chill sweep through the air.
Although the Empress spoke courteously, she actually did not wish to share a palanquin with the Emperor. Why was that? Everyone was somewhat perplexed, but no one dared to say anything, lowering their heads and pretending not to know what was happening.
Murong Liu Zun, seated in the soft palanquin, had an extremely grim and unpleasant expression. His eyes, like deep pools, were unfathomable, turbulent like an icy ocean. Anger colored his lips, but he forcibly suppressed it.
He had always been reserved and steady, yet this woman had the ability to provoke him. He, the Emperor of Xian Yue, the wise and enlightened Emperor Xian in the eyes of the world, was being scorned. And this person was his Empress. His gaze suddenly turned sharp and cold.
Mu Qingyao glared defiantly, showing no sign of compromise. Instead, she took a step back, preparing to order another soft palanquin.
However, before she could speak, she felt a flash of light before her eyes, the scent of dragon saliva wafted by, and her body was neatly seated in the soft palanquin. The man beside her was glaring at her ferociously, his chiseled features covered by a tempestuous expression. He curled his lips and spoke with a chilling tone.