“Your Emperor has dispatched me to find a consort for him.” Han Yue seemed to anticipate Yu Huang’s concerns, and she continued, “Your Majesty can rest assured, our Emperor merely seeks an ordinary consort.”
The implication was clear; they would not seek someone from the royal family.
Yu Huang’s icy expression slowly softened. As long as it wasn’t his own prince, the son of any minister would suffice.
Yu Huang laughed heartily, “If I refuse now, I fear it would damage the friendship between us and the Han Emperor. Very well, I agree. However, if the envoy has a particular consort in mind for the Han Emperor, you may inform me. I can also help vet them for the Han Emperor, as no one understands better than I do.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” The envoy readily agreed.
After the Snow Country envoy withdrew, the ten dancers she had brought began their performance. Light silks fluttered, feathered robes danced, and graceful figures were subtly revealed beneath the flowing attire, stirring the heart.
Suddenly, she felt the envoy’s gaze upon her. She saw Song Xiu Yuan nod slightly, but for some inexplicable reason, as she observed this, her heart felt uneasy. She couldn’t quite explain why.
Her clasped hands suddenly loosened. While she was still pondering, Song Xiu Yuan had already enclosed her hand tightly within his palm. A warm current flowed from his palm into her body, little by little.
The dance concluded.
She no longer paid attention to what happened afterward. When the event ended, Song Xiu Yuan was summoned to the Imperial Study by Yu Huang.
“Miss Xue.” At this moment, Song Ming Hui approached.
“Let’s go!” She felt she needed to leave, as her mind was unsettled.
“Why are you rushing off? This princess orders you to stop.” Xue Xing Yue frowned, turned back, and curtsied, “May I know if Your Highness has further commands?”
The Ninth Princess replied, “My mother wishes to see you.”
“Consort Wan?”
“Indeed,” the Ninth Princess stated.
“Please, Your Highness, lead the way.”
“Xue Xing Yue, you have quite the audacity to ask this princess to lead the way?” the Ninth Princess fumed.
“Ninth Princess, I do not know where Consort Wan resides, and you are the messenger. If I do not ask you, whom else would I ask?” Xue Xing Yue stood calmly, smiling at the Ninth Princess, who was momentarily speechless and could only puff up her cheeks in anger. “Then you must keep close to this princess, or I will not be responsible if you get lost.”
“Your Highness, please rest assured. Just lead the way.”
The Ninth Princess snorted and, without further ado, led her to Huan Yi Palace, Consort Wan’s residence.
As Xue Xing Yue entered Huan Yi Palace, she noticed numerous Mimosa flowers planted in the courtyard.
Seeing her gaze at the Mimosa flowers, the Ninth Princess remarked, “Father planted these for Mother.”
“These Mimosa flowers are blooming so beautifully.” Many years ago, her own mother had also planted a courtyard full of Mimosa flowers for her father. She had asked her mother why she planted Mimosa, which was not as beautiful as peonies or Chinese tree peonies. Her mother had smiled without saying a word, but she had clearly seen the doting in her mother’s eyes.
Later, she understood that Mimosa flowers symbolized a happy and fulfilling marriage. By planting Mimosa for her father, her mother was telling him that she cherished him.
When she had her own consort, she wanted Meng Jiang Ming to plant Mimosa for her, but he had said such things were too superficial.
“Your Highness, Miss Xue, the Consort is already waiting inside the hall,” a palace maid approached and said with a bow.
“Good,” the Ninth Princess nodded, then looked at her. “Let’s go! My mother is waiting.”
She nodded and stepped into the sleeping quarters. At the main seat sat a beautiful woman in a jade-green palace gown, her hair adorned with golden hairpins and pearls. Her exquisitely beautiful face held the semblance of a woman in her prime, untouched by the passage of time.
“This commoner pays her respects to Your Highness!” Xue Xing Yue bowed.
Consort Wan waved her hand, “Rise, and be seated!”
A palace maid quickly brought a stool. “Thank you, Your Highness!”
“All of you may withdraw,” Consort Wan said, glancing at the attendants beside her.
The palace maids retreated one by one. Consort Wan looked at the Ninth Princess and said, “You may also leave.”
“Mother, why must I leave too?” the Ninth Princess asked, confused.
“Jiao Jiao, Mother has something to discuss with Miss Xue,” Consort Wan patiently explained to the Ninth Princess.
The Ninth Princess was displeased. “Are there things that cannot be said in front of me?”
“Yes, things that cannot be said in front of you,” Consort Wan admitted directly.
The Ninth Princess bit her lower lip and then petulantly left.
Consort Wan chuckled at this, “She is truly willful. She must have caused you and Prime Minister considerable trouble, haven’t she?”
She quickly stood up, “Your Highness speaks too highly. Her Highness the Princess is naturally intelligent; how could she cause trouble?”
Consort Wan smiled, “I know her temper best. Although she is pampered, she has no ill intentions.”
Xue Xing Yue agreed with this sentiment. Otherwise, Song Xiu Yuan would not have allowed the Ninth Princess such free rein in the Prime Minister’s mansion.
“Your Highness, the Ninth Princess merely has a childlike nature.”
Consort Wan nodded, then scrutinized her from head to toe. As Consort Wan’s gaze seemed to weigh something, and just as Xue Xing Yue began to feel uneasy, Consort Wan suddenly spoke, “Do you know that His Majesty has taken an interest in you?”
Her entire body stiffened. She instinctively looked up at Consort Wan, “Your Highness, you…”
Consort Wan stood up and smiled, “I understand His Majesty’s thoughts best. Clearly, His Majesty has become interested in you.”
She hadn’t expected Consort Wan to see it as well. Did this mean everyone had already noticed?
“Your Highness, I am Prime Minister’s betrothed. How could His Majesty possibly take away a minister’s wife?” Her status was known to everyone. Would His Majesty still forcefully take her? Moreover, her looks were, at best, above average. Compared to the alluring palace consorts, she was far inferior. Not to mention the dancers recently sent by the Han Kingdom envoy, weren’t they all graceful and charming?
Consort Wan sneered at this, “Is that so? This is not the first time he has done such a thing.”
Xue Xing Yue was slightly taken aback. She seemed to have learned a significant piece of information from Consort Wan.
Consort Wan stood and walked toward her. “Do you know my relationship with Prince Min Nan?”
She quickly stood and bowed, “Your Highness, this commoner is merely a humble civilian. I beg Your Highness to be merciful.”
Upon hearing this, Consort Wan suddenly moved closer and said, “Is that so? But you have already seen my secret, haven’t you? How can you expect me to be merciful now?”
Xue Xing Yue was not particularly surprised. After all, she knew that Consort Wan would eventually discover that she had witnessed the affair between Consort Wan and Prince Min Nan. However, she hadn’t expected Consort Wan to find out so soon.
“Are you surprised why I know?” Consort Wan lifted the corners of her lips, a trace of sinister intent appearing on her charming face.