"Good, good," the Empress said, happily holding Xue Xingyue's hand.
"His Majesty arrives!" The sudden voice from outside made the Empress tremble, and Xue Xingyue felt it too, as the hand holding hers was quivering. Was the Empress afraid of the Emperor?
She looked up and saw a hint of ferocity on the previously kind face. The Empress hated the Emperor.
Xue Xingyue was astonished. Suddenly, she remembered the Emperor's attitude after the death of the Fifth Prince.
Abruptly, she felt a pain in her hand. She looked at the Empress, her eyes showing undisguised hatred.
"Aunt, you're pinching me, Yue'er," Song Xiuyuan said, taking Xue Xingyue's hand from the Empress's grasp.
The Empress startled. Looking at Xue Xingyue, she said apologetically, "Yue'er, did Aunt pinch you too hard?"
Xue Xingyue shook her head. Just as she was about to speak, Song Xiuyuan pulled her and led her to kneel.
"Your subject pays his respects to His Majesty!" Song Xiuyuan's voice was loud. For some reason, Xue Xingyue detected a hint of disdain in his tone. But she could understand. After all, if the Empress hated the Emperor so much, Song Xiuyuan likely had no good feelings towards him either.
"So, my esteemed minister is here," a voice boomed, full of vigor.
Xue Xingyue saw golden boots appear in her sight. "Your subject has come to see the Empress."
"That is only proper. And this is..." The Emperor glanced at the person kneeling beside Song Xiuyuan and asked.
Xue Xingyue knew the Emperor was referring to her.
"Replying to Your Majesty, this is my betrothed," Song Xiuyuan answered.
Xue Xingyue felt the chill of Song Xiuyuan's hand holding hers. She subconsciously wanted to pull away, but he held her hand tightly with great force.
"So, this is the woman who contends with my Little Jiu for the position of Prime Minister's wife."
"Indeed," Song Xiuyuan replied.
"Lift your head and let me see what kind of woman can compare to my Little Jiu?" the Emperor said, sitting beside the Empress and smiling.
But Xue Xingyue knew that a trace of anger was hidden within that smile.
"Your Majesty is too kind to this humble maiden. How can my lowly status be compared to the heaven-favored Ninth Princess?" Xue Xingyue raised her head. She saw the man in the golden robe. He was exceptionally handsome; she thought that if he were younger, he might have been admired by all women. However, his eyes seemed somewhat familiar, as if she had seen them somewhere before.
The Emperor seemed to have not expected her to look up at him so directly. After a slight pause, he chuckled. "Indeed, you are bold. Others are terrified when they see me, yet you, merely a farmer's daughter, are so audacious. No wonder you can contend with my Little Jiu. This courage is commendable."
Xue Xingyue lowered her head. She had intended to kowtow before speaking again, but Song Xiuyuan's arm, which held her hand, moved to block her. She couldn't kowtow. "Your Majesty, having seen your subject's wife, may we take our leave?"
As soon as Song Xiuyuan finished speaking, Xue Xingyue felt a sense of oppression from the front, likely the pressure the Emperor was exerting. "My esteemed minister, in such a hurry to leave?"
"Your subject dares not!" Song Xiuyuan replied.
"Then stay here with me. I wish to have a word with this lady," the Emperor said.
To talk with her? Xue Xingyue felt as though she was being made a scapegoat.
"Your subject is unworthy. My betrothed is a commoner and might offend Your Majesty," Song Xiuyuan said.
The Emperor laughed heartily. "No, I am not a man-eating beast."
"Your Majesty, what brings you to my humble abode?" the Empress, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.
Upon hearing this, the smile on the Emperor's face turned cold and somber. "I thought the Empress had no intention of speaking with me."
The Empress stood up and curtsied. "Your subject dares not."
The Emperor snorted and said, "In this imperial harem, is there anything the Empress dares not do?"
The Empress raised her head and asked, "Please enlighten me, Your Majesty, otherwise, your subject does not know where she has offended you."
"You..." The Emperor glanced at the Empress, then sneered. "For all these years, you have remained in this Wutong Palace. Why did you go to Shuming Palace today?"
Xue Xingyue then understood. It was about Consort Min. This Consort Min was truly formidable, to have the Emperor personally come to her defense? Thinking of this, she couldn't help but sympathize more with the Empress. Not only had she lost the Fifth Prince, but she was also being suspected by the Emperor like this. No wonder the Empress looked resigned to fate; this was truly going too far.
With that thought, she was about to speak when Song Xiuyuan preempted her. "Your Majesty, this matter arose because of your subject. It was your subject who asked the Empress to undertake this errand. If Your Majesty is angered by this, then your subject is unforgivable."
"You are indeed unforgivable," the Emperor said coldly to Song Xiuyuan.
"Please, Your Majesty, punish me!" Song Xiuyuan bowed his head.
The Emperor snorted. "Do not think I dare not punish you. If it were not for my Little Jiu's sake, I would surely punish you severely."
Suddenly, Xue Xingyue felt a chilling coldness emanating from Song Xiuyuan. Although she could not see his face, she knew Song Xiuyuan was very angry at this moment. "Then please, Your Majesty, punish me!"
Song Xiuyuan suddenly looked up, his eyes no longer sparkling with starlight, but filled only with a desolate abyss.
"You... Fine. I shall see if your words are harder or your bones are harder. Guards..."
"Your Majesty..." Xue Xingyue and the Empress cried out in unison.
The Emperor said coldly, "Anyone who pleads will be punished by me."