How could she be compared to her elder brother, the Empress's maternal cousin, who was the Minister of Rites, and who had broken away from the family to become a royal merchant?
"I have nothing else to do, I just heard that Consort Min brought back the Prime Minister's future wife? Is that so?" the Empress asked.
Consort Min nodded upon hearing this, "Your Majesty, I was precisely intending to discipline this woman who brazenly seduced Prince Min Nan..."
"Consort Min, you have been in this harem for quite some time. Do you know what to say and what not to say? Don't you know?" The Empress suddenly leaned forward, her index finger, adorned with a finger cot, gently lifted Consort Min's chin. She spoke word by word, her voice cold.
Consort Min's body stiffened. She looked at the Empress's ordinary yet extremely chilling gaze. "I... I am foolish and do not understand what Your Majesty means."
"It's good that you don't understand. I don't want to say much. I am taking her away now. Do you have any objections?" the Empress said word by word, her voice very light. Yet, Consort Min inexplicably felt a chilling sensation surrounding her back.
Under these circumstances, Consort Min knew she could only nod in agreement. "Your Majesty, take whomever you wish. I have no right to question."
Upon hearing this, the Empress released Consort Min's chin and said lightly, "To know one's limits is the mark of a wise person. That perfectly describes Consort Min."
"Th-thank you for your praise, Your Majesty!" Consort Min lowered her head, a glint of ferocity flashing in her eyes. She knew that with her current strength and influence, she was no match for the Empress. But who knew what the future held?
"Consort Min is so understanding, which puts my mind at ease. I shall not disturb you further..." As she spoke, the Empress said to the palace maid beside her, "Cui Lan, escort Miss Xue."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Cui Lan walked directly to Xue Xingyue and said, "Please, Miss Xue, accompany me."
"Alright." No matter where she was being taken, looking at the Empress, who did not seem like a cruel person, leaving this place was what she wanted. She didn't want to wait until tomorrow to be accused of assaulting a consort, which would truly be a grave offense.
Xue Xingyue could feel Consort Min's malicious gaze following her as she left Shuming Palace. She knew she had made an enemy of Consort Min.
After the Fifth Prince was burned to death in his sleeping quarters, the Empress had moved out of Fengxi Palace and into Wutong Palace. This palace was originally where the Empress had temporarily stayed during her pregnancy with the Fifth Prince because she enjoyed the tranquility. She had lived there ever since and never returned to Fengxi Palace, leaving Fengxi Palace empty.
However, Wutong Palace was indeed secluded. Being far from the residences of all the consorts in the harem, it was the quietest place in the inner palace. No one appeared within a few miles, and even the palace maids were reluctant to come here.
Upon entering Wutong Palace, Xue Xingyue noticed that the number of palace maids here was also very small, less than half of Consort Min's retinue. Seeing her slight confusion, Cui Lan whispered, "Your Majesty prefers quiet and dislikes crowds, so all the servants here have been carefully selected."
Dislikes crowds? Xue Xingyue glanced at Cui Lan. It was likely that only those who willingly followed the Empress remained! After all, in this palace, whoever gained the Emperor's favor had the most promising future.
And the Empress, a woman without imperial offspring, was probably not the first choice for those palace maids.
Upon entering the main hall, it was very simple and elegant. The Empress sat on a soft couch, seemingly a little tired. She rested her legs on a footrest, allowing a palace maid to massage her legs. Xue Xingyue then noticed how thin the Empress was. It was understandable, as she had likely been mourning the lost Fifth Prince for so many years.
Thinking of this, she felt an inexplicable sense of guilt. Ever since she arrived in the Jade Kingdom, she had felt this way. Sometimes she even wondered if, had she agreed to her mother's wishes back then, all of this could have turned out differently.
But she knew that what was past would not return, just as her rebirth was a new beginning. The past was the past.
"Come here, let me have a good look at you." The Empress, who had closed her eyes, suddenly spoke. Although Xue Xingyue did not know the Empress's intention, she still stepped forward and stood before the Empress, bowing. "Your Majesty!"
"Lift your head!" the Empress commanded. Although the words were the same as those spoken by Consort Min, Xue Xingyue heard a completely different tone. Consort Min's voice was cold and stern, while the Empress, for some reason, sounded kind. Perhaps it was the faint smile the Empress had given her when they made eye contact that had fostered a sliver of goodwill towards her.
She raised her head and met the Empress's tired yet clear gaze. There was even a hint of tenderness in her eyes. However, the Empress's complexion was not good. From a distance earlier, she hadn't been able to see clearly, but now she could tell that the Empress's face had a sickly pallor, clearly indicating she had been ill for a long time.
"Are you unwell?"
"How dare you speak so presumptuously?" The palace maid massaging the Empress's legs suddenly exclaimed, scolding her.
Xue Xingyue had blurted it out unconsciously. After being reprimanded by the palace maid, she realized she had spoken out of turn. She quickly knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive this humble one..."
"Your Majesty, such an uncivilized commoner, you..."
"I am speaking to Miss Xue. Why are you interrupting?" The Empress glanced at the palace maid massaging her legs lightly. Although her tone remained gentle, Xue Xingyue detected a hint of authority.