Chapter 967: Chapter 967: The Stand-in Empress vs. the True Love Concubine (Part 32)
She tactfully halted her steps, intending to avoid being seen by the other party.
Although she didn’t know who the person opposite was, such a grand entourage was rare even within the entire harem.
“It’s the Crown Princess!” a small maid at her side exclaimed softly in surprise.
As she was about to turn around, Lu Xi paused and looked over, somewhat dazed.
The Crown Princess? Su Chaohua?
Hearing this title once more, she actually felt as if it had been a lifetime ago.
The last meeting stayed with her rushing in front of her to pour out her heart.
And after that?
She was startled by the furious Crown Prince, and then, it was the grand selection, and she entered the palace.
The man who had occupied her thoughts for over ten years, she hadn’t thought of for a year.
Not knowing why, her departing steps paused, and she stood quietly there until the person across approached.
The one walking at the front, surrounded by the stars and moons of the crowd, sure enough, was the Crown Princess Su Chaohua.
In the span of a year, she was still as dazzling as ever, only now she exuded an added layer of commanding authority.
She wore a crimson robe embroidered with peacock patterns, the red gemstones in her hair bun shone with a commanding golden light, so splendid and luxurious that it was hard to gaze directly.
She wondered, how would she react upon seeing herself?
With these thoughts, when the person stood before her, Lu Xi quietly bowed deeply.
“Your Highness, ahead is Consort Duan.”
Consort Duan?
Gu Shengyin raised an eyebrow, wasn’t it Lu Xi?
She glanced at Lu Xi, who wore a slightly worn pale green long dress, her features were simple and clean, with only a thirteen or fourteen-year-old maid trailing behind her.
Judging by her appearance, it was evident her past year had not been well.
Indeed, in this palace where the highs and lows shifted constantly, how good a life could an unfavored concubine lead?
“Rise.”
Lu Xi kept her head down, only feeling the orderly footsteps pass by her side, carrying with them waves of fragrant breeze.
That woman, didn’t even pause for a moment.
She wanted to lift her head, to call out to Su Chaohua, to ask if in just one year she had truly forgotten her?
This was something the former Lu Xi could have done, but now, as Consort Duan, she could only keep silent.
“The Crown Princess is indeed so beautiful…”
A sudden exclamation of awe came from the small maid.
“And it’s said that the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess have a very profound affection for each other; even though the Crown Princess hasn’t conceived for two years, the Crown Prince resolutely suppressed all voices urging him to take a concubine…”
The maid spoke, realizing her mistress had looked over, suddenly understanding something, her face flushed as she knelt: “Forgive me, Your Highness, this servant should not have spoken out of turn.”
Even though Consort Duan was not favored, she was still her mistress. Punishing a small maid like her was an incredibly simple matter.
However, Lu Xi at this moment had no interest in troubling a small maid, merely saying faintly: “Next time, remember to hold your tongue.”
Once the entourage had left, Lu Xi looked at the garden full of vibrant colors, the sunshine was just as warm, yet she no longer had the heart to enjoy the scenery.
“Let’s go back.”
She was elevated as the Crown Princess, singularly favored in the Eastern Palace; she, since entering the palace, had never received a trace of affection.
Now, she and Su Chaohua were already people from two different worlds.