Just as she began to speak, the faint sound of carriages and horses could be heard ahead, followed by the leader of the Imperial Guards stepping forward to report that they had encountered the Empress.
The Empress?
Awu suddenly recalled the scene in the Empress’s carriage.
She froze for a moment, and then a wave of shame surged over her.
Her body trembled uncontrollably.
Emperor Jingxi noticed: “Have you met the Empress before?”
Awu bit her lip and nodded: “Yes.”
She hesitated for a moment but still explained:
“At Yan Yang Temple, when Her Majesty was conducting a water and land ritual to pray for blessings, I was fortunate enough to see her.”
Emperor Jingxi: “What did she say? What did she do to you?”
Awu shook her head: “Nothing much. She just asked me about my life at the temple and instructed the temple officials to take good care of me.”
Naturally, she couldn’t mention her connection with Lu Yunjian, so she could only say this.
She didn’t know if Emperor Jingxi believed her, but he didn’t press further.
Awu: “If the Empress is here, should I… should I hide somewhere?”
As she spoke, she quickly glanced around.
Emperor Jingxi held her in place and commanded: “Don’t move.”
Awu: “But-“
Emperor Jingxi: “She won’t enter my carriage without permission.”
Awu: “Really?”
Emperor Jingxi smiled: “To avoid mutual displeasure.”
Awu was surprised.
Emperor Jingxi looked over.
At this moment, the eunuch was already waiting behind the yellow brocade curtain, clearly awaiting orders.
He spoke in a calm tone: “Announce her.”
The eunuch, having received the order, took small, careful steps down from the carriage to relay the message to the Empress.
Awu hid in the shadows, lifting layers of embroidered curtains to peek outside.
Emperor Jingxi noticed her nervousness, thinking that her youth and lack of experience made it hard for her to conceal her emotions.
Outside was the Empress’s procession, a grand display of ceremonial guards and attendants, all dressed in wide robes with green-trimmed hats, holding silver-tipped black staffs, exuding an air of authority.
After the eunuch delivered the message to the Empress, it wasn’t long before movement was seen from the direction of the Empress’s carriage.
It seemed she was preparing to descend.
The guards quickly parted to form a pathway, with palace maids filing out first, followed by the Empress.
Perhaps because they were traveling, red gauze and glass fans were used both in front and behind.
The gauze of the fans fell, obscuring most of the Empress’s face, leaving only a glimpse of her gold-sprinkled, dark green pleated skirt swaying gently with her elegant steps.
Surrounded by palace maids and shielded by the red gauze and glass fans, the Empress approached the emperor’s dragon carriage and was invited to the wooden steps in front of it.
Through the yellow brocade curtain, she performed a grand bow.
Awu widened her eyes, staring at the yellow curtain ahead.
Only a single curtain separated them.
If the Empress stepped forward, she would see her.
The Empress’s dignity was such that even though Awu was nestled in Emperor Jingxi’s arms, she still felt inadequate.
The emperor, however, remained composed, calmly accepting the Empress’s bow.
Clearly, the emperor’s sudden arrival at Nanqiongzi had taken the Empress by surprise, as this matter had already been entrusted to her.
The emperor’s unexpected presence was indeed a shock.
After exchanging formal pleasantries, the two finally got down to business.
The Empress began recounting her experiences since arriving in Nanqiongzi.
Listening intently, Awu learned that upon hearing of her alleged “elopement,” the Crown Prince had been furious and immediately rushed to Nanqiongzi.
Consequently, the Emperor had sent the Empress to handle the matter.
Due to her “abduction by Nie San” the previous night, the Crown Prince, the Yan Yang Temple, and the Nanqiongzi garrison were all frantically searching for her.
At this point, the Emperor inquired about the whereabouts of the Ning family.
Awu pricked up her ears.
According to the Empress’s original plan, she was to hand Awu over to claim credit.
But now that Awu had been taken, and the Emperor had swiftly dealt with the matter by arresting and silencing the escorting guards, the Empress was probably at a loss.
Thus, she heard the Empress reply, “The Ning woman eloped with the guard Nie Sanlang. Both had confessed and were to be apprehended, but Nie Sanlang broke through the encirclement and abducted her.”
“We have already dispatched more personnel to search for them and ordered the Nanqiongzi guards to increase patrols to ensure they do not escape.”
The Emperor lightly tapped his fingers on the armrest, seemingly deep in thought.
“A mere Nie Sanlang could abduct the Ning woman?”
The Empress hesitated before replying with some difficulty, “This, Your Majesty, I do not yet know.”
She concealed Lu Yunjian’s actions, intending to return Awu, but now that Awu had inexplicably disappeared, she felt somewhat guilty.
In truth, she somewhat suspected the Crown Princess, but if she investigated too deeply, it might expose Lu Yunjian, so she was cautious.
The Emperor said, “Since this woman is in Nanqiongzi, she cannot escape. Mo Yao is also searching for her, so let him continue.”
The Empress replied, “Yes.”
The Emperor added, “If she is lost, let it be for now. There is no need to concern ourselves with it.”
The Empress said, “If that is the case, then so be it.”
Listening from the side, Awu thought that the Empress had deceived the Emperor, and the Emperor had also deceived the Empress.
This couple was truly amusing, both hiding things and feeling guilty, so they glossed over the matter and did not bring it up again.
Thus, neither knew what the other had done!
What kind of couple were they?
She recalled Emperor Jingxi’s words, “Mutual disdain,” and the Empress’s demeanor towards Lu Yunjian, leading her to some speculations.
At this moment, Emperor Jingxi’s voice softened, “Since such audacious individuals have appeared in Nanqiongzi, Zitong, you must be cautious in all matters. As for the Crown Prince, I will handle it personally. If you have no other business, you may return to the palace to avoid any encounters with reckless individuals.”
Awu found it increasingly amusing.
The Emperor’s words were considerate, but the underlying message was clear: go back.
The Empress respectfully replied, “With Your Majesty personally here, I am naturally at ease. I will follow Your Majesty’s arrangements.”
“However, the Crown Princess is young and has also come to Nanqiongzi, and the Crown Prince is preoccupied with the Ning woman. I cannot help but feel uneasy.”
Emperor Jingxi said, “I understand your concerns, Zitong. But since Nanqiongzi is not peaceful, I am also worried for your safety. Therefore, I will assign the Imperial Guards to accompany you to ensure your safety.”
The Empress was clearly surprised but still respectfully expressed her gratitude.
Unexpectedly, Emperor Jingxi changed the subject, “Zitong, there are two more matters I need you to handle.”
The Empress quickly responded, “Your Majesty, please instruct. I will do my utmost.”
Emperor Jingxi: “This time, for Dening’s coming-of-age ceremony, I’ve troubled the Empress to handle the arrangements. However, I was thinking that instead of using fresh flowers, we should use silk flowers.”
The Empress was puzzled: “Your Majesty, why is that?”
Emperor Jingxi: “A single fresh flower growing in the wilderness isn’t worth much, but to ensure its freshness on the day of the ceremony, the southern regions have to prepare far in advance. Not to mention the manpower, resources, and effort expended.”
“A flower that originally costs a hundred coins, once brought into the palace and held by the ladies, becomes ten or even dozens of times more expensive. And it’s only for a fleeting moment of freshness, only to be discarded the next day.”
He paused, then continued: “Silk flowers are naturally more expensive, but they save a lot of effort and waste. Moreover, they can be reused for future events or even distributed to noble ladies, court officials, or palace maids, so they won’t go to waste.”
Awu listened, feeling deeply impressed.
Emperor Jingxi seemed quite knowledgeable about the economics behind these floral arrangements.
One might even mistake him for the manager of a silk flower shop.
The Empress, of course, never expected Emperor Jingxi to say such things.
In the past, he rarely concerned himself with the affairs of the inner palace.
She respectfully replied: “Your Majesty’s considerations are thorough. Then I shall follow your instructions.”
Emperor Jingxi: “There’s one more thing. In three to five days, a new woman will enter the inner palace. I’ll trouble you, my Empress, to make the necessary arrangements in advance.”
Awu’s ears perked up.
She knew this meant Emperor Jingxi was asking the Empress to arrange her position in the inner court.
At these words, the Empress, who had remained calm, was visibly surprised.
According to the customary selection process of the Great Hui Dynasty, the palace would recruit new women every year, mostly chosen from among those who voluntarily entered the palace from the common folk.
Those selected could either become candidates for the inner court or serve as officials in the Six Bureaus.
However, for nearly seven or eight years, Emperor Jingxi had shown no interest in selecting new women.
Each year, he would merely glance over the candidates before leaving the matter entirely to the Empress.
Most of the new recruits ended up as officials in the Six Bureaus rather than as candidates for the inner court.
Last year, the Empress Dowager, seeing that all the imperial consorts were over twenty years old, with the youngest being twenty-two, and no new women had been added, felt the inner court had become too desolate.
She wanted to personally oversee a selection, but Emperor Jingxi stopped her.
His reasoning was that even if new women were selected, he had no interest in favoring them, and it would only waste the precious youth of those daughters.
No one expected that now, outside the usual selection period, Emperor Jingxi would personally bring up the matter of adding a new woman to the inner court.
This was an unprecedented event…
The Empress was both shocked and doubtful.
She recalled the woman Emperor Jingxi had favored before, but there had been no further developments.
She thought the matter had been dropped, but now it seemed that woman was the one?
She respectfully asked: “Your Majesty, may I know where this new woman comes from and how she will be honored…”
She paused briefly, then explained: “We should at least know her rank to arrange her position accordingly.”
Emperor Jingxi listened, pondered for a moment, and glanced to the side, where he saw Awu looking at him expectantly.
Her mind was entirely focused on her future rank.
The corner of his lips twitched slightly, and he soon spoke in a calm tone, “The newcomer is also from an ordinary family. Since she has suddenly entered the palace, according to custom, she shall first be granted the title of Noble Lady.”
The Empress, upon hearing this, tightly grasped the word “first.”
After all, having held the position for several years, she naturally knew Emperor Jingxi very well.
From the implication of this word, it was clear that the Emperor had more in mind for this woman than just the title of Noble Lady.
For now, he did not want to cause too much of a stir, hence the initial modest title.
However, she would undoubtedly be promoted later.
Therefore, her arrangements could not be taken lightly; she must at least have a separate chamber.
Her mind was filled with speculation, but she still replied, “Yes, Your Majesty. After I return to the palace, I will make proper arrangements.”
When the Empress finally took her leave, Awu leaned against the window lattice, watching the Empress’s grand procession fade into the distance.
She turned back to look at Emperor Jingxi, who was lowering his eyelids, seemingly lost in thought.
She cautiously asked, “Your Majesty?”
Emperor Jingxi looked up at her, “Are you afraid of the Empress?”
Awu replied, “Her Majesty the Empress is dignified and graceful. Awu holds her in great admiration.”
Emperor Jingxi raised his hand and beckoned Awu to come closer.
Awu approached and leaned on Emperor Jingxi’s knee.
Emperor Jingxi’s long fingers rested on Awu’s hair, calmly playing with the peony in her bun.
He smiled gently and said, “Awu, how did you elope with a man? I would like to hear the details. Come, tell me about it.”
Awu:”……”
Her initial excitement was completely shattered by this thunderous question.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.