The current situation is—
Backed by Murong Yi, Murong Han had begun reclaiming power in the palace through the Imperial Guard, while Shui Yixuan joined hands with the Shura Sect to control the Bai Family. Add to that the sudden appearance of Beiming Yi, that is, the Liuyun Sect’s ddling, and the speed at which the outer forces were being drawn in far outstripped that inside the Imperial Palace.
While the n were all busy stirring things up in the previous dynasty’s court, Murong Xue took the imperial edict in hand and set out to visit Consort Hua, who was under house arrest in Fenglin Garden.
"Servant Yang Shun pays respects to Princess Yunxi!" Just as she was about to leave, the Chief Steward at Father Emperor’s side suddenly walked over. She quickly asked, "Eunuch Yang, please rise. Did Father Emperor give so instruction?"
"To report to the Princess, the Emperor ordered this servant to escort you to Fenglin Garden. Look, the sedan chair is already prepared."
Yang Shun pointed at the sedan chair behind him, head lowered as he waited for orders.
Murong Xue followed the angle of Yang Shun’s body with her gaze and was startled. "Th-this isn’t Father Emperor’s Imperial Chariot? How could I possibly use this? I can’t, I can’t."
"Replying to Princess, there’s no need for courtesy. This is by Lord’s order. After all, it’s quite a distance to walk from here. Please, Princess, get in the sedan."
Murong Xue eventually still boarded the Imperial Chariot, but her heart was full of mixed feelings. Ever since coming into this life she had never really enjoyed any family affection; the Old Emperor truly left nothing to be said in that regard. It did allow her to let go of so of her prejudices, but it did nothing to change the fact that she wanted to protect Xi Yue.
Unsuitable is unsuitable; she couldn’t help him just because he treated her well. He had already ruined the first half of Xi Yue’s life. As for the second half, she hoped this nominal mother of hers could live once for herself.
With the sedan chair, she soon arrived at the gates of Yong’an Palace. Fenglin Garden was only a corner of Yong’an Palace. Yong’an Palace was the residence where Consort Hua had once lived—luxurious and extravagant, ostentatious in every corner, a noble air that was exactly the sa as her own personality.
The mont the guards at the gate saw Yang Shun, they respectfully lowered their heads. When they caught sight of Princess Yunxi on the Imperial Chariot, they hurriedly knelt to offer greetings.
"What are you dawdling for? Princess Yunxi is here to see Consort Hua. Make way, quickly!"
With Chief Steward Yang from the Emperor’s side personally opening the way, who would dare be presumptuous? All the more when Murong Xue raised the imperial edict in her hand.
"This... do you lot want to take a look? One has to follow procedure, doesn’t one?"
Just as the gate guards were about to make a show of checking it, the Chief Steward strode forward in anger and rapped one guard sharply on the head.
"Open your dog eyes and take a good look. Who is this? This is Princess Yunxi, personally titled by the Emperor. Didn’t you see that the Princess arrived in the Emperor’s Imperial Chariot? Isn’t that more effective than an imperial edict? The Princess lets you look and you dare to look? Why aren’t you opening the gate already?"
The eunuchs shrank their necks in grievance as they went to open the gate, thinking bitterly to themselves, She’s holding an imperial edict but won’t let us read it—what’s that supposed to an?
After escorting Murong Xue to the entrance of Fenglin Garden, Yang Shun stood respectfully to the side, smiling obsequiously.
"Princess, please enter. We servants will withdraw for now. If you require anything, just call out, and these guards will await your command. When the Princess returns, just inform them, and this servant will naturally do his utmost to escort the Princess back to Tangli Palace."
Murong Xue felt it troubleso the mont she heard this. She wasn’t one for hypocrisy, so she quickly shook her head.
"No need. I’ll just walk back myself; it’s fine. Father Emperor still needs you. There’s no need for Chief Steward Yang to worry about matters here."
After Yang Shun left, Murong Xue finally turned around to take in Fenglin Garden. To be honest, compared with Yong’an Palace’s lavish luxury, this place was practically a slum—dilapidated and desolate, looking like a long-abandoned palace, no different from the Cold Palace. Still, it technically belonged to Yong’an Palace, so one could vaguely see traces of past favor: there were artificial hills and ponds, landscaped greenery. Who knew, perhaps so concubine had once enjoyed great favor here for a ti!
Unfortunately, the rise and fall of won in the harem was the most commonplace thing. Take the woman before her eyes, for example: in the span of just one month, she had fallen from the extravagant main hall of Yong’an Palace to the depths of the Cold Palace.
Even the eunuchs and palace maids sweeping the courtyard here were dressed extrely simply.
She watched as eunuchs and palace maids knelt in a clatter all over the ground, loudly calling, "This servant (slave) pays respects to the Princess. May Princess live a thousand, a thousand, ten thousand years."
Murong Xue swept them a light glance. "All of you, rise. Where is your master?"
A little palace maid beside her hurriedly replied, "Reporting to the Princess, Consort Hua is currently admiring the plum blossoms in the plum grove up ahead!"
"Oh? She still has the leisure for that?" Murong Xue let out a mocking smile, then pointed at the little girl. "Then I’ll trouble you to lead the way. I ca here today especially to pay my respects to Consort Hua."
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