Inside Longteng Palace, hierarchy was clearly defined.
Noble Lady Shi and Little Xinzhuo had returned to the Imperial Palace thanks to Xin Lin’s help, but their status had not improved in the slightest.
Even after the Zixiao Palace Exam, Little Xinzhuo had yet to et Emperor Longteng, and Noble Lady Shi was far from serving in his bedchamber.
Although mother and son had returned to the palace, the staff, from the highest eunuchs to the lowest palace maids, had completely changed from before.
Noble Lady Shi didn’t even have a servant she could order around, and had to be cautious and careful in every way, so as not to attract trouble, truly living a life worse than that of palace maids and eunuchs.
She did not reveal these circumstances in her letters to Xin Lin, only ntioning that she and Little Xinzhuo were doing well.
Yet, it was exactly this insincere statent of "all is well" that allowed Xin Lin to see the flaw in her words.
The mother and son had been tense and wary for several days, and today, early in the morning, an eunuch reminded them it was ti to pay respects to Empress Feng.
According to the rules of Longteng Palace, every morning they must go to Empress Feng, the mistress of the harem, to show their respects.
In the past few days, Empress Feng’s health was not good, so they had been exempted from greeting her, but today her health was slightly better, and she "thought" of the mother and son.
"Mother, do we really have to pay respects to that bad woman?"
Little Xinzhuo had an unwilling look on his face at the thought of his mother bowing down to Empress Feng.
There were many rules within the palace, and Little Xinzhuo, used to being a wandering ghost, was not quite accustod to them.
"My Prince, this is the Imperial Palace, where status is strictly upheld. She is the Empress, and it’s proper for us to pay our respects. Rember, apart from when Empress Feng speaks to you, do not utter a word at other tis," reminded Noble Lady Shi affectionately, as she patted Little Xinzhuo’s head.
Empress Feng must have so sche this ti, and though Noble Lady Shi was aware of the deviousness, she couldn’t refuse.
All Noble Lady Shi could do was proceed with caution, guarding against Empress Feng’s manipulations.
She thought to herself that by speaking less, naturally she would make fewer mistakes.
Mother and son, heavy-hearted, followed the eunuch towards Fuluan Palace.
Upon arrival outside of the palace, the eunuch asked Noble Lady Shi and her son to wait.
A quarter of an hour passed, then half an hour, yet there was still no movent from inside Fuluan Palace.
Noble Lady Shi, frail in body, could not stand for too long, and after standing under the blazing sun, beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
She softly inquired with a palace maid, who simply replied that Empress Feng was having breakfast with the Third Prince, and they were to keep waiting outside.
"She’s doing this on purpose!"
Anger was evident on Little Xinzhuo’s face.
"My Prince."
Noble Lady Shi quickly covered Little Xinzhuo’s mouth, her anxiety clear as she glanced around.
After another quarter of an hour, there was still no movent from within Fuluan Palace.
Little Xinzhuo was getting anxious.
That bad woman was up to no good again, and his mother, with her ek temper, would surely be bullied dreadfully.
If Sister were here, it would have been great. Sister would certainly know how to teach that bad Empress Feng a lesson.
Little Xinzhuo blinked, imagining what Sister would do in this situation, and turned to look at the palace maid beside him.
"Miss palace maid, I’m thirsty. Could I have a cup of water?"
Even if Little Xinzhuo was no longer favored, he was still a Prince, and the palace maid quickly brought him a cup of tea.
Little Xinzhuo gulped it down, but after drinking, his complexion suddenly changed, and he clutched his stomach.
"My stomach hurts, Mother, my stomach really hurts."
Startled, Noble Lady Shi hurriedly embraced Little Xinzhuo, panic-stricken.
The nearby palace maid was also shocked and froze.
After a short while, the eunuch ca out.
"Noble Lady Shi, Empress Feng has heard that the Seventh Prince is unwell, and she orders you to enter the palace to seek treatnt from the Imperial Physician."
User Comments
0 comments from readers