Within the Zixiao Palace.
As soon as dawn broke, Empress Feng rose to dress and adorn herself, draped in a phoenix dress, her hair piled in high buns; her beauty was radiant and delicate.
"Why has the Empress risen so early today?"
A palace maid beside her expressed her surprise.
"The Empress Dowager has just returned from the Sumr Palace, and as the head of the Six Palaces, I naturally ought to visit her."
Empress Feng glanced at her own reflection in the mirror, dignified and luxurious; even after a decade, her beauty remained as striking as ever.
Empress Feng stood up and, assisted by her palace maids, headed towards the Empress Dowager’s Jingchao Palace.
Upon arrival at the entrance of Jingchao Palace, she saw many noble concubines, concubines, and Nobles kneeling outside.
Empress Feng’s gaze swept over and spotted Shi Guiren kneeling off to the side.
In contrast to the heavily made-up noble concubines and concubines, Shi Guiren’s makeup was understated and elegant.
Even though she was now a mother, Shi Guiren still retained her youthful, delicate beauty.
With her petite face and slender eyebrows, her limpid eyes shone like gentle ripples on water; her figure was as willowy as a weeping willow in spring, seemingly ready to sway and collapse at the faintest breeze. Such a woman could even inspire pity in other won who laid eyes upon her.
Among all the noble concubines and concubines, Shi Guiren was particularly striking.
Emperor Longteng once said that Shi Guiren’s beauty was different from that of Empress Feng.
If Empress Feng was a bright pearl, then Shi Guiren would be the glimr of fireflies.
Fireflies and pearls indeed could not be spoken of in the sa breath.
But sotis, after growing accustod to the rich luster of pearls, a glimpse of firefly light could still be remarkably captivating.
This was why Empress Feng, the bright pearl, always found Shi Guiren difficult to tolerate.
"Looks like my dear sisters have risen early; have you all co to pay respects to the Empress Dowager? And have you all brought gifts, too?"
Empress Feng’s eyes flicked to the side, noting that the concubines’ palace maids carried various large and small packages, and so even held food boxes.
No palace maids accompanied Shi Guiren; she herself carried a small octagonal food box lacquered in red.
Hmm~
All were of high eye and low hand, fawning over themselves when the Empress Dowager was away from the palace, and now they eagerly curried favor as soon as she returned.
Empress Feng’s eyes glinted coldly as she pursed her lips, which were as delicate as flower petals, revealing a profound and enigmatic smile.
"Your Grace, we have co to see how the Empress Dowager is feeling upon hearing that she may be unwell after returning to the palace," said a pleasing and lodious voice, belonging to a beautifully featured concubine dressed in pink.
"Consort Zhao, you truly are thoughtful. The last ti the Emperor had too much to drink, you were the first one to send over a sobering soup. You seem to be even more alert to news than I, who am the Empress."
Empress Feng chuckled dryly.
The concubine in pink was Consort Zhao, the sa one who used to be intimate with Shi Guiren.
Consort Zhao’s voice was sweet and delicate, and she was skilled in song and dance, thus greatly favored by Emperor Longteng.
Ever since Shi Guiren received a warning from Xin Lin, she had distanced herself from Consort Zhao.
Consort Zhao, seeing that several months had passed since Shi Guiren’s return to the palace without being granted a title, gradually lowered her guard and focused all her attention on currying favor with the newly returned Empress Dowager.
"The Empress is jesting; I am simply concerned for the Empress Dowager," Consort Zhao said with a dulcet laugh.
While the Empress Dowager was still freshening up, a crowd of concubines and Empress Feng waited outside.
"Shi Guiren, how has Little Qi been doing recently?"
Asked Empress Feng, feigning warmth.
Shi Guiren’s body trembled slightly, as if startled, and she took a deep breath to appear calr.
"Replying to Your Grace, the royal son is doing very well."
Shi Guiren spoke quietly, her hands tightly gripping the food box, while her heart ached as though bleeding.
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