Chapter 194 The General Returns
Two days later, the weather finally cleared up.
Heavy snow fell for several days in a row, and the entire imperial city was covered in silver white. The red walls and yellow tiles were all covered with snow.
Bai Yuxin, wearing a moon-white fox fur cloak, came out of Wenyuan Pavilion and walked slowly on the long street, accompanied only by her chief palace maid Lingyu.
She wore a gray-blue felt hat on her head, covering her inch-long hair.
It has been nearly a month since she last shaved her scalp. Although her hair has finally grown a little longer, it still looks weird and eye-catching among the beautiful women in her harem.
Fortunately, she had no desire to be favored, so she didn't care about beauty or ugliness. She had originally planned to continue like this, but when she was in Shanghe Garden, Meng Yan persuaded her that there was really no need to treat herself so badly, and that even conversion was not about shaving her head.
Bai Yuxin didn't care much about these things, but she didn't want Sister Yan to feel guilty and sad, so she started growing her hair long again.
After a heavy snowfall, the weather was freezing cold. Only a few palace maids were sweeping the snow and shoveling the ice on the long street, making the place seem even more desolate.
Lingyu, clutching a stack of books, followed behind her, whispering with concern, "Young lady, please walk slowly. The snow has stopped and the roads are frozen. Be careful not to slip." Then she added, "I originally thought it would be best for you to take a sedan chair in such weather. But you are so kindhearted that you will definitely not give up."
Bai Yuxin turned around, smiled at her, and straightened her loose collar. She said softly, "It's so cold, and the ground is slippery. It's hard enough to walk on foot, let alone carry a sedan chair. We are all raised by our parents, so why treat them so harshly? Wenyuan Pavilion is not far away, and I'm getting bored sitting around the house all day. It would be good to go out for a walk and loosen up my muscles."
Lingyu looked at her master's thin face and was quite moved. Her lips moved slightly, but she couldn't say anything in the end. She just sighed.
She knew her master's intentions very well, and it would be a waste of time to persuade him.
Bai Yuxin knew what she meant by that sigh and smiled, "Don't worry about me. After all, we still have the Empress Dowager. Just hold the book in your arms carefully, don't drop it and get it dirty, or it will be difficult to return it later."
What Lingyu was holding in her arms were several books that Bai Yuxin had borrowed from Wenyuan Pavilion. They were obscure and difficult to understand, and she couldn't understand them.
Since returning from Shanghe Garden, the master, apart from paying his respects to the Empress Dowager and serving her every day, has only stayed in Lezhixuan to read. After finishing, he would go to Wenyuan Pavilion to borrow more, running back and forth between these three places every day.
She didn't understand. Previously, when the Imperial Concubine was well, it was understandable that the master refused to be close to the Emperor in order to repay her kindness. But then, during the Imperial Concubine's coma, the young lady served her bedside day and night, busying herself with care and attention. Even the greatest kindness should have been repaid. Now that the Imperial Concubine's condition was getting worse, she was practically on the verge of death. Even the Empress Dowager and the Emperor had allowed her to recuperate in Shanghe Garden. Considering her future, the young lady should also make some plans. Given the bond she had previously served the Imperial Concubine, the Emperor should also show some sympathy.
It just so happens that this master of ours is so pure-hearted and desireless that he seems to have really become a Buddhist disciple.
Well, she is just a palace maid, so she just has to obey her master's orders.
Bai Yuxin looked at Lingyu's face, which showed an expression that could not be concealed, and smiled without saying anything.
She knew that Sister Yan was actually hiding in Tishun Hall.
In order to conceal their whereabouts that day, Sister Yan took her away first, and the maids left a moment later.
This matter is confidential. Since Sister Yan trusts her and is willing to tell her, she will keep it secret.
During this period, she had nothing to do, so she went to Wenyuan Pavilion and borrowed many books on statecraft and benefiting the people to read and study, preparing for her future career in the Imperial Palace. She was not from a high-class family and had read a few books at home, but it was far from enough for her to become a female official.
The master and servant were talking and walking slowly when they heard a sharp voice from the front, "Oh, I was wondering how familiar you looked from afar. It turns out to be Noble Lady Bai! I haven't seen you in a few days. You've fallen into such a state of disgrace."
Bai Yuxin turned around and looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a procession of concubines marching through the long street. Concubine Liang sat firmly on the sedan chair, looking down at her condescendingly. The Five Phoenix Rising Sun Crown on her hair bun was shining in the sun, piercing her eyes.
The one who spoke was Han Xiaomei, who was always by her side.
Lin Yanrong was standing on the other side, just glanced at her without saying a word.
The Yiku Palace and the Changchun Palace have long been at odds with each other. Concubine Meng is now "seriously ill", and Concubine Ren has gone away again. The palace has become the domain of Concubine Liang.
I’m afraid today’s incident is not going to be easy.
At that moment, Bai Yuxin calmed down, stepped forward steadily, and bowed to Liang Chengbi properly, "Your servant pays homage to Her Majesty Liang. May Your Majesty be well."
Concubine Liang didn't look at her directly, but only glanced at her from the corner of her eyes and said lightly, "The snow is deep and the road is slippery. What is Concubine Bai doing out here?"
Bai Yuxin bent down and replied with a smile, "It's a long night, let's go to Wenyuan Pavilion and borrow two books to kill time."
Concubine Liang pursed her red lips and sneered, "Noble Lady Bai used to be so attentive to Concubine Meng, but she never introduced you to the Emperor? Instead, you've been forced to spend the long nights alone in your empty room, reading!"
Han Changzai, who was standing by, quickly interjected, "How could the Empress know that this Bai only achieved the status of a noble lady by working as a foot-washing maid for Concubine Meng? How could the Emperor even think highly of her?"
Bai Yuxin listened with her heart, her expression remained unchanged, she continued to smile without saying a word.
This Han Changzai, Han Xiaomei, was a young lady who entered the palace with her. However, back then, she always hung out with Liu Miaoyi, who was banished to the cold palace, and her words and actions were very cautious. Now that she has attached herself to Concubine Liang, she has become so domineering and arrogant.
Lingyu couldn't bear to see her master being humiliated, so she couldn't help but say, "Han Changzai, our young master is a noble lady, and you are a Changzai, how can you be so rude in your words!"
Han Xiaomei saw that Bai Yuxin was indifferent, but this palace maid jumped out first, a look of joy flashed across her face, and she said sternly, "Bitch, you have no right to interrupt the masters when they are talking!" After that, she raised her arm and wanted to slap Lingyu in the face.
Bai Yuxin would not allow her maid to be beaten and scolded. She stepped forward, twisted her arm, and shouted in a low voice, "Han Changzai, a gentleman uses words, not fists. And how can you hit someone in front of Concubine Liang?"
Han Xiaomei twisted her body back and forth, struggling uncontrollably, still cursing loudly, "Let me go! Bai, you bitch! Your master is dying of illness, and you, a lapdog, should just hide behind the wall with your tail between your legs. How dare you walk around outside? You're such an eyesore!"
Bai Yuxin didn't take her scolding of other things to heart, but when she heard her insulting Meng Yan, no matter how calm she was, she couldn't help but feel a little angry.
Because her father was a military man, although she looked thin, she was very strong, far beyond the reach of these young ladies.
At that moment, Bai Yuxin twisted Han Xiaomei's arm and pushed her forward. Han Xiaomei staggered and fell flat on her face. Her newly made silk cotton coat and gold-woven cotton skirt were covered with snow and mud.
As luck would have it, she fell right in front of Concubine Liang's sedan chair.
Bai Yuxin stepped forward and said to Concubine Liang, "Your Majesty, this Han dared to act without permission in front of you. She truly does not respect you. Please deal with this impartially."
Liang stared at her coldly and smiled contemptuously, "Bai, you really are the one who complains first. I saw you push Han Changzai to the ground with my own eyes, and you accuse her of hitting him first?! Look at me, am I a fool or a blind man?"
Bai Yuxin said calmly, "Han Changzai insulted the Imperial Concubine. The Imperial Concubine was only recuperating in Shanghe Garden. How could she die of illness? Her words were extremely disrespectful. Furthermore, she even tried to hit one of my maids. I was worried that her words and actions would offend the Imperial Concubine, so I intervened. It was Han Changzai who told me to let her go, so I did. Han Changzai lost her balance and fell; I didn't intentionally push her."
What Liang Chengbi couldn't bear to hear the most was that Meng Yan wouldn't die. Seeing Bai Yuxin say this, her rosy-faced face couldn't help but twitch slightly, and she grinned, "Whether Concubine Meng will die or not, I don't know. It seems that Concubine Bai knows very well. Then please invite Concubine Bai to the Yikun Palace for a chat. I want to ask her carefully whether Concubine Meng will die or not!"
Bai Yuxin's heart trembled. She knew that Liang would not let her have a good time this time.
Or maybe, what happened today was planned in advance by them, with the intention of taking her to Yikun Palace for questioning?
She thought to herself, but her face showed no sign of panic. She said in a deep voice, "Empress Liang, the Empress Dowager sent someone to tell me earlier that I should come over to talk to her later. I'm afraid I can't go to Yikun Palace."
"Don't use the Queen Mother to pressure me!"
Liang Chengbi roared in anger. In the current harem of the Great Zhou Dynasty, she was the highest-ranking concubine and the future empress. How could she not manipulate a mere noble?!
Lin Yanrong watched coldly for a long while before speaking, "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. Your health is more important. There are many people on the road, so please invite Noble Lady Bai to go as soon as possible."
Liang Chengbi took two breaths and smiled lightly, "That's right. Come on, take down Noble Bai."
Seeing several eunuchs ready to come up, Bai Yuxin took two steps back and leaned her back against the red wall. Her face turned pale and she bit her lip without saying a word.
Han Xiaomei had the maid wipe the snow and mud off her body. Seeing that she was trapped, she stepped forward and said with a smug look on her face, "Bai Yuxin, you have come to this day! Without the protection of Concubine Meng, you are nothing. I can never forget how you schemed against Sister Liu and how the Emperor banished her to the cold palace! Today, you will have a taste of this!"
It turned out that she was seeking revenge for Liu Miaoyi...
It seems that she will not be able to survive this disaster today...
"What are you doing?"
A tender child's voice was heard, and Liang Chengbi quickly looked over in the direction of the sound.
I saw a little girl wearing a pink gold-sprinkled dorae jacket, with red lips and white teeth, a face as white as powder, and two buns on her head, standing not far away.
There was also a little girl standing next to her, who was about the same height as her, wearing a dark blue fox fur coat, two small braids, and a red gold eight-treasure necklace around her neck.
There were two little girls, and there were four or five palace maids following them. They all looked like the empress dowager’s people!
Liang Chengbi forced a smile. "Why is Princess He'an not in Shoukang Palace talking to the Empress Dowager? She's here!" Then she scolded the palace maids, "It's so cold, and you let the princess run around? What if she gets cold?"
The one wearing the magenta cotton coat is naturally Doukou.
The little girl following her was Chenchen, whom Meng Yan had mentioned before in Shanghe Garden, Liu Chenxi, the eldest daughter of the Zhenyuan Marquis family.
Doukou and this little Chenchen are of the same mind, and she always calls Meng Yanchen short and long.
Seeing that she liked her, Meng Yan inquired about Miss Liu's family background and family tradition. Sounding that she was suitable, she reported it to the empress dowager and chose Liu Chenxi as Doukou's study partner.
Doukou pulled Liu Chenxi forward and said to Concubine Liang with a smile, "Hello, Concubine Liang. The Empress Dowager has been waiting for Aunt Bai to come over to recite the scriptures. She has been waiting for a long time, so I came to check on her."
As she spoke, without waiting for Liang Chengbi to speak, she turned left and right. Her small body was very agile and she ran to Bai Yuxin without anyone noticing.
She held Bai Yuxin's hand and yelled, "Aunt Bai, the Empress Dowager is so angry that she's waiting. Let's go!"
Bai Yuxin smiled slightly, "But, I am talking to Concubine Liang."
Doukou raised her little face and pouted at Liang Chengbi, "Madam Liang, the Empress Dowager is waiting for Aunt Bai to come over. No matter how important your words are, they are not as important as the Empress Dowager, right?"
These words almost made Liang Chengbi furious.
This little girl calls everyone "Empress Liang" and "Aunt Bai" all the time, which shows the difference in closeness between them and her.
But she was the treasure of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, the only golden nugget in the palace, and because she was a child and could speak without restraint, no one dared to do anything to her, not even Concubine Liang.
Liang Chengbi's face almost twisted, and after a moment he forced a smile and said, "Of course, you guys can go now."
Bai Yuxin walked forward, facing Liang Chengbi's sharp gaze, bowed and said, "I'll take my leave." She turned around and left with Doukou.
Liang Chengbi collapsed on the sedan chair in anger and shouted, "Are you all dead? Are you going to freeze me to death on this long street?! Hurry up and leave!"
Lin Yanrong stared at Doukou's small back with a gloomy face.
Isn’t Meng Yan going to die? Why doesn’t this little girl look sad at all?
Pondering this in her mind, she took a step forward and whispered to Liang Chengbi, "Your Majesty, the Emperor's new favorite..."
Bang!
Before she could finish her words, she was slapped in the face.
Liang Chengbi's slender fingertips left blood marks on her delicate cheeks.
"Don't mention that vixen to me!"
Liang Chengbi started yelling almost hysterically, interrupting Lin Yanrong's remaining words.
Lu Haozhi, where do you put me, Liang Chengbi!
As his concubine, he doted on Meng Yan for seven years, and she also lived as a widow for seven years!
Now that Meng Yan was about to die, he suddenly picked up the vixen who came from nowhere and held her in his hands, hiding her in the Ti Shun Hall, not letting anyone see her.
What is this, a beautiful woman hidden in a golden house?!
Anything rare, precious, delicious, or fun must first be sent to Ti Shun Hall. After Ren has picked them out, the remaining items will be distributed to the various palaces.
The night-shining pearls from the South China Sea and the red-blood coral trees from the North Sea, these rare tributes were all sent to Tishun Hall, not to mention rubies, sapphires, emerald white jade, ivory and agate.
It is also said that the girl loved to eat cakes, and there was always a stove in the imperial kitchen reserved for serving her.
Lu Haozhi no longer even steps into the harem. He stays in the Yangxin Palace all day long and favors her every night.
This is another Meng Yan...
No, this one’s favor is even greater than Meng Yan’s!
At least, Meng Yan had never been stuck with Lu Haozhi day and night like this before.
Well... Looking at the emperor's behavior, this girl is most likely of humble origin, maybe a favored maid brought back from Shanghe Garden.
When she becomes the queen, I will torture her to pieces!
Seeing Liang Chengbi gritting his teeth, Lin Yanrong swallowed the rest of her words, her eyes full of sinister intent.
When Prince Shen succeeds, everyone in this palace will die.
Bai Yuxin followed Princess He'an to Shoukang Palace. After being informed by the palace servants, she entered the small Buddhist hall, only to see Empress Dowager Jiang reclining on a beauty couch, with an elegant beauty sitting beside her, talking to her.
Seeing her come in, the beauty stood up and bowed.
Bai Yuxin was busy returning the greeting. Seeing that she was dressed like a girl, she didn't know who she was.
Empress Dowager Jiang said, "This is the first time you've met her. She's the second daughter of the Zhenyuan Marquis's Mansion. Her maiden name is Liu Milan, and she's the aunt of the little girl from the Liu family."
Outside the city gate, Lu Haozhi, dressed in fine clothes and riding a fine horse, led the ministers and personally went out of the city to welcome the army that had marched west back to the capital.
Meng Changyuan, wearing armor, stood in front of the army. He strode forward and knelt down.
"Your servant, Meng Changyuan, has been ordered to lead the army westward. I have lived up to the Emperor's grace and have returned victorious today. I pay my respects to His Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
