"Princess, this palace is really big!" A'luo helped Xueying walk along the red palace walls on both sides.
"I heard there are 999 rooms here!" Xueying said.
"My goodness, so many rooms! If the Emperor stayed in one room every day, it would take two years to fill them all!" Ah Luo exclaimed.
“That’s right!” Xueying laughed.
“Now that the princess’s aunt is the Empress, and the princess is engaged to the Fourth Prince, she will be moving in,” A-Luo said. “I wonder what the Empress has summoned the princess for?”
"I don't know, we'll find out when we see her," Xueying said. "Although my aunt is the Empress, the inner palace is actually managed by Consort Nian and Consort Xi."
The two were led by palace maids towards Jingyang Palace. The weather in April was already quite hot, and Xueying was slightly sweating as they walked.
Upon entering Jingyang Palace, Xueying was still surprised by what she saw, which exceeded her expectations.
The Empress's palace was magnificent, and the utensils were exquisite, all representing the finest of the world. Everything about it was wonderful and dazzling.
Upon entering the main hall of Jingyang Palace, the room was filled with fragrance, and spices from the Western Regions were burning inside the Crane Cauldron.
"Xueying greets Your Majesty the Empress! May Your Majesty live a thousand years!" Xueying stepped forward and bowed deeply to Ulanara Xiayu, who was seated on the Empress's throne.
"Good child, come sit here with your aunt." The Empress said, offering a helping hand.
Xueying got up and walked to the Empress's side, sitting down as she was told.
The Empress took Xueying's hand and looked at her carefully.
"Good child, you are so beautiful!" the Empress suddenly said.
Xueying, of course, knew her own appearance, and smiled shyly, saying, "Aunt, may I ask why you have summoned your niece to the palace?"
"Your aunt misses you!" the Empress said.
"Aunt, then Xueying will keep you company!" Xueying said with a bright smile.
"Hongli is truly blessed to have you as his concubine. Humph! You are truly wronged; you are worthy of being his principal wife." The Empress said, "Xueying, your aunt wants to discuss something with you. Please come with me."
Xueying didn't know what the Empress meant, so she had no choice but to let her hold her hand and go to her inner room together.
After the two sat on the Empress's bed, the Empress suddenly asked Xueying, "Xueying, do you like it here?"
"I like it!" Xueying replied without hesitation.
"Do you want to sit as the mistress of the harem like your aunt in the future?" The Empress's face suddenly darkened as she asked.
Xueying listened to the Empress's words in surprise, her mind racing as she pondered their meaning.
"I'm asking you, do you want to or not?" the Empress asked when Xueying remained silent.
“My niece doesn’t understand what her aunt means,” Xueying said.
"What I mean is that if you are willing to listen to your aunt's arrangements, the position of Empress will be yours in the future!" the Empress said.
"Could you please explain this more clearly, Aunt?" Xueying asked.
"I want you to marry Hongli and then assist Hongshi. When Hongshi ascends the throne, I will have him make you empress!" the empress said.
Xueying looked at the Empress in surprise, unsure how to respond.
“Child, if Hongli becomes emperor, you will at most be a concubine, and given the rift between his mother and me, do you think he will treat you well?” the Empress continued. “If you help Hongshi, with your looks and my approval as the Empress Dowager, he will surely make you empress!”
Xueying understood the Empress's meaning, but she did not agree with it in her heart.
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