Consort Yi: "No matter how much he guarded against it, he still fell for it. Look, the person I love most didn't survive, and the person you love most won't survive either. In the end, he sent the Seventh Prince out of the palace and built the Seventh Prince's Residence for him, with layers of protection and precautions."
Consort Yi: "Why did I raise the prince? It was just a gesture to appease me. He knows who killed my child, but he is indifferent. Only by experiencing the pain of losing a child can he truly empathize with me."
Consort Yi: "If one isn't enough, then two; if two aren't enough, then three. He suspects me, but he can't find any evidence. Even if he wants to frame me, he can't succeed. So, he entrusted the eldest prince to my care. If something goes wrong, I can hold him accountable. He's paving the way for the seventh prince all along."
Bai Lingxi was dumbfounded. She knew that Consort Yi was crazy, but she didn't know she was this crazy.
Bai Lingxi: "Aunt, aren't you afraid of outsiders overhearing?"
Consort Yi: "What is there to be afraid of? All I want to do now is save the Bai family. What's the point of me living if we don't save them?"
Bai Lingxi, seeing that she had calmed down, asked, "Aunt, do you still yearn for the Emperor?"
Consort Yi: "I've long since given up on that idea."
Bai Lingxi wanted to comfort Consort Yi: "Aunt, you..."
Consort Yi: "Don't worry, the moment I saw you, I knew I didn't need to do anything more. I'm at ease now."
Bai Lingxi gently shook her head: "No, Aunt, you still love the Emperor, you've just turned love into hate."
Bai Lingxi: "Otherwise, you wouldn't have gone to such lengths to get rid of the other princes."
Bai Lingxi: "Your hands are stained with blood, you are blinded by hatred, you use the Bai family as a tool for revenge, yet you still refuse to stop. What else do you want to do?"
Consort Yi remained silent. Yes, how could she accept this?
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Time seems to have been accelerated; now it's the day of the palace selection.
Zhao Xueqing passed the test smoothly, along with her elder sister Zhao Xueqi, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yongning, the legitimate daughter of General Sun, and the legitimate daughter of General Huang.
These are the people she can name; she knows the others but can't recall their names.
There were fifty people in total, crammed into a side hall of Chang Le Palace, yet it was completely silent, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
The palace selection began in order of family background from lowest to highest. Bai Lingxi and her group were positioned towards the back, but everyone waiting for them perked up.
Round after round of candidates either kept their nameplates or dropped them; finally, it was their turn.
They lined up in order and entered the main hall, where the eunuch, acting on imperial orders, loudly recited the decree.
Father-in-law: "Zhao Xueqi, daughter of Prime Minister Zhao Zikai, is seventeen years old."
Zhao Xueqi wore a moon-white palace dress adorned with magnolia blossoms, and her hair was embroidered with three pairs of the latest jade hairpins. The jade was from Lantian, its verdant green seemingly about to drip with moisture, making it even more lustrous and smooth. Among the assembled young ladies, she stood out as pure and refined.
Zhao Xueqi stepped forward and bowed: "Your subject Zhao Xueqi greets Your Majesty and Empress. May Your Majesty and Empress enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
The Empress was Consort Xian, who entered the palace with Consort Yi. She had never given birth to any children and had never received any favor from the emperor.
However, the Empress came from an outstanding family. She was the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Cheng'en, a first-class duke. Upon entering the palace, she was appointed as the head of a palace. Having met the requirements, she was then made Empress.
The Emperor asked, "Have you read any books?"
Zhao Xueqi: "Your Majesty, I have studied the Four Books and Five Classics, and I am also a woman of the Daughter's Instructions."
The Empress smiled kindly and nodded approvingly, saying, "She is a talented woman."
The Emperor said, "The Prime Minister's daughter is naturally exceptional in literary talent and has an extraordinary demeanor. Keep her name on the list."
Father-in-law: "Zhao Xueqi, daughter of Prime Minister Zhao Zikai, is hereby granted a plaque and a sachet."
Zhao Xueqi remained calm and composed as she expressed her gratitude: "This humble woman thanks Your Majesty and the Empress for your great kindness."
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