In August, the sky was clear and the breeze was gentle. The red leaves on the trees were about to fall, dancing gracefully in the air. The green bamboo outside Yiyuan Hall showed some signs of decay, but it was still lush and verdant.
The emperor, dressed in a black robe, sat in front of the courtyard, his vermilion brush sweeping across the paper, drawing a series of marks, holding the lives and deaths of countless people in his hands.
The bright red ink flowed from his hand, as if stained with fresh blood, dazzlingly vibrant. He paused slightly, pen in hand, and, glancing at the annotations on the memorial, nodded in satisfaction.
"Xiao Xiazi, appoint Su Yong as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice and reward him with a thousand taels of silver." In Wuyou's hand was the memorial submitted by Su Yong. Su Yong had done his best in the case of the Chu family. Although the Chu family was arrogant and domineering, it was not as serious as the Minister of Justice had said. Therefore, Wuyou gave them a slight punishment and demoted them back to Chuzhou to serve as officials.
The Chu family was originally a county magistrate in Chuzhou. If it weren't for their daughter Chu Baiwei's favor with the emperor, they wouldn't have come to this bustling capital and received such an honor. Wuyou's goal this time was to drive the Chu family out of the capital, so as to clip Chu Baiwei's wings.
'Sisters and brothers all received titles and honors, bringing glory to their family. This caused parents throughout the land to wish for daughters instead of sons.'â‘ Such a scene must never be repeated.
Xia Zi received the imperial decree and found a eunuch to give the order. He stood silently to the side and ground ink for Wu You. Yi Yuan Palace fell into silence, with only the sound of the wind blowing through the bamboo leaves and the occasional crackling of the candlelight.
At this moment, a young eunuch brought over a bowl of white soup and placed it in front of Wuyou, bowing and saying, "Your Majesty, Consort Chu sent some ginseng soup earlier and stood outside the palace for half an hour, refusing to leave. What do you think..."
They were truly at their wits' end, which is why they came to consult Wuyou, since everyone could see the Emperor's attitude.
Hearing this, Wuyou raised an eyebrow. She hadn't expected Chu Baiwei to be so patient. After thinking for a moment, she realized she had almost finished dealing with the memorials in her hand, so she decided to meet her and see what this future Empress Dowager, who would hold all the power, was up to.
"Then please invite Consort Chu in." Playing with the jade prayer beads on her wrist, Wuyou's tone was rather nonchalant.
A cool night breeze swept by, adding a touch of chill to the autumn night. A slender beauty, dressed in a light blue palace gown with a yellow veil over it, stood against the wind. Her jet-black hair was gently brushed by the breeze, and her delicate face was expressionless, her lips tightly pressed together, revealing her displeasure.
A light pink cloak was draped over her shoulders, the white fur brushing against her cheeks, causing a ticklish sensation. Yingxiang, a palace maid of ordinary appearance and around 20 years old, dressed in a light pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), spoke gently and cautiously, "It's getting late, Your Highness, why don't you go back and rest, and come to see the Emperor again tomorrow?"
Yingxiang was one of Chu Baiwei's maids who accompanied her in her dowry. She was gentle, meticulous, and adept at handling matters, and was best at understanding her mistress's thoughts. She held a relatively high position in Chu Baiwei's heart.
Upon hearing this, Chu Baiwei bit her lip, her expression quite uncertain, but she still stubbornly shook her head. "No... I must see the Emperor today."
If he doesn't see the Emperor again, the rumors will likely spread, and how will Chu Baiwei maintain her position in the harem? She'll probably become a laughingstock.
For half a month after being released from confinement, the Emperor never set foot in Chengqian Palace, inevitably leading to some rumors that Consort Chu had fallen out of favor.
The Empress was overjoyed to have Princess Anle and was busy with the little princess's every need, leaving no time to cause trouble for herself. However, she did not feel comfortable; on the contrary, she was quite dissatisfied.
The little princess was his own daughter. He had carried her for ten months and given birth to her; how could he let that woman, the Empress, benefit from it? Having already tasted the joy of being adored by everyone, how could he possibly give up this most exquisite pleasure in the world?
He wasn't particularly happy when the emperor came before, but now that he's not coming, he's starting to worry. Besides, he's already heard rumors that his family is about to be demoted to Chuzhou; how could he let them suffer like that?
Even if she was unwilling, she had to take this step and fight for her family.
"Your Highness, His Majesty invites you in." Upon hearing this, Chu Baiwei's expression relaxed, but she still nodded reservedly with her chin held high, seemingly unmoved.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects—" Chu Baiwei bowed gracefully, the kingfisher feather hairpin on her head swaying slightly.
It is said that a beautiful woman looks more beautiful under the lamp. Chu Baiwei has exquisite features and exudes a quiet scholarly air. Her aloofness is mixed with the gentle and generous demeanor of a well-bred lady.
Although Chu Bai kept her head down, her gaze subtly swept over Wu You's face, hoping that he would get down and help her up as he had done in the past, as a sign of favor.
Unfortunately, Wuyou did not grant his wish. He continued to wield his vermilion brush, writing with unrestrained and free strokes, without even glancing at the beauty under the lamp.
"Get up, you've shown your kindness. If you have something to say, speak quickly; otherwise, leave. I have many official duties to attend to." Wuyou's voice drifted over softly, like a wisp of wind, invisible and intangible.
Even though Chu Baiwei was intelligent all her life, she never expected that Wuyou would not even glance at her before ordering her to leave. She panicked and tightly gripped the hem of her skirt with both hands.
After a moment's thought, Chu Baiwei raised the silk handkerchief in her hand to wipe the corners of her eyes. Tears streamed down her face like a gentle drizzle, leaving faint traces, but they did not diminish her beauty. Instead, they added to her beauty and fragility.
Since entering the palace, although she has been favored, she has also been very skilled in dealing with people. She always treats others with indifference, and she does not flatter, fawn, or make demands on Helan Wuyou. Helan Wuyou has presented everything to her.
This was probably the first time he had shown such a pitiful and touching expression to Wuyou; the beauty was captivating, her tears flowing freely.
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