As soon as she entered the Cining Palace, the strong scent of sandalwood wafted towards her. Wuyou subtly covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief. Such a strong smell was truly unpleasant. In the past, it wouldn't have been a problem, but she was in her late pregnancy and couldn't stand the smell.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager! Long live the Empress Dowager!" With Xia Ju's support, Wu You bowed and greeted the Empress Dowager, appearing somewhat clumsy due to her large belly.
"Please rise, Consort Xian. Didn't I tell you there was no need for formalities? Why are you still so reserved? Don't hurt the baby in your womb." The Empress Dowager spoke with a kind expression, only after the woman had finished bowing, which was as good as saying nothing at all.
"Propriety cannot be disregarded, and I dare not overstep my bounds," Wuyou replied with a smile. If she were to act childishly because of her pregnancy, she would be truly foolish.
"You're just too reserved, child," the Empress Dowager muttered a few times, then changed the subject, "Did you come here specifically for something?"
"Your Majesty, I am too far along in my pregnancy to handle many things. Consort Duan has been in the palace for many years and is very capable. I hope to entrust her with the important tasks. Please grant me permission, Your Majesty." Wuyou's brows were furrowed with sorrow, and she seemed less energetic than before.
His appearance reassured the Empress Dowager considerably. No woman could remain calm and composed in such a situation, and his demeanor further demonstrated the Empress Dowager's deep love for her son.
The virtuous concubine was someone he had specially chosen for his son; she was a girl from the Bai family, her maternal home. If she became empress, it would maintain the Bai family's glory. But she was still a member of the Bai family, and besides, he was already the emperor's woman, so he couldn't stop her.
To be fair, Consort Xian was the best candidate for Empress. Although she was born of a concubine, she was dignified, virtuous, hardworking, and adept at handling official duties. Compared to Yi Ran, a talented woman who only knew music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs, she was more suitable for the position of Empress. However, the Emperor simply preferred Yi Ran's appearance.
"Very well, the imperial heir is the most important thing. You're a bit overweight. This child is the Emperor's first son, so you must take good care of yourself. For us women, besides our husbands, our children are our greatest asset. This is your blessing." The Empress Dowager agreed without much hesitation. It wasn't an unreasonable request, especially since she still felt a bit guilty towards Consort Xian.
"Empress Dowager, my sister's situation has troubled you. I thank you for standing up for me." Wuyou looked up with teary eyes, kneeling on the ground and sobbing, her shoulders shaking with grievance. "But I can't bear to see the Empress Dowager and the Emperor angry about this. My sister is already the Emperor's woman. I'm willing to step down and ask my sister to enter the palace!"
Seeing Wuyou crying uncontrollably, the Empress Dowager assumed she was just playing the victim and grew impatient. However, her subsequent words surprised her and brought her comfort. The Virtuous Consort hadn't disappointed her; she was a clever woman who obediently yielded, showing good judgment.
"Since you've put it that way, I won't refuse you. The Emperor still cares about you, so don't worry. Once Yiran enters the palace, I'll have her bestow upon you the title of Imperial Concubine."
One was a virtuous concubine, the other remained unchanged; the distinction between close and distant relationships was clear. Wuyou lowered her eyelids and responded softly.
Thus, Bai Yiran made arrangements for the new empress after the emperor's ascension to the throne, and Ziyang City was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, creating a joyful atmosphere.
Regardless of Bai's ecstatic joy and anticipation of her marriage, Zhaoyang Palace remained completely silent. The servants were all as still as chickens, afraid of displeasing their master.
Although Bai Wuyou was just a lowly concubine's daughter, she diligently learned to manage official affairs within a year of entering the palace. She handled everything in an orderly manner, treating her servants with both kindness and strictness, which won her many hearts. Everyone in Chaoyang Palace was her confidant, and no one dared to harbor any disloyalty.
The Empress's position, which was so close to being secured, was snatched away, and by her own sister no less. No one could bear such a bitter pill to swallow. Moreover, during this period, the Emperor never set foot in Chaoyang Palace; it was as cold as an ice cellar.
Although the servants were all careful not to provoke Wuyou, she herself was extremely calm. He was not the Bai Wuyou who truly loved the Emperor, so naturally she would not be upset over a heartless man.
What she valued most was the child in her womb. In her previous life, Bai Wuyou's son died of a cold when he was three years old. He didn't even have a proper name before that, which was enough to show how cunning this good older sister was.
Bai Yiran's methods were one factor, but Bai Wuyou's excessive worry during pregnancy also affected the fetus, leading to her son's weak constitution at birth. These multiple factors combined resulted in the child's tragedy. When she arrived, things weren't exactly good or bad; at least there was still a chance to salvage the situation.
Anyway, he had handed over the reins of the palace, and the emperor was only focused on Bai Yiran, so he had no interest in coming to Zhaoyang Palace. The quietness was a good thing for him.
Before they knew it, the day of the Emperor and Empress's wedding arrived. In such a setting, even Wuyou, who had always been hiding in Zhaoyang Palace and being lazy, had no choice but to participate. It was then that they saw the usually low-key Consort Duan. Consort Duan came from a family of military generals and had been raised as a hostage by the Empress Dowager since childhood. In order to stabilize people's hearts, she was betrothed to the Emperor as a consort, one of only two principal consorts in the harem.
Consort Duan was beautiful, lacking the ruggedness of a military family. She was slender and delicate, with a refined and gentle appearance, slightly better than Bai Wuyou. However, she was somewhat dull and therefore not favored by the emperor.
Of course, on such a day, the other women were merely supporting characters; the true protagonist was Bai Yiran, who was crowned the new empress. Bai Yiran was a true daughter of a noble family, raised with the upbringing of an aristocratic lady. She possessed a refined and elegant appearance, was skilled in singing and dancing, and was proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Her reputation as the most beautiful woman in the capital had been established since the day she came of age, leaving countless women feeling inferior.
She wore a fiery red phoenix robe, her black hair was neatly styled, and the golden phoenix hairpin on her head shone brightly in the sunlight. A few tassels hung down by her temples, swaying gently with her movements and making a tinkling sound.
Her beautiful and refined face, even with heavy makeup, did not diminish her beauty; instead, it added a touch of glamorous charm. The smile on her lips was happy and sweet, carrying the shyness and slight pride of a new bride.
From this day forward, Bai Yiran will be the Empress of Emperor Liang Yuan, the new ruler of the Great Liang Dynasty. She will be the mother of the nation and the woman of the highest status in the Great Liang Dynasty. All officials and noblewomen will kneel down to pay homage to her.
The emperor and empress, dressed in their wedding attire, stood hand in hand, enjoying the homage of the officials. Their eyes met with tender affection as they stood together.
Wuyou knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily. Her light blue palace dress made her appear even more cumbersome, and she barely managed to stand up with the help of a palace maid. Looking at the two people above, her face was filled with sorrow, but she had no choice but to silently endure it.
"Why are you so sad, Consort Xian? The Empress is your own sister. She will not watch you be alone in your chambers. She will help you out. With the Empress's help, your future will be much better."
Consort Duan leaned close to Wuyou's ear and spoke, her eyes filled with envy as she watched Wuyou rub his lower back. When would he be able to have his own child? The Emperor rarely came to visit; would he even notice her after the Empress and her sisters were born?
Wuyou remained unmoved upon hearing this; the Empress was not a magnanimous person.
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