Stepping into Fengyi Palace, a faint scent of cosmetics wafted out from within. Wuyou's brows twitched, and a sense of irritation and displeasure arose in her heart.
Helan Wuyou disliked the Empress, the wife betrothed to him by the late Emperor, and only showed her the slight respect due to a wife. After having favored concubines such as Chu Baiwei, he treated the Empress as nothing, otherwise he would not have been able to easily depose her later.
The Empress was impatient and like a clay puppet, putting on airs of virtuousness, which was truly boring. However, Wuyou thought that the Empress's self-proclaimed virtue and somewhat clumsy behavior made her more reassuring.
Dressed in a bright red palace gown, the Empress walked with measured steps to Wuyou and bowed respectfully. Every movement was exemplary of an Empress, flawless and impeccable, each step seemingly meticulously planned.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
Wuyou quietly gazed at the Empress's delicate face, which appeared somewhat alluring due to her heavy makeup, yet her attire and demeanor exuded the elegance of a well-bred lady. She felt a pang of helplessness in her heart.
The Empress was indeed a good Empress, but her personality was also quite dull and boring, no wonder Helan Wuyou didn't favor her.
Reaching out to help the Empress up, Wuyou took the lead and walked into the shop, speaking softly as she went, "Your Majesty, please rise. I came here today to see you and the little princess."
Mentioning the little princess, the Empress's smile became even more genuine. "Your Majesty, I have already sent someone to bring the little princess here. Physician Zhao said that the little princess's health is no longer a problem. She has even gained a lot of weight recently and is becoming more and more adorable."
Her words were full of affection for the little princess and a cautious probing. Wuyou knew that the empress was worried that she would be sent back as a little princess.
“It’s perfectly safe to leave the little princess with the Empress. It’s much better than having Consort Chu there, where there’s not even anyone to serve the little princess.” Wuyou was happy to give the Empress face and went along with what she was saying.
The Empress was secretly pleased upon hearing this. Did this mean that the Emperor was already dissatisfied with Chu Baiwei? Also, the little princess was better off here than Chu Baiwei.
"Consort Chu is still young, and there are bound to be shortcomings in her care for the little princess. As the mistress of the harem, I should also give her more guidance and instruction. There are many young ladies under me, who are full of vigor and ambition. I am truly ashamed that I have not fulfilled my responsibilities as the mistress of the harem."
Hearing this, Wuyou couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. The Empress's words were quite clever; on the one hand, she humbly expressed herself, and on the other hand, she subtly sowed discord among the favored concubines like Chu Baiwei, implying that they were not obedient to her. They've improved quite a bit!
Although Helan Wuyou was kind and timid, he also had the common flaws of emperors: he loved so much that he wanted to live, and hated so much that he wanted to die. People like Consort Huang Hui and Chu Baiwei, relying on the emperor's favor, did not respect the empress. According to the rules of the Great Zhou Dynasty, concubines were required to pay their respects to the empress every day and listen to her instructions without delay, but these women never paid their respects to the empress morning and evening.
It was all because of Helan Wuyou's indulgence. Thinking of this, Wuyou coughed lightly, "Your Majesty, you are mistaken. It is all my fault that they have become so arrogant. They don't even respect Your Majesty. Don't worry. You are my first wife, and I will naturally give you the honor that Your Majesty deserves."
Gently taking the Empress's right hand and patting it lightly in his palm, Wuyou's tone was gentler and more comforting than ever before. This tenderness brought tears to the Empress's eyes.
In their ten years of marriage, she had never seen the Emperor like this before. At this moment, she would gladly give him her life. All the grievances and sorrows she had felt before were worn away by this gentle smile.
"Your Majesty, I thank you. I... I really don't know what to do." Her voice sounded a little choked up, and even the palace maids like Liuzhu beside the Empress were overjoyed.
Our lady has finally made it through.
"Your Majesty, I will certainly manage the harem well, so that you have no worries." These words were somewhat of a mood killer, and Wuyou couldn't help but rub her forehead. She finally realized how low this empress's emotional intelligence was.
A normal woman would have long since been unable to resist throwing herself into the emperor's arms for comfort and favor, but the empress remained so rigid and inflexible.
"Waaaaah..." The sound of a child crying rang out, and the little princess, dressed entirely in red, was suddenly thrust into the room. Her adorable little face was flushed from the crying, like a ripe apple. Her chubby little arms, like lotus roots, flailed wildly.
“Anle, let your father hug you…” Wuyou’s eyes lit up and she reached out to take the hug.
The Princess Anle before them was like a jade doll, fair and lovely, with a pair of big, dark eyes blinking. She had completely inherited the excellent genes of her parents and would surely grow up to be a stunning beauty. Unfortunately, in her previous life, she died in this deep palace before she could grow up, at the hands of her birth mother.
"Giggle..." Perhaps it was the natural bond between father and daughter, but the little princess gradually stopped crying after being placed in Wuyou's arms. Her eyes were fixed on Wuyou's handsome face, and finally she grinned and patted Wuyou's face lightly with her little hands.
"Your Majesty, the little princess clearly likes you; she smiled happily as soon as she was in your hands." The other servants, all shrewd enough, quickly began to flatter him upon seeing this. Although they knew it was just flattery, it still made them feel good.
"Good, good, good. The little princess is so healthy and adorable, it's all thanks to you all. You'll be rewarded with three months' salary." Holding the little one in his arms, who looked like a snowball, Wuyou's heart softened a bit. Helan Wuyou had four sons and two daughters, and no more children would be born. These children were his only remaining bloodline, and he had to raise them well so that they could all stand on their own.
"Since the Empress has raised her so well, the little princess will be registered under your name from now on." Taking advantage of her happiness, Wuyou said what she had already planned. Before the Empress could be happy, she said something else.
"Ahem... Xiazi, please convey my decree: starting tomorrow, all concubines must come to the Empress's palace at dawn every day to pay their respects. No one may slack off in the slightest. Those who disobey will be fined three months' salary, and those who violate this order again will be demoted one rank."
For the concubines who diligently served the emperor in the harem, being demoted was tantamount to taking half their lives. It is believed that once this decree is issued, no one will dare to be arrogant because of the emperor's favor.
Xia Zi was a little surprised when he heard Wu You's instructions, but when he thought of this good time and the Emperor's decisiveness, he didn't think much of it and respectfully accepted the order.
"From now on, the Empress can confidently and boldly manage the harem. I will be there to support you." Wuyou patted the Empress's hand and sat in the main seat. The Empress stood there, momentarily stunned, her expression a mixture of tears and laughter.
"Your Majesty, I am very grateful for your trust. I will certainly manage the harem well." She lowered her body and knelt on the ground, bowing deeply to express her excitement and gratitude to Wuyou. The Empress felt that she had never been so happy in all these decades.
"I wish to be a wise ruler, and I ask with a smile, 'Would the Empress be willing to be a virtuous empress?' He reached out to help the Empress up."
"I am willing too." Holding Wuyou's hand tightly, the Empress felt an unprecedented firmness.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com