At three quarters past three in the morning, Sheng Xiyan was sleeping soundly in the shark-toothed gauze tent in the rear hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, curled up in a brocade quilt.
Xuan Ling tormented her until late last night. Now her waist and legs were sore that she was too lazy to even move her fingertips.
"Your Majesty! This is bad!" Mingyue hurriedly lifted the curtain, her voice very low, "The Empress Dowager sent the head nanny to ask why you haven't taken the concubines to the Cining Palace to pay your respects!"
Sheng Xiyan buried her face in the soft pillow embroidered with entwined mandarin ducks, her voice soft and tender as if she had just woken up: "What time is it...? You said you would go after the enthronement ceremony..."
Before he finished speaking, the stern voice of the head nanny of the Cining Palace could be heard from outside: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has decreed that all palaces must pay their respects today. The masters of each palace are already waiting."
Sheng Xiyan suddenly opened the quilt, revealing the mottled red marks on her snow-white neck and shoulders: "What? Are they all gone?"
Hua Xia came forward holding a gilded basin with twined branches, while Mei Xiang had already unfolded her bright red court gown with a phoenix pattern.
Mingyue and several palace maids helped her dress up in the empress's court robes, hairpins, rings and other jewelry.
Sheng Xiyan looked at the dark shadows under her eyes in the bronze mirror and lamented, "If I had known that I would have to get up so early to become the Queen, I would have been a Royal Concubine forever..."
The Cining Palace was filled with the scent of sandalwood. The Queen Mother sat on the phoenix throne, her jade armor knocking on the table from time to time.
On both sides below, concubines such as Jia Fei, Liang Fei, and Shu Gui Fei had already taken their seats according to their positions, all of them with exquisite makeup, except for the side of the phoenix throne which was empty.
"The Queen has arrived—"
Following the eunuch's announcement, Sheng Xiyan held Hua Xia's hand and slowly walked inside.
Today she wore a bright red phoenix gown with gold thread, and the pearls on the nine-tailed phoenix hairpin swayed slightly with her steps. Although she wore light makeup, her bright and beautiful features could not be concealed.
"Your son pays his respects to the Queen Mother." She bowed gracefully, her waist so weak that she could hardly straighten it.
The Queen Mother looked at her coldly: "The Queen has kept the six palaces waiting for a long time today."
Sheng Xiyan was about to explain when Concubine Liang suddenly chuckled, "Your Majesty, I'm sure you were too tired to serve the Emperor last night, so that's why you got up late, right?"
She stroked the five-tailed phoenix hairpin on her temples, "But no matter how hard it is, it is the custom of our ancestors to visit you morning and evening."
Concubine Jia immediately responded, "Sister Concubine Liang is right. I have been waiting outside the palace since the hour of Yin. I dare not move even though my shoes and socks are soaked by the autumn dew."
Concubine Shu said, "It must be hard for the Empress to take care of the prince and princess, and it is understandable."
Sheng Xiyan was about to speak when the Queen Mother suddenly slammed the table and said, "Sheng! Since you became the empress, you have been negligent in palace affairs and have disregarded palace rules. How dare you make the concubines wait in vain for an entire hour today!"
"How can you shoulder the responsibility of being the Empress if you are so unworthy of your position?"
The hall suddenly became dead silent.
Defei looked at Sheng Xiyan worriedly, but saw her slowly straighten up with a smile on her lips.
"Your Majesty's teachings are correct. However, I have one thing to say in my defense: the Emperor was reviewing memorials until the third watch last night, and as Empress, I naturally wanted to be there to help."
"Then the Emperor complained of back pain, and I began massaging him..." She suddenly began coughing, her body swaying. "I woke up this morning feeling dizzy and dizzy. I'm afraid I caught a cold..."
"You!" The Queen Mother was so angry that her hands were shaking. This was clearly a show of the Emperor's favor!
"Oh my!" Concubine De suddenly exclaimed, "The Empress looks so pale!"
She quickly stepped forward to support him, "Your Majesty, look at the Queen, she's sweating all over her forehead!"
Sheng Xiyan leaned against Concubine De and said breathlessly, "I feel a little dizzy..."
As he said this, he closed his eyes and fainted.
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