"Greetings, Father Emperor, Your Majesty."
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."
Chu Tianze and Bai Chuxiao bowed in unison.
Emperor Wenxuan's expression was unreadable; he simply said, "Get up."
Looking at the two people below her, Empress Li was filled with resentment. Emperor Wenxuan had actually taken that wretched Consort Jing out of the palace yesterday—wasn't this a slap in her face? And what right did Chu Tianze, the son of a lowly bastard, have to be allowed to attend his wedding?
A gentle smile appeared on his face as he called out, "Bishui!"
Then Bishui brought over a tray and walked up to Bai Chuxiao.
Bai Chuxiao picked up a cup, bowed again to Emperor Wenxuan, and said with a faint smile, "Father, please have some tea."
Emperor Wenxuan took the teacup, sipped it lightly, and nodded with a smile. "Yes, get up."
Bai Chuxiao then stood up.
Seeing her so obedient appearance, Emperor Wenxuan spoke with a half-smile, "I heard you and the seventh prince fought on the rooftop for half the night last night?"
Bai Chuxiao lowered her eyes. Emperor Wenxuan's appearance yesterday was already unusual, but she hadn't had time to ask what had happened. Now, it was clear that Emperor Wenxuan had been having people constantly monitoring the Yan Prince's residence.
Chu Tianze quickly stepped forward, "Father, Xiaoxiao and I have always enjoyed sparring. Yesterday, after having a few drinks, we couldn't resist having a little practice."
Emperor Wenxuan snorted coldly, "Is that a day for friendly sparring?"
Bai Chuxiao looked slightly embarrassed, "Father..."
Emperor Wenxuan spoke calmly, "Alright, no more fooling around. What will people think if word gets out?"
"yes"
Bai Chuxiao took another cup, bowed to Empress Li, and said, "Your Majesty, please have some tea."
Empress Li did not accept it, but smiled faintly and said, "Now you are both a princess and the Princess Consort of Yan, representing the face of the royal family. You must be even more self-disciplined and courteous in the future, understand?"
Bai Chuxiao nodded perfunctorily, holding her teacup. Wasn't this just an attempt to intimidate her? Serving tea was no big deal for this princess; she could say whatever she wanted.
Empress Li spoke slowly again, "Now that you are a royal daughter-in-law, you should refrain from making those threats of violence. The most important thing is to ensure the continuation of the royal family, do you understand?"
Having a baby? Bai Chuxiao really had no interest. She'd have to be at least eighteen, right? Her body was so small; what was the point of having a baby? If she really had a child, wouldn't her father be even more uneasy?
Emperor Wenxuan still had state affairs to attend to and was impatient to listen to Empress Li's long-winded speech, so he waved his hand and left.
After he left, Empress Li intensified her tirade, refusing to drink tea or rise from her seat. It was clear she was trying to annoy Bai Chuxiao. However, as the mother of the nation instructing her royal daughter-in-law on etiquette, no one could argue against it. Bai Chuxiao remained unfazed, her mind already elsewhere. This was the only opportunity she had to openly and legitimately annoy her.
Chu Tianze's eyes turned slightly cold as he slowly spoke, "Your Majesty, it's getting late."
Empress Li seemed to snap out of her daze, took the teacup, and said with a smile, "Look at my memory, you two children won't blame me, will you?"
Bai Chuxiao smiled slightly, "How could that be?"
How could I blame you? I just wanted to beat you to death. Apart from Liu Shuyao, the other princesses must have suffered a lot of torment from her on their second day of marriage.
Empress Li smiled faintly, "I knew you were a sensible person."
Bai Chuxiao said with a smile, "Your Majesty, the tea will get cold if you don't drink it soon."
Empress Li's eyes flickered slightly. She touched the teacup and said with a smile, "Xiaoxiao is right, this tea has indeed gone cold."
Bishui quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, you are not well, you mustn't be hungry. Let me get you another cup."
Empress Li nodded, handed the teacup to her, and then smiled at Bai Chuxiao, "I haven't been feeling well lately, so I'll have to trouble you to serve me tea again, Chuxiao."
Bai Chuxiao smiled sweetly, "Of course."
A moment later, Bishui brought another tray to Bai Chuxiao's side, saying, "Your Highness, please serve tea."
Bai Chuxiao looked at the steaming tea, a cold glint in her eyes. How could she possibly handle something so hot? Was she going to complain it was too hot and make her offer it again? This was going to never end.
A murderous glint flashed in Chu Tianze's eyes. He stepped forward, ignoring the scalding heat, and splashed the teacup onto Bi Shui's hand. Bi Shui winced in pain, pulling her hand back and dropping the tray to the ground.
Empress Li's face showed displeasure, and she said sternly, "Seventh Prince, what are you doing?"
Chu Tianze said coldly, "This dog servant can't even make tea properly. What if he burns the Princess Consort and Her Majesty the Empress?"
Empress Li was somewhat annoyed. When did it become the Seventh Prince's place to discipline her servants? She was about to reprimand him.
Chu Tianze said coldly, "It's getting late. My wife and I still need to pay our respects to my mother, so we won't disturb Her Majesty the Empress any longer."
After saying that, he grabbed Bai Chuxiao's hand and walked out. No matter what, he couldn't stand them, so he might as well just break off all pretense of civility.
Empress Li flew into a rage, slammed her hand on the table, and shouted sternly, "All of you, stop right there!"
But Bai Chuxiao and Chu Tianze seemed not to hear them at all. The farce of serving tea had gone far enough; if it continued, Bai Chuxiao feared she might lose her temper and take action.
The two walked all the way to Fusang Pavilion, and their expressions finally improved.
"Greetings, Mother Consort"
Consort Jing stepped forward and helped the two up. "Xiao Xiao Ze'er, what's wrong? Did you suffer some mistreatment from the Empress?"
Chu Tianze said calmly, "My mother should be aware of the torturous methods used in the palace."
Consort Jing took Bai Chuxiao's hand again, saying with heartache, "You've wronged Chuxiao."
Bai Chuxiao smiled gently, "Doesn't Mother know Xiaoxiao's temperament? Who can make me angry?"
Bai Chuxiao frowned slightly and looked at Chu Tianze, asking, "But after what we just did, won't the Empress punish my mother?"
They were outside the palace, after all, and Empress Li couldn't interfere too much. But what about Consort Jing? There were indeed many ways to torment people in the palace, and she didn't want Consort Jing to suffer because of them.
Consort Jing chuckled softly and slowly said, "Xiaoxiao, don't worry. Do whatever you want without worrying about me. There were certainly many tricks in the palace when we were young, but now that the princes are all grown up, the concubines in the palace are fighting much less. His Majesty is also impatient to see those things, and the Empress doesn't dare to do anything openly."
Bai Chuxiao smiled shyly, "That's good. I wouldn't want to see my mother suffer."
Although she hadn't had much contact with Consort Jing, Consort Jing had always spoken up for her and unconditionally stood by her side. Now that she was married to Chu Tianze, she was willing to treat Consort Jing as her true mother.
Consort Jing patted her hand and laughed, "You've seen all sorts of storms over the years. Your mother knows the ways of the palace well; she won't let anyone bully you."
Chu Tianze was slightly relieved. "Mother, you must tell us anything. You can't keep it to yourself."
They certainly suffered a lot during their childhood, but after he was stationed on the border and granted the title of Prince with his own fief, his mother was no longer subjected to such humiliation. As the birth mother of an adult prince, Emperor Wenxuan would always give her some face, and no one dared to go too far.
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