After a full round, Jin Weige finished observing all the newly arrived palace maids.
Returning to Yaoguang Palace, her personal palace maid stepped forward to massage her feet. "Jiayue, tell me, among these new palace maids, is there anyone worthy of this palace's extra attention?"
Jiayue pondered, her hands never stopping their motion. "My Lady, in this servant’s opinion, that Wen Chuyun is quite a character. She is attractive, has a graceful figure, and looks like someone capable of conceiving. I heard the Emperor flipped her tablet on the very first day."
Jin Weige sneered. "Indeed. I heard she is some sort of 'greatest beauty of the Capital,' but in this palace's eyes, she is far from it. What do you think of that Bai Wutong?"
Jiayue’s face showed disdain as she switched to the other leg. "My Lady, that Beauty Bai is simply unpresentable. The Emperor favors someone like you; how could he possibly like her? That Beauty Gao, on the other hand, used your name before she even entered the palace—clearly intending to borrow your influence to secure her standing in the inner court. Yet, she has been in the palace for so long, and I haven't seen her come to pay her respects once."
"Today, when you went to visit the palace maids, she deliberately looked for trouble and intercepted Beauty Bai, clearly wanting to use your hand to deal with her. She is simply ignorant! Matters concerning the Empress Dowager’s palace are not exactly secrets, but they are certainly not things a newly arrived beauty should know. I fear she has someone on the inside she can use."
"You are right. Even this palace did not know that Beauty Bai had gone to the Empress Dowager’s palace to see the Emperor, yet a mere beauty like her knew it clearly. There is indeed something suspicious." Jin Weige lifted her leg.
Jiayue immediately ordered someone to bring hot water. She tested the temperature before placing the slightly swollen, jade-like feet into it. "My Lady, should we send someone to be by Beauty Gao's side?"
Jin Weige squinted comfortably. "It just so happens that I recently dealt with the person previously by her side. Have the Imperial Household Department send Mengdong over."
Mengdong had always been one of her people, though few knew it. Now, at last, she would be put to use.
"Yes, My Lady. This servant will see to it immediately."
***
Bai Wutong sat in the infirmary, quietly looking out the window.
Medicated paste had been applied to her face, bringing a trace of coolness, yet the pain would still flare up from time to time. A breeze swept through, carrying the scent of fresh grass.
Bathed in lush greenery, for a moment, she felt as if she had returned to her homeland—that forest where humans could never tread. She had once run freely there with her mother and father, but now they were separated by life and death... The world was fickle, and the heavens were cruel. Just because she was a Cat-Spirit, she could be wantonly slaughtered by humans. Even if she wished to take human form, she had to sacrifice her cultivation. How unfair!
"My Lady," the female physician’s voice came. "The sun has set. You should head back now. You do not need to come again for the next few days. As for your face, applying the medicine for three days will suffice."
The Emperor was not even visiting the inner court, so there was no need to worry about him seeing her. Besides, after being thrashed by Consort Rong today, her face was swollen and unsightly; even if the Emperor happened to catch a glimpse, he would certainly not be pleased.
"Very well." Bai Wutong returned from her memories, rose, and departed.
Silence had returned to Lanxin Pavilion. Gao Jingwan had made a scene and had now disappeared, nowhere to be found.
Lianxin hurried to meet her. "My Lady, that Consort Rong went too far! She beat you like this without rhyme or reason. This servant picked up some pastries from the Imperial Kitchen today; they are fresh. Please, have a taste. There is pomelo peel inside, which can help ward off bad luck."
Bai Wutong had no appetite. "I will pass. Where did Beauty Gao go?"
"Her? It seems she went to find Beauty Xu. The Imperial Household Department just sent over a new palace maid; looking at her, she is just like Beauty Gao—not someone easy to deal with."
Bai Wutong hoped that this person had been sent by Jin Weige. That would mean her words had taken effect. Jin Weige was a woman who could reach the position of Imperial Noble Consort; she was no fool and would surely take note of Gao Jingwan.
Bai Wutong lightly touched her face. She had to find a way to avenge today’s humiliation!
The sky grew late, and darkness was closing in. Gao Jingwan finally returned with the new palace maid, her demeanor completely changed. She was high-spirited, and there was a bit more color in her face.
Bai Wutong walked forward. "Jingwan, I have come to apologize. I should have explained things more clearly to you. I truly did not seduce the Emperor. The fact that Consort Rong did not punish me too severely shows that I was not lying. I hope we can get along well in the future."
These words once again stirred the resentment in Gao Jingwan’s heart. "Get lost! Stop hovering in front of me!"
She had gone on and on about her close relationship with Consort Rong, only for the woman to not help her at all. She had lost face for nothing.
Bai Wutong took a step back. "Jingwan, Consort Rong said we should not quarrel. Consort Rong is an Imperial Noble Consort and the only consort in the entire inner court to have ever been pregnant. She is extraordinarily noble. Even if you have a connection with her, you cannot ignore her teachings. Perhaps the only imperial heir to the Darong State will come from Consort Rong."
After finishing her words, she smiled, presented a sachet as a gesture of apology, and turned to leave.
Gao Jingwan violently threw the object onto the ground and stomped on it hard. "Who wants this unlucky thing! Hmph, even though my family has a close relationship with Consort Rong’s maternal family, she actually refused to help me deal with Beauty Bai, settling for merely slapping her a few times!"
What she wanted was for Beauty Bai to die! Or to be driven out of the palace entirely, rather than having her hover before her eyes every day, bringing bad luck.
"So what if she was pregnant? She couldn't even keep the child. Now that she is getting on in years, she is fading. I am different; I have never harmed my body. This only dragon heir will surely come from my womb!"
The palace maid standing nearby lowered her head, masking the cold light in her eyes.
Bai Wutong stood by the window and chuckled softly. "Gao Jingwan, do not let me down."
The words she had spoken earlier were meant to add fuel to the fire, goading Gao Jingwan into speaking recklessly. If things went as she guessed and that new palace maid was sent by Jin Weige, she would inevitably make Gao Jingwan dissatisfied, leading her to target Gao Jingwan instead and ignore her.
They were both enemies; it was best to find ways to make them turn on each other. When that time came, Bai Wutong would seize the opportunity to see the Emperor more often and make him unable to resist her!