Late at night.
Yaoguang Palace had not yet extinguished its lamps.
Mengdong knelt on the floor, recounting everything Gao Jingwan had said that day verbatim. "Your Ladyship, that Beauty Gao had the audacity to slander you so blatantly—it is simply treasonous!"
Jin Weige had changed into a loose undergarment and was leaning lazily against the couch.
Being naturally plump, the movement made her look somewhat heavier, and her glamorous face twisted with a ferocious expression.
"What a bold Beauty Gao, daring to call this palace's mistress old and faded, daring to say I cannot bear children! Mengdong, go teach that Beauty Gao a lesson tomorrow! Doesn't she want a child? Then this palace will ensure she never has one for the rest of her days! There happens to be a pool of water behind Lanxin Pavilion; falling right into it will suit her perfectly. Afterward, have the female physician Min go over and properly adjust her constitution!"
Adjusted into a constitution that could never conceive again!
Mengdong kowtowed. "Understood, Your Ladyship, this maid takes your instruction."
She stepped out of Yaoguang Palace and hurried toward Lanxin Pavilion.
Suddenly, a white shadow flashed past.
She instantly turned back to look, but caught sight of nothing at all.
Mengdong glanced left and right, and, making sure no one was there, continued on her way.
A short hour later, she returned to Lanxin Pavilion.
Meanwhile.
"Meow—"
A cat's cry sounded near the window.
Bai Wutong pushed open the window, and Fubao leaped inside, affectionately licking her hand. "It seems Consort Rong is about to make a move against Gao Jingwan."
She had instructed Fubao today that if Consort Rong's faction intended to harm Gao Jingwan, it should come and report the news.
To her surprise, it really had come.
Bai Wutong opened the oiled paper at the head of the bed and took out a honeyed milk cake. "Go on, eat. You did a good job. Eat up and head back early, and keep playing the master these next few days."
After finishing the food, Fubao leaped out of the window with evident reluctance.
Bai Wutong gazed at the chilling moonlight and murmured softly, "Tomorrow will be another fine time to see the Emperor."
Dawn broke.
Another day arrived.
Come to think of it, Bai Wutong had been in the inner court for a little over half a month now.
The other imperial beauties had received imperial favor one after another, leaving only her without the slightest trace of it.
People in the palace seemed to have forgotten there was even such a person as Noble Lady Bai.
A young palace maid caught sight of that slender figure and was instantly startled. "Oh, look quickly! Who is that person ahead? How can she be so thin? Does the palace really have someone like that?"
Aside from the eunuchs, not a single woman in the palace was thin.
Another palace maid sneered, "You must not know yet—that is Beauty Bai, who came in through this selection. I heard her tally was never meant to be kept at all; it was only because the Empress Dowager's Fubao took a liking to her that she was retained, and she still hasn't received the Emperor's favor."
"So isn't she just here to serve Old Ancestor Fubao?"
The two of them burst into giggles. Although they lowered their voices, Bai Wutong possessed a spirit's body and heard them with absolute clarity.
A smile remained on her face as she turned a deaf ear.
People in this palace were well accustomed to stepping on the lowly and currying favor with the high; she had known that even before entering.
This path was the one Eunuch Wang took every day at noon, and it was also the shortcut to the Imperial Kitchen.
Thinking it over yesterday, Bai Wutong recalled that the words spoken by the little eunuch when Beauty Gao was sent back did not sound like Zhang Chengyan's doing.
Being able to send someone back was already enough to show his attitude. With his lofty posture, how could he bother with superfluous actions?
Therefore, what the other party said was most likely ordered by the head eunuch.
The most favored eunuch by Zhang Chengyan's side was none other than Eunuch Wang Decai.
Bai Wutong's purpose in coming today was both to see the Emperor and to verify her own conjecture.
She put down her basket and stood among the flowerbeds, carefully plucking flowers.
Before long, the sound of footsteps and instructions arrived simultaneously.
"The Emperor is in a foul mood today. Make one more side dish to clear away internal heat, and remember—do not stew soup. The Emperor detests soup above all things."
"Understood, Eunuch Wang, rest assured. How about a stir-fried lotus root to freshen things up?"
"Very well, lotus root is crisp and refreshing; the Emperor should be able to manage a few bites."
The voices drew closer from afar.
Wang Decai caught sight of Bai Wutong standing by the flowerbeds at a single glance.
Her figure was slender and graceful, swaying gently with the breeze.
Throughout the entire inner court, she was the only one so extraordinary.
Bai Wutong feigned having just noticed Wang Decai. "Eunuch Wang."
"Greetings, Your Ladyship." Wang Decai showed no trace of arrogance as he lowered his head in a bow.
Seeing him so humble, Bai Wutong smiled all the more gently and charmingly. "Eunuch Wang, is that little eunuch who sprained his ankle the other day recovering well? Has the lost tassel been found?"
Wang Decai understood at once; Beauty Bai was clever and had already discovered his act of goodwill.
The little eunuch from that day was indeed arranged by him, simply to plant a good seed of affinity since it was only a matter of a few words anyway.
"Thank Your Ladyship for your concern. The eunuch who twisted his ankle is named Xiao Ningzi; he is sharp-witted, but a stone happened to stick out from the ground that day, causing him nearly to take a tumble. He is completely recovered now, and as for the tassel, it was found as well."
"Since he is sharp-witted, why not send him to my palace?" Bai Wutong's brows curved into smiles. "The one in my palace is mediocre at best, and I don't feel at ease letting him handle matters."
Wang Decai lowered his head and agreed. "For Your Ladyship to fancy Xiao Ningzi is his good fortune! Someone come, notify the Imperial Household Department to have Xiao Ningzi sent over to Lanxin Pavilion."
"Eunuch Wang must be heading to the Imperial Kitchen, so I won't delay you any further." Bai Wutong timely stepped aside. "These jasmine flowers are growing exceptionally well today, just right for making jasmine flower cakes. Once the basket is full, I shall return."
Wang Decai glanced at the basket.
It was lined with only a thin layer at the bottom; to fill it would surely take at least an hour.
Then, looking at the rockery behind her, understanding dawned on him. He called over a nearby young eunuch to take his place on the errand. "This servant suddenly remembers something else to attend to, so I will take my leave."
He quickened his pace and arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Standing at the entrance were two middle-aged men in official attire. Catching sight of Wang Decai, they immediately stepped forward. "Eunuch Wang, is the Emperor in a bad mood today? We have been standing here for half an hour."
The other man pulled out a piece of gold leaf. "Trouble Eunuch Wang to put in a good word for us inside."
Both men had daughters serving as imperial concubines in the inner court, so it was hard for Wang Decai to refuse outright. "This servant can only try; I dare not offer any guarantees."
He pushed open the door, stooping slightly. "Your Emperor."
Zhang Chengyan wore an icy expression as he tore a memorial into pieces. "A bunch of useless trash! They can't even resolve the matters of troops and provisions—what use does We have for them!"
Eunuch Wang approached cautiously. "Your Majesty, such matters cannot be rushed; you must take good care of your imperial health. On my way to the Imperial Kitchen just now, I noticed the jasmine flowers blooming splendidly, and Beauty Bai is picking them to make jasmine cakes."
Hearing the name Beauty Bai, Zhang Chengyan immediately turned his head to look at him, the harshness between his brows fading somewhat. "You still have some sense of observation. Send the trash outside rolling back."
Wang Decai stepped out of the palace gates, dismissed the officials first, and instructed the other young eunuchs, "Hurry and block off the palace attendants on that path; do not let them come close."
Zhang Chengyan flicked his sleeve, stepped out from the side door of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and headed straight for that path.
A gentle, clear breeze swept across the flowerbeds, causing the petals to sway lightly and filling the air with fragrance.
A tender pink figure dotted the scenery, adding no small amount of charm.
Bai Wutong swayed slightly, carefully placing a whole jasmine flower into her basket. Suddenly struck by a whim, she picked up another blossom and pinned it behind her ear, making her profile look all the more enchanting.
Zhang Chengyan recalled the softness of that day, strode forward, and pulled that slender frame into his embrace from behind.
The scent of jasmine assailed his senses.
Bai Wutong's hand trembled, and the basket dropped to the ground.
"It is Us." Zhang Chengyan slid his palm downward, utterly enamored with her waist that could be spanned by a single grasp, which was vastly different from the fleshy softness of the other consorts. "Are you really so afraid of Us?"
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I am not afraid, I simply didn't know Your Majesty was coming. Could Your Majesty please not startle me?"
"So it turns out to be Our fault after all."
Emboldened, Bai Wutong turned around, suddenly let out a soft giggle, raised a fair hand, and plucked a flower petal from his head.
Zhang Chengyan took hold of her hand—her fingers were slender, fair, and straight.
Originally he had thought Consort Rong's hands were already beautiful enough, never imagining there were even more exquisite ones waiting for him.
He played with it without letting go, and after kneading it for a mere moment, a flush of red appeared. "Your skin is so delicate; if We were to favor you, wouldn't you suffer?"
Bai Wutong's pretty face blushed scarlet. "I do not suffer; to serve Your Majesty is my greatest honor."
Beholding her charming and lovely appearance, Zhang Chengyan grew rather intrigued. "You have grown quite a bit bolder today. Why didn't you run away?"
Bai Wutong's small head slowly leaned into his embrace. "I entered the palace solely for Your Majesty, but knowing my own constitution is poor and that I lack Your Majesty's favor, I did not dare draw close."
The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she sounded. "All the world loves plump beauties; wherever I go, people find me unpleasing, so how could I dare hope for Your Majesty's affection? I had already decided beforehand that as long as I could enter the palace and catch occasional glimpses of Your Majesty—even without the blessing of staying by your side—it would still be a fortunate blessing in this life."
Such words were ones Zhang Chengyan had heard countless times.
Yet falling from Bai Wutong's lips, they sounded soft, sweet, and endearing, stirring deep pity within his heart. Especially those almond-shaped eyes, devoid of any greed for power and status, held nothing but attachment and adoration.
Every woman in this inner court desired his favor, yet what they loved was his status, the supreme power of the Son of Heaven.
Whereas Bai Wutong seemed to love simply him as a person.
Such a pure and untainted expression was something he had once seen in Consort Rong's eyes as well.
Only, after he ascended the throne, Consort Rong changed—becoming repulsive, suspicious, and jealous.
Someone so clean and pure was likely the only one left in this inner court.
Zhang Chengyan curved his lips. "Let it be so from now on. As long as you do not change, We will favor you henceforth."