Chapter 422

Bai Wutong had been slapped by Zhang Chengyan in public at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, causing her to lose all face. To make matters worse, the rewards that were rightfully hers had been redirected to Imperial Concubine Su. As word of these two incidents spread through the inner court, rumors began to fly. Many whispered behind her back, labeling Bai Wutong a mere figurehead, a useless Empress in name only. Most of those daring to gossip so recklessly were the seven new maidens who had only recently arrived. Being newcomers, they were ignorant of the deep, treacherous waters of the inner court and had no inkling of Bai Wutong’s true standing. The senior concubines, however, were far more shrewd; none dared speak a word. Consort Hui and the Virtuous Consort were particularly tight-lipped, refusing to mention the Empress at all for fear of inviting trouble. Through Bai Wutong’s calculated maneuvering, the news soon reached the Empress Dowager, who was immediately gripped by anxiety. She lived in constant fear that if Bai Wutong fell from favor and another concubine rose to power, her beloved grandson Yunyang might be snatched away. She adored the child and could not bear the thought of such an outcome.