Bai Wutong paused, realizing this was once again the Empress Dowager’s doing. Since she had entered the palace, and the Empress Dowager could not explicitly forbid the Emperor from favoring her, the woman had resorted to creating endless distractions.
Bai Wutong offered a faint smile. "Very well. But please send someone to fetch Lianxin; I have something to discuss with her."
The palace physician immediately ordered the task to be carried out. As long as Bai Wutong remained, anything else could be arranged.
Once they were gone, Bai Wutong’s expression turned cold. She had already wasted seven days; she could not afford to wait any longer. She had to find a way to meet the Emperor as soon as possible.
A short while later, Lianxin arrived, panting heavily. Though she was not as plump as Gao Jingwan, she was far from nimble. "My Lady, you summoned me? What are your instructions?"
"How is the information I asked you to gather?"
Lianxin lowered her voice. "The Emperor dines at the Empress Dowager’s palace on the first and fifteenth of the month. In the evenings, he visits the Empress, though lately, he only drops by to check on her and does not stay the night. Most of the time, he spends his nights at Noble Imperial Consort Rong’s palace."
"However, for the past few days, the new consorts have been the ones serving him." Lianxin’s tone grew increasingly anxious. "The Empress Dowager keeps blocking you from serving him—what are we to do? Perhaps... should I reach out to Lord Xun and ask him to find a way?"
"No need. I already have a plan. You may go."
Lianxin wanted to say more, but seeing that Bai Wutong had already closed her eyes, she had no choice but to leave, sullen.
On the way back, she kicked a pebble in frustration. "Honestly! She’s so skinny, she doesn't even have my figure. Other than a pretty face, she’s useless. If you can’t serve the Emperor, beauty means nothing!"
Night fell. Bai Wutong stayed at the physician’s quarters.
The next day, she finally managed to return to her own Lanxin Pavilion. As soon as she reached the entrance, she heard laughter spilling from within.
"That Bai Wutong is a complete joke. It was supposed to be her turn to serve the Emperor last night, but she went to get 'medical treatment' instead. In my opinion, she’ll never get a chance to serve him in this lifetime. In a while, the Emperor won't even remember she exists."
"Indeed. A waste of such a vixen’s face. If she were as plump as we are, maybe the Emperor would have truly been bewitched by her."
The conversation came to an abrupt halt. Gao Jingwan looked at Bai Wutong as she entered, her smile mocking. "Oh, the sick girl is back. How was the treatment last night? Are you cured?"
"Pfft—" A few others behind her covered their mouths, giggling. "If I were constantly 'getting treatment' and unable to serve the Emperor, I’d just leave the palace. It’s an embarrassment to the family."
"I heard Lord Xun’s other two daughters are perfectly normal. Why on earth did they send such a shameful one here?"
Gao Jingwan tossed aside the sunflower seeds in her hand. "Bai Wutong, all of us sisters have already served the Emperor, except for you. If I were you, I’d just find a pond and pretend to trip and drown. Otherwise, you’re just bringing shame upon the Xun family."
Bai Wutong paid them no mind. She simply smiled at the group and walked briskly into the side hall.
"My, she can actually still smile. Her skin is thicker than the city walls."
"Forget it, don't provoke her. If she really dies, where will we find our entertainment?"
As the door closed, the harsh, nasty words finally faded away.
Bai Wutong calculated the time. Today was the thirteenth; in two days, it would be the fifteenth.
*Then let’s start this afternoon.*
She went to the window and imitated a cat's meow.
Half a joss-stick of time later, Fubao leapt onto the window sill, nestling into her arms and closing its eyes in comfort.
Bai Wutong stroked its soft fur. "Fubao, go back and cause a real stir, understand? If you do this well, I will find a way to send you out, back to my home. Perhaps I can even find a way for you to attain enlightenment."
Fubao meowed, looked at her with lingering attachment, and then left, its tail held high.
At Yongshou Palace, the Empress Dowager was leaning against her couch.
"Meow—"
She opened her eyes. "Fubao is back. Where have you been? Come here to me."
Fubao ignored her, leaping onto a flower stand nearby. With a swipe of its tail, a precious moon-vase filled with flowers crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.
A palace maid rushed forward. "Ancestor Fubao, please, come down!"
Fubao paid no heed, jumping onto a shelf nearby and sweeping everything off it.
The Empress Dowager felt a headache coming on. "Quick, catch Fubao!"
The attendants scrambled forward. As a maid lunged, Fubao landed lightly on the ground, while the maid slammed heavily into the shelf, collapsing with a groan. The others fared no better.
In less than half an hour, the palace was in shambles, the floor covered in debris.
The Empress Dowager was furious. "A pack of useless fools! What use are you? You can't even catch a Cat-Spirit. I’ll give you one more joss-stick of time. If you still haven't caught it, you can all get out!"
The time passed. Fubao sat high atop a shelf, licking its fur with satisfaction, refusing to let anyone touch even a single hair.
A Nanny nearby suddenly remembered something and whispered, "Empress Dowager, last time Fubao was very close to Beauty Bai. Perhaps she has a way."
The Empress Dowager’s head was pounding. She just wanted the matter resolved. "Then go fetch Beauty Bai."
Fubao flicked its tail happily, its emerald eyes fixed on the entrance.
—
Footsteps approached.
"Beauty Bai has arrived!"
Bai Wutong entered the hall and bowed her head. "This concubine greets the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager waved a hand. "No need for formalities. Fubao is being exceptionally unruly today. See if you can find a way to make it behave."
"Yes, I will do my best."
Bai Wutong walked to the shelf and called out softly, "Fubao."
In the next second, Fubao leaped down and landed in her arms, as obedient as if it were a completely different cat.
The attendants were stunned; Fubao truly acted differently toward Beauty Bai.
The Empress Dowager opened her eyes, disbelieving. "It worked?"
Bai Wutong stepped forward. "Empress Dowager, I do have some understanding of cats. Fubao seemed frightened earlier. As long as it feels there is no threat, it will calm down. Although the other attendants meant it no harm, they made it misunderstand their intentions, which is why it acted out."
The Empress Dowager tentatively reached out to take Fubao into her arms, surprised to find that it actually complied.
She raised a finger, poking the cat's tiny, fuzzy head. "You little ingrate. I provide you with food and drink, yet you prefer an outsider. Beauty Bai, you have done well. A reward."
The Nanny had someone bring over a hairpin. "This is the Empress Dowager’s reward for you."
Bai Wutong accepted it with both hands. "Thank you, Empress Dowager."
"That is all. I have a headache; you may withdraw."
Bai Wutong bowed and backed away. Now, she only had to wait for the fifteenth to arrive.