Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C125 pt2

Outside the hall, Fusheng craned his neck, peering and listening at the door, trying to hear the sounds inside.

"Master..."

Startled, Fusheng quickly stood up straight. After seeing that it was Little Douzi, he smacked him hard on the head, straightened his back, and hummed twice, asking, "What are you doing? Sneaking around."

Clearly, it's you, Master, who's sneaking around!

"Master, you should go rest. I'll take the night watch tonight."

"What's the rush? Even your master isn't in a rush, so what are you rushing for?"

Little Douzi looked at him with a strange gaze. What was so interesting about listening to this? Could it be that His Majesty's corner was particularly interesting to eavesdrop on?

He couldn't help but ask, and Fusheng glanced at him, "What do you know!"

Fine, he was a eunuch, of course he wouldn't understand.

But Master was also a eunuch, this was a question Little Douzi was destined not to have answered.

It wasn't until Fusheng had yawned several times that the sounds inside still hadn't stopped. Remembering that there was a court assembly tomorrow and that he had to get up early to serve, unable to stay up any longer, he instructed Little Douzi to keep an eye on the sounds inside and to call him if anything happened. Then, he walked away with a beaming smile.

He knew it! His Majesty was still full of vigor. He wondered what state the Little Madam would be reduced to by tomorrow. Truly pitiful.

The next day, keeping a close watch, Fusheng waited outside the bedchamber.

But there was no movement inside. Seeing that time was running out, he quietly slipped into the bedchamber.

The bedchamber was dim, the curtains of the dragon bed hanging low, obscuring the view within.

Remembering what his apprentice had said, that things only quieted down near dawn, Fusheng hesitated, cleared his throat, and said softly, "Your Majesty, it's time to rise."

There was no response.

Another call.

Still no response.

"Your Majesty, there is a court assembly today."

He moved closer and closer, and just as he was about to reach the dragon bed, a voice finally came from within.

"Attend what assembly? I'm not going!"

The voice was the same, but the words were not what that person should say. So… was this that master?

Fusheng only knew that His Majesty's condition had improved somewhat, but he didn't know to what extent. Hearing this voice, he was both surprised and flustered.

"But the court assembly..."

"Get out!"

And so, Fusheng got out.

After getting out, he first ordered someone to find Fulai, and then instructed others to announce, 'Today's court assembly is canceled.'

As for the court officials' reaction to the cancellation of the assembly? Anyway, it wasn't the first time it had been canceled. The remaining cleanup was Fulai's business.

***

Fengqi Palace in the morning was always more lively than at other times.

It was the rule for the imperial concubines to pay their respects to the Empress every day.

It was just that the rules were for the majority, at least Consort Hui never came, and everyone was used to it.

Unlike in the past, His Majesty had summoned that enchantress into the palace, and today's court assembly was canceled. This news was already known to many concubines. After paying their respects to the Empress, a group of concubines began to discuss it. Some were jealous and unwilling, some were instigating trouble, and others wanted to see the Empress's embarrassment...

The entire morning was wasted on acting out this farce.

But the women in the palace had always been like this; they had nothing else to do besides this.

All of this, the people in Rouyi Hall were unaware of.

The two slept until the Si Shi (9-11 AM) before getting up.

Ji Yang got up first. After he got up, Wushuang was clearly awake, but she remained huddled in the blankets, unwilling to get up. In the end, he pulled her out of the blankets.

Ji Yang couldn't understand Wushuang's state of mind at this moment. After Wushuang finished feeling ashamed, embarrassed, and annoyed, she discovered that he wasn't busy with court affairs. She hesitantly brought it up, and he only said that it wasn't his concern.

Wushuang didn't know the inside story and could only suppress the urge to say she wanted to go back. The two of them spent the whole day together in Rouyi Hall.

They didn't do anything else. Wushuang could tell that he still desired her, but she refused him with 'it hurts, I'm uncomfortable.' He didn't get angry, which relieved her.

Just like that, the two stayed in Rouyi Hall for two whole days.

Little did they know that the outside world was in an uproar. Due to Wushuang's presence, and the fact that both Fusheng and Fulai knew that it wasn't His Majesty outside, and considering the usual temperament of this master, no one knew if or when he would go crazy. Therefore, they didn't dare to disturb him, and they took on all the matters outside themselves.

Until an urgent military situation arrived.

In addition, the court officials had reacted strongly in the past two days, believing that Fulai, that 'treacherous eunuch,' was once again blinding His Majesty. Fusheng had no choice but to report the military situation, and Ji Yang then remembered that there was someone he had locked up for two days.

Emperor Qianwu was about to explode when he was released.

But an emperor was still an emperor. Getting angry didn't solve the problem, and he couldn't get angry at 'him' either. But problems had to be solved, and a balanced solution had to be found.

After some bargaining between the two, it was temporarily decided that when Wushuang entered the palace, it would be 'his' time. This was Ji Yang's demand. At other times, Emperor Qianwu would appear, and 'he' must not lock him in the small dark room again at will, so as not to delay court affairs.

Wushuang didn't know any of this. At this moment, she still thought she had become that disastrous enchantress, causing him to not handle court affairs for two consecutive days, leading to the outrage of the officials.

Just as she was feeling uneasy, Emperor Qianwu came out after changing his clothes.

"After you return, divorce your husband. I will have someone find a palace in the Imperial Palace to settle you in."

Mei Wushuang shook her head subconsciously, "No..."

"You don't want to divorce him?" He narrowed his eyes slightly, his emotions unreadable.

"I..."

Wushuang bit her lower lip, her heart in utter turmoil.

She hadn't expected him to make such a request, but on second thought, it wasn't strange that he would. She should feel fortunate; at least he wasn't thinking of maintaining this improper relationship indefinitely, but was still considering how to settle her affairs.

But would Zhao Jianzhi agree to a divorce?

Wushuang felt somewhat lost.

Moreover, after entering the palace, she would have to face Mei Wuxia. Was she willing to face her? To face the Empress, the legal wife, with the awkward status of a wife of a subject turned concubine?

Wushuang's heart was truly in turmoil, and fearing his anger, she tugged at his sleeve with reddened eyes, whispering, "Your Majesty, I'm so confused right now. Can you let me think about it? It's too sudden, I..."

He lifted her chin, looking at her reddened eyes.

"What's so sudden about it? Surely you don't intend to just follow this Emperor like this?"

"I..."

He suddenly turned cold and released her.

"Forget it, think if you must."

Having said that, he left. He had urgent military matters to attend to, and being able to stop and say these words to her had already taken up a considerable amount of time.

Wushuang returned to Duke Zhao's mansion, her heart filled with confusion.

If she had previously held onto a sliver of hope, now that her body was lost, their relationship seemed to be set. Logically, she should divorce Zhao Jianzhi, but if she really did divorce, entering the palace would become inevitable.

Just as Wushuang's heart was in turmoil, someone from Marquis Changyang's mansion arrived.

They said that Old Madam was ill and requested that Third Miss return for a visit.

Mei Wushuang was very surprised. The number of times she had returned to her maiden home after marriage could be counted on one hand. That family seemed to have forgotten her, yet now they were calling her back. But nominally, Old Madam was her grandmother, and it would indeed be inappropriate not to return when she was ill.

Wushuang inexplicably felt that this matter was related to the Empress.

Returning to the Marquis Changyang's Mansion by carriage, someone eagerly came to greet her as soon as the carriage stopped.

The person who came to greet her was actually Shi Wang's wife.

This woman was named Chunyan. She used to be a capable first-class maid by Cao shi's side. Later, she married a steward in the mansion surnamed Shi, known as Shi Wang's wife. Now, she still serves by Cao shi's side as a managing Granny.

Seeing Shi Wang's wife's smiling face, Wushuang was even more certain that this trip was related to the Empress, but since they said that Old Madam was ill, she definitely had to go to Changqing Hall first.

Old Madam Mei's health had been quite good in recent years, and she could be considered vigorous in her old age, but due to her irritability, she suffered from wind syndrome two years ago, and her hands and feet were numb, making it somewhat difficult for her to move.

Lying still for a long time, coupled with taking medicine constantly, caused her body to become increasingly plump. After Wushuang went in and looked at her, she felt that she seemed to have gained another large circle of weight.

However, her face was as mean as ever. This meanness diluted her round face, which resembled Maitreya Buddha, and it radiated from her very bones.

She greeted and inquired after the other party according to past practice, and then stopped talking.

Old Madam Mei looked at her and sneered, "Third Miss is indeed filial, rarely returning to visit this grandmother of mine throughout the year."

Seeing that the situation was not right, Cao shi hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Mother, what are you saying? Third Miss is also married and cannot help herself. You are her grandmother, how can you still haggle over it with the younger generation?"

Old Madam glanced at her expression, and Cao shi's eyes showed pleading.

Old Madam glared at her fiercely and closed her eyes.

"Who needs you to play the good person here? Get out, all of you!"

Everyone knew what Old Madam's temper was like, so they all retreated.

Cao shi forced a smile and said to Wushuang, "You also know your grandmother's temper. Her health has not been good recently, and she has become even more irritable. Not to mention you, I am always scolded, but there is really no way."

Wushuang just listened silently.

Sure enough, after leaving Changqing Hall, Cao shi did not let her leave, but instead pulled her to the main courtyard to talk.

In her words, she recalled a past event, and then recalled another event from that year, mostly talking about Wushuang's childhood, probably wanting to use this to arouse Wushuang's feelings of affection and dependence.

It was a pity that Wushuang was no longer the ignorant Wushuang of that year. She had experienced too much, and the long-term neglect had caused her to stay in the small courtyard to recall the past when she had nothing to do. Some things could not stand careful thought. Thinking about them bit by bit, some things could no longer be concealed.

But Wushuang did not wish to voice these feelings, and so she listened in silence.

Seeing her dull appearance, Cao shi wondered what exactly the Emperor saw in her. Was it just her face? But then she thought of her own daughter, whose intelligence and talent were first-rate. If there was one area where she was inferior, it was that she was not beautiful enough, and so, even as Empress, she was not favored.

Indeed, men all favored delicate beauty!

Cao shi also knew that this single effort was probably not enough to win Mei Wushuang's heart. Having made long-term plans, she did not keep her for long, but instead had someone select some food and useful items to take along before letting her leave.

Upon leaving, Mei Wushuang was still escorted out by Shi Wang's wife.

Passing by a courtyard, she heard the sounds of cursing and fighting from afar, as well as someone trying to mediate.

Getting closer, it turned out to be a plump woman beating a small servant girl, accusing her of seducing her husband.

"Shunzi's wife, why must you be so unforgiving? Your Shunzi can't take his eyes off any pretty servant girl he sees. Who knows who is seducing whom."

"That's right, we always see him being attentive to pretty girls, giving someone a handkerchief today, and a hairpin tomorrow. Instead of throwing a tantrum here, you should go back and keep a close eye on your man, so you don't always make a fool of yourself."

Several old women stood nearby, teasing with every other word.

This enraged Shunzi's wife, who abandoned the little servant girl and turned to fight the old women. The group scattered in all directions, and one old woman lost her footing while dodging and fell in front of Wushuang.

"What are you all doing?! Have you no sense of propriety!" Shi Wang's wife scolded angrily.

Seeing that it was Shi Wang's wife from Madam's side, the old women were immediately frightened and dared not utter another word. Shunzi's wife also stopped her shrewish cursing. All that remained was the weeping of the little servant girl, whose hair had been pulled out.

"This really isn't our fault. Shunzi's wife suddenly came to beat Cui'er, and we couldn't stop her, she even started hitting us," several old women explained.

The old woman who had fallen also groaned and slowly got up from the ground, supporting her old back.

"Seize them for me, and I'll deal with them when I return."

Hearing Shi Wang's wife say this, the old women immediately swarmed forward. Shunzi's wife saw that there was no way to escape. Falling into Shi Wang's wife's hands this time, she was sure to suffer.

At this moment, she saw Shi Wang's wife say to the person beside her, "Third Miss is watching a joke."

Her eyes lit up as she looked at Mei Wushuang, and she immediately lunged towards her.

"Third Miss, it's Bailu."