Chapter 4
Taking in New Consort
The so-called greeting in the imperial family is honestly nothing more than polite courtesy. Even though Xia Hou Shang Yue don’t quite like them, seeing the kind and amiable empress dowager, her cold face reveals a trace of smile.
Bai Yu Chen look at Xia Hou Shang Yue, his lips carving a frosty smile. He purposely went to the greeting by himself to tell the entire palace populace that he does not care for Princess Yue Feng. On one side, he wants to embarrass Xia Hou Shang Yue and on the other side, he wants to see how she will deal with the situation.
“Alright, from now on, I will happily call you Yue Er!”
Xia Hou Shang Yue smiles and nodded at the empress dowager’s gentle words.
“Imperial father knows that the empress dowager think highly of Buddhism, so he told Shang Yue to send the empress dowager some gifts. Hope empress dowager will like them!”
Xue Wu brings over the two brocade boxes. There is a delighted smile on the empress dowager’s face, more and more fond of Xia Hou Shang Yue.
“Mo Yuan, take the gifts here. Let me look at them!”
Mo Yuan answered her and take the two boxes for her to see. One of the boxes contains a string of Buddhist prayer beads consists of dark round stones. The other box contains a yellow Buddhist scripture.
“This obsidian Buddhist prayer beads can help ward off bad things. The other is the only existing copy of ‘The Lotus Sutra’ that father ordered people to find. I hope they are liked by the empress dowager.”
Xia Hou Shang Yue calmly says, her eyes looking over to Bai Yu Chen who is nodding his head on the side. Without waiting for the empress dowager to speak, Bai Yu Chen spoke first, “The empress is really thoughtful!”
The last part changes the look in Xia Hou Shang Yue’s eyes, but it quickly restore it’s calmness.
“Your Majesty flattered me. It was just a token of thoughts from my father.”
At this moment, she did not want to jostle with Bai Yu Chen. Until she knows why he chose to marry the enemy’s daughter, she told herself to remain rational and calm.
“Yue Er, why didn’t you come together with Chen Er?” The empress dowager glared at Bai Yu Chen as Mo Yuan collected the two brocade boxes. Early on, she heard of palace maids gossiping about the two not spending the night together in the bridal chamber last night. She also heard gossips saying that Xia Hou Shang Yue already lost the emperor’s favor.
That added with the fact that Bai Yu Chen arrived alone this morning confirms the maid’s gossips. The empress dowager just had to ask.
“The emperor took pity of Shang Yue’s tiredness last night and told Shang Yue to rest more. That was why Shang Yue did not arrive together with His Majesty. Hopefully the empress dowager will forgive Shang Yue’s impoliteness.”
As she said that, she already stood up from the bowing ceremony. Bai Yu Chen merely smiles. Her excuse was perfect. She manage to block the unfavorable rumors about her while still managing to give him face. Looks like he underestimated Xia Hou Shang Yue.
“So it was like that. I thought the rumors of you two not getting along with each other was true. Seeing both of you being considerate with each other like this, I am truly relieved!” Even though the empress dowager said that, she can tell that things are not as what Xia Hou Shang Yue said. She did not expose them, just wishing that Bai Yu Chen will treat Xia Hou Shang Yue properly.
“Imperial grandmother worry too much. All those rumors came from those rumor-mongering people. The empress is so generous and virtuous, how can I not like her?” At the word ‘like’, a mocking smile emerges from Bai Yu Chen’s face. Like? What a joke. That woman is his disgrace, him not killing her is pushing it already and they expect him to like her?
Xia Hou Shang Yue smiled lightly, understanding that Bai Yu Chen said all that to trick the empress dowager to think that they are a loving pair. She did not expose him, but did not understand as well, the real purpose he has for doing this.
“Grandma is relieved now, hearing Chen Er’s reassurance. You must remember what you said! From now on, treat Yue Er well!” The empress dowager look at the one sitting in the chair before looking at Xia Hou Shang Yue who is smiling lightly. Her heart is at peace too, knowing that her grandson has married a dignified empress. She can die in peace now, knowing she had done her part for the Bai Family.
“Imperial grandmother must not worry, I will mistreat the empress.” There is a hint of sarcasm in Bai Yu Chen’s eyes when he said that, before he retract his eyes and turns it to his imperial grandmother.
“Imperial grandmother, I had been thinking these past few days, I want to beg for your indulgence and let Prime Minister Yan’s daughter, Yan Ru Yu be a consort. I have discussed about this with the empress last night, and empress also agreed with me.”
Xia Hou Shang Yue was surprised. This is the second day of their wedding and he’s telling her he wants to take another consort? His intention couldn’t be any clearer. On one side, he said he will treat her well, on the other side, he uses this new consort as a way to nullify his own words. Even lied that she had agreed to it. Isn’t he basically telling everyone that he couldn’t stand her and is trying to shame both her and the Mu Kingdom!
But she must not disagree. If she did, she will appear petty and will also tell other people that the princess from Mu Kingdom is a petty person. At this moment, Xia Hou Shang Yue is not only a princess, but is also a representative of a kingdom. No matter how many grievance she has right now, she must smile and hold it in.
Looking at Bai Yu Chen’s sarcastic eyes, Xia Hou Shang Yue clenched her fists inside her sleeve while smiling bright.
“Yan’s family daughter is indeed nice, but Chen Er, you have only gotten married. Taking another consort will be unreasonable, I don’t want people to say that our imperial family mistreat princess. Don’t bring up the matter regarding taking in new consorts for now.”
The empress dowager look at Bai Yu Chen solemnly with a firm answer. Xia Hou Shang Yue did not expect this. At first, she thought it would be okay not to meddle in. But when she sees the look in Bai Yu Chen’s eyes, she immediately understand that this is a trap from him, not something she could just disassociate herself from.
“Shang Yue thank the empress dowager’s thoughtfulness, but the matter regarding taking the new consort has already been discussed by me and His Majesty. Miss Yan is virtuous and talented, she will be very helpful to the emperor since my health hasn’t really been too good. Adding one more person to serve isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I beg the empress dowager to let Miss Yan enter the palace!”
After saying those words earnestly, coupled with the sincerity in Xia Hou Shang Yue’s eyes, the empress dowager did not suspect that the words did not come from her true heart. Instead, she likes this thoughtful empress even more.
A country’s princess is indeed different, even her mindset are broad. The empress dowager smiles while nodding her head. Besides, the harem right now, with the exception of the empress did not really have that many concubines. The inner palace must not be left empty for too long.
“Since Shang Yue has already spoken her mind, I succumb. Find a good day for Miss Yan to enter the harem!”
Chapter 4
Taking in New Consort
The so-called greeting in the imperial family is honestly nothing more than polite courtesy. Even though Xia Hou Shang Yue don’t quite like them, seeing the kind and amiable empress dowager, her cold face reveals a trace of smile.
Bai Yu Chen look at Xia Hou Shang Yue, his lips carving a frosty smile. He purposely went to the greeting by himself to tell the entire palace populace that he does not care for Princess Yue Feng. On one side, he wants to embarrass Xia Hou Shang Yue and on the other side, he wants to see how she will deal with the situation.
“Alright, from now on, I will happily call you Yue Er!”
Xia Hou Shang Yue smiles and nodded at the empress dowager’s gentle words.
“Imperial father knows that the empress dowager think highly of Buddhism, so he told Shang Yue to send the empress dowager some gifts. Hope empress dowager will like them!”
Xue Wu brings over the two brocade boxes. There is a delighted smile on the empress dowager’s face, more and more fond of Xia Hou Shang Yue.
“Mo Yuan, take the gifts here. Let me look at them!”
Mo Yuan answered her and take the two boxes for her to see. One of the boxes contains a string of Buddhist prayer beads consists of dark round stones. The other box contains a yellow Buddhist scripture.
“This obsidian Buddhist prayer beads can help ward off bad things. The other is the only existing copy of ‘The Lotus Sutra’ that father ordered people to find. I hope they are liked by the empress dowager.”
Xia Hou Shang Yue calmly says, her eyes looking over to Bai Yu Chen who is nodding his head on the side. Without waiting for the empress dowager to speak, Bai Yu Chen spoke first, “The empress is really thoughtful!”
The last part changes the look in Xia Hou Shang Yue’s eyes, but it quickly restore it’s calmness.
“Your Majesty flattered me. It was just a token of thoughts from my father.”
At this moment, she did not want to jostle with Bai Yu Chen. Until she knows why he chose to marry the enemy’s daughter, she told herself to remain rational and calm.
“Yue Er, why didn’t you come together with Chen Er?” The empress dowager glared at Bai Yu Chen as Mo Yuan collected the two brocade boxes. Early on, she heard of palace maids gossiping about the two not spending the night together in the bridal chamber last night. She also heard gossips saying that Xia Hou Shang Yue already lost the emperor’s favor.
That added with the fact that Bai Yu Chen arrived alone this morning confirms the maid’s gossips. The empress dowager just had to ask.
“The emperor took pity of Shang Yue’s tiredness last night and told Shang Yue to rest more. That was why Shang Yue did not arrive together with His Majesty. Hopefully the empress dowager will forgive Shang Yue’s impoliteness.”
As she said that, she already stood up from the bowing ceremony. Bai Yu Chen merely smiles. Her excuse was perfect. She manage to block the unfavorable rumors about her while still managing to give him face. Looks like he underestimated Xia Hou Shang Yue.
“So it was like that. I thought the rumors of you two not getting along with each other was true. Seeing both of you being considerate with each other like this, I am truly relieved!” Even though the empress dowager said that, she can tell that things are not as what Xia Hou Shang Yue said. She did not expose them, just wishing that Bai Yu Chen will treat Xia Hou Shang Yue properly.
“Imperial grandmother worry too much. All those rumors came from those rumor-mongering people. The empress is so generous and virtuous, how can I not like her?” At the word ‘like’, a mocking smile emerges from Bai Yu Chen’s face. Like? What a joke. That woman is his disgrace, him not killing her is pushing it already and they expect him to like her?
Xia Hou Shang Yue smiled lightly, understanding that Bai Yu Chen said all that to trick the empress dowager to think that they are a loving pair. She did not expose him, but did not understand as well, the real purpose he has for doing this.
“Grandma is relieved now, hearing Chen Er’s reassurance. You must remember what you said! From now on, treat Yue Er well!” The empress dowager look at the one sitting in the chair before looking at Xia Hou Shang Yue who is smiling lightly. Her heart is at peace too, knowing that her grandson has married a dignified empress. She can die in peace now, knowing she had done her part for the Bai Family.
“Imperial grandmother must not worry, I will mistreat the empress.” There is a hint of sarcasm in Bai Yu Chen’s eyes when he said that, before he retract his eyes and turns it to his imperial grandmother.
“Imperial grandmother, I had been thinking these past few days, I want to beg for your indulgence and let Prime Minister Yan’s daughter, Yan Ru Yu be a consort. I have discussed about this with the empress last night, and empress also agreed with me.”
Xia Hou Shang Yue was surprised. This is the second day of their wedding and he’s telling her he wants to take another consort? His intention couldn’t be any clearer. On one side, he said he will treat her well, on the other side, he uses this new consort as a way to nullify his own words. Even lied that she had agreed to it. Isn’t he basically telling everyone that he couldn’t stand her and is trying to shame both her and the Mu Kingdom!
But she must not disagree. If she did, she will appear petty and will also tell other people that the princess from Mu Kingdom is a petty person. At this moment, Xia Hou Shang Yue is not only a princess, but is also a representative of a kingdom. No matter how many grievance she has right now, she must smile and hold it in.
Looking at Bai Yu Chen’s sarcastic eyes, Xia Hou Shang Yue clenched her fists inside her sleeve while smiling bright.
“Yan’s family daughter is indeed nice, but Chen Er, you have only gotten married. Taking another consort will be unreasonable, I don’t want people to say that our imperial family mistreat princess. Don’t bring up the matter regarding taking in new consorts for now.”
The empress dowager look at Bai Yu Chen solemnly with a firm answer. Xia Hou Shang Yue did not expect this. At first, she thought it would be okay not to meddle in. But when she sees the look in Bai Yu Chen’s eyes, she immediately understand that this is a trap from him, not something she could just disassociate herself from.
“Shang Yue thank the empress dowager’s thoughtfulness, but the matter regarding taking the new consort has already been discussed by me and His Majesty. Miss Yan is virtuous and talented, she will be very helpful to the emperor since my health hasn’t really been too good. Adding one more person to serve isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I beg the empress dowager to let Miss Yan enter the palace!”
After saying those words earnestly, coupled with the sincerity in Xia Hou Shang Yue’s eyes, the empress dowager did not suspect that the words did not come from her true heart. Instead, she likes this thoughtful empress even more.
A country’s princess is indeed different, even her mindset are broad. The empress dowager smiles while nodding her head. Besides, the harem right now, with the exception of the empress did not really have that many concubines. The inner palace must not be left empty for too long.
“Since Shang Yue has already spoken her mind, I succumb. Find a good day for Miss Yan to enter the harem!”
