Chapter 50

The night’s wind blew cool, and the snow fell more heavily, blanketing the pavilions and towers in a thick layer of white. The glazed red tiles were wrapped in a silvery shroud.

In Linhua Palace, several bright palace lanterns illuminated the space. A gilded double-beast incense burner released calming sandalwood incense, with wisps of white smoke curling quietly from the top and rising endlessly.

On the rosewood daybed beneath the western window, a beautiful woman in a deep crimson silk palace gown reclined against a small table. Her slender fingers were tipped with cold jade nail guards, their sharp edges glinting with a piercing chill in the candlelight.

The woman, her hair adorned with glittering jewels, lifted her eyelids halfway. She paid no attention to the young emperor seated on a stool nearby. Idly, she toyed with the embedded emerald gems on her nail guards, her voice light and indifferent when she spoke.

“…A Yan comes from the Yu Family. Regardless of your personal feelings toward her, you must show her proper respect in public and private. Do not alienate the heavy ministers who aid you—that’s the only way to secure your throne.”

After this reprimand, the emperor, who had slightly lowered her head, rose and bowed. Seemingly accustomed to the Empress Dowager’s aloofness, Lu Xi wore a gentle smile on her plain face. “This child minister has been occupied with court affairs these days and neglected to show Consort Shu proper care. The fault is mine.”

Perhaps the emperor’s docility pleased the Empress Dowager, for a rare hint of warmth flickered in her eyes. After exchanging a few words of family matters, she waved her hand dismissively, the cold jade on her nail guards still glowing faintly under the lamplight.

“This Palace is tired. We will not keep the Emperor any longer.”

Several palace lanterns were extinguished, and the surroundings dimmed. Lu Xi lifted her robe, circled around the jade screen in the hall, and stepped out of the grand, ornate Linhua Palace.

The richly attired eunuch following behind raised his carved paper umbrella and held it steadily over her head.

“Your Majesty, will you return to Wende Hall, or…” Eunuch Zhou bent slightly at the waist, looking up at the young emperor standing before him. A trace of pity mingled in his gaze. “…or go to Consort Shu’s Orchid Pool Palace?”

Lu Xi seemed oblivious as she descended the steps. The hem of her robe, embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon, swept across the thick snow on the ground. She pulled her heavy cloak tighter, blocking out the winter chill. The smile had vanished completely from her face as she parted her thin lips and replied flatly, “Orchid Pool Palace.”

Moonlight fell cold, gleaming on the red tiles of the palace walls, frosted thick with silver rime.

Turning into a dim corner, the snowy vista of the Imperial Garden unfolded before Lu Xi’s eyes. The air was crisp and clear; all things lost their color, save for the vibrant red plum blossoms unfurling defiantly in the wind. Clusters of vivid petals bathed in the faint moonlight, made even more delicate and alluring as snowflakes drifted down.

Taking a couple more steps forward, Lu Xi spotted from afar a young woman in a scarlet cape standing with her back turned. Her soft, flowing hair reached her waist, secured in a low bun with a jade hairpin carved in the shape of a plum blossom tilted at an angle. A chill breeze toyed with her dark locks, scattering them and concealing most of the girl’s slender figure.

She appeared to be admiring the plums, reaching out with delicate frailty. Her pale fingertips curled gently as she plucked a small, brilliant bloom and brought it close to sniff lightly.

Lu Xi approached, and the crunch of her footsteps on the snow startled the girl. She turned, her clear, rippling eyes falling upon the emperor in bright yellow robes.

Stunned for a moment, she hastily curtsied, her voice soft and timid. “This concubine was unaware of Your Majesty’s presence here. I have disturbed you—please forgive me, Your Majesty.”

Though she seemed flustered, every movement retained the poise of a noble family’s daughter. With her eyes cast down amid the swirling snowflakes, she looked all the more strikingly beautiful.

The young emperor subtly appraised the figure in the snow, as if confirming something. After a long pause, she furrowed her brow slightly and raised her hand, exempting the girl from further courtesy. “No matter.”

Without lingering, Lu Xi strode past the girl, her expression impassive. The hem of her robe, embroidered with woven golden clouds, trailed at her side and slowly vanished from view.

The snow underfoot had thickened, soaking through her sturdy boots and socks. The bone-chilling cold left the girl rigid for some time. She slowly straightened and turned back amid the endless white. The aloof emperor happened to glance back at that moment, her clear voice carrying over on the wind.

“It’s cold at night. You should return soon. Have your servants heat a bowl of ginger soup to ward off the chill—do not catch cold.”

Having offered her advice, Lu Xi turned and leisurely made her way out of the Imperial Garden. She glanced at Eunuch Zhou, who seemed hesitant to speak, and arched her brow. “What is it?”

Manager Zhou had served at the emperor’s side since childhood and knew her situation well. After a moment’s hesitation, he carefully brought up the young woman they had just encountered in the garden. “That lady just now is the legitimate daughter of the prefect of Tong Province. She was named Xian Zhaoyi shortly after entering the palace.”

The prefect of Tong Province’s father-in-law was the Martial Might General stationed at the border pass, so Xian Zhaoyi’s status was quite distinguished.

She had been in the palace for nearly two years but had never received the emperor’s favor. Likely aware that the emperor never visited the rear palace, she had kept her distance like the other restrained consorts, rarely appearing to seek the emperor’s attention.

This time, it was probably because the emperor had summoned several consorts in recent days. Fearing she would be overlooked, she had grown anxious.

Unfortunately, the beleaguered emperor had just been scolded by the Empress Dowager and could only visit Consort Shu at Orchid Pool Palace first. Otherwise, with her delicate, alluring beauty in the snow, the emperor might well have detoured to her Cuiwei Pavilion.

“Your Majesty has summoned several ladies these days but has yet to call upon Xian Zhaoyi…” At this pointed hint, Manager Zhou wisely fell silent, gazing expectantly at the emperor’s slender form.

Lu Xi pondered for a moment and decided to visit this first consort in the rear palace who had deliberately lured her in the next couple of days. She wanted to carefully observe which one among the palace women was the supporting female character this world required her to save.

With this in mind, she furrowed her elegant brows and mentally tapped at the System, which was playing dead. “Are you sure you won’t give me a hint beforehand?”

But 001 remained tight-lipped. “Nope, nope! You have to find this world’s supporting female character yourself! And do a good job of being the emperor—don’t let anyone discover you’re a woman, and don’t lose your throne!”

Fuming, Lu Xi severed the mental link with the System once more. This world had been unkind to her from the start: she began as a powerless puppet emperor, needing to maneuver meticulously in both the front court and rear palace just to secure this tottering throne.

And now 001 was making things even harder by withholding the salvation tasks, not even revealing the target. It was infuriating.

No choice—she had to summon the consorts one by one. 001 had mentioned that upon personally seeing the supporting character’s appearance, she would instantly recognize her as the pitiful one in need of saving.

Yet after so long, she still hadn’t found her, and Consort Shu was not it either. But with Consort Shu’s powerful maternal clan—tied to the Empress Dowager’s family—she had to invest extra effort to appease the woman who was not her birth mother.

Braving the wind and snow, they reached the entrance to Orchid Pool Palace. The wide-open vermilion doors signaled that the mistress within already knew of the emperor’s impending visit. Lu Xi felt a faint awkwardness stir in her heart but took a deep breath and strode hands-behind-back into the brightly lit hall.

Led by Consort Shu’s personal maidservant, Winter Sunshine, to the outer warm pavilion of the side hall, Lu Xi was about to enter when she heard the splash of water from inside, followed by the faint rustle of fabric. In the dim night, the sounds rippled through her like teasing waves.

Lu Xi did not go in. Instead, she turned toward the rear courtyard, enduring the cold night breeze as she paced for about the time it took an incense stick to burn. Deciding it was long enough, she warmly instructed Winter Sunshine. “Your lady has just finished bathing, and Zhen does not wish to bring the chill of dewy frost into her bedchamber. We shall return to Wende Hall to rest.”

Winter Sunshine stared in bewilderment, but before she could protest, the emperor had already swept away with Eunuch Zhou, departing Orchid Pool Palace at a brisk pace.

“Hurry, hurry.” Finally escaping what felt like a man-eating lair after judging the timing right, Lu Xi shuddered, her face paling as she dragged the short-legged Eunuch Zhou back to her own bedchamber at top speed.

Only upon sinking into the warm daybed did she feel alive again. She cast aside her heavy cloak, washed her face and soaked her feet with the hot water brought by her maids, then leaned back luxuriously into the soft cushions. “Finally, duty fulfilled.”

A stay of nearly half an hour at Orchid Pool Palace should suffice to fend off the meddlesome Empress Dowager.

Racing back and forth between front and rear courts these days had given her a terrible headache. What despaired her even more was knowing the days ahead would not ease up. Truth be told, she already regretted her impulsive decision upon arriving in this world to summon the consorts.

The candle flames flickered dimly, mirroring the dark life that loomed ahead—utterly exhausting.

…

The morning court convened early. The vast hall teemed with densely packed officials, their clamor rising and falling like a farmers’ market, arguments incessant and overlapping.

Dressed in bright yellow court robes, Lu Xi sat atop the dais, propping her head with one hand and slightly closing her eyes to block out the noise. She dozed idly. Fortunately, the twelve strands of beaded curtains before her shielded her from the ministers’ covert glances below.

She doubted that even without the curtains, this pack of old men would care whether she was truly listening to their debates.

After all, she was just a puppet emperor. She got it.

“…The Empress Dowager holds exalted status. Her birthday banquet must be grandly held to demonstrate the prestige of our Great Jing Kingdom…”

Lu Xi cracked her eyelids and peeked discreetly.

Hmm… The speaker was the Vice Minister of War.

“No—the Emperor ascended less than three years ago, and the national treasury is strained. The banquet should not be overly lavish, lest it burden the people and stir resentment among the common folk…” The rebuttal came from the Household Minister, guardian of the treasury.

His words drew a momentary silence in the hall.

Some ministers exchanged glances, uncertain. They turned to look at the emperor, now sitting primly upright on the high dais.

Lu Xi had no expectation of being consulted. As she fiddled idly with the sleeve embroidered with coiling golden dragons, sure enough, Grand Tutor Zhao—veteran of two reigns and revered for his virtue—spoke first.

“Since ascending the throne, the Emperor has never hosted a grand banquet. Why not take this opportunity with the Empress Dowager’s birthday to permit the various regional princes to enter the capital for audience? Issue a great amnesty, reduce taxes, and let the common people share in the imperial grace.”

His proposal drew resounding praise from the surrounding officials. They hurriedly echoed agreement and put on a show of seeking the emperor’s input. Then they had Eunuch Zhou proclaim the decree.

Lu Xi remained steadily seated on high, a smile playing at her lips as she took in the entire scene within the hall.