Chapter 31: The Splendid Country Part 1

Frostfall Hall had a Lotus Bath Pool, where the Empress bathed. It was shaped like a blooming lotus, filled with hot water and scattered with flower petals. Candles were lit all around, and the swirling steam hung in the air like a fairyland.

The pool water rippled gently, and the delicate petals floated on the surface like lonely boats adrift, carried by the waves.

Xiao Luo soaked half her body in the pool, her long hair drenched and clinging to her smooth back. Her fair face was flushed from the steam, and her eyes glistened with moisture.

Xia Lingyu pressed close behind her, holding her hands and interlocking their fingers against the pool wall.

“Luo’er,” Xia Lingyu called softly.

Xiao Luo gave a lazy hum, resting her head on Xia Lingyu’s shoulder and nuzzling against her neck.

Xia Lingyu smiled slightly and said, “Zhen wishes to be with Luo’er forever. Promise Zhen you will never leave Zhen, all right?”

Xiao Luo’s body tensed. Xia Lingyu felt the change and held her tighter, asking, “All right?”

She found herself more and more unable to let go of Xiao Luo, but for some reason, she felt that Xiao Luo could leave her at any moment, which unsettled her deeply.

Xiao Luo turned her head and kissed her lips. “Of course. I belong to Your Majesty forever.”

Xia Lingyu’s mood brightened, and a radiant smile bloomed on her face. Then she said quietly, “Luo’er, I’m so happy.”

Xiao Luo was a little surprised. The Empress had actually used “I” with her, completely dropping her imperial airs.

“Don’t look at me so shocked,” Xia Lingyu laughed, pinching her soft, fair cheek. “Luo’er, you are the only person I like. With the person I like, I should treat them as an equal.”

The gentle Empress was confessing to her.

Xiao Luo’s heart pounded. She impulsively bit Xia Lingyu’s lip and said, “Your Majesty is so good.”

“I am only good to you.”

Xia Lingyu began to knead her waist again, massaging her body slowly…

After a long while, she carried Xiao Luo, whose limbs had gone weak, out of the pool and wrapped a cloak around her.

Xiao Luo wrapped her legs around Xia Lingyu’s waist and her arms around her neck, hanging onto her like a koala clinging to a tree.

“Your Majesty, you served this consort so well.”

The massage technique was absolutely superb. When her fingers fell on her shoulders, the pressure was just right…

Xia Lingyu laid her on the bed and asked with a straight face, “Of course. Is your chest still hot?”

Xiao Luo’s cheeks flushed as she recalled saying she was uncomfortable in her chest back in the pool and had Xia Lingyu personally…

Xia Lingyu’s heart stirred at her shy expression. She got into bed, wrapped an arm around her waist, and laughed. “Those ministers say I’ll soon be drained dry by a vixen like you.”

“Hmph~ I did no such thing. Your Majesty’s yang energy is so strong; how could I possibly drain you? And even if I did, so what?” Xiao Luo said discontentedly.

“Why the little temper?” Xia Lingyu found it a bit amusing.

At her words, Xiao Luo’s small temper flared up again. She turned away, her back to Xia Lingyu, unwilling to speak to her.

“All right, all right, beloved consort, Luo’er, it was my fault, okay?” Xia Lingyu coaxed softly behind her, poking her shoulder.

Xiao Luo still ignored her.

“Beloved consort, you’re the best. Even if you want to drain me dry, I’m willing…”

It took Xia Lingyu humbling herself and saying many coaxing words before Xiao Luo finally turned back, a mischievous smile on her face. “Your Majesty said it yourself. You absolutely cannot go back on your word, okay?”

“I won’t go back on it.”

Xiao Luo said, “Good. Then tonight, this consort will drain Your Majesty dry!”

Hearing such bold words, Xia Lingyu’s smile deepened. “Very well. That will depend on my beloved consort’s ability.”

Xiao Luo’s eyes curved in mischief, looking very cunning in the candlelight. She flipped over and pressed down on Xia Lingyu. “Your Majesty, I was just waiting for you to say that. I hope tonight Your Majesty won’t beg for mercy. Even if you do, this consort won’t let you off.”

A flicker of light passed through Xia Lingyu’s eyes, and she laughed. “My beloved consort speaks too soon. What if later you can’t get out of bed after I bully you?”

Xiao Luo pouted. She didn’t care. Future matters could wait. Tonight was her show.

The moonlight was bright, the stars glittered, and a night of ups and downs passed.

Xiao Luo was so exhausted that her limbs were weak; she had been reversed and overwhelmed. She ended up fainting asleep and only woke up when the sun was high. She got up, walked to the bronze mirror, and saw that it was she who had her yang energy drained.

She immediately wilted.

Just then, Xia Lingyu walked in again. Seeing her sitting before the mirror in only a white inner robe, lost in thought, she came over, wrapped her arms around her waist, and whispered, “Why does my beloved consort look so listless?”

Feeling indignant, Xiao Luo glared at her. “It’s all Your Majesty’s fault I’m like this.”

“Blame me?” Xia Lingyu’s expression remained unchanged as she pinched the soft flesh at her waist. “You said your back ached and your legs hurt. I even massaged you for a long time.”

Indeed, she had massaged for a long time, but the places she massaged were far too improper.

Xia Lingyu leaned close to her ear and said with a smile, “I just rubbed you a little. I didn’t expect that even then, my beloved consort would…”

“Don’t say another word!” Xiao Luo’s face flushed crimson, and she covered Xia Lingyu’s mouth in embarrassment and anger.

…

A magnificent palanquin stopped before the gates of Prince Heng’s Mansion.

Amid an entourage of servants, a dignified and elegant lady descended from the palanquin, her face streaked with tears. She hurried into the mansion, heading straight for Xia Wuheng’s courtyard.

“My poor son—”

As she pushed open the door, she saw a man lying half-dead on the bed. It was Xia Wuheng, who had received fifty heavy strikes and was still barely clinging to life.

If before he had been a resplendent, preening golden peacock, now he was nothing but a plucked, bald chicken.

Hearing the woman’s voice, Xia Wuheng struggled to open his eyes and weakly called out, “Mother—”

The Princess Dowager Heng saw her son in this state and dabbed her tears with a handkerchief, heartbroken. “My son, how can I go on living if you’re like this?”

Xia Wuheng clenched his jaw, suddenly recalling last night’s experience, his heart about to explode with shame and fury.

All his life’s pride and glory had been destroyed at last night’s palace banquet!

At this thought, he tightly clenched his fists.

“Heng’er, tell Mother, was it that demon consort in the palace who did this?” The Princess Dowager Heng’s eyes flashed coldly. How dare anyone bully her son? Even if it was the Imperial Noble Consort, she had ways to deal with her.

Tears nearly fell from Xia Wuheng’s eyes. “It was her. She joined forces with Xia Lingyu to set me up. They drugged my tea and made me… make a fool of myself in public!”

“This is utterly outrageous!” The Princess Dowager Heng angrily slapped the table. “That woman Xia Lingyu has truly lost her mind. Fine, she likes women, but to install such a demon woman as Imperial Noble Consort and harm my son!”

Xia Wuheng continued, “In my opinion, Xia Lingyu did it on purpose. She must be the mastermind. She’s long been wary of me. She provoked me into falling into their trap, then twisted it to use against me and demoted me to a commoner…”

“What?!” The Princess Dowager Heng’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Xia Lingyu even demoted you to a commoner?”

Her son was the only male of the Xia Clan! His future descendants were meant to inherit the throne and belong to the imperial line. How could he be demoted to a commoner?

The Princess Dowager Heng’s eyes turned red with rage. She bit her handkerchief and said, “Heng’er, we cannot swallow this insult! Don’t worry, Mother will go to the palace right now and get justice for you!”

She made to stand up.

“Wait!” Xia Wuheng grabbed her in time, tearing his wound and grimacing in pain.

“My son, are you all right?” The Princess Dowager Heng was so frightened she dared not move.

Xia Wuheng gritted his teeth against the pain, taking several breaths to steady himself. “Mother, don’t go. Xia Lingyu has long disliked me. Your going now will be useless.”

The Princess Dowager Heng didn’t quite understand all these twists and turns. She could only look at her son and ask, “Heng’er, what do you say we do? I’ll listen to you in everything.”

A cold glint passed through Xia Wuheng’s eyes. “I’ve heard that in a few days is the formal investiture ceremony for the Imperial Noble Consort. If the Imperial Observatory declares that Xiao Luo is a femme fatale bringing disaster, the people will protest as well. At that time, Xia Lingyu will naturally abandon this woman. Once Consort Xiao is thrown into the Cold Palace, I’ll start with her.”

He would repay yesterday’s humiliation a thousandfold, ten thousandfold upon Xiao Luo!

The Princess Dowager Heng nodded. “Good. I’ll listen to you in everything. I’ll definitely find a way to convince the Imperial Observatory.”

Speaking of this, the Princess Dowager Heng added, “And those women in your rear courtyard? Why aren’t they here serving their husband? Have they all grown the gall of bears and leopards…?”

“Mother, I didn’t let them come.”

The Princess Dowager Heng frowned. “That won’t do. This household still needs a matriarch who can oversee matters and manage the affairs. You’re no longer young; it’s time for you to marry.”

She still wanted to hold a grandchild.

Xia Wuheng curled his lips. “Mother is right. I do indeed need to marry.”

Hearing this, the Princess Dowager Heng was overjoyed. “My son, do you have someone in mind? Tell me who you fancy. No matter what heavenly fairy she is, Mother will help you marry her!”

She didn’t believe anyone in the capital would look down on her son.

Xia Wuheng said, “General Mingwu’s legitimate daughter, Liu Qingying.”

The Princess Dowager Heng’s eyes lit up. General Mingwu was a first-rank senior general commanding five hundred thousand troops. His daughter would be a suitable match for Heng’er.

“Good. Mother will send someone to the General’s Mansion in a few days to propose marriage.”

…

As soon as Xiao Luo returned to Azure Phoenix Hall, she went straight to the side chamber where Lin Qiao’er lived.

As she opened the door, she saw Lin Qiao’er lying in bed with a pale face, looking sickly.

“Your Highness, why have you come?” Seeing her arrive, Lin Qiao’er struggled to get up.

Xiao Luo walked over and held her shoulders. “You don’t need to get up. Just lie down.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“I should thank you for taking that blade for me.” Xiao Luo smiled.

Lin Qiao’er looked at her, her eyes shimmering. “As Your Highness’s personal palace maid, it was my duty. I am relieved that Your Highness is unharmed.”

Xiao Luo patted her hand. “You have rendered meritorious service. What do you want? I can fulfill one wish of yours.”

Lin Qiao’er shook her head. “I have no wish. As long as I can stay by Your Highness’s side, I am more than content.”

Xiao Luo laughed. “Who likes being a palace maid forever? I heard you’ve been in the palace for a year. Aren’t you tired of it yet?”