Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Esteemed Consort Hua

Consort Zhao’s simple question was full of intentions. Why had the eldest princess stopping following the rules when she was so obedient before? Had the empress told her anything before she died? Did any of the empress’s aides tell her something? Or had the Gu Clan as a whole told things to their new daughter-in-law?

All of the retainers present could consider Consort Zhao’s question and revere her all the more for her words. Who would dare to try and scheme against such an artful woman?

However, there were times when low IQ had its advantages. Although the retainers understood, Xianzong was still clueless. He only told Jing Zhong, “Go and call Linglong over here.”

Jing Zhong looked at Consort Zhao’s disappointed expression before he demurred, “This servant accepts the decree.”

—

By now, Yu Xiaoxiao had already reached Clear Rainbow Palace. When Wei momo and the rest saw her arrive, their eyes filled with tears. Yu Xiaoxiao glanced at a eunuch in the courtyard and asked, “Who are you?”

This eunuch in question had backed away a few steps as soon as Yu Xiaoxiao entered. He quickly said, “To reply Your Royal Highness, this servant is Wang Shun of the Inner Palace Department. I’m here to deliver some nutritional items for His Seventh Highness.”

Yu Xiaoxiao looked at the contents of his basket: ginseng, lingzhi mushrooms, etc. For a survivor of the apocalypse, it was already commendable that she could recognize the first two. Even white rice was a luxury in her old world. Yu Xiaoxiao creased her brows. Does a one month old brat need things like ginseng?

“Your Royal Highness,” Wei momo approached her with a bow. “Eunuch Wang brought over a bowl of purifying lotus seed soup. He said it was personally brewed by Esteemed Consort Hua, and for His Seventh Highness to have a taste.”

“Where’s that soup?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked.

“Your Royal Highness,” Eunuch Wang emphasized, “The purifying lotus seed soup was made by Esteemed Consort Hua herself.”

Consort Hua (花妃) was the mother of imperial prince Yu Ziqing (玉子清) and daughter of the official wife by Grand Marshal Hua Yingzhou (花英州). She was Xianzong’s second favorite consort after Consort Zhao. Even when the late Empress Jiang had been alive, she had to yield before this woman. Unfortunately, Yu Xiaoxiao had no concept of Consort Hua at all. When a retainer delivered a bowl of clear liquid to her sights, Yu Xiaoxiao picked it up, forced Eunuch Wang’s mouth open, and poured the contents into his mouth.

Eunuch Wang choked until his eyeballs rolled to the back of his head.

Wei momo and the rest were thoroughly satisfied by the sight, but none of them dared to reveal their thoughts on their faces. Yu Xiaoxiao waited a while, but Eunuch Wang didn’t die. “Looks like this isn’t poisoned,” she remarked.

Eunuch Wang only rolled his eyes. “Your Royal Highness, this was prepared by Consort Hua her–”

Yu Xiaoxiao slapped him aside and told Wei momo, “Pack up some things, I’ll take you guys and Yu Ziyi out of the palace.”

Wei momo gave a start. “His Majesty agreed?”

Before Yu Xiaoxiao could answer, Jing Zhong and arrived with a few more eunuchs in tow. Seeing his master here, Eunuch Wang grew a backbone and ran in front of Jing Zhong with an air of grievance. “Master.”

“Go get the baby,” Yu Xiaoxiao told Wei momo.

Sensing that things had grown urgent, Wei momo swiftly turned and ran into the palace. Meanwhile, Yu Xiaoxiao turned to face Jing Zhong. Her nasty look was ignored by the head eunuch, who similarly neglected his disciple to jog in front of the princess politely.

“This servant greets Your Royal Highness. Your Royal Highness, His Majesty requests your presence.”

“You damned eunuch,” Yu Xiaoxiao said.

Around them, everyone sucked in their breaths.

Jing Zhong was Xianzong’s personal head eunuch, the one in charge of managing all affairs. Every concubine and official in the palace showed him face. How many years had it been since anyone cursed him out?

Jing Zhong knew that the eldest princess was fully capable of committing a massacre, so he’d be an idiot if he started a fight now. Instead, he said, “Your Royal Highness, this servant is simply delivering imperial orders. I ask Your Royal Highness to follow this servant to meet His Majesty.” Instead of getting angry, he even smiled at her.

Is a man still a man if he smiles after being called a damned eunuch? Yu Xiaoxiao’s gaze shifted downwards to stare at Jing Zhong’s crotch before she clicked her tongue. “Did you lose your manhood just because you’re missing a hose to let the water out?”

Jing Zhong’s face fell. Was someone so crude really a member of the royal family? A hose to let the water out? Are women supposed to say such things?

Around them, everyone lowered their heads. If they kept watching, they’d probably die. By now, Wei momo had returned with Yu Ziyi in her arms and ran to Yu Xiaoxiao’s side. When she saw the sleeping meatbun in the blankets and recalled how he’d become a handsome youth that threw a flaming torch at a bunch of rubble, Yu Xiaoxiao’s eyelids twitched. If someone asked her to kill the baby to safeguard the future, she wouldn’t be able to do it.

Wei momo said, “Your Royal Highness, His Seventh Highness just fell asleep.”

Yu Xiaoxiao picked up the bundle of baby with one hand and told Wei momo, “Get your people to pack the luggage and wait for me at the palace gates. And bring along this ginseng and whatever too.”

Wei momo wanted to tell Yu Xiaoxiao that that was the wrong way to hold a child, but she didn’t dare to speak. She had watched Princess Linglong grow up, but the girl had changed into a completely different person in the span of a few months, so much that she hardly recognized her now.

“Lead the way,” Yu Xiaoxiao said to Jing Zhong.

By the time Jing Zhong and Yu Xiaoxiao left, Clear Rainbow Palace was suffused in silence. Everyone stood there dumbly because things had happened so fast. It was almost too much for them to react.

—

Yu Xiaoxiao carried Yu Ziyi in one hand all the way to Emperor Xianzong. He felt a headache coming on as soon as he saw them.

“Linglong, you’d even carry your own little brother like that?”

“He’s not uncomfortable,” Yu Xiaoxiao pointed out.

Yu Ziyi was currently blowing bubbles in his sleep with no signs of waking up.

Xianzong could only reply, “You need to have imperial father’s permission before coming into the palace.”

“I won’t come again in the future,” Yu Xiaoxiao said. “This unlucky place is full of the cruel female emperor’s blood and tears. If I didn’t have something to do, I wouldn’t come even if someone invited me.”

“……” said Xianzong.

“I’m taking Yu Ziyi with me,” Yu Xiaoxiao waved the little meatbun in her hands. “I’ll raise him.”

“What did you say?!” Xianzong sprang to his feet.

“I suspect he won’t live long in the palace,” Yu Xiaoxiao told the truth.

Behind the folding screen, Consort Zhao spoke up. “What is Your Royal Highness saying? His Seventh Highness is His Majesty’s son by the official wife. Does Your Royal Highness doubt His Majesty?”

“What do you mean by your words?” Xianzong fumed at Yu Xiaoxiao. This daughter couldn’t very well challenge his imperial power again and again.

Faced with Xianzong’s wrath, Yu Xiaoxiao remained wooden. “Alternatively, Gu Xinglang and I can move into the palace?” If she couldn’t take Yu Ziyi away, then her only option was to stay put.