Chapter 3: 003请安

003 Paying Respects

It wasn't until Bai Yuchen's footsteps faded away from Fengqi Palace that Xiahou Shangle finally released her tightly clenched lips. Only after letting out a long, heavy sigh did she realize how excruciating the pain in her arm had become.

Once a person's resolve falters, a sense of helplessness rushes in like a tide. Xiahou Shangle had forced herself to show no weakness in front of Bai Yuchen, but now that he was gone and her resolve had crumbled, her entire body slumped to the floor.

"Xuewu..."

Her voice was not loud, yet it sounded exceptionally clear in the silent depths of the night. Immediately, a set of urgent footsteps came from outside the door, and Xuewu ran to Xiahou Shangle's side.

"Mistress, what... what happened?"

Looking at the crimson bloodstains on the floor and then at Xiahou Shangle's pale cheeks, Xuewu hurriedly helped her up. Her eyes immediately landed on the bloodied, mangled flesh of the arm exposed outside her sleeve, and her eyes instantly turned red.

Her mistress had always been deeply loved; she never expected her to receive such treatment immediately after marrying into the Yue Dynasty. When she had seen the mockery on the Emperor's face as he left the courtyard just now, she knew her mistress must have suffered an injustice, but this arm was simply too cruel!

"How could the Emperor treat you like this? It is truly too much!"

"Xuewu!"

Xiahou Shangle suddenly gave a cold reprimand, startling Xuewu so much that the porcelain bottle she had just picked up dropped to the floor. Her mistress had never spoken to her so loudly before; seeing such a solemn expression on her face, Xuewu rubbed her hands together uneasily.

Xuewu's agitation caused Xiahou Shangle's expression to soften, and her voice became gentle once more.

"Xuewu, this is not our Mu Dynasty. We must be careful in everything we say and do. Remember that walls have ears; you cannot be as careless as you were back in our Mu Dynasty!"

Xiahou Shangle did not want to cause trouble for herself, so everyone around her had to be cautious and prudent. She hoped to keep herself out of trouble to the greatest extent possible!

"I understand, but Mistress, your arm..."

Xuewu spoke in a small, aggrieved voice. The blood on Xiahou Shangle's arm had begun to slowly coagulate, leaving behind gruesome marks.

"It's fine, I did it to myself. Quickly, fetch some water to help me clean and bandage it!"

Xiahou Shangle gave a faint smile. At least in the Yue Dynasty, there was still one person who truly felt for her and cared for her! This helped alleviate the pain and humiliation brought upon her by Bai Yuchen.

Xuewu quickly fetched a basin of warm water and used a silk handkerchief to carefully wipe Xiahou Shangle's mangled arm. Her eyes were filled with tears, which she could not hold back, and they fell drop by drop onto Xiahou Shangle's arm.

When had her mistress ever suffered such an injustice in the Mu Dynasty? It was only the first day of her marriage to the Yue Dynasty, yet she was already injured like this. How was she supposed to live her life in the days to come!

The more she thought, the harder the tears fell. Seeing Xuewu like this, Xiahou Shangle reached out to hold her hand, a faint smile on her face.

"Xuewu, I am fine. But you must remember, no one can speak of what happened today. Once it is said, our lives in this Imperial Palace will become even harder! Even if Imperial Father asks about it in the future, you must not say anything, do you understand?"

Xiahou Shangle instructed Xuewu with earnest gravity. She did not want the grievances she suffered in the Yue Dynasty to cause her father to send troops to the Yue Dynasty; she could not let a marriage alliance intended for goodwill turn into an excuse for conflict between the two nations.

"But Mistress, the Emperor, he..."

"I have everything under control in my heart. You only need to remember not to speak recklessly! Now, go to sleep quickly. We have to wake up early tomorrow to pay respects to the Grand Empress Dowager!"

Looking at the bandaged arm, Xiahou Shangle gave Xuewu one more worried instruction before letting her go to rest.

Lying in bed, Xiahou Shangle spent a sleepless night. By the time it was the hour of Mao in a hazy daze, she let out a soft sigh, got up, and sat before the bronze mirror.

The bruise on her forehead from hitting the edge of the bed last night was a purplish-blue. Xiahou Shangle bit her lip as she looked at her haggard reflection in the mirror, then at the gauze wrapped around her arm.

Ultimately, she picked up the face powder on the table and applied a thick layer to cover the purplish bruise on her forehead. Only after changing her clothes did she call Xuewu in.

After a period of busy preparation, Xiahou Shangle was dressed in a bright red phoenix robe, and the phoenix hairpin in her hair shimmered with a dazzling light.

"Where is the Emperor?"

Standing in the courtyard of Fengqi Palace, Xiahou Shangle asked a palace maid.

"Reporting to Her Majesty the Empress, the Emperor has gone to Cining Palace to pay his respects to the Grand Empress Dowager!"

The little maid's words brought a mocking smile to Xiahou Shangle's face. He actually detested her so much that he would go to pay his respects alone.

This clearly told everyone that she was nothing more than an unfavored Empress, abandoned by the Emperor on the very second day of their marriage.

"Xuewu, go get the gifts brought by Imperial Father. We are going to Cining Palace to pay respects to the Grand Empress Dowager!"

With a flick of her long sleeves, Xiahou Shangle regained her calm expression. Xuewu brought out two golden silk boxes and followed behind Xiahou Shangle toward Cining Palace.

"Look, the Princess of the Mu Dynasty is truly beautiful!"

"What use is beauty? Didn't you see that the Emperor didn't even go to Cining Palace with her to pay respects!"

"I heard the Emperor stayed in Fengqi Palace for over an hour last night. It seems this Princess does not hold the Emperor's favor!"

...

...

Along the way, although the discussions of the maids and eunuchs were not loud, they all reached Xiahou Shangle's ears. Her hands clenched and unclenched within her sleeves repeatedly. Finally, a faint smile appeared on her face as she walked toward Cining Palace with composure.

Xuewu carried the silk boxes, feeling indignant on her mistress's behalf. It was bad enough that the Emperor of the Yue Dynasty was excessive, but even these maids and eunuchs were disrespectful to her mistress. The inner palace was indeed a place filled with power struggles!

Unknowingly, the two arrived outside the gates of Cining Palace. Just as they steadied their steps, a sharp voice reached their ears.

"Her Majesty the Empress arrives!"

Xiahou Shangle tucked away her faint smile and walked inside with calm composure. Upon entering the main hall, she saw Bai Yuchen sitting there. In the seat of honor sat a dignified and elegant woman; she must be the Grand Empress Dowager of the Yue Dynasty.

"Shangle pays respects to the Grand Empress Dowager, and pays respects to the Emperor!"

Kneeling on the ground, Xiahou Shangle bowed her head gently. Xuewu knelt on the ground as well; although she was extremely unwilling, she could not allow her mistress to face any danger.

"Rise, you are permitted to sit!"

"Shangle thanks the Grand Empress Dowager!"

With proper conduct, extraordinary beauty, and an elegant, composed temperament, she truly lived up to her reputation as the most beloved Princess Yuefeng of the Mu Dynasty. The Grand Empress Dowager nodded with a smile.

Regarding this Empress who had come for a marriage alliance, she felt a particular liking for her at first sight; she was much more pleasing to the eye than the other concubines in the inner palace!

"It is difficult for the Princess to have traveled so far to our Yue Dynasty for the sake of peace between our two peoples. In the future, there is no need for such formality when coming to see me. Treat my place just like the imperial palace in your Mu Dynasty—treat it as your own home!"

The Grand Empress Dowager's words brought a sense of warmth to Xiahou Shangle's heart, but her face remained calm, showing only a faint smile in her eyes.

"The Grand Empress Dowager should still call me by my name, Shangle. As for the title of 'Princess,' I truly would not dare to accept it before you!"