The Fearless Empress - Chapter 11

The furious empress stormed off, while the young queen, her cheeks flushed, leaned against the doorframe with a dreamy smile. The palace maids, as if witnessing a spectacle, stood frozen in bewilderment.

Li Yao reacted swiftly, rushing to the young queen’s side at once. “Your Highness, Your Highness, you’re far too bold!”

“Did I break any laws by kissing her?” the young queen asked Li Yao innocently.

Li Yao shook her head.

“We’re married, aren’t we? She made me her empress herself. I didn’t do anything wrong.” The young queen shyly covered her cheeks, her eyes gleaming brightly even beneath the blindfold.

For a moment, Li Yao was at a loss for words. She swallowed hard before managing to say, “But Her Majesty punished you with copying texts.”

“Copying?” The reminder made the young queen glance at Li Yao in dismay. Oh no, she couldn’t read! How was she supposed to copy anything?

Now it was the young queen’s turn to be dumbfounded.

Li Yao pressed on, “Where did you go earlier? You nearly scared the soul out of me!”

“I was just taking a walk at night, it was stuffy inside,” the young queen replied with a giggle, her face still rosy.

In truth, she had placed some magical artifacts in the palace to eavesdrop on conversations. She had gone to find Cheng Sangyi that night but hurried back upon hearing her voice. On the way, she ran into Matron Gu and ended up slipping into the bathhouse.

Thinking of this, she touched her lips and said to Li Yao, “Her lips were so soft.”

Li Yao: “…” What did you say? I didn’t hear a thing.

The young queen was lost in thought when Luo Bi, the empress’s attendant, arrived carrying a thick book.

Oh no. Copying time.

Luo Bi smiled warmly as she presented the book to the queen. “Your Highness.”

“Leave it there. I understand,” the young queen said, pursing her lips and gesturing for Luo Bi to place it on the small table by the bed.

Luo Bi’s smile was as bright as flowers, radiating sincerity. “This servant must return to report. Please rest for now, there’s no hurry.”

Though Cheng Sangyi had punished the queen, Luo Bi didn’t dare slight her. After all, the fact that the empress had sought out the queen in the middle of the night spoke volumes about her unique favor.

The young queen, however, paid it no mind. She flipped through the book carelessly before tossing it aside. She couldn’t read a single word, how was she supposed to copy anything?

She turned to Li Yao. “How about you do it for me?”

“Your Highness, spare me! If Her Majesty finds out, my head will roll,” Li Yao pleaded, dropping to her knees in desperation.

The young queen, simple-minded as she was, had only wanted an easy way out. Realizing the severity, she quickly dropped the subject.

Time for sleep.

Maybe everything would resolve itself after a good nap.

The young queen felt utterly refreshed, as if nothing was amiss. Kissing and then sleeping, what bliss!

She slept until dawn, but before she could rise, the four concubines always eager for gossip arrived. This time, all four were dressed in pink palace robes.

Yawning, the young queen sat up, dressed casually, and went out to meet them, wrapped in a thick cloak. She was still drowsy.

The Noble Consort scrutinized her from head to toe before sighing in disappointment. “I thought Her Majesty had devoured you. But looking at you now, it doesn’t seem like it.”

“Never mind that, why did she come to see you?” the Virtuous Consort pressed eagerly.

The events of the previous night had already spread throughout the harem. The four concubines, hungry for firsthand gossip, had rushed over at the crack of dawn.

The young queen propped her chin on her hand and answered casually, “No idea what she wanted. I was bathing when she barged in.”

The four concubines: “…”

“And then?” the Noble Consort pressed urgently.

The young queen pouted, her fair face devoid of makeup, carrying an air of cool detachment. She said, “She came to find me in the bathhouse, so naturally I couldn’t let her leave empty-handed. I kissed her. And let me tell you, her lips weren’t hard at all they were so, so soft.”

“You actually.”

“You kissed her!”

Gasps filled the room. The young queen nodded, puzzled. A kiss was just a kiss, nothing improper had happened.

The noble consort pressed her lips together in a smile. “The newborn calf fears no tiger. What happened after the kiss?”

“She’s copying texts now. Would you all help me with some?” the young queen eagerly invited the four women. “Since you have nothing better to do, let’s work together. Next time there’s something interesting, I’ll share it with you. Otherwise, I might just keep it to myself.”

The noble consort gave her a sidelong glance. “Do you think His Majesty wouldn’t recognize our handwriting?”

“Exactly! You’re the one who did the kissing. We didn’t get to, so why should we help you copy?” The virtuous consort held her breath they were happy to share gossip, but not the consequences.

The young queen glared at her fiercely. “Fine, leave. Next time I won’t tell you anything.”

“Let’s discuss serious matters,” the virtuous consort interjected, cutting through their childish bickering. Since entering the palace, she had always been the calm one.

Once the four fell silent, she spoke leisurely, “His Majesty somehow obtained the ledgers for the Jiangnan grain case. Last night, the capital was in an uproar, many were arrested.”

“How did you get the news so quickly?” The noble consort was astonished. She hadn’t heard anything, yet news from last night had already reached the palace by morning. Clearly, the virtuous consort had excellent sources.

The virtuous consort replied, “It’s not about my sources last night’s events were too big to ignore. Over a dozen high-ranking officials were arrested. Do you think that’s minor?”

Then she turned to the queen. “Your Highness’s second uncle was among them.”

The young queen didn’t even blink. After all, this uncle wasn’t someone she owed any favors to.

The virtuous consort gasped. “How could things escalate so quickly? Such a major operation, how many more will be implicated?”

The young queen, unfamiliar with such matters, listened intently.

The noble consort, being the eldest, analyzed the situation first. “Is there a list?”

“Not yet. I only know about some of the more prominent figures. But with things blowing up like this, the noble families will band together. How will His Majesty handle this?” The virtuous consort’s lips curved slightly, her gaze distant. “This has gotten out of hand.”

The young queen asked curiously, “How bad could it get?”

“If the noble families are displeased, they have many ways to cause trouble. But worst of all, if the Empress Dowager returns to the palace, His Majesty will be caught between two fronts.” The noble consort leaned back in her chair and scoffed. “Mark my words, the Empress Dowager will rush back at this news.”

The young queen nodded. If only the Empress Dowager could be kept away, it wasn’t that big a deal.

Tilting her head in thought, she finally came up with a solution: she wouldn’t have to copy texts after all.

The four consorts, in low spirits, gathered for some pastries before dispersing.

After they left, the young queen hurried to the Purple Palace Hall with last night’s books in her arms.

A light snowfall had left the ground thoroughly damp, making each step precarious.

Holding up her skirts, the young queen ascended the steps one by one. As she reached the top, a figure in red robes swept past her.

She looked up abruptly and was met with a flawless, jade-like face.

Su Shi, seeing the queen again, was momentarily stunned especially by those peach-blossom eyes, curved like crescent moons, clear and bright as the full moon untouched by dust.

“Your subject Su Shi pays respects to Her Majesty the Queen.”

“Scholar Su, we meet again.” The young queen curved her lips in a smile before stepping past her to enter the hall.

Luo Bi swiftly intercepted the troublesome queen, whispering a reminder: “His Majesty is occupied. Please wait a moment.”

“Go tell her I’m here. If she refuses to see me, ask her if she enjoyed last night.” The young queen spoke without restraint, her expression fearless.

Luo Bi’s cheeks burned at the words. After glancing around nervously, she nearly covered the queen’s mouth in desperation.

How could she be so shameless?

Luo Bi practically ran into the hall any delay might invite even more shocking vulgarities from the young queen.

Su Shi, waiting at the entrance, had been watching the young queen intently. The slender figure made her gaze grow distant. Suddenly, the queen turned back and smiled at her before Luo Bi emerged to invite her inside.

That smile felt like a fleeting dream gone upon waking, leaving only emptiness behind.

The young queen happily crossed the threshold and trotted up to Cheng Sangyi.

Cheng Sangyi glared at her. “It seems you’re still missing a house arrest order.”

The queen halted abruptly and shot her a glare. “Why must you be so stubborn? I came here to help you.”

“Help me with what?” Cheng Sangyi’s gaze shifted from that fair face to the delicate hands holding the books. For some reason, those hands seemed familiar though she couldn’t recall where she’d seen them before.

The young queen approached and returned the books. “I heard the Empress Dowager is returning to the palace. I can delay her return temporarily.”

“What do you want?” Cheng Sangyi sneered, assuming this was about the second son of the Gu family.

“No more copying books. I don’t want to copy anymore,” the queen declared boldly.

Cheng Sangyi’s refined brows furrowed deeply. “And what else?”

“What else?” The queen didn’t understand the implication. After some thought, she shamelessly leaned closer. “Should I kiss you?”

“Shameless!”

The words made the emperor rise abruptly, her face burning red as she glared at the mother of her dynasty. “Listen to what you’re saying!”

The young queen also paled in shock, flustered. “You asked what else, I couldn’t think of anything else!”

“You!” Cheng Sangyi unexpectedly calmed down, studying her suspiciously before asking patiently, “Just these two things?”

“Truly nothing more,” the queen insisted, waving her hands with sincerity.

Cheng Sangyi remained composed, watching her feigned innocence, determined to expose her pretense. “You don’t want to plead for your uncle’s mercy?”

The queen was blunt. “I only have this one chance. If I give it to him, what about me?”

Ridiculous, I’m barely keeping myself afloat. Why should I care about others?

Cheng Sangyi was convinced. Indeed, struggling to survive, why would she help others?

“How will you do it?”

“You agree?” The queen was surprised Cheng Sangyi wasn’t as cold as the imperial consort had claimed. Suppressing her own doubts, she said, “Wait a few days, and you’ll see.”

A nighttime visit to the Empress Dowager would suffice.

Half-convinced, Cheng Sangyi found herself increasingly curious about this queen. To know your enemy is to win every battle she needed to understand the queen better.

She nodded. “If you fail, I’ll depose you.”

“You’re so harsh, no wonder they all dislike you,” the queen muttered. If not for that face, she wouldn’t bother helping either.

Sigh, Mother was right, a beautiful face is sharper than any blade.

She declared generously, “After the matter is settled, I’ll come collect my reward. How does that sound?”

Reward? Cheng Sangyi suddenly flushed red.

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