You Shi arrives really fast. Xia Hou Shang Yue brings Xue Wu with her to Ci Ning Palace.
Ci Ning Palace, at this moment, is brightly lit. The empress dowager is already sitting at one of the side chairs, drinking tea. Yan Ruyu is sitting next to her.
“Shang Yue greets imperial grandmother.”
“This servant greets the empress dowager.”
Xia Hou Shang Yue and Xue Wu pay their respect. The empress dowager put down her tea cup and smiles lightly at them.
“Yue Er, I told you to not abide to formalities when you’re with me. Hurry and sit!”
“Thanking imperial grandmother.”
“Meimei greets Jiejie.” Yan Ruyu gets up and softly says. She was just about to curtsey but was immediately pulled by Bai Yu Chen who has just arrived. His burning eyes are set on Xia Hou Shang Yue.
“I told you to not let Ruyu bows to you, do you not remember what I said?” Bai Yu Chen’s words were clearly intended for Xia Hou Shang Yue.
Yan Ruyu knows that wasn’t the case, but she didn’t say a word, merely allowing herself to be nestled within Bai Yu Chen’s embrace, her eyes red as though she has been wronged.
“Your Majesty, my mistress never told Yu Guifei to bow to her. Yu Guifei did it herse-“ Before Xue Wu can even finish her sentence, she receives a slap from Bai Yu Chen, followed by a kick to the ground.
“Since when can a little servant like you interfere when I am talking!”
Xia Hou Shang Yue did not speak nor did she reach out for Xue Wu. Not because she fears of being implicated, but because she knows, the more concerned she is, the farther Bai Yu Chen’s transgression will be.
Xue Wu lies on the floor, her hand touching her burning cheek while the other hand clutching her stomach that has just been kicked.
“Your Majesty, Jiejie did not make Ruyu bows, Ruyu herself chose to go with the formality!” As Yan Ruyu says those words, she glances at Xia Hou Shang Yue who is calmly drinking tea in her seat. As an empress, she can’t even protect her own maid, how can she have the face to even drink tea at a moment like this.
The empress dowager observes the turn of the event with a pair of cold eyes. She frowns, a touch of frost in her face, but other than that did not say anything.
That Yan Ruyu is really good at putting a show. She was the one who bowed without being told to and then act as though she was mistreated. She must’ve done that to drive a wedge between Bai Yu Chen and Xia Hou Shang Yue. She really is too tricky, such an injustice to that gentle and delicate face of hers.
“Someone come and take this maid to the dungeon to reflect!”
Eunuch Hai immediately beckon his hand and call for two eunuchs. The eunuchs lift Xue Wu from the ground. Just as they were about to take her away, Xia Hou Shang Yue unhurriedly puts her tea cup on top of the table, the sound of it noticeable amidst the silent atmosphere of Ci Ning Palace.
Bai Yu Chen looks at Xia Hou Shang Yue who is standing up. He frowns but did not say anything. He wonders what she is trying to do.
“Your Majesty, even though I have only entered the back palace, I am more or less aware of the rules here. Every palace’s maids or eunuchs who committed mistakes are to be punished by the owner of their respective palaces, am I right?” Xia Hou Shang Yue’s tone is not big, but every single word she said are gems. Bai Yu Chen did not directly answers her, he simply scoff.
“Don’t tell me I don’t even have the authority to punish a little maid who did not follow the rules.”
“Your Majesty is too serious. I just want to know whether the things I said just now are right or now. Don’t tell me you don’t know whether I was right or wrong?”
This is the first time Bai Yu Chen sees Xia Hou Shang Yue arguing.
A cold smile forms in his mouth, who would’ve thought that the indifferent her will actually argue with other people.
“What the empress said is not wrong…..”
“Since Your Majesty yourself admits that I am right, Xue Wu’s punishment will be handled by me since she is a servant from my Feng Qi Palace. No need to trouble Your Majesty.”
Xia Hou Shang Yue smiles and turns over to look at Xue Wu who is in the arms of the two eunuchs. “Xue Wu, go back to Feng Qi Palace. Without my direct order, you are not allowed to get out!”
After she says that, the two eunuchs still did not show signs of wanting to let go of Xue Wu. They merely look at Bai Yu Chen, hesitantly standing there. On one side is the emperor, the other side is the empress, neither of them can be offended ah!
“What’s wrong, did you two not hear me? No matter what, I am still the owner of the back palace, let go of her!”
Seeing the two people still not letting go, a trace of discontent can be seen on Xia Hou Shang Yue’s usually calm face. Her indifference does not mean other people are allowed to bully her closed ones. Her constantly giving in does not mean others can just dismiss her!
Bai Yu Chen s