3 Empress Bai

Holding Noble Consort Wei's gift in her slim hands, Zhang Min followed quietly behind her Young Master. Once they reached the Celestial Favor Palace's gate, the eunuch who was tasked with escorting them out, offered Jun Yunru a shallow bow and bid him farewell. "Walk slowly, Jun gongzi."

Both master and servant dipped their chins in his direction, acknowledging his sendoff. As soon as they were out of earshot, Zhang Min spoke in a hushed voice that didn't conceal her indignation, "How rude! She sent us out as soon as we arrived, not even bothering to offer Young Master a single cup of tea."

Angered, the maidservant roughly rattled the accessory box in her hands, "What pearl hairpins? And what jade bracelets? Does she think my Young Master is a woman? Doesn't she know the difference between gers and women?! How insulting!"

Jun Yunru smiled sardonically, his expression the height of indifference. "It seems this lowly ger's face is not to her Highness's likening. Zhang Min should not blame her."

Zhang Min, who was fantasizing about throwing the box down and stomping on it, did a double take. Her gaze bore into the straight, proud back of her Young Master. She had never heard him speak with such uncharacteristic frostiness before. Since she was bought into the late Jun Marquis fu at eight years old, she had spent her life at her Young Master's side, serving him faithfully for seven years. In fact, she and her Young Master had practically grown up together which made her privy to all of his quirks, habits and moods. While he was kind and gentle, he was also timid and mild-tempered, easily suppressed by others. So naturally, he would never dare to speak out his true feelings.

Yet, just now, not only did he expressively ridicule Noble Consort Wei but he also held his own against her, astonishingly so. As he faced that woman, he didn't fumble. His words didn't stutter and he didn't make a single breach of etiquette. His flawless demeanor shocked Zhang Min beyond words but along with shock, there was great sense of pride.

Imperial Noble Consort Wei was known for being arrogant and haughty. Rumors about her often bringing lower-ranked concubines to tears were commonplace. She was an extremely difficult woman who had a tendency to bully and humiliate her lessers. No one dared to offend her because she had both, a prince and the Emperor's favor. Even Empress Bai chose to steer clear of her. How was her Young Master able to keep calm before her? When did he become so quick-witted? Zhang Min had no idea.

Nonetheless, it was an incredible scene to witness. She never felt prouder of her Young Master; she wondered how his late mother would feel at this moment if she had been alive. It seemed her Young Master had truly grown up, learning to be more composed and less timid. No matter what household he married into in the future, he would no longer be easily bullied and Zhang Min wouldn't have to worry so much anymore. A satisfied smile stretched across her lips at that thought.

Jun Yunru, who was secretly studying her from beneath his eyelashes, didn't speak. However there was a knowing glint in his eyes, as if he knew exactly what his maidservant was thinking.

Once master and servant reached the parked sedan chair, the small eunuchs, whose job was to haul his ride, greeted Jun Yunru with deep bows. The ger youth asked the one who appeared to be the oldest. "Do you know the way to the Earthly Tranquility Palace?"

The low ranking eunuch replied with a lowered head. "Nucai knows."

"Take me there."

Jun Yunru knew exactly where the Earthly Tranquility Palace was. He had lived in it for years back when he was Empress. He could walk right to its gate if he wished. In fact, there wasn't a single corner of the Imperial Palace he didn't know. However, he couldn't raise any suspicion.

Zhang Min, who was by his side, nervously whispered to his ear, "Young Master, we cannot set foot in the Empress's palace without a summon. It is improper."

Jun Yunru glanced at her, a faint smile on his face. "As a ger of Great Qi's nobility, how can I come to the Inner Palace and not pay my respects to its master?"

In his previous life, he had been so shaken up by Consort Wei that he neglected to greet Empress Bai before departing. Back then, due to his nervousness, he did not realize the grave slight he had committed.

But not this time.

Also knowing Empress Bai's character, he knew she wouldn't refuse his visit. Little happened in the Inner Palace without her knowledge. The matter of him being 'invited' into the Inner Palace as a possible marriage prospect for her rival's son wasn't a trivial thing. Empress Bai's hand-raised spies must have already informed her of his visit. So without waiting for his maidservant's retort, Jun Yunru walked into the sedan chair and tapped at its door, signaling to the eunuchs to proceed.

**************

It was strange seeing how much and yet how little things changed.

As Jun Yunru gazed at Empress Bai's bright and clear eyes, he couldn't help but recall the last time he saw them: bloodshed, muddled and mad. Their owner had been running barefoot through the East Palace's halls, blood trickling down her arms and her silky, black hair dishelved and torn. She would scream for her only child over and over again while frantically looking for him in every corner like a headless hen.

It would happen every day until Emperor Yansheng finally had enough of it and decided to lock her up to 'recover'. Eventually, she was given the 'mercy' of a poisonous wine cup from the man she had loved and trusted, just like he had been.

Seeing her now younger yet familiar face once again, Jun Yunru couldn't help but see the image of his old self overlap with hers. He too knew how the loss of a child felt like. He too knew what betrayal from those one loved felt like. He too once was full of pride, hope and life.

Suppressing the strange emotions that surged within his chest, Jun Yunru glanced down at the tea cup in hand, dragging his gaze away from Empress Bai's face.

"Child, how is your aunt-in-law? It has been a long while since I last saw her."

Empress Bai's voice was gentle and steady, like trickling water. It took a moment for Jun Yunru to get used to hearing it.

A smile stretched across his lips. He too couldn't wait to see her and the rest of his family. It had been literally a lifetime. "She is well and this lowly ger offers his gratitude for Your Highness's concern on behalf of his aunt-in-law."

Seamlessly, Yunru handed his cup to Zhang Min, rose from his chair and fell to his knees, kowtowing to Empress Bai to express his thanks.

Empress Bai rushed to grab his arm, stopping him. "There is no need, good child. You can regard me as your elder and you need not to perform such formalities. I had known Jun furen since I was a little girl. She and Bengong are childhood friends and it's my duty to ask after my dear meimei."

No, the Empress and his aunt-in-law were not childhood friends. They were mere acquaintances as were most ger and female children of the capital's nobility. Empress Bai was only being polite, trying to 'ease' him into feeling comfortable with her so that he might spill the beans on what happened at the bane of her existence's palace.

And to proof him right, Empress Bai grasped his hand in hers as soon as he sat back and squeezed it gently. With her eyes locked into his own, she softly whispered to him. "Now tell me, did she frighten you?"

Jun Yunru bit down the chuckled that nearly escaped his mouth. He didn't need to guess to whom the Empress was referring to. "Not much, Your Highness. Her Highness of the Celestial Favor Palace is not scary at all."

At first Empress Bai was silent; her eyes simply bore into his own as if she was trying to peer into his soul. Then out of nowhere, a string of laughter rung within the hall of her palace like crisp bells of silver. The gold phoenix crown atop her complicatedly arranged hair trembled with her movement. Its pearl tassels clicking against each other. She used the long sleeve of her red robes to cover her lightly-rouged lips as she continued to laugh for a while.

The two maidservants at her side, glanced at Jun Yunru and then at their mistress. Their lips, upturned.

Eventually she stopped but mirth continued to shine through the dark, bright pools of her eyes. "Oh child, I'm sure she wouldn't be too happy to hear that."

Jun Yunru's smile grew a touch wider, "Yes, I'm sure Her Highness wouldn't."

"She enjoys her fierce reputation very much. We must not ruin that for her, must we?" Although the Empress's tone played at being 'concerned', Yunru knew that in truth, she didn't care at all. She would pay good gold if she could just see Consort Wei's face contort. The animosity between the two women span a decade at the very least and it would continue to grow worse until one of them completely destroyed the other. A mountain could not hold two tigers.

"Of course not, Your Highness," Yunru played along.

"Yu Hua, go bring the Soaring Could Mountains painting that His Majesty has gifted Bengong. And also the new white jade Four Treasures set which Huang'er has brought for Bengong last time."

Jun Yunru opened his mouth to protest but the Empress raised her hand, having none of it. "No, you cannot refuse. This is the first time you came to greet Bengong and thus, as your elder, Bengong must not let you leave empty-handed."

Yunru bit his lips and simply lowered his head, "Many thanks to Your Highness. Your generosity is unbound."

Now to say what he really bothered to come here for.

"Actually, not only did this lowly ger come to pay respects, I also wished to speak to Your Highness about something."

Empress Bai raised an ink-black, thin eyebrow, "And what would that be, child? Do not be shy. If you wish for Bengong to help you in something, feel free to say it."

Jun Yunru didn't speak right away. He clenched his hands around his cyan robes, his eyes darted around from one maidservant to the next, feigning anxiety.

Empress Bai seemed to catch his implied request because she swiftly ordered, "Leave. All of you."

The maidservants, including Zhang Min who threw Yunru a concerned glance, shuffled backwards with lowered heads and closed the doors to the hall in their departure.

The room became eerily silent. Empress Bai looked back at Yunru without shifting from her seat, "Speak now, child."

Jun Yunru stood up from his sandalwood chair and knowing that what he was about to say might flare the Empress's temper; he kneeled on the floor before her feet. "Your Highness, this lowly ger had a dream last night, a strange one."

Appearing somewhat confused yet curious, the Empress pressed, "And what kind of dream was it?"

Jun Yunru clenched his jaw. He couldn't afford to hesitate, not at this time. If he was to leave without doing anything then the opportunity would be lost and by the time he could enter the Imperial Palace again, Empress Bai might no longer have her current title. He must begin laying the thorns in Consort Wei and her son's path from this very instance. The current him could not fight them on his own so he might as well borrow someone else's knife for the time being. Now that he was reborn, he would not let them have it easy.

Determined, he replied in an even tone, "I dreamt of a four-clawed dragon, Your Highness."

Empress Bai's gentle face suddenly darkened. Its benevolent features twitched into something cold and foreboding, "What did you just say?"

Just as Jun Yunru expected. The first Crown Prince would always be Empress Bai's reverse scale. But it didn't matter now. He was neither scared nor worried. "Yes, Your Highness. A four-clawed dragon stranded in shallow, muddy waters unable to escape. I watched it as it struggled and struggled until it breathed its last."

Although Jun Yunru expected the intensity of the Empress's reaction to a degree, the sound of fine porcelain shattering against the floor still startled him. Before he could explain further, a pair of cold hands snaked around his slender neck and squeezed it mercilessly.

Black eyes that were smiling a moment at him a moment ago bore down into his own, boiling with naked fury, "Are you trying to jinx my son? Are you tired of living?!"

avataravatar