Chapter 3, The First Encounter with the Noble Consort

The lady only said for you to finish weeding, and did not say that no one could help. With this remark, Biwu followed Fu Luo into the inner hall to serve.

"Look at my memory, right, the imperial edict." Fu Luo turned to look at Bi Wu, but in her heart, she was wondering how to write this edict. Fortunately, Bi Wu took the initiative to continue, "This servant will prepare it for Your Highness right away."

Today, Lady Yu Guifei donned a set of cloud-patterned palace attire in the color of misty haze, adorned with a golden phoenix hairpin that swayed gently. The phoenix's head held a piece of jade, and a smooth, lustrous pearl dangled perfectly at the center of her brow. Her coiled hair was embellished with ten branches of tourmaline and emerald flower hairpins, radiating brilliance. With her dark brows and starry eyes, her lips like pearls, skin as smooth as cream, and a waist as if bound, the beauty of her dignified and luxurious presence was vividly apparent.

Flora looked at Biwu in surprise; this usually taciturn girl seems to have quite a sense of humanity after all

Flora turned and walked towards the inner hall, no longer paying attention to the two.

Thank you for your grace, Your Highness. Little Ju received the hairpin with great trepidation.

The beloved Consort Yu smiled and said, "Sister, this blue attire suits you very well." After saying this, she looked at Consort Lan and smiled.

Flora raised her hand to stop Biwu from placing the butterfly hairpin with emeralds and gold on her head, saying, "This hairpin is both old and unattractive; I do not wish to wear it." After speaking, she pretended to be casual and turned to look at Xiaocui, "I will give this to you as a reward."

Flora could not help but sigh; the emperor truly has great fortune in love, as each of these concubines in the harem would undoubtedly be a star-level beauty in modern times

The beautiful Consort Yu gazed in astonishment at the gracefully approaching Consort Fu, momentarily speechless. Today, Fu Luo wore a sky-blue, open-front gown made of cloud-patterned silk that trailed on the ground, cinched at the waist with a wide white silk belt, tied into a large bow at the back. She draped a white silk brocade shawl over her arms, exuding an air of noble simplicity and ethereal elegance. Her hair was styled in a tassel bun, adorned with a tortoiseshell hairpin inlaid with jade, and a sky-blue satin ribbon tied into a bow was fastened to her bun, swaying naturally in the wind as she moved, captivating the eyes of onlookers. The three-leaf clover-shaped gold ornament placed on her forehead added a touch of charm to her otherwise simple and ethereal grace.

"Sister usually prefers dark colors, so why are you wearing blue today? Didn't you say you hated blue the most?" After saying this, she glanced at Lan Xianfei, who was sitting to her left, as if worried that Fu Luo wouldn't understand. Everyone in the palace knew that Lan Xianfei had always loved blue, and lower-ranking concubines generally dared not wear blue to avoid clashing with her, while Yu Guifei and Fu Fei looked down upon wearing blue.

As soon as Fu Luo uttered these words, Xiao Ju's tears began to flow, and she knelt down, repeatedly knocking her head on the ground, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your grace. Thank you, Your Highness, for your grace. This servant is willing to work like an ox or a horse to repay Your Highness's kindness."

In the eyes of Fu Luo, among the harem, she and Consort Yu are the most beautiful. However, beauty in the harem is the most unstable; perhaps today the Emperor favors the delicate, while tomorrow he may prefer the enchanting.

The next morning, as Fu Luo was preparing in front of the mirror, Bi Wu came to report that Xiao Ju was requesting an audience.

On March 15, it was time to pay a visit to Consort Yu. Fu Luo was filled with curiosity about the concubines in the harem, but due to her previous unfamiliarity with the palace and herself, she did not dare to easily step out of the palace gates. Moreover, none of the other concubines were willing to take the initiative to approach Fu Fei (wasn't that courting death?). As a result, Fu Luo has yet to meet a single master of the harem.

Fuluo looked at the particularly sincere-smiling Lan Xianfei and felt a chill in her heart. According to the rules of the harem, the more sincere a woman appears on the surface, the darker her heart is. It is better to provoke her as little as possible. She quickly lowered her head to drink tea, avoiding a response. Just then, Yuguifei turned to chat with other concubines, allowing Fuluo the leisure to carefully appreciate the beauties of the harem.

"Why do you want to leave the palace so much?" Fu Luo quietly approached Xiao Ju from behind when the two were not paying attention.

In contrast, a particularly striking woman sat down, adorned with a golden phoenix hairpin and a golden tassel, and a flying celestial bun with six branches of red agate and amber carved into magpies perched on plum blossoms. Her face resembled a peach blossom, and her figure was like a willow swaying in the breeze. Although she could not match the grandeur of the precious Consort Yu, she possessed an added charm. Later, through the casual conversations among the female audience, it became known that she was the favored Lady Jieyu of the Emperor.

"This humble servant pays her respects to Your Highness, the Noble Consort." Fu Luo approached Noble Consort Yu and performed a dignified bow.

Alright, all that is left is the empress's jade seal.

Yuxi, Fu Luo became worried again, where is the Yuxi placed

Flora turned around in shock to look at the seemingly ordinary girl before her, astonished by her understanding of human nature

I am truly unaccustomed to such a scene, "I am tired, you may leave now." This was what prevented Xiao Ju from injuring her head.

"As long as you can clear all the weeds in the Lotus Pavilion today, I shall grant you a two-day leave." Fu Luo looked at Xiao Ju with a smile, making an effort to put on a malicious grin.

Xiao Ju, do you wish to die? Do you not know that the Empress is most averse to others mentioning her family? How dare you tell the Empress that you want to leave the palace? The Empress has long issued an order prohibiting the servants of Han Dan Pavilion from leaving the palace to see their relatives

"Sister Biwu, I beg you, I beg you." Xiao Ju knocked her head repeatedly. Hearing this, Fu Luo's heart tightened, fearing that she might injure herself. However, Sister Biwu was too cold-hearted and refused to respond no matter what. "Sister Xiao Ju, we are both people of this palace, and you know how the lady treats us on ordinary days. If you continue like this, aren't you pushing your sister to her death?" This shows how harsh the Concubine Fu is towards the palace servants.

Looking at the handwritten note by Biwu, Fu Luo was secretly astonished by the elegance and spirit of her handwriting. How could such a well-read, articulate, and perceptive girl be overlooked in this Lotus Pavilion

"It is not impossible for you to leave the palace," said Fu Luo, momentarily taken aback. Seeing the surprise, hope, hesitation, and fear flickering in Xiao Ju's eyes, she suddenly felt a wave of shame. However, she still could not be so merciful as to let Xiao Ju leave the palace, for otherwise, people would surely begin to suspect her motives. How could the favored concubine suddenly change her nature without reason? With this thought, she couldn't help but complain; others who had crossed over could always find an amnesia excuse to explain everything, but how could she, after just a brief sleep, have come here? She couldn't even use falling into water, being injured, or being poisoned as an excuse for amnesia.

What Fu Luo heard while hiding behind the flowers was this conversation. The palace maid named Xiao Ju was crying pitifully, even kneeling in front of Bi Wu and refusing to get up. It was strange; did the former Fu Fei not allow the palace maids to leave the palace?

Sister Biwu, the garden of Hantan Pavilion is so large, how can I possibly pull out all the weeds?" Xiao Ju desperately sought help from Biwu

Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Flor has already recovered quite a bit

Sister Biwu, I implore you to intercede on my behalf with the Empress. My mother is gravely ill and I wish to see her one last time. Please, sister, say a kind word to the Empress and allow me, Xiaojun, to return home to see my mother, just for one day. I only wish to be away for one day.

Seeing that little Ju, who had just been pleading desperately with Biwu, is now so frightened in front of herself, Fu Luo cannot help but lament how harsh the previous person, Fu Fei, must have been to others

Looking at the noble consort Lan again, perhaps due to her older age and having given birth to a prince, she has gained some weight; however, she can undoubtedly be considered a great beauty. Her attire is elegant and dignified, neither ostentatious nor overly modest, perfectly reflecting her status.

Yes

"Your Highness, this servant has already pulled out all the weeds in the Lotus Pavilion," Xiao Ju replied tremulously, yet she did not dare to mention the word 'palace', fearing that her master was making a jest and would punish her again today. She recalled how in the past, little Qian was also killed by their master for suggesting that she wanted to meet her relatives who had traveled a thousand miles to visit outside the Chongwen Gate, and her master had found an excuse to beat her to death.

Then, you go and give her twenty taels of silver, just say it is your personal savings. Since she could not outsmart Biwu's keen eyes, Fu Luo generously admitted it.

It turns out that Princess Flora is also someone who lacks education, as she has never been fond of reading or practicing calligraphy; these trivial matters are usually managed by Biwu.

Not long ago, I was unwell and grew tired of those dense colors, instead preferring refreshing hues, so I chose blue. In fact, this is also a gesture of goodwill from Fu Luo towards the favored consort Lan Xianfei opposite her. She does not wish to continue being adversarial towards that favored consort in the harem who holds power and has children. Although she is older, she is treated differently by the emperor because she has the crown prince, and there are several days each month when he stays overnight in her Yunxiang Palace.

Isn't it said that we are to leave the palace? It is getting late, we should depart soon

"Why aren't you quickly expressing your gratitude for Her Highness's grace?" The nearby Biwu, seeing that Xiaojun had not responded for a long time, could not help but anxiously remind her

"Your Highness, Xiao Ju still requires Your Highness's decree in order to obtain the waist token from the Inner Palace to leave the palace," replied Bi Ye, who was standing nearby.

"Bi Ye, go fetch the imperial seal for me." It can only be a matter of luck.

Every day, Fu Luo lives in constant fear, afraid that others will discover she is no longer the original Fu Fei. However, her body is indeed that of the true Fu Fei.

Sister Yufei mentioned that this blue color complements Sister Fufei very well

No need for formalities. Is your sister feeling any better?

Xiao Ju suddenly turned around and saw that the speaker was Fu Fei, trembling in fear. Upon seeing Bi Wu kneeling, she suddenly remembered to kneel and plead for forgiveness, "Your Highness, please do not be angry. Xiao Ju does not wish to leave the palace. I implore Your Highness to calm your anger."

"Your Highness, Xiao Li and the others are helping Xiao Ju with weeding," Bi Ye whispered in Fu Luo's ear, as if to remind her to punish the two. Unfortunately, the current Fu Fei is not what she used to be. In the past, Fu Luo would have certainly praised her greatly, but now Fu Luo merely frowned and glanced at Xiao Ju and several eunuchs and palace maids outside, sweating profusely. "Let them be."

When Bi Ye went to the wardrobe to help Fu Luo choose clothes, Bi Wu gently remarked, "Your Highness's gift, Xiao Ju would never dare to sell it for money."

"Yes, Your Highness." Fu Luo quickly observed Bi Ye, noticing her eyes scanning the lotus pouch hanging from her skirt. She recalled the keys inside it, realizing that the important items of the previous Empress Fu must have been locked away. Fu Luo swiftly handed the keys to Bi Ye, who then turned towards a cabinet by the bedside. It seemed her guess was correct