Chapter 23 (2/2)

‘You’re staying in my courtyard,’ NL said.

‘LF, don’t be stubborn,’ XST said. ‘Whoever poisoned you won’t stop until they succeed.’

‘Thank you your majesty,’ LF conceded.

‘Guards, escort LF to her new bedchamber,’ XST said.

The guards took LF to one of bedchambers in NL’s courtyard, and they gave XST and NL privacy.

‘XST, am I a hateful person?’ NL asked.

‘Your majesty, you’re a brilliant and handsome man,’ XST said. ‘Thousands of women admire you. Don’t think too much. There are some women who can’t appreciate you.’

‘XST, what do women like?’ NL asked.

‘Usually women like jewellery, dresses and makeup,’ XST said.

‘But LF returned the jewellery, dresses and makeup I gave her,’ NL said. ‘What gift should I give her so she won’t reject it?’

Chapter Twenty-Five

‘Your majesty, women have soft hearts,’ XST said. ‘If you treat LF good, one day she’ll reciprocate your feelings.’

‘I don’t dote on women,’ NL said.

‘Your majesty can learn,’ XST said.

‘Alright,’ NL said. ‘I’ll learn. I believe I can receive LF’s heart.’

Days later, LF was used to living in one of the bedchambers in NL’s courtyard. She thought the flowers in his gardens were more beautiful than the flowers in the empress’ gardens. But she reminded herself it wasn’t her home.

‘Lady Ling,’ SY called.

‘SY, how did you know I’m here?’ LF asked.

‘XST asked me to come her to serve lady Ling because his majesty didn’t want you to be lonely here,’ SY said.

‘Is it true?’ LF asked suspiciously.

‘Of course it’s true,’ SY said. ‘Everyone in the palace knows about lady Ling staying in his majesty’s courtyard, and they speculated that you’ll be his majesty’s empress. Everyone admires you, including me.’

‘There is nothing between me and his majesty,’ LF said. ‘Don’t misunderstand.’

‘Lady Ling, it’s an honor to be his majesty’s woman,’ SY said. ‘I’m happy lady Ling will become the empress.’

‘I want to take a walk outside his majesty’s gardens,’ LF said and sighed.

SY escorted LF around the palace.

‘Lady Ling, is the rumor true about the ED choosing you to be the empress?’ SY asked.

‘Of course it’s not true,’ LF said.

‘Lady Ling, is how you and the ED met a secret?’ SY asked.

‘It’s no secret,’ LF said. ‘The ED and my parents met a couple of times.’

‘Lady Ling, is it true that your family name is Sun?’ SY asked.

‘How did you know?’ LF asked.

‘Lady Ling, after you live in the palace for a longer period, you’ll find out that there are no secrets in the palace,’ SY said. ‘Lady Ling, today I heard from the eunuchs that the ministers in the imperial court opposed the ED’s recommendation of making Lady Ling the empress. His majesty was angry at the ministers for opposing and he gave them a scolding.’

‘How is that possible?’ LF asked.

LF didn’t know if XST was right about NL liking her.

‘Lady Ling, look over there,’ SY said. ‘The older woman is consort Ha and the young woman next to consort Ha is her niece HKD. Lady Ling, you should avoid them. I heard consort Ha wants HKD to become his majesty’s consort, but his majesty refused.’

End of Chapters Twenty-Three to Twenty-Five summaries

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