Chapter 468 - Meeting the Emperor in the Palace (2/2)

Ling Rui’er was gearing up for a fight when she saw Mo Xuetong and had completely forgotten how disheveled she looked. When Mo Lan asked her that question, she realized immediately how she looked and was ashamed and angry. She pushed away the palace maid helping her and raised her hand to slap Mo Lan. She yelled angrily. “You useless servant. How dare you speak to me like that?”

Mo Xuetong recognized Ling Rui’er then. She pulled Mo Lan back, avoiding Ling Rui’er’s hand. Mo Xuetong raised her eyebrows and said coldly, “Consort Chu doesn’t have to help me teach my maid a lesson. We are in the palace to meet His Majesty. Consort Chu should clean up a little.”

Then, she intentionally glanced at Ling Rui’er’s clothes with a shocked expression. Mo Xuetong then pulled Mo Lan back with her, looking as if she had seen a ghost. There was a startled expression on her little face as she pointed at Ling Rui’er. She was so frightened that she could not form a complete sentence. “Consort Chu, your, your face… what happened to your face?”

“My face?” Ling Rui’er had been too pleased earlier and then had a.s.saulted a maid, pus.h.i.+ng her off a high platform. She had felt slightly better after seeing the maid lie motionlessly at the end of the steps and being carted away by a few eunuchs. Then, the palace maid helping her after that had been very careful and did not even dare to say anything. As such, she did not remember the rash on her face.

When she saw Mo Xuetong’s expression, she raised her hand to touch her face subconsciously. She could feel the marks on her face and immediately screamed. “My face, my face…”

Then, she could not be bothered with Mo Xuetong any longer. She ran quickly after the Empress’s palanquin and yelled frightenedly. “Your Majesty, Aunty, Your Majesty. My face, my face…”

The palanquin moved slowly on a major path in the palace and did not stop because of Ling Rui’er’s frightened yells. Instead, two palace nannies came forward and blocked Ling Rui’er. They said coldly, “If Consort Chu still does not shut up, the Empress will send you to the Empress Dowager’s Cining Palace and let the Empress Dowager teach you how to behave yourself.”

They were in the Emperor’s residence and not even the Empress dared to yell and scream. Consort Chu really did not know the rules. If other consorts were to find out, it would bring great shame to the Empress. Ever since King Yan’s fall, the Empress had not been having a good time in the palace. The two nannies truly did not like Ling Rui’er who thought too highly of herself. She did not know to be considerate of the Empress’s status. As such, the two nannies were not nice to Ling Rui’er at all.

When Ling Rui’er heard that she would be sent to the Empress Dowager’s Cining Palace, she did not dare to scream anymore. The only thing she could think of was her face. Tears welled up in her eyes and she immediately pleaded. “Nannies, does my aunt have any good medicine to treat sunburns? I… My face is sunburnt.”

How was she going to vie for Feng Yuxuan’s affections if her face was disfigured?

“We have to go to the Empress’s palace to find out. Consort Chu, please follow us!” The two nannies followed behind Ling Rui’er and continued walking forward with her. They were afraid that she would cause more trouble. This Third Miss of the Ling family was not as outrageous before. Why did she become even more arrogant after her marriage?

She was just the consort of a King. Even if she were the Empress, she would still have to follow the rules!

Mo Xuetong watched on quietly as Ling Rui’er chased after the Empress’s palanquin like a madwoman. She saw two nannies with cold expressions on their faces climbing down from the Empress’s palanquin and blocking Ling Rui’er. Then, Mo Xuetong stopped watching them. There was a hint of a smile on the corners of her lips as Mo Xuetong continued walking into the palace with the help of Mo Lan. She still had things to deal with. Her younger sister was in trouble. If she was distracted by other random matters, others would grow suspicious of her.

There were always many people watching in secret in the palace.

They were very near to the imperial study. Mo Xuetong saw the imperial study after a short walk. Mo Xuetong had come to the palace this time without being called for. Fortunately, Feng Yuran had always entered the palace like this manner and had brought her to greet Emperor Zongwen a few times. So she had entered the palace without following the rules before. As such, it was not too overboard for her to do so this time.

However, because she had not been summoned this time, she could not let the eunuchs outside report her visitation like what they would do if it had been Feng Yuran. As such, she did not let anyone announce her arrival. Instead, she knelt outside the palace, following protocol, and waited for Emperor Zongwen’s summons. Mo Lan also hurriedly knelt by Mo Xuetong’s side with her head bowed.

It was already evening and the sun was setting. It was not as hot as before but the floor was still burning. A wave of hot air rushed up as Mo Xuetong knelt down, blurring her sight. She almost fainted but Mo Lan quickly held her upright. Mo Xuetong paused for a moment before breathing out a long and slow breath.

Mo Xuetong had only just knelt down when they heard the voice of a little eunuch running down from the palace. He stood in front of Mo Xuetong, panting, and waving the edict in his hands. His voice was sharp and loud. “His Majesty has summoned Consort Xuan in.”

“Yes, I will obey His Majesty’s summons.” Mo Xuetong kowtowed and replied. Then, she stood up with the help of Mo Lan and followed the eunuch into the palace.

Liu Xi went up to welcome Mo Xuetong with a smile at the entrance of the imperial study. He said politely, “Please come in, Consort Xuan.”

“Many thanks, Eunuch Liu.” Mo Xuetong said gently and gave the eunuch a small smile.

“Why are you thanking me? King Xuan came to tell His Majesty that you are not well and you cannot kneel for too long. I would be in the wrong if you fainted.” Liu Xi said with a smile that reached his eyes.

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