RPAGF Chapter 102 Years in the Palace 10
Chapter 102 Years in the Palace 10
Liu Xingxing first met the legendary empress at the farewell ceremony for her southern tour, along with several other concubines she didn't recognize.
It's really not her fault. Ever since she returned from visiting her family, she has completely forgotten about having to pay her respects to the Empress every day, and no one from there has ever come to urge her.
Everyone in her palace, including Chu Chun, avoided talking about it, as if they had deliberately forgotten about it. No rumors reached her ears, and everyone seemed to have gotten used to it.
It's clear that she was truly lawless and unruly in her role as a concubine.
This empress comes from a prestigious family; three generations of her ancestors served as officials in the court, and their ranks were all quite high. Her uncle is the current Left Prime Minister, whose power is unparalleled. Yet, he turns a blind eye to this arrogant concubine and never takes any action to discipline her, which is quite strange.
Liu Xingxing didn't believe that Jing Yanzhi's unrealistic favoritism towards her was enough to justify her being so lawless. It was clear that even someone of the Empress's background was quite wary of Lady Wang of Dongxiang.
"Oh, who do we have here? Isn't this the Imperial Concubine, whom we haven't seen for over a month? Anyone who didn't know better would think that the Imperial Concubine had fallen ill again and was not paying her respects to the Empress. But the Imperial Concubine looks quite well and doesn't seem to be sick at all."
While waiting to depart, a concubine dressed in a light blue palace dress stepped forward and greeted Liu Baiyi with feigned concern.
Liu Xingxing looked the beautiful woman up and down a few times, and smiled faintly: "Apart from the Empress, there should be no one here with a higher rank than me. But the Empress is currently offering sacrifices to Heaven with His Majesty. Who are you and why do you not bow to me?"
"you!"
Zheng Xiulan was immediately furious.
Zheng Wen'er, who was standing nearby, quickly grabbed her clueless cousin and apologized profusely:
"Your Highness, please don't be offended. Xiulan is a newcomer to the palace and doesn't know much, which is why her words and actions offended you. I apologize on her behalf."
Liu Xingxing twitched the corner of her mouth and said indifferently, "Consort Zheng is quite sensible, but... isn't she right here? Why should she apologize to you? People aren't dead or alive, so what's the use of their mouths? Since she doesn't understand the rules, I might as well teach her how to behave since I have nothing better to do."
"Yes, yes, Xiulan, quickly apologize to the Imperial Concubine!"
Zheng Xiulan didn't know that after living in the palace for so many years, how could she not know? Even offending the Empress was better than offending Liu Baiyi.
The Empress might be able to save face by giving her a minor punishment, but Liu Baiyi is the kind of person who would actually kill someone and escape all punishment!
After all, the person above is openly protecting him.
Zheng Xiulan still seemed very unwilling.
Liu Xingxing also spoke calmly: "Insubordination, slandering others, offending the Imperial Concubine, Chu Chun, tell me, how should these crimes be punished?"
Chu Chun, who was serving nearby, said nonchalantly, "Anyone below the rank of Consort who offends the Noble Consort will be punished with twenty strokes of the cane and a deduction of half a year's salary as a form of discipline."
Liu Xingxing glanced at her a few more times, then said with a smile, "Oh, really? I suppose Consort Zheng's sister must be quite pampered. Look at her delicate skin, I wonder if she can withstand twenty strokes of the cane~"
Zheng Xiulan was immediately frightened and her face turned pale. Under Zheng Wen'er's constant reminders, she had no choice but to come out and apologize, no matter how unwilling she was.
"It was my ignorance that offended Your Highness. Your Highness, please forgive my mistake."
"Wouldn't it have been better if you had done this earlier? Don't be so blind in the future. This mouth is for speaking, not for gossiping about people, understand?"
"Your Majesty, I understand."
No matter how unwilling Zheng Xiulan was, Liu Baiyi was still of higher rank and greater power than her, and could decide her fate with just a few words.
The remaining concubines were all watching the spectacle, but none of them dared to step forward and provoke Liu Baiyi.
The people in this palace are all shrewd and know exactly who is in power.
Only these newly arrived palace ladies dare to rely on their meager favor and family background to provoke someone who is even more powerful than the Empress. They must really think their path to wealth and power is too long.
After the emperor and empress finished their sacrificial ceremony to Heaven, they set off first with the ministers and soldiers who accompanied them. The concubines from the harem who accompanied them were the second group to depart, almost at the same time.
"My lords, time is running out, we may set off now."
A messenger was sent from ahead to deliver a message, and Liu Xingxing, as the leader of the group, naturally walked at the very front, followed by the lower-ranking concubines who followed in a long line according to their rank.
Several hundred people marched out of the palace gates in a grand procession toward the large ship that had been prepared at the ferry crossing, and the people of the capital lined the streets to see them off.
As for the palace, naturally, the successor personally selected by Jing Yanzhi was in charge of overseeing the country, with a group of key ministers assisting him. There were bound to be no mistakes, since this was the case for every southern tour during Jing Yanzhi's reign.
In fact, he only held the ceremony three times in his years in office; this was the third time.
The Southern Tour originated with the previous emperor and has been held nearly twenty times. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Great Liang Dynasty, which is what Jing Yanzhi called the Year of Mandate of Heaven, so this year's event is being held with exceptional grandeur.
It was simply a tour of the territory under the jurisdiction of Daliang, to witness their magnificent land and rivers, and to give a warning to the remote areas, so as to prevent them from having any improper thoughts because they were far from the emperor's reach.
The ships used by the royal family were naturally spacious and comfortable. In addition to this large ship used by the royal family and relatives, there was a windbreak ship in front to clear the way, followed by three large ships for guards, and two medium-sized ships for ministers to use.
Seven large ships sailing on the river created a truly spectacular scene.
Aside from its limited power and inability to change size at will, it is indeed no different from the flying magical artifacts used by cultivators.
Those who were traveling with him for the first time were naturally thrilled to see such a scene, while Liu Xingxing stood by the side of the boat, calmly enjoying the river breeze and gazing into the distance.
The little snake that misses her can travel ten thousand miles a day without any problem; even her broken leaf-shaped flying artifact is more than ten times faster than this ship.
It's definitely better to be a cultivator.
Liu Xingxing recalled the news she had received about Lu Xihan not long ago, confirming that such a person existed. She also confirmed that the so-called general was by her side, but unsurprisingly, he had lost his memory and was happily working as the most handsome hunter in that remote mountain village.
Lu Xihan really is a peasant woman who transmigrated from modern times and is now living a farming life.
Liu Xingxing became even more certain that this was indeed an illusion.
Liu Xingxing even checked the route of this southern tour, and found that there was a place not far from Huxian County, which was a good place to investigate.
She didn't want to wait until Lu Xihan brought his family to the capital to find her, which would take several years.
"Your Highness, what a refined taste you have! Standing here in the wind, aren't you afraid your health will suffer?"
A sudden voice interrupted Liu Xingxing's thoughts. She turned around and saw Jing Yizhi, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
"Your Highness Prince Qi? What are you doing here?"
"The ship is only so big, why can't I be here?"
Jing Yizhi strolled over leisurely.
Unlike last time, this time he had a long sword at his waist, but his clothes remained the same unchanging cloud-white brocade robe.
"Your Highness Prince Qi can go wherever you want, of course. Is my presence here disturbing His Highness?"
"No, Your Highness has always been in poor health. Can you withstand the wind here?"
Jing Yizhi stood beside her with his hands behind his back, also gazing into the distance, his words indifferent, but not indicative of concern for her.
Liu Xingxing really wanted to roll her eyes at him. What was it that always made him think she was weak and couldn't handle a little breeze?
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am in very good health. I could swim two laps without any problem."
Upon hearing this, the person next to him seemed to chuckle slightly, but when he turned to look, he only saw a calm and expressionless face.
"Then Your Highness must be careful. You should pray that you never have the chance to go swimming."
When that time really comes, it won't be as simple as just swimming.