Chapter 439

Chapter 439 She had barely reached the palace gates when she saw the young palace maid left to keep watch in the palace, her face brimming with joy. Seeing her, the maid hurriedly bowed: "This servant greets the mistress!" Bai Fu had walked for half a day, her legs sore and swollen, and asked with little enthusiasm: "What has you so happy?" "The mistress probably doesn't know yet—Noble Consort Zhao has sent down a reward." Bai Fu's steps faltered. The maid, unaware, continued cheerfully: "Everyone in the palace knows that Noble Consort Zhao rarely rewards anyone." "Of those who entered the palace together, only the mistress received a personal reward from Noble Consort Zhao—this is an honor no one else has." The maid's sweet words of congratulations were, in truth, meant to earn a tip. Such was the custom in the palace. But Bai Fu felt no joy at these words—only a sense of foreboding. She had deliberately imitated Xie Run's attire and flaunted herself before her, hoping to provoke Xie Run into making a move. But Noble Consort Zhao suddenly sending her a reward—what did that mean? Had Xie Run finally been unable to resist making her move?! Bai Fu felt a mix of unease and faint excitement. After all, everything happening now was unfolding exactly as she had predicted. But when she saw the reward, she was taken aback. The maid continued from the side: "Mistress, the fabrics Noble Consort Zhao rewarded are all fine materials, and the embroidery patterns on them are exquisite. If made into a garment for the mistress to wear, they would only further enhance your beauty." "Leave." Bai Fu's smile faded, her brows and eyes turning cold. The surrounding palace attendants, all wearing smiles and waiting for tips, quickly withdrew their smiles and retreated upon seeing Bai Fu's expression. When everyone had left, leaving only Bai Fu and Caiyue, Bai Fu's face turned completely cold. She stepped forward and picked up a bolt of Song brocade, her voice low: "The fabric is fine, of course—after all, it's what the Noble Consort herself wears." "But the cloud-pattern on this garment was fashionable two years ago. Because it made the wearer look older, it was gradually abandoned. Now it's hard to find even a few pieces in the palace. Who knows how long Noble Consort Zhao had people searching the storerooms to gather these." She tossed the fabric aside and looked at the others. Bai Fu was not from a family without background—one glance was enough to tell that these fabrics had all been fashionable two or three years ago. Though precious, no one wore them anymore. Moreover, having been stored in the storerooms for so long, no matter how well preserved, they could never match the luster of new fabric. After a long moment, Bai Fu said in a deep voice: "She's deliberately humiliating me!" Caiyue no longer dared to ask Bai Fu anything about Noble Consort Zhao. In the entire palace, only her mistress would consider receiving a reward from Noble Consort Zhao an insult. Such hatred and resentment—where it came from, no one knew. It was as if she were possessed by a ghost. Caiyue quietly clutched the talisman she had obtained today at Baohua Hall, praying that her mistress wouldn't lose her mind. Bai Fu pondered for a long time before saying: "I underestimated her!" Seeing that her mistress disliked the fabrics rewarded by Noble Consort Zhao, Caiyue offered on her own: "My lady, shall this servant quietly take these fabrics away and burn them?" Bai Fu glanced at her. "Do you know how many of her spies are in this palace?" "If you burn these fabrics today, she'll find an excuse to cause trouble for me tomorrow. Then both our lives will be in danger." Caiyue was alarmed. "Th-this... Surely Noble Consort Zhao wouldn't go so far as to take our lives?" Bai Fu let out a cold laugh, unwilling to explain too much to Caiyue. "Keep the fabrics!" "Since she dares to reward them, I dare to have them made into clothes and wear them!" Bai Fu felt that Xie Run's sudden reward was likely a sign of her growing unease. As long as she added a few more flames to the fire, Xie Run's next move would surely be more than just rewarding fabrics to humiliate her. Suppressing the anger in her chest, Bai Fu had Caiyue fold the fabrics neatly: "I am deeply grateful for Noble Consort Zhao's reward." "Make haste and sew a garment from this fabric. In two days, I will wear it to personally thank Noble Consort Zhao." She held the cloud-pattern Song brocade she had just scorned, a deep smile on her face. Caiyue felt a sense of dread. Perhaps... she should secretly burn this fabric? If Noble Consort Zhao were to blame someone, let her blame only Caiyue alone! Five days later, Xie Run had just finished her morning meal when she heard the palace attendant announce. "My lady, Noble Lady Bai requests an audience outside the palace." Xie Run wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, then took the tea Xiaoshu handed her and took a light sip. The fragrance of pre-rain Longjing tea immediately spread across her nose. Xie Run: "Invite her in first, and ask what the matter is." With that, Xie Run went to attend to palace affairs. After a while, Chunjuan entered and whispered in her ear: "My lady, Noble Lady Bai says she has come to express her gratitude." "She said she was very fond of the clothes you rewarded her with some days ago, so she specially had them made into a garment and wore it here to thank you in person." Xie Run raised an eyebrow. "It's probably not that simple." She set down the account book in her hand and smiled: "Life in the palace is dull. Sometimes having someone to pass the time with isn't a bad thing." Chunjuan smiled: "For someone with impure intentions, my lady should still be cautious." "Ben Gong knows what she's doing." Bai Fu was truly no longer the Bai Fu of her previous life. Even Chunjuan could see through her intentions. If this were to be brought before the Emperor, where would she find the confidence to believe he would regard her any differently? While waiting in Zhaohua Palace, Bai Fu's mind was, in truth, filled with many thoughts. She mused that if Xie Run were to see her immediately, she would likely be an impatient person with little tolerance. Such a temperament would be easy to handle. If Xie Run deliberately delayed and kept her waiting, that would indicate she was narrow-minded, short-sighted, and lacking in magnanimity... even easier to handle. Yet, despite all her deliberation, neither turned out to be the case. After drinking a cup of tea, Bai Fu was granted an audience with Noble Consort Zhao, Xie Run. The timing was neither too quick nor too slow, perfectly measured—just as outsiders described Noble Consort Zhao. As Bai Fu raised her eyes, she saw Xie Run's strikingly clear and beautiful features adorned with a faint smile, gentle and soft, like the first spring breeze of the season. Truly... exceptionally dazzling. Bai Fu rose and respectfully bowed to Xie Run, "This humble one pays respects to Noble Consort Zhao." Xie Run slowly took her seat and raised a hand, saying, "Rise." "I hear you've come to express your gratitude?" Xie Run spoke with a pleasant smile, "That day at Baohua Temple, it only occurred to me after you left that your attire seemed remarkably similar to mine. It appears you enjoy imitating my style." Bai Fu hadn't expected Xie Run to address this so directly, and a flicker of surprise crossed her face. Xie Run pretended not to notice and continued, "When the sisters of the palace dress beautifully, not only does it please the Emperor, but it also brings me great joy. Hence, I've specially bestowed upon you several bolts of fabric, so you may have garments tailored." Just as she was speaking, Consort Jingshu suddenly barged in. She cast a knowing, half-smiling glance at Bai Fu, then said to Xie Run with an air of nonchalance, "Sister Noble Consort Zhao, this younger sister is of an impatient nature. I wished to discuss some matters with you and couldn't wait for the attendants to announce me, so I barged in. Sister wouldn't be angry, would she?" Xie Run: "..." Though Consort Jingshu spoke with humble words, her eyes were filled with nothing but the delight of watching a spectacle.