The Empress sat in front of the dressing table, looking at her gradually aging face, feeling a bit sad, and said to the palace maids, "Help me hide these few white hairs inside, so the Emperor won’t see them."
The palace maid replied with a smile, "Your Majesty, rest assured, you know my skills. In a moment, I will make you look radiant, and even the Emperor will be moved."
The Empress sighed sadly and recited softly to herself:
"Ten years ago, I was a guest before dignity,
The moon was bright, the breeze clear,
Worries withered away,
Old age comes shockingly fast.
Though my hair has changed, my heart remains unchanged,
Trying to listen to the old tunes with the golden goblet,
It’s still like the drunken voice of yesteryear."
Although the palace maids are servants, they were also Misses of wealthy families at home, well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics since childhood, and immediately countered the Empress, "Your Majesty, don’t talk nonsense. Over the past ten years, the Empress has been happy. How could you be like the person in the poems, so miserable?"
The Empress sighed, "Alas, I am ultimately old, and the Emperor only notices the smiles of newcomers, ignorant of the plight of us who have grown old."
Ten years ago, the Prime Minister’s power in court was at its peak, the Fourth Prince was obedient and well-behaved while studying at the Imperial Academy, and the Emperor adored her greatly, often sending gifts. Those days were as if living with the Immortals.
In the blink of an eye, ten years have passed; now everything is lost, even her beauty no longer exists, and the Empress feels deeply affected.
The palace maids were scared half to death. The Empress’s situation was already difficult enough. If someone with an agenda overheard these words and reported them to the Emperor, the Empress could be severely punished, and they, the servants, would be implicated as well.
They all knelt down, pleading, "Your Majesty, please be cautious in your words."
The Empress was stunned for a moment, wondering what she had said to make the palace maids so panicked.
"What’s wrong with you all? Why are you kneeling on the ground for no reason?"
One of the palace maids cautiously said, "Your Majesty, you mentioned the Emperor just now, did you forget?"
The Empress thought for a moment, "Hmm, yes, and so what?"
So what? Does the Empress not consider her position at all, daring to say that the Emperor has forgotten the old for the new? Just for these words, if the Emperor hears, the Empress might immediately be sent back to the Cold Palace.
The palace maid said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, I heard from Eunuch Qian that it was because of the Fourth Prince that the Emperor summoned you. In front of the Emperor, you must not reveal any grievances against him."
After speaking, afraid of angering the Empress, she kowtowed a few more times.
The Empress was not foolish, and of course, wouldn’t upset the Emperor. After finishing her makeup, she wore a luxurious robe, which covered much of her haggard appearance.
The Empress looked at the delicate beauty in the mirror, smiled contentedly, and then, accompanied by several palace maids, went to the Imperial Study Room.
"This concubine greets the Emperor, wishing the Emperor well-being and longevity."
The Empress knelt on the ground to pay respects to the Emperor. In the past, the Emperor would have stepped forward to help her up immediately. However, today, the Emperor sat motionlessly on the Dragon Throne, his face clouded, staring at the Empress with eagle-like eyes, filled with intense hatred.
"The Emperor."
The Empress knelt on the ground, and after not hearing a sound from the Emperor for a long time, she quietly raised her head and met the Emperor’s gaze...
The Emperor’s eyes revealed his deep-seated hatred for her.
The Empress was startled, wondering why the Emperor was looking at her like this. After thinking it over, could it be that something happened to the Fourth Prince?
So, the Empress mustered her courage and cautiously asked, "I wonder what reason the Emperor has for summoning this concubine?"
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