Ning Xiaoyao had told the court lady to find a quiet place. The court lady weighed in her hand the small bag that Empress Zhou had stuffed in her hands, then the plate of food that the empress had brought over as well. After calling someone over to try the food for poison, she had them bring it to one of the emperorâs side halls. There was a bed inside this room as well, which was divided into the inner and outer chambers. Right now, everyone in the palace knew that His Majesty didnât favor Empress Zhou, so it was up to her own skills to charm him. As for a quiet place, which part of the palace wasnât quiet? Who dared to shout and scream in the Imperial Palace?
When Ning Xiaoyao walked into the side hall, she heard meowing and looked out the window. Big Boss Black and his groupies were currently sitting in the flower bed outside, while above them was a wutong tree with two magpies in a nest. All of them were looking inside the room. Ning Xiaoyao felt her forehead and wondered whether any humans had said any secrets in front of these little animals.
âYour consort[1. chenqie (è£å¦¾) - I, your servant/consort, a self-appellation of a lower-ranked female.] calls on Your Majesty. May the emperor live on for tens of thousands of years.â Empress Zhou rose from the chair as soon as Ning Xiaoyao entered the room and knelt down to pay her respects.
Ning Xiaoyao stepped to one side to avoid the bow and examined Empress Zhou with a glance. This girl was at most seventeen years old, her figure a bit chubby but with skin as white as snow. Her curvy eyebrows matched a pair of phoenix eyes that slanted upwards. She was a rather pretty girl.
âThereâs no need to pay respects, rise.â Ning Xiaoyao stepped forward and extended a hand to help her up.
Her movement startled Empress Zhou. His Majesty didnât like her, so after they got married, he had not only never touched her, but rarely even saw her in person. Empress Zhou never thought thereâd be a day when he had personally helped her up.
âWhat is it?â Ning Xiaoyao glanced at Empress Zhouâs dazed expression.
Empress Zhou placed her hand in Ning Xiaoyaoâs own and said softly, âYour consort thanks Your Majesty.â
As soon as Ning Xiaoyao felt Empress Zhouâs hand, the smile on her face turned stiff. No good, this canât be right. Why is the empress pregnant? Who did it? The little person in Ning Xiaoyaoâs heart was yelling out loud. Which man touched my empress ahhhhhhhhh....
âYour consort heard about the events at the execution platform,â Empress Zhou had her head lowered as she spoke in a low voice, completely missing Ning Xiaoyaoâs frozen expression.
âHehe,â Ning Xiaoyao replied. Everyone said that entering the palace was like going into the deep sea. It was a completely different world beyond the walls, but why did she feel that this palace was like a brook? The news from outside travelled lightning quick here, as if the palace walls didnât even exist.
âYour Majesty must be tired from taking a journey outside,â Empress Zhou said. âYour consort personally made Your Majesty some sweet ginseng lily soup and asks that Your Majesty have a taste.â
Ning Xiaoyao looked at the tea table behind Empress Zhou, where there was a food box sitting. Finally, sheâd found some food!
âYour Majesty,â Empress Zhou raised her head to meet Ning Xiaoyaoâs eyes, repeating her words from before. âYour Majesty must be tired after taking a trip outside, right?â
She was tired, both physically and emotionally. Ning Xiaoyao walked to the tea table. Outside, the magpies on the wutong tree saw Ning Xiaoyao lift the lid off the food box and started chirping. Behind Ning Xiaoyao, Empress Zhou smiled and said, âThe magpies are singing, so perhaps good tidings are on the way?â
âWhisper, whisper, this ninnyâs going to be tidied up by the empress today,â the magpie couple said. âThereâs an aphrodisiac in one of the soup bowls! Whisper, whisper, today the empress is determined to get the ninny in bed!â
âForget about that,â Big Boss Black looked up at the magpies. âNing Yuâs a female. Once sheâs on the bed, how is she supposed to give the empress a baby?â
âOnce the empress knows that secret, she can use it to threaten the ninny!â Wifey Magpie looked disdainfully at Big Black Boss and flapped her wings. âThe empress and General Xu are in true love!â
Big Boss Black disdained the magpie couple as well and waved his paw. âYouâre talking as though those bad guys, the Grand Preceptor and empress dowager, wonât kill the empress instead! Just wait, the empress will definitely die after finding out the ninnyâs secret, miaow!â
âShe wonât!â Wifey Magpie cried.
âShe will!â Big Boss Black shouted.
The cats and magpies started arguing. Ning Xiaoyao felt unwell all over. So the empress had come today to drug her so they could roll around in the sheets together, thus covering up her adulterous affair with that General Xu. Meanwhile, sheâd make her the father of that baby? Did she really have to treat her so ruthlessly? (TOT)