During the morning court, he flew into a rage.
"The noble consort and I have just lost our child, yet you demand a draft selection. Are you trying to pierce my heart and the noble consort's?"
The entire civil and military court claimed they dared not.
My legitimate sister clung to Xie Linzhuo more and more tightly. Aside from attending court sessions and reviewing memorials, he had to spend all his free time accompanying her. But with matters piling up in both the court and the harem, Xie Linzhuo could not help but be busy as a spinning top.
My body has mostly recovered, but I still keep my palace doors closed.
My legal mother came into the palace to visit my elder sister, and on her way out, she made a detour to Changle Palace.
"Your Highness the noble consort seems to have recovered well. Since you are healthy now, why don't you resume managing the affairs of the harem?"
Though she called me noble consort, there was no respect in her tone.
"The emperor has always highly valued the empress. Surely the empress will soon become pregnant and give birth to a crown prince. As long as the empress and the crown prince are well, it will also be Your Highness the noble consort's blessing."
Since childhood, my legal mother had treated me like a plaything. In her eyes, I was merely a tool for my legitimate sister. To be able to help my sister even a little bit was my blessing.
I smiled slightly, as submissive as ever. "Mother, please show me some mercy and let me rest for a few more days. I will be nearly recovered after the mid-autumn festival."
Having received a satisfactory answer, my legal mother did not even bow before turning around and leaving. Chuju and Chuna were half dead with anger. I fanned myself with my round fan, closing my eyes in silence.
No rush. Every single person who harmed my Xuan'er, none of them will escape.
The Governor of Yungui had beaten the eighteen tribes of Nanman into submission. During the mid-autumn festival, he was to bring the leaders of the eighteen tribes to the capital for an audience, along with auspicious gifts to present. The court and the public were shaken. Xie Linzhuo was overjoyed. He ordered that the mid-autumn palace banquet must grandly showcase the magnificent majesty of the celestial empire. To this end, he even brought his wet nurse, who had been retired outside the palace, back inside to oversee Jiaofang Palace and help my elder sister manage the banquet affairs.
On the day of the mid-autumn festival, every corner of the imperial palace was filled with joy. Yet my Changle Palace remained completely quiet. Chuju stood at the doorway, quietly muttering curses for half the day. I called her in to eat some pastries.
"Don't be so angry. Our good days are yet to come. We must watch him build his high tower and watch him banquet his guests. Only when we watch his tower collapse can we truly vent the resentment in our chests."
The palace banquet began. I sat below my elder sister, as quiet as a flower vase. Xie Linzhuo and my elder sister sat side by side at the high seats. The emperor was handsome and majestic, and though the empress carried a touch of playful innocence, she was bright and dignified. Anyone who saw them would praise the love between the emperor and empress.
Over a hundred night-glowing pearls and thousands of bright candles illuminated the hall as bright as day. The Governor of Yungui stood in the centre of the hall and ordered a three-foot-tall cage, tightly covered with a cloth, to be wheeled up. My elder sister could not help but stand up to look down. Xie Linzhuo pulled her arm with a doting smile.
The Governor of Yungui ordered the black cloth to be lifted. A large, pure white elephant appeared before everyone. It was clear the white elephant had been thoroughly washed, and it now lay docilely inside the cage, its fan-like ears flapping.
Elephants were already a rare sight, let alone a pure white one. The ministers gasped in admiration, though some were puzzled. Wasn't it supposed to be a white tiger? But those doubts were instantly drowned out by a chorus of praises.
My eldest sister, cheerful as a bird, flew down from the imperial dais and circled around the cage. "Linzhuo, I want to keep it in Jiaofang Palace."
Xie Linzhuo smiled and coaxed her. "That won't do. It is too big. You can go to the royal zoo to see it anytime."
Pouting her lips, my sister continued to look at the white elephant, even leaning against the cage to reach out and touch it.
In an instant, disaster struck. As if provoked by something, the white elephant suddenly stood up, swinging its trunk. It raised its front legs and let out a long roar, thrashing wildly inside the cage toward my sister. My sister froze on the spot, completely dumbfounded.
How terrifying a sudden rampage of a white elephant could be. She, being the closest, felt it most vividly.
Xie Linzhuo rushed forward in a few strides and pulled my sister behind him. "What is going on? Where is the beast tamer?"
The Governor of Yungui knelt to beg for forgiveness. The beast tamer was busy trying to pacify the white elephant. Everyone was trembling with fear. The hall was so quiet that a falling pin could be heard, save for the low growls of the white elephant.
And another thing. A dripping sound, coming from somewhere.
"Linzhuo, I— I—"
My sister's face was flushed red and she was on the verge of tears. Xie Linzhuo followed the sound and looked down. Right where my sister stood, there was a bright puddle of liquid that was still spreading outward.
I thought my sister would only cry and lose her composure from being frightened by the mad elephant, but I never expected her, on the spot, to wet herself.
A grand event of foreign tributaries paying respects and the appearance of an auspicious omen. Because the empress lost her composure, it turned into a complete joke.
Even after lying down in the bed of my palace, I couldn't help but sneer when I recalled Xie Linzhuo's expression at the time. It was as if Xie Linzhuo had only just realized that his innocent, pure and radiant first wife was also human and had bodily functions. His face showed terror, suspicion and utter disbelief. Only after a few moments did he furiously order everyone to shut up and forbid any discussion of the matter, threatening to charge violators with showing contempt for imperial majesty. He then picked her up and stormed off.
But the emperor's highly favoured empress is a fool, was disliked by the auspicious beast, and even lost control of her bladder in front of the entire court and foreign envoys. An incident this massive would, even before dawn, spread throughout the entire capital tonight.
Xie Linzhuo failed to consider that when the imperial family's dignity is at stake, how could the court officials and the imperial clan let the matter drop? He has lost all faith, and my elder sister will soon learn what it feels like to be secretly despised and utterly humiliated.
I had a rare night of good sleep.