Chapter 14

For five days straight, Murong Su came to see me every day.

Eventually, I took to my heels the moment I saw him.

I ran ahead. He chased behind. “Mei Anqing! Why are you running?”

How the tables had turned.

Without looking back, I shouted, “Don’t fall for me! Sooner or later, I’m leaving the palace!”

I ran all the way to the empress’s residence. Wei Qinghe jumped when I burst in. “What’s wrong?”

Gasping for breath, I said, “Behind me… there’s a ghost.”

“How could there be?” Curious, she peered outside.

A moment later, Murong Su caught up, equally breathless.

Wei Qinghe silently backed away from him. “So there is.”

She very much wanted to see neither of us. But we’d already arrived, disturbing a great many attendants along the way, so she had to let us rest while she scolded us. “Consort Mei! How old are you? Running about like an unruly child. Your Majesty, you are the Son of Heaven. Some things must be said. If you disturb the empress dowager, Mother certainly won’t—”

“Enough, enough, my empress. I’ll take her back now.”

I didn’t want to leave and was about to protest when a messenger arrived.

The empress dowager wanted to see both me and the empress.

Murong Su and Wei Qinghe grew solemn.

I was fearless.

Fine. We’d go.

That old crone was always tormenting Wei Qinghe. I wanted to see how difficult she really was.

Wei Qinghe looked grave the entire way. Before we entered, she pulled me behind her. “Don’t be afraid. Just stay behind me.”

I looked at her, eyes brimming. “Sister…”

She clapped a hand over my mouth. “What nonsense are you saying here?”

We entered the empress dowager’s chamber and knelt. The woman seated above us was around fifty. She spoke slowly. “Consort Mei, come here. Let the physician take your pulse.”

I was about to rise when I realized she hadn’t told Wei Qinghe to stand.

I knelt back down. “Your Majesty, rank must be respected. The empress is still kneeling. I cannot stand.”

“So you do know your place?” She laughed coldly. “Then why have you led the emperor into such undignified, improper behavior?”

“Have you been taking medicine to protect a pregnancy? His Majesty spoils you without restraint, and you’ve forgotten all decorum. If you aren’t pregnant, just you wait.”

I lowered my head and said nothing. Let her scold. I’d call it respect for the elderly.

“The empress has been childless for years, and now she can’t even govern the inner palace. No virtue, no proper conduct. What happened to your upbringing? And you were called the capital’s foremost—”

My head snapped up.

You’d better realize you’re insulting my darling.