Hibiscus as a Painting

Chapter 67

The Empress gently patted the already sleeping Dugu Xihui and ordered the people behind her, "From today onwards, Young Master Xihui will move to Fengyi Palace to share a bed!"

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Fulai immediately knelt down, tears streaming down his face: "Young Master... we've finally made it through! Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty! Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"

The empress, who was embracing Dugu Xihui, revealed a strange smile, and a glint of light flashed in her eyes.

In the late spring of the tenth year of the Yaochen era, the Empress was thirteen years old.

The Empress's first concubine, Dugu Xihui, moved into the Phoenix Palace to sleep with the Empress.

Because of the need to finalize the investiture ceremony, Empress Yanzai has been exceptionally busy these past few days. Although she has Dugu Xihui in her grasp, she never expected Dugu Ruoxi to be so stubborn and refuse to agree no matter what.

The empresses of the Nalan family have all come from the Dugu family. Therefore, the Dugu family is the most prestigious family among the major families. They are not only deeply rooted in the court, but can also be said to be able to command the people's every command.

Although Dugu Ruoxi was not very close to Empress Yanzai over the years, she had gone to great lengths to consolidate Nalan's power. Without the checks and balances of the Empress's brother's faction, the Sikou family would probably have become too powerful in the court long ago.

Perhaps because the Dugu family had produced empresses for generations, they were already dissatisfied with Dugu Xihui's appointment as the first concubine. Dugu Ruoxi refused to compromise on this matter, showing a willingness to fight to the death.

At the age of fifteen, Sikou Xunxiang's poem "Chao Tian Fu" astonished the world, earning him the title of the greatest talent in the land, and making him the most celebrated scholar. This greatest talent, however, married into the palace like a woman, a fact that already caused the world to lament his unparalleled genius. If, before this, a five-year-old infant were to be made a concubine, the world would surely ridicule Sikou Xunxiang more than pity him; therefore, Prime Minister Sikou would never allow this to happen.

As the sun set, Empress Yanzai sat in the imperial study, her brows furrowed, one hand supporting her head as she pondered a good strategy. She had used everything she could against Dugu Ruoxi, and now only Dugu Xihui remained as her last trump card. She had to devise a foolproof plan to strike decisively, or all her efforts would be in vain.

Eunuch Fu Lai stood anxiously outside the Imperial Study, looking around for quite some time, but Empress Yanzai did not emerge. Extremely worried, Eunuch Fu Lai could only pace back and forth outside the Imperial Study, not daring to disturb the Emperor.

Empress Yanzai, who had been racking her brains for a solution without success, was disturbed by the chaotic footsteps outside the door, which made her even more gloomy. She hurried over, angrily opened the door, and was met with the worried old face of Eunuch Fulai, which made her suppress her anger.

"What happened? Why are you so anxious, Father-in-law?" Empress Yanzai suppressed her anger and asked in a stern voice.

Although Eunuch Fulai noticed Empress Yanzai's unfriendly expression, he couldn't care less at this moment and quickly knelt down: "Young Master, he has refused to eat since last night. Please, Your Majesty, go and take a look."

Empress Yanzai's face darkened, and she strode out of the room toward Fengyi Palace, with Eunuch Fulai getting up and following closely behind.

"Was there anything unusual about Hui'er last night?" Empress Yanzai asked with a solemn expression, without stopping.

"Yesterday, His Majesty held a family banquet in the Imperial Garden for the birthday of the young master of the Sikou clan. When the young master found out, he insisted on going to see it, and no matter how I tried to persuade him, I couldn't stop him... Later... the young master heard His Majesty... praise the young master of the Sikou clan for being able to amaze the world when he grows up... and personally style the young master of the Sikou clan's hair. He hurriedly ran back to the palace, held a bronze mirror and looked at himself for a long time, and then cried until he fell into a deep sleep. From today onwards, he refuses to eat anything." Eunuch Fu Lai looked uneasy, secretly glancing at the Empress in front of him, but dared not hide anything.

Empress Yanzai stood outside Dugu Xihui's door, trying hard to suppress her anger and attempting to smile. After a long while, to no avail, she finally pushed open the door impatiently.

Dugu Xihui hugged her knees, burying her small head between them, curled up in the corner. When the agitated Empress Yanzai saw this, the overwhelming anger she had been trying to suppress instantly vanished, and she tiptoed towards the bed.

Hearing the sound, Dugu Xihui slowly raised her head and stared blankly at the Empress. Her once bright and clear fox eyes were now swollen and red like walnuts, her face was streaked with tears, her hair was disheveled, and her white spring robe was wrinkled in every way.

"Hui'er," Empress Yanzai said softly as she sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Mother…” Dugu Xihui replied blankly, her voice so hoarse that it was almost inaudible.

For some reason, Empress Yanzai felt a pang of heartache. She carefully pulled Dugu Xihui up and held her in her arms: "Hui'er, why are you crying? Who bullied you?"

Dugu Xihui's eyes reddened instantly, and she tightly embraced Empress Yanzai's waist, burying her small head in the crook of the Empress's shoulder. Her hoarse voice could no longer utter a sound, but tears soaked the Empress's clothes, and her body trembled.

Empress Yanzai was at a loss for what to do, so she gently patted Dugu Xihui's back, afraid that he would cry himself to sleep: "Did you upset me, my wife?"

"My lady... no, no, Hui'er... although... although Hui'er is not as handsome as him... but Hui'er is more obedient than him." Her little hands clenched Empress Yanzai's clothes, like a small animal that might be abandoned by its master at any moment.

Empress Yanzai felt her frost-covered heart soften instantly. She gently lifted Dugu Xihui's head and wiped away the tears on his face bit by bit: "How could you think like that, Hui'er? In my eyes, Hui'er is the most beautiful, and no one can compare to him."

Dugu Xihui forced open her swollen eyes and looked at Empress Yanzai: "Really...really?"

Empress Yanzai took the cotton cloth handed to her by Eunuch Fulai and gently wiped Dugu Xihui's swollen eyes. Dugu Xihui flinched and groaned in pain.

"I don't like Hui'er looking like this. I only like Hui'er when she's beautiful. From now on, Hui'er, you mustn't cry, understand? If you cry and look this ugly again, I won't want Hui'er anymore," Empress Yanzai said, feigning anger.

Dugu Xihui timidly tugged at Empress Yanzai's clothes, obediently closed her eyes, and quietly put her little face under the cotton cloth in the Empress's hand, looking as if she were ready to be picked.

A slight smile crept onto Empress Yanzai's lips, reaching her eyes. She carefully took the cotton cloth and began to reduce the swelling in Dugu Xihui's eyes. Empress Yanzai had never served anyone before, and although her touch was gentle, her technique was flawed. Dugu Xihui gasped in pain but didn't flinch, obediently letting Empress Yanzai do as she pleased. Empress Yanzai felt a surge of pity for him.

Once Dugu Xihui's eyes were less swollen, the Empress smiled gently, carried him to the table where the meal had been laid out, and coaxed, "Hui'er, you haven't eaten all day, are you hungry?"

Dugu Xihui seemed a little shy as she buried her face in Empress Yanzai's shoulder and gave her a light tap.

Eunuch Fu stepped forward to take Dugu Xihui from her, but Empress Yanzai stopped him. Empress Yanzai sat down with Dugu Xihui in her arms and gestured for the palace servants to serve the food.

Dugu Xihui smiled slightly, her slightly swollen eyes narrowed into slits, and her beautiful dimples seemed to be filled with honey as she ate the food that Empress Yanzai fed her, bite by bite.

Empress Yanzai saw that Dugu Xihui's small mouth was stuffed full of white rice, so she picked up some green vegetables from nearby and placed them near Dugu Xihui's mouth.

Dugu Xihui's small eyebrows furrowed together, and she slightly turned her face away.

“Young master, you never eat any vegetables.” Eunuch Fu stepped forward and answered respectfully.

Empress Yanzai raised an eyebrow slightly, leaned close to Dugu Xihui's ear, and whispered, "Hui'er thinks you're not as good-looking as him, is that right?"

Dugu Xihui stared blankly at Empress Yanzai, her eyes immediately reddening: "My... wife."

"Hui'er, you've been weak since childhood, how can you compare to him? If you eat more vegetables, you'll definitely grow up to be a hundred times more handsome than him." Empress Yanzai placed a vegetable near Dugu Xihui's mouth and said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Dugu Xihui quietly raised her head, opened her mouth, put the food in her mouth, and chewed it with a frown.

Empress Yanzai revealed a triumphant smile and picked up another piece of food: "Come on, my good Hui'er, eat more."

Dugu Xi Hui swallowed the food in her mouth and obediently opened her mouth, letting Empress Yanzai feed her.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone into the room, casting a soft, warm glow.

During the reign of Emperor Yaochen, in the early summer of the tenth year of reign, the Empress was thirteen years old.

According to palace servants, Empress Yanzai has shown great favor to her first concubine, Dugu Xihui, and they spend every day together.

For a time, Dugu Xihui became a legend of happiness in Yaochen Palace.