47

  The emperor was taken aback, nodding repeatedly, "Alright, I agree to the conditions you've set. First, let Snow go, you've already frightened her." He waved his hand, ordering the guards who had followed him to withdraw from the room.

  Yali smiled slightly, loosened her hand, and Murong Xue fell softly to the ground, unconscious.

  "You! ——" The emperor was furious, glaring at Yalai with hatred.

  Yali said disbelievingly, "Don't worry, I just used a little anesthetic. You're not planning to favor me in front of her, are you? If you're willing, I don't mind. With just one cup of water, she can wake up."

  The emperor furrowed his brow, he really hadn't met a woman as troublesome as Princess Yalai before, completely shameless, but this only piqued his interest in Princess Yalai, such a woman, sent to his doorstep, what's the harm in accepting her, anyway his son didn't like her either.

  Yan Jian's elegant smile walked in front of him, her small hand grasped, and the beautiful flower-like body rushed into his arms. With a light wave of her hand, the candle flames went out, and the room was filled with soft gasps.

  Early in the morning, Sima Qiang and Hongyu, the couple, had not yet woken up when a servant lightly knocked on their door and softly said: "Second prince, second princess, Li Fei has sent an order for you two to see her, saying that the sooner the better."

  "Empress Li?!?" Sima Qiang was taken aback, he didn't recall his father having a consort named Empress Li, and what could this so-called Empress Li want with the two of them at such an early hour.

  "Yes." The servant said softly outside, "In the Warm Jade Pavilion's Li Yuan, the Emperor issued a decree this morning to divide the Warm Jade Pavilion into two pavilions. The east is Xue Yuan, where Snow Consort lives; the west is Li Yuan, where Li Consort lives."

  Simajiang hummed, could it be Princess Yali? If it was really her, her actions were quite swift, in just one night's work, she had transformed from Princess Yali to Consort Li! He felt some hesitation, with Princess Yali's temperament, letting the couple pass this time was definitely not a good thing. But now she was the emperor's consort, by rights she had this authority.

  When the couple arrived, Crown Prince Sima Zhe and Crown Princess Murong Xuan, Third Prince Sima Qing and Third Princess Xue Wanlian, Fourth Prince Sima Rui and Fourth Princess Murong Feng had already arrived. Sima Rui was looking at Princess Yalier who was sitting above with great interest, now known as Consort Li, her expression still pleasant.

  "The mountains and rivers change, but the talented people emerge one after another, each leading for hundreds of years." Murong Feng muttered to himself, then shook his head. This Ya Li princess really suited living in the Bai Min era, absolutely a 'white bone spirit' level character, standard petty bourgeoisie plus white-collar worker.

  Simarui glanced sideways at Murong Feng, softly jesting: "This elegant Princess Ya, so-called Consort Li, is absolutely on par with the imperial consorts in the palace."

  Princess Yalai, now known as Consort Li, glanced at Sima Rui and smiled: "Fourth Prince, didn't I tell you? It's only been a few days and I can already move into the Warm Jade Pavilion. However, considering your beloved consort Murong Feng, I won't drive out Murong Xue. Let's be fair, half for her and half for me."

  Simarui couldn't help but laugh and cry, this Yali is really something else, her courage is quite impressive, let her stir up trouble if she wants to, life in the palace is actually very boring, having someone to liven things up is a good thing.

  Murong Feng smiled slightly, this Ya Li princess and Sima Rui really have a good match, if Sima Rui likes her, the two of them might be a happy couple. Unfortunately, I have feelings for him but he doesn't feel the same way, now it's too late, she has become his elder.

  She turned to look at Sima Qiang, and Princess Yalai's smile became a bit ferocious. "Second prince, don't you give me a salute? I am now your father's Li Fei Niang Niang. According to reason, when you two see me, you should pay respects." As she spoke, she slowly stood up from her chair and walked over to Sima Qiang's side. She leaned against his ear and whispered in a cold voice, "Sima Qiang, I, Yalai, am a narrow-minded woman. You hurt so many of our U-Mong country's people and detained my brother. How can I swallow this anger? We'll slowly settle this account." After finishing speaking, she lifted her head, still with a charming smile on her face, looking at the crowd.

  Simazhuan gritted his teeth and paid a courtesy, the other princes and princesses also bowed their heads in courtesy, except for Sima Rui and Murong Feng. This was not a grand ceremony, but it was enough to make the princes and princesses pay their respects in this way. According to the laws of the Daxing Dynasty, only when a concubine gave birth to a child and that child was established as the crown prince did she have the right to receive the kneeling courtesy of the princes.

  "This palace is getting more and more lively." Sima Rui hummed, "It's just really boring, you hate me, annoying, adding trouble."

  Murong Feng was taken aback, could it be that this was the reason why Sima Rui didn't want to spend the night in the palace? Was it because he thought the palace had too many ugly and despicable people and things? Unlike outside the palace which was simple and clean?

  Just then, Li Fei slowly walked up to Murong Feng's side. Before Murong Feng could react, Sima Rui had already stood in front of her, blocking her path with his body. He smiled and said: "Li Fei, don't you dare provoke the people I care about. If you harm a single hair on her head, I'll send you on your way immediately. You may be the emperor's Li Fei, but Feng'er has the golden token of the Holy Ancestor in her hands, so she can stand on equal footing with you and doesn't need to pay respects. As for me, sorry, I'm just a person who doesn't know etiquette."

  Lihui hummed softly and glared fiercely at Murong Feng.

  Murong Feng smiled slightly, his expression calm like the autumn air outside the window, quiet and slightly cold.

  Murong Xuan bowed slightly, her calm voice devoid of any emotional tone, only a mixture of politeness and distance. "Murong Xuan has seen Snow Princess."

  Murong Xue's face was filled with sorrow, last night's events had left her without a say, all she knew was that she was sleeping in bed, Rui Xi looked at her with sadness and told her that Princess Yali had become the Emperor's Consort Li, this Warming Jade Pavilion was divided into two parts, the east part was Xue Yuan where Murong Xue lived; the west part was Li Yuan, where Consort Li lived. Last night, on the same bed where the Emperor had taken her, the Emperor took Princess Yali again, for a whole night, they were in bliss while she slept soundly.

  Murong Xue was truly at her wit's end, and upon hearing Rui Xi say that her sisters were in the Li Yuan, paying their respects to the newly appointed Concubine Li, she immediately instructed Rui Xi to wait for Murong Xuan and Murong Feng on the road, and have them come over to help her devise a plan.

  Murong Xuan and Murong Feng followed Rui Xi into the Snow Garden. Murong Xuan had no intention of coming here, but now that Murong Xue was the Snow Princess, according to etiquette, she could not refuse the princess's summons.

  Murong Feng was silent, with a hint of sympathy in his heart. How could the Emperor possibly be devoted to just one woman? Since she chose the Emperor, it's equivalent to choosing to share a husband with other women. Just like in the era of Bai Min, being a second wife meant waiting for another man to run away from his own wife and indulge in pleasure for a while, then spending most of the time alone, lonely and helpless, waiting.

  She didn't have to see Murong Xue, so she stood still and didn't say a word.