Ye Shaohua stood up and accepted the item, her expression indifferent.
No, I’m just afraid that you—
Won’t be able to handle the consequences.
Only after she took the extravagant gown did the Chief Eunuch withdraw his gaze, a hint of disdain flashing across his face. “This is His Majesty’s grace. Someone as vicious as you shouldn’t even be allowed at the banquet.”
Ye Shaohua lowered her eyes. The Chief Eunuch assumed she was too overwhelmed to speak and, satisfied, turned to report back.
Emperor Yuwen Jing and Yuwen Zhe were receiving foreign envoys.
When the Chief Eunuch returned, the two brothers lagged behind the envoys.
“Well?” Yuwen Jing asked in a low voice, though the absence of the palace robes in the eunuch’s hands already told him the plan had succeeded.
The Chief Eunuch bowed deeply before replying, “Your Majesty, the Consort has accepted them.”
His tone carried undisguised scorn.
Hearing this, Yuwen Jing immediately thought of the consequences. He had never doubted Ye Shaohua would agree—someone so simple-minded would never suspect their scheme.
Yet, he hesitated.
Especially after seeing her the other day. Before, he had felt no guilt, but now, an inexplicable remorse lingered in his heart.
Noticing his hesitation, Yuwen Zhe quickly reminded him, “Your Majesty, General Ye will return soon.”
General Ye commanded a hundred thousand elite troops. With so few imperial guards in the capital, if the general rebelled, they would stand no chance. If they didn’t act now, the throne itself might be at risk.
At this warning, the last trace of hesitation in Yuwen Jing’s eyes vanished.
…
Ye Shaohua wore the luxurious robes of an imperial consort, her aura sharp and commanding.
Unlike Qu Huashang’s refined, scholarly elegance, her beauty was fierce and striking. Her slightly narrowed peach-blossom eyes held a lazy allure, and a single glance from her was enough to captivate.
Even Shuangyue, accustomed to her mistress’s beauty, froze for a moment before reaching for the hair ornaments.
Ye Shaohua swept the gold and silver accessories aside, picking up a single hairpin and securing it in her hair.
Shuangyue opened her mouth to protest, but under the sunlight, the golden pin gleamed against her snow-white skin, perfectly balanced. Any additional ornaments would have been excessive.
The words died in her throat.
A group of palace attendants led Ye Shaohua away. Shuangyue tried to follow but was barred—her status was too low.
As they walked along the corridor, Ye Shaohua frowned. Something felt off.
Before she could speak, a faint, refreshing scent filled the air, followed by a flash of snowy-white fabric.
A pair of slender hands abruptly pulled her into a nearby room.
“Do you have any idea what Yuwen Jing is planning? How could you accept such an obvious trap?” A clear, jade-like voice rang out, its low timbre laced with anger.
Ye Shaohua studied the hands that had released her, then slowly lifted her gaze to the man before her.
Dressed in pristine white robes with subtle embroidery, he stood like unmelting snow atop a mountain. His sleeves carried a faint chill, and his dark eyes were magnetic, impossible to look away from.
When she didn’t answer immediately, his voice turned colder. “You seemed clever a few days ago. How can you not see through this now?”
Her indifferent expression only deepened his frustration. “Fine. If you’re determined to throw your life away, do as you please!”
With a flick of his sleeve, an unseen force pushed her back outside. The door slammed shut behind her.
The palace attendants outside showed no reaction, as if nothing had happened, and calmly continued guiding her forward.
Ye Shaohua’s eyes narrowed. Such precise control of internal energy…
Rumors claimed this man hadn’t returned to the palace in years. Why did the servants obey him so unquestioningly?
If he had ever wanted the throne, no amount of scheming would have saved Yuwen Jing.
Lost in thought, she soon arrived at the main hall.
At the center sat Yuwen Jing and Empress Qu Huashang.
What surprised Ye Shaohua was Qu Huashang’s presence. Known as the epitome of refined elegance, the empress disdained martial artists and “uncivilized” foreign envoys. Such banquets were beneath her.
Why was she here now?
And why was she dressed so plainly, standing out starkly among the lavishly adorned attendees?
The moment Ye Shaohua entered, all eyes locked onto her breathtaking beauty.
The foreign princes, especially, were entranced. Coming from harsh desert lands where women were rough and sturdy, even the average Central Plains woman seemed delicate to them.
The empress’s austere beauty was unapproachable, but this woman—
Their gazes clung to her.
Yuwen Jing barely glanced at Ye Shaohua. “Find her a seat.”
Since her role was merely decorative, he didn’t introduce her. The ministers, recognizing her as the disgraced, “ruthless” former consort, kept their distance.
To them, she was already as good as dead. Everyone knew the emperor feared General Ye’s power. Associating with her was not only pointless but potentially fatal for their entire clans.
