The Emperor did not stay at Yao Hua Palace, and the Empress Dowager’s decree almost simultaneously spread throughout the harem.
Beauty Zhou couldn’t help but smile.
She once thought Li Xiurong was truly special, but now she sees that she’s no different from the other women in the harem. When the Emperor favors you, he’ll protect you. When he doesn’t, you’re punished.
“Help me with my makeup, make it dazzling. Put away these jade hairpins; I don’t want to see them today.”
Beauty Zhou tossed the simply-designed hair ornaments and pins back into the jewelry box.
Having seen Zhang Chongyuan yesterday, Zhou Wanying unexpectedly felt a sense of inferiority, thinking of herself as a pale imitation.
Mingzhu lowered her head to retrieve Zhou Wanying’s clothes.
Previously, Mingzhen managed Zhou Wanying’s attire. However, Mingzhen was punished because of Li Yuyu, and she is now recovering in her room.
Mingzhu recently took care of Zhou Wanying’s wardrobe and found it rather challenging.
Zhou Wanying likes to wear lightly colored dresses and understated jewelry, different from Han Yiqing’s simplicity, exuding gentle wisdom. Wearing warm colors made her appear soft and delicate.
Yet her temperament was overly gentle and changeable. If one couldn’t guess her thoughts, she would be unhappy.
Mingzhu was extremely anxious at the moment, quietly asking, “Beauty, are you choosing the light blue or the light pink one?”
Upon seeing the light pink gown, Zhou Wanying recalled the time she went to Luaxin Pavilion to congratulate Li Xiurong.
That time, wearing the same outfit, caused her deep embarrassment.
“How dare you!” Zhou Wanying angrily picked up scissors, walked over, and cut the light pink gown several times to vent her dissatisfaction.
Mingzhu had already been scared to kneel on the ground, repeatedly begging, “Beauty, please calm down.”
Zhou Wanying’s chest heaved violently, she calmed after a moment, relaxing her grip, causing the scissors to fall at Mingzhu’s feet.
Mingzhu trembled again in fear.
Zhou Wanying chose a light yellow Liuxian Skirt and gently said, “This one will do.”
The person who loved wearing light yellow skirts was locked in the Cold Palace, so no one in the palace should be wearing the same colored dress anymore.
“Help me change, and send someone to the kitchen to ask if the soup I’m preparing is ready.”
“Yes.” Mingzhu got up from the ground, biting her lip, helping Zhou Wanying change clothes.
She didn’t dare ask why Beauty Zhou suddenly wanted to dress so beautifully, only tried her best to satisfy her.
“Not bad.” Zhou Wanying glanced at herself in the copper mirror and smiled with satisfaction.
Every expression of Beauty Zhou was captivating.
No need to feign weakness; she is inherently a delicate woman, now just needing slight embellishment to be enchanting.
“Let’s go, accompany me to the Imperial Study to deliver soup to the Emperor.” Zhou Wanying gently said.
What?
Sending soup to the Emperor?
Mingzhu pursed her lips, quietly advised, “Beauty, the Emperor is currently angry with Li Xiurong. If you go, it might easily provoke his anger.”
“Pow!” Zhou Wanying slapped Mingzhu: “Kneel until I return!”
Mingzhu, with a flushed face and covering her cheek, knelt on the ground, tearfully looking at Zhou Wanying who called a second-class palace maid to accompany her out of Purple Cloud Pavilion.
On the way to the Imperial Study, one would pass Yao Hua Palace.
On the palace road, more palace attendants were going to and fro than usual, and passing attendants would subtly glance towards Yao Hua Palace, wanting to know why, even though the Empress Dowager’s decree had been issued for a while, Li Xiurong had yet to kneel there.
Zhou Wanying deliberately took a detour to pass by the front of Yao Hua Palace, coincidentally encountering Li Yuyu stepping out of the palace door.