But now there was a sinful slave, and she was their sister in name. Lady Wen Yu was not the only one who reacted this way. Even Consort Wang, who prided herself on her generosity, felt disgusted at the thought of having such a woman call her sister in the future.
After thinking about it carefully, Consort Wang felt that there was something wrong. Unfortunately, she was in the harem and had limited information. It was difficult for her to sort out the details in a short time. However, she was sure that Madame Xiao's child would not be saved.
Thinking this way, Consort Wang was not anxious. Women in the harem relied on two things: the emperor's favor and the child.
Consort Wang's jade hand gently stroked her lower abdomen. Thinking of what had happened in the past, Consort Wang's expression became ugly. Lady Wen Yu also noticed her movements and guessed that she was thinking of the past. She did not dare to speak again and even moved gently to reduce her presence.
"Wen Yu," Wang Xian fei sat on the couch and took her hands. Her smile was gentle, "Don't worry. Not to mention the fact that since the founding of the Luo family, there has never been a precedent of a female slave becoming an imperial concubine. Furthermore, aunt was the first to disagree. As for the matters of the harem, as long as aunt does not agree, His Majesty will not act willfully."
Lady Wen Yu was afraid that she would bring up the past, so she only dared to go along with her wishes and nodded slowly.
Consort Wang saw that she understood and her smile became gentler, "The most important thing for you now is to regain favor. Sister, come closer."
Ten days later —
Lady Wen Yu felt that she had sinned deeply. In her palace, she took off her hairpin, recited Buddhist scriptures, and smashed all the luxurious decorations to show her determination to accompany the lamp and ancient Buddha forever. She prayed for the deceased imperial heir.
When His Majesty heard of this, he came in person. Seeing that she was sincerely repentant, he reduced her punishment and stayed in Willow Hall that night.
Hearing this, Bai Suyan, who was hiding in Liuying Hall and pretending to be sick, became spirited. These days, she was so bored that she almost became moldy.
Xia Zhi, on the other hand, was a little unhappy. She complained to Winter Solstice in private, "Although Her Highness' pregnancy is fake, Your Majesty doesn't have to forgive the Wen Clan so quickly!"
Winter Solstice was so frightened that she quickly covered her mouth and looked around. After making sure that no one was around, she scolded, "How dare you say that? I think you're just complaining that Her Highness's life is too smooth and you're only happy if she causes some trouble! "
Only then did Xia Zhi realize that her words were inappropriate. Her face paled. Her young mistress was married to the Emperor. To His Majesty, her young mistress was his subject, not his wife. Even if he took her young mistress's head today, they had nothing to say.
Although the people in Bai Suyan's palace were all Luoshuanga's spies, one of the advantages was that he didn't have to worry about being infiltrated by others. It was also convenient for him to inquire about anything.
At this moment, she leaned on the couch with a "sickly" face and listened to Green Waist report the follow-up story of how the Wen Clan regained favor.
Green Waist's voice was very pleasant. Listening to her speak was a supreme pleasure. "Your Highness, the new policies in the imperial court have been implemented. There's news from the Nanyuan that Xiao Changzai is depressed, which caused the pregnancy to be affected. The Imperial Academy of Medicine has sent word that the child may not be saved. In addition, Consort Wang is already two months pregnant. At this time, the Wen Clan regained favor, presumably …"
"Presumably, this is the work of that magnanimous Consort Xian." Bai Suyan's heart raced. The implementation of the new policies had affected the interests of many established aristocratic families. Consort Wang's pregnancy at this time was to reassure the Wang Clan.
As for the Wen Clan regaining favor, Consort Wang was pregnant and couldn't sleep with them. As a Consort Yan, she was ill. Qin Guiren was neither cold nor warm, and the Nanyuan couldn't be seen without an imperial edict. It would be strange if the Wen Clan didn't seize this opportunity.
It could be seen from the previous two generations that the Wang Clan and the Wen Clan could be said to be working together. They went in and out of the imperial court and the imperial harem and helped each other. Unfortunately, the two of them in this generation … Ha.
In the imperial harem, one was pregnant, two were recuperating, and the remaining four were sleeping with them every month. The Wen Clan took the biggest share, and the Chin Clan followed closely behind. The two people who gave birth to two children were equally divided.
However, this had nothing to do with Bai Suyan. She had to leave this place temporarily to carry out a mission. She had to help Luoshuanga set up the chess game three years later.
She left, but "Consort Yan" couldn't leave. The people around "Consort Yan" couldn't leave either.
Xia Zhi was born with a limited physique, so she couldn't practice profound martial arts and internal strength. She could only use some unorthodox methods to make up for her shortcomings, including the art of disguise.
Xia Zhi grew up with Bai Suyan in Winter Solstice, so she knew how to imitate it perfectly. Moreover, Xia Zhi's thoughts were jumpy, which could be complemented by the calmness of Winter Solstice. With Luoshuanga's help, there was basically no problem in the imperial harem.
The day Bai Suyan left the imperial harem was the day Xiao Changzai met the people of the North Court for the first time. It could be considered that they recognized her status.
Xiyuan's Sleeping Moon Palace.
Xiao Changzai slowly walked into the palace. Although she had put in a lot of effort in dressing up, it couldn't hide the haggard look between her brows. Her thin body and even her robe seemed to be draped over a skeleton, empty.
"Concubine Xiao, Qiao Zhen kowtows in salute to the Empress Dowager. Long live the Empress Dowager." Xiao Changzai was originally born in an official's family. She took the blame for her brother. After so many years, all the etiquette was decent.
Empress Dowager Wang didn't miss the fear in her eyes. In this palace, only those who knew fear could live longer. "Although His Majesty has already removed your lowly status, you still have to understand your status. You have to scrupulously abide by your duties and be careful with your words and actions."
Xiao Changzai bowed again and said yes. Then came the usual reward. Because it was meant to appease her, the reward was given according to the highest rank of Nanyuan, first rank glory and splendor.
Consort Wang, Lady Wen Yu, Consort Yan, and Qin Guiren also gave a symbolic greeting gift. It wasn't expensive, just a hairpin, a bracelet, a pair of earrings, or a ring. It was both acceptance and contempt.
Xiao Changzai left after receiving the reward. A Nanyuan concubine with no background and unable to give birth was no longer a threat. As long as she knew her place, living well wouldn't be a problem.
Raccoon was originally a group of shadow guards by the side of the Lo clan's ancestor. They were close bodyguards and directly received orders from the emperor. In the beginning, there were only 28 of them, but each of them had the ability to fight against a hundred people. They were the emperor's claws and teeth.
After the Luo family took control of the Central Plains, the Di Raccoon Clan grew stronger with each generation. They became a hidden force that could not be ignored. They were no longer the Emperor's Shadow Guards who could silently infiltrate other countries and destroy an entire city by themselves. They helped the Luo family on their path to becoming the hegemon of the Central Plains, clearing out numerous impregnable military fortresses.
When Bai Suyan entered the underground city for the first time, her long hair was loose and she was dressed in plain clothes. She walked step by step on the bluestone steps of the altar. It was as if she was advancing on the battlefield and also as if she was destined to return to this place. Who would have thought that there would be such an underground palace in Yanjing?
At the end of the tall stone steps, a man wearing a ferocious bronze mask stood there in plain clothes. He stood tall and straight like a pine tree. A pair of gentle eyes looked through the mask at the woman walking towards him, revealing 70% determination and 30% sorrow.
Raccoon's protector always wore a ferocious bronze mask in front of others. Even the middle and lower levels of the organization couldn't see his true face. Today, the leader of Raccoon was her brother, Bai Luoyan.
Bai Suyan stepped onto the altar and knelt down in front of Bai Luoyan. The maids on the altar beside her carried three bronze wine cups, one of which was clear water, one of which was vermillion, and one of which was turbid wine.
Bai Luoyan raised the cup of clear water and asked: "Are you willing to forget the past? Regardless of whether the mountains and rivers are prosperous or withered, swear to follow my master forever and never betray him. Otherwise, the heavens and earth will not tolerate you. You will be punished by death and will never be reincarnated."
"I am willing."
Bai Luoyan dipped his finger in the water and flicked it between her eyebrows. After three times, he poured the clear water behind her back, intending to cut off the past.
Bai Luoyan raised the second cup of wine. He hesitated for a moment and asked again: "Are you willing to forget the past? Regardless of whether the mountains and rivers are prosperous or withered, swear to follow my master forever and never betray him. Otherwise, the heavens and earth will not tolerate you. You will be punished by death and will never be reincarnated."
"I am willing."
Bai Luoyan dipped his finger in the blood in the cup and drew a red mark between Bai Suyan's eyebrows. He put down the red mark and picked up the turbid wine again. He asked for the last time. His voice was uncontrollably hoarse: "Are you willing to forget the past? Regardless of whether the mountains and rivers are prosperous or withered, swear to follow my master forever and never betray him. Otherwise, the heavens and earth will not tolerate you. You will be punished by death and will never be reincarnated."
"I, Bai Suyan, hereby swear that I am willing to follow and be loyal to His Majesty. In this lifetime, I will never betray His Majesty. If I go against this oath, Heaven and Earth will not tolerate it. I will suffer the punishment of a thousand cuts in life and death, unable to reincarnate. She took the wine cup and raised her head cleanly. The turbid wine burned her throat. From today onwards, she was a member of the Raccoon.
The Raccoon was divided into one master and two protectors. The four halls controlled the eight divisions. The master was the master of Da Qing. The left and right protectors were in the light. They referred to the master of the House of Bai, who controlled the White Tiger and Black Tortoise Halls. The other protector was in the dark. He was the personal bodyguard of the master of Da Qing. There was no fixed person. For generations, he was the master of the Green Dragon and Vermillion Bird Halls.
Among the four halls, the Green Dragon Medicine, the White Tiger Business, the Vermillion Bird Spying, and the Black Tortoise Martial Arts Demonstration. The four halls each controlled two of the eight divisions. The eight divisions were Gantian, Kun, Lei, Xun, Water, Lihuo, Gen Mountain, and Duize.
Soon, Bai Suyan received her first mission in the Raccoon. She was to sneak into Mu Province and get close to Mu Guiyi. She was to confirm the authenticity of the rumors and obtain evidence of the collusion between Mu Province and Đại Việt.
In order to get close to Mu Guiyi, there was a prerequisite. She couldn't look too "old". Mu Guiyi was only twelve years old this year. Although the maidservants by her side had to be old, they didn't have to be too old.
Especially with Mu Guiyi's family background, most of her personal maidservants would be part of the young miss' dowry in the future. Of course, she couldn't be too old. Moreover, Mu Jiahua had always boasted of being honest and thrifty to outsiders. There was no shortage of maids and servants in the residence, and he never went out to buy things.
When Xia Zhi first learned the art of disguise, Bai Suyan found it interesting and also learned a bit. Now, she didn't have to start from scratch. The most troublesome thing now was to change her body shape and make her look like a little girl in her early teens.
Bone Shrinkage Technique, strictly speaking, was a technique that shrank one's body. It used internal energy to shrink the gaps between the bones, making them compact and orderly. This kind of technique was usually started at a young age because the bones of infants were the softest. Furthermore, it wasn't something that could be achieved overnight. It would take at least ten years. ②
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