After the calm girl walked out gracefully, another came in a similarly elegant manner.
“General Hua’s daughter, Hua Mingzhu, sixteen years old of age.”
The lady was slim and had dark brown hair and light brown eyes.
“I wish blessing upon your majesties and your highness consort Xiao.”, the lady smiled sweetly at the noble persons in front of her.
She is a good listener too, it seems.But her eyes don’t seem to hold too much ambition.
Every woman of the harem has a common ambition, after all.Raising the clan’s influence is every concubine of the harem’s wish.
“General Hua was blessed with such a good daughter. Not only is she pretty like a flower but she is also sensible.”
Empress Dowager was pleased with Lady Hua as she seemed to be the definition of a submissive concubine.
The emperor nodded, he also thought she was a good choice. She had a good background and seemed like she would live quietly as long as her clan receives favor.
“Hm, what does consort Xiao think about Lady Hua?”
The emperor smirked slightly at his male consort, who decided to play ‘the virtuous consort’ today.
Unknown to the emperor that his thoughts are far from the truth.
“Naturally, your majesties are right. Lady Huan is a suitable woman for his majesty.”
Consort Xiao’s cheeks started to hurt after so much smiling, but there was nothing he can do.
~~~~~~
“Put down the carriage.”
Yaozu got down from the carriage at the gates of his palace and entered elegantly with Meihui behind him.
The Gugu called all the maids to listen to the announcement of the eternal harmony palace.
“Lady An, Lady Hua and Lady Wei have been assigned to the palace of eternal harmony. Prepare the slightly bigger chambers in the west courtyard for Lady An and Lady Huan, then prepare the medium chambers for Lady Wei.”
All the maids bowed respectfully to the master of the palace.
“Preparations should start as they will enter the palace the day after tomorrow.”
“Yes, your highness.”
The female servants answered diligently and went to prepare the chambers.
Consort Xiao then, entered his chambers with Meihui.
Yazou tired sat down on his comfortable chair, with his head in his hand.
“Why did his majesty assign three concubines to our palace? Shouldn’t the royal consort have more?.”
Meihui was deeply displeased with the arrangement. But then again, what can she do?
“Perhaps, he wants to see how I would treat low concubines in my palace…”
Yaozu stopped for a moment as a maid entered the chamber with a tray of fresh tea.
Consort Xiao took the cup that was placed before him and started drinking the tea as the intruder left silently.
“By the way, what’s your opinion on the servants?”
Meihui frowned slightly thinking of each servant of eternal harmony palace.
She didn’t have the time to analyze all of them, but she managed to read some quite well.
“Well, even though Souxin and Yuan are kind of involved with the emperor and empress dowager, they seemed to hold some loyalty towards your highness.”
Yaozu thinks the two are also quite trustworthy. Also,he needs to let other servants tend to him too to let them know his true nature. In case framing will happen.
“I think Lou Suyin and Qin Han may be trustworthy. They did their duties diligently and they were never interested in gossip.”
Consort Xiao took a sip from his cup of tea before placing it on the table beside him.
“That doesn’t necessarily make them potential loyal servants. But there’s no other choice.”
Meihui nodded her head slowly. Keeping in mind to watch all the servants carefully as her master requires loyal servants now that concubines will reside in the eternal harmony palace.
She left the chamber to tell the two servants they’d been assigned as consort Xiao’s close servants when she caught a glimpse of the head eunuch with many servants behind him.
“Head eunuch, what brings you here?”
Meihui asked, though worried,no emotion was displayed on her face.
“His Majesty has ordered all this to be sent to eternal harmony palace for consort Xiao.”, The head eunuch smiled slightly.
He didn’t think anything of Consort Xiao at first, but when the emperor suspected the male consort of treason he didn’t have a good opinion about the consort.
But now, after the emperor implanted spies that only informed how consort Xiao laughed about the harem and even the emperor and empress dowager with his gugu, he started to see the male consort in a different light.
The consort has indeed bullied his brother, however, what consort Xiao did was just some teasing, not the bullying an upper would inflict on his subordinates.
Gugu Meihui guided the head eunuch to consort Xiao’s chambers silently.
She had a bad feeling about all this, after all, the emperor wouldn’t randomly send gifts to her master.
The head eunuch together with the maids bowed before the male consort.
“Greetings, your highness consort Xiao.”
Yaozu took a glance at Meihui before dismissing the servants from formalities.
“His majesty saw how your highness’ wears only men’s clothing that isn’t suitable for a consort, so his majesty prepared refined clothes for your highness.”, The head eunuch explained calmly.
Yaozu looked at the beautiful clothes intently. The clothes were similar to the ones worn by the emperor but not as grand. Consort Xiao soon realized,those clothes were meant for a male consort which surprised him, to say the least.
“His Majesty also observed that your Highness doesn’t have too many headpieces and jewelry.”
The head eunuch showed towards four trays filled with gold and pearls.
Yaozu frowned at the sight, earrings were present.
The earrings were beautiful, some were with gold, some with pearls.
But he was a man, why would he wear earrings? And how could he?
“His majesty said that your highness will have to wear three earrings for each ear, as a symbol of being a consort of his majesty’s harem..”, the head eunuch answered calmly after seeing the confused face of the consort, however, he pitied consort Xiao, but he could only follow orders.
Seeing the head eunuch’s face Yaozu knew a punishment in disguise will take place. And he could only prepare for it.
Meihui’s hands were shaking, upset with the fact she can’t help her master in any way.
Two elder maids came forward with a tray on which were place a needle, cut lemon, and handkerchief were placed.
One of them took the needle and dug it in the lemon, then took the lemon and placed it at the back of consort Xiao’s left ear.
“I’m sorry your Highness, but this will hurt s little.”, She said softly before piercing the consort’s ear.
Yaozu could only hide in pain and shut his eyes tightly.
The procedure happened five more times, the male consort having three holes in each earlobe.
Consort Xiao’s eyes were wet but he refused to shed tears because of the emperor again.
After the holes were made the elder maid took the other half of the lemon and tap it over the earlobe to prevent any infection.
“Your Highness, it would be indicated to consume white tea for the time being to prevent any infection.”, The maid states with a gentle voice.
After the trays were taken by consort Xiao’s maids, the head eunuch and the other servants decided to take their leave.
“We take our leave.”, they bowed before leaving the chambers quietly.
Meihui rushed to her master’s side, but not before telling the servants to quickly put them on the table and leave.
“Your Highness, should I call for a physician? Or should I get some painkillers?”, She asks in a breathy voice.
She’s upset and sad about this whole situation.
“Get some painkillers from the royal pharmacy.”
A few tears escaped his eyes, but they were quickly wiped off by Yaozu.
He was finally happy. Why did the emperor have to ruin everything?
Just because of a few words he had to apply punishment?
Everything seems to be going downhill again…He needs to stand his ground this time.
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