The Empress Wears Gucci

58

        A week passed and the Emperor and I had accompanied each other more than before. He treated me tenderly and still offered gifts, but I don't think he loved me. I'm glad but sad at the same time. He must love me, he had to. Every time we had dinner or spoke with each other, we had insightful conversations. We talked about Chinese philosophical topics and the battle going on right now. I was never informed about war, neither did I care about it. One of the Palace rules is that the harem should never interfere with politics nor state affairs, but it was funny to me that the Emperor broke that rule for me.

       It was a daily routine. If we didn't get to spend time with each other, I'd sometimes stay with him during his court assemblies or when he did his work. There was heavy security. We would have to be prepared to run or duck down if anything happened. Being the Emperor was a security risk, but I wasn't very aware of it before.

        Still, the Emperor made no actions to kiss me nor touch me. I didn't care, but I felt that to be an empress, the Emperor would have to love me. Chang Ying would have a greater chance. She came from a noble household and she wasn't a 'poor orphan' like me. 

        My maids were always there to kick doubt out of the picture. I closed my eyes trying to regain consciousness and presence while they chatted away. There was nothing else to do but sit down for lunch and talk to Hua Er and my maids. 

        "Madame Ying Yue, have you heard of the palace rumours?" Pink asked, smirking while wiping down the table.

        I shook my head and gently placed the vessel down. "No, I have not. Enlighten me."

        "The Emperor has spent more time with you than the other concubines," Pink explained, filling my vessel with more wine. Drinking wine after lunch was something that turned out to be a routine. "Your Grace, you don't think..."

        "His Majesty has been very kind to me... He showers me with gifts," I sighed, holding the pair of golden earrings with baby blue gems at the bottom. "But I doubt he loves me. He has kept his distance from me, and he treats me more like a companion rather than an Imperial Noble Consort."

        Hua Er crossed her arms. "Nonsense! You're doubting who you are. You are one of a kind and better than any of them!"

        "I guess so. Thank you." I mumbled. The wine vessel staring back at me in disgust begged to differ. I gently pushed it out of my sight and got up to return to the main hall of my palace. As my maids moved out of my way, Chang Ying stood in the doorway. 

        I looked at her, confused at her current presence. She rarely came uninvitingly and usually told me an hour before. Chang Ying sternly looked at me while she blocked my way. I didn't think much about it and took a step back, allowing her to walk in and sit down at the dinner table. 

        My maids watched. I watched. I didn't even greet nor speak to her, and neither did she. Was she mad about me not confronting Niu Lin? If that was it, she didn't have to act like that. My body was tensing up. I was waiting for an acknowledgement. 

        Her maids and my maids clashed, both watching us.

        I spoke up first.

        "Sister, is there anything you want to talk to me about?" I asked kindly, plastering a small smile on my face as I sat across from her.

        She looked at our maids, and then looked at me. I quickly knew what she meant.

        "Leave us," I said to my maids. After they left, I respectfully poured Chang Ying a vessel of wine, which she quickly accepted.