Chapter 42 - Empress Lin Wei Yang!
Night had fallen, and a bright moon hung high in the sky, bathing the prosperous capital city in its silvery light.
The night market was bustling with lights and activity, and the streets were filled with people.
Tall buildings adorned with colorful lanterns stood alongside luxurious and magnificent structures, contrasting with the solemn and majestic imperial palace.
Compared to the lively atmosphere outside, the palace was quiet.
The Empress's bedchamber in Jiaofang Hall was brightly lit by top-grade luminous pearls from the Western Regions, and small lanterns made of colorful silk adorned the eaves and pillars.
Empress Lin Wei Yang, having finished her bath, dismissed her maids and leaned against a soft couch, reading the intelligence report she had just received.
Her hair was styled in a palace updo, her nose was high and straight, her chin delicate and round, and her fine eyebrows were like crescent moons. Her long eyelashes fluttered, and she was strikingly beautiful.
Her delicate feet were curled up, her toes like glistening jade, and the soles of her feet were as pink and tender as candied plums, a sight that stirred the imagination.
She wore only a thin gauze robe and undergarments, subtly dyed with turmeric, which perfectly outlined her graceful figure. The luminous pearls cast shadows that accentuated her curves.
Although there was still a hint of youthfulness in her expression, her noble and elegant demeanor exuded a sharp, icy beauty.
One could glimpse the formidable aura of this young Empress.
"Your Majesty, the Eldest Princess requests an audience."
A female official announced softly from behind the curtain.
Yue Er?
Lin Wei Yang's furrowed brows smoothed out. She put on an outer garment and said softly,
"Let her in."
Soon, a beautiful figure entered the bedchamber.
"Your Majesty, you're still awake."
The visitor said.
She was only eighteen or nineteen years old, with a slender figure, delicate willow-leaf eyebrows, and exquisite features that held a natural charm and allure.
Just looking at her face, one couldn't help but think of a fox spirit.
And then, thoughts drifted to the bedchamber.
Imagining passionate embraces and gentle whispers.
But in contrast to her enchanting appearance, the young woman's dress was rather conservative, revealing only her jade-like hands and a glimpse of her fair neck, where delicate veins were faintly visible.
Even so, one could still imagine her alluring figure hidden beneath the clothes from her petite curves.
"You girl, you must have rushed over as soon as you heard the news, like a cat smelling fish. Don't pretend in front of me."
Lin Wei Yang said, giving the charming young woman a playful glare.
This alluring woman was none other than the Eldest Princess of the Great Zhen Dynasty, Bai Ru Yue.
She was nicknamed the "Little Empress."
Not only because of her naturally enchanting beauty, but also because she inherited her father's, Bai Yao Quan's, shrewdness and intelligence. She was the one who helped Lin Wei Yang with some of her decisions.
She even served as a military advisor in the Battle of Yi You.
Her intelligence and cunning made many people wary of her.
Because they were of similar age and had compatible personalities, she and Lin Wei Yang had been playing together since childhood and were best friends. However, it was unforeseen that Lin Wei Yang would later become the Empress.
But this didn't affect their friendship.
On the contrary, they worked together, fighting alongside each other against various factions in the court.
Bai Ru Yue smiled playfully, her charming smile carrying a hint of elegance.
"What fishy smell? Is Your Majesty having a secret affair? Oh dear, our little Emperor is so pitiful."
"Do you want a beating, girl?"
Lin Wei Yang raised her fist playfully, and Bai Ru Yue quickly dodged, continuing to tease her with her words.
The two chased each other around, as if they were back in their childhood, the usual scheming of the court forgotten, replaced by the pure friendship between them.
After a while, they stopped, panting.
Lin Wei Yang, who was already scantily clad, had her clothes pulled open during their playful fight, revealing her alluring figure. Her skin was as fair and flawless as jade, like a celestial being descending to earth.
Bai Ru Yue's clothes were only slightly wrinkled, not revealing anything.
"Alright, I'll stop messing with you."
Lin Wei Yang said, blushing slightly as she noticed her disheveled appearance and quickly adjusted her clothes.
She handed the intelligence report she had just received to Bai Ru Yue.
"Oh, there's news about the County Princess of Mountain Cloud?"
Bai Ru Yue said, her lips curving into a charming smile after scanning the first line.
"Read further," Lin Wei Yang said calmly, picking up an exquisite ivory comb and fixing her slightly messy hair.
Bai Ru Yue's eyes moved down the report, and the smile on her face gradually faded.
"How could this be?"
The charming young woman turned to Lin Wei Yang, her delicate eyebrows furrowing slightly.
"Is this true?"
"I don't know. We'll have to wait for the Shadow Guard to return to the capital before making a judgment."
Bai Ru Yue touched her chin with a slender finger, pondering for a moment, then shook her head gently.
"No, we can't wait for the Shadow Guard to escort her back. Not to mention the many uncertainties along the way, even if she arrives safely in the capital, we might not be able to see her."
As she spoke, Bai Ru Yue picked up a map from the desk and studied it carefully.
Slap!
Her slender finger landed on a spot on the map.
"According to the intelligence report, that Shadow Guard team will stop in Dongqi County, Yun City, in five days. I'll go there myself."
"You? Go there yourself?"
Lin Wei Yang was startled and said with concern, "Will it be dangerous?"
Bai Ru Yue narrowed her beautiful eyes, a playful smile on her lips.
"Is Your Majesty worried about me? Oh my, I'm so touched. How about rewarding me with something tonight, Your Majesty? I recently read a book about tofu making techniques."
"Go away, I'm not joking."
Lin Wei Yang said with displeasure, her long hair cascading down like a waterfall.
Bai Ru Yue put away her smile and stopped teasing, her expression turning serious.
"The matter of the County Princess of Mountain Cloud is of great importance. We can't just wait here. I have to see it for myself. Don't worry, I'll be fine."
"But—"
"Out of the way, I'm looking for Little Wei Yang!"
Just as Lin Wei Yang was about to say something, a commotion suddenly came from outside the door.
Hearing this, Lin Wei Yang and Bai Ru Yue exchanged glances, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes.
"Little Wei Yang!"
A petite woman barged in, pushing past the maids who tried to stop her.
The woman had a youthful and innocent appearance, her delicate face as small as a palm. Her skin was as smooth and flawless as porcelain, with a faint apricot hue, making her look like a doll made from the finest porcelain, the kind one would want to hold and protect.
Dressed in a pink palace dress, she looked even more petite and delicate. Her slender legs, visible beneath the skirt, were beautifully shaped. Those who didn't know her would mistake her for a young princess.
"You may leave," Lin Wei Yang said, waving her hand to dismiss the maids who had followed.
The maids, who had been anxious, breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly left.
"Wei Yang greets the Grand Empress Dowager."
"Ru Yue greets the Grand Empress Dowager."
The two women bowed in unison to the woman in the pink dress, who had a hint of annoyance in her expression.
Yes, that's right.
This woman with a doll-like face, who looked quite young, was the Grand Empress Dowager of the Great Zhen Dynasty, He Lan Xiao Xiao.
Why was this the case?
To understand this, we need to go back to the chaotic struggle for the throne before Emperor Tianwu, Bai Yao Quan.