Chapter 81 The Empress Destroyed Your Country (7)

The Emperor was dressed in a black and gold dragon robe, with delicate and intricate embroidery, and a lifelike dragon design. Standing there, he looked as graceful as jade, unparalleled in the world.

Unfortunately, he was a tyrant.

The girls had not forgotten how cruel this Emperor was. Even if they were initially amazed by his appearance, most of them quickly realized the situation and cast their eyes down, looking elsewhere with uneasy expressions.

Nie Suzhi followed his heart and walked up to Bai Tang. His long sleeves and distinct knuckles resembled cold jade. He grabbed Bai Tang’s chin with his sharp eyes slightly narrowed. The oppressive gaze belonging to an emperor came straight at her, and his icy eyes made her feel no warmth. His deep voice held no fluctuations, “What is your name?”

Bai Tang calmly replied, “This humble girl’s name is Bai Tang.”

“Which Tang?” Nie Suzhi pressed.

“The Tang as in, pears and crabapples bloom, reflecting on the white poplar trees,” Bai Tang answered evenly.

Nie Suzhi leaned forward, and the bead curtain of the crown on his head hit Bai Tang’s face. Nie Suzhi inexplicably laughed and continued to ask, “Where do you come from?”

Bai Tang calmly met Nie Suzhi’s gaze and replied, “From where I come from.”

“Hmph! Not honest. You’ll do.” 

Nie Suzhi dismissed her with a flick of his hand, and Bai Tang tilted her head— it looked like Nie Suzhi had thrown something dirty. There were several red marks on Bai Tang’s chin, and it was clear how much force Nie Suzhi had used.

The other girls were scared to death, but Wen Yueqing was not as afraid. Bai Tang had changed. Before she got sick, she was just like everyone else, afraid and anxious. But after she woke up in the wagon, she seemed like a completely different person, calm and bold.

Nie Suzhi was aloof and commanded casually, “Bai Tang will be my next empress. De Fu, issue a decree to announce it to the world, and bring her to my study tonight.”

Almost everyone looked at Bai Tang with sympathy.

Ah! Another girl ruined.

But Bai Tang did not panic. She knew that the soul of Nie Suzhi and Shi Minzhi was the same person, and that was the reason why she had come to the capital.

Tonight was the wedding night, and it’d be interesting to see the seventh empress, who was appointed by the Emperor, assassinate him and flee.

Nie Suzhi took one look at Bai Tang, then flung his sleeves and left.

Hmph!

Sure enough, really a restless one.

All the women in the world are like this!

Eunuch De Fu approached and beckoned two palace maids to take Bai Tang away. As they passed by Wen Yueqing, Wen Yueqing heard a faint sound.

“Prepare a few meters of silk on your body.”

Wen Yueqing lowered her head and was secretly shocked. She glanced around at the other girls, but they seemed not to have heard anything.

Bai Tang did it on purpose! Wen Yueqing was sure of it.

Bai Tang was taken away by the palace maids and was dressed up, while the other girls were sent to the Department of Punishment to do hard labor temporarily.

For them, doing hard labor in the palace was much better than being an emperor’s empress. As a laborer, they could keep their lives, but as an empress, they would be abused to death.

***

Li Xing’er and Wen Yueqing were familiar with each other, so they snuck over secretly.

“Yueqing, is there really no hope for Bai Tang?” Li Xing’er asked.

Wen Yueqing rubbed her clothes. Her delicate hands, which never touched water, were now red. She only answered, “I don’t know. Xing’er, you’d better keep working. If the stewardess* sees us, we’ll both be in trouble.”

Li Xing’er muttered, “The stewardess isn’t here. If Bai Tang is gone, I’ll lose another friend.”

Li Xing’er just wanted some comfort.

“Whatever the outcome may be, Xing’er, you already have a conclusion in your heart,” whispered Wen Yueqing.

Wen Yueqing struggled to pick up the wooden basin and went to hang up the clothes.

The six empresses before Bai Tang had all died from abuse. Some lived for six months, while others didn’t even make it to a month. Everyone thought that Bai Tang was destined to die, it was only a matter of time.

——
TL/N:
-Stewardess; the original phrase is 管事妈妈 (guǎn shì māma) refers to a female servant or maid who is in charge of managing the daily affairs of the palace or household. They are responsible for overseeing the work of other servants, ensuring that everything runs smoothly, and reporting to their superiors.
-Other possible translations are matron in charge, supervising matron, household manager, housekeeper, head maid, etc.