I traveled to the era of female supremacy and became a bad woman

royal palace,

Inside the imperial study, palace maids and eunuchs stood to one side, not daring to move, their foreheads covered in sweat.

His Majesty had been reviewing memorials for several hours, his brows furrowing deeper with each review, and the eunuch Xiao Dezi beside him dared not utter a sound.

They were terrified of angering the new emperor...

A palace maid, unable to stand any longer, dropped her tray, the sound jarring in the quiet room. The maid collapsed to the ground, and Xiao Dezi, standing nearby, immediately glanced at Feng Zhaoyun, his expression turning panicked.

He hurriedly said, "You dog of a servant, drag him out!"

.........

The palace maid who had collapsed was nowhere to be seen until everything inside the room was dealt with.

The empress, who was sitting at the desk, did not look up. She simply closed the last memorial, got up, and walked out of the imperial study.

Although she was the Crown Princess, she had been away from the Shang Kingdom for a long time and therefore did not assist in the administration of the kingdom.

She realized for the first time how tiring it was to be an emperor.

Feng Zhaoyun walked to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. After entering, she leaned lazily against a soft couch, propped her forehead with one hand, and sighed softly. Finally, she could rest for a while.

At this moment, the head eunuch of the Imperial Household Department arrived with his men. When they reached the door, they dared not enter and instead winked at Xiao Dezi inside the hall.

Xiao Dezi quietly slipped out.

The head eunuch of the Imperial Household Department whispered, "Eunuch De, it's time to choose a concubine."

Xiao Dezi glanced around the room and, seeing that the Empress had lost her earlier hostility, beckoned, "Come in with me."

The eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department replied, "Yes."

The group entered and knelt before the soft couch.

Xiao Dezi said, "Your Majesty, it's time to choose a concubine."

After he finished speaking, a young eunuch knelt down and carried a tray, raising it high.

Feng Zhaoyun lazily opened her phoenix eyes and saw only two plaques on the tray: Lord Bai and Lord Nangong.

The person on the soft couch suddenly sneered, "Who gave you the audacity to remove the plaque for Husband Bai?"

Mr. Bai Husband?

At this moment, the head eunuch of the Imperial Household Department was first stunned, then suddenly realized what was happening and hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, Your Majesty, please forgive me, this servant will go back and add it right away."

As everyone knows, Consort Bai was demoted to the outskirts of the city by the former emperor and would never return to the capital. Therefore, he could not be considered an imperial consort and no plaque was made for him.

Feng Zhaoyun didn't pursue the matter further, but instead beckoned to the little eunuch.

The young eunuch understood and, trembling, stepped forward to lift the tray.

Feng Zhaoyun stared at the tray for a long time but still did not flip the card. Then she said, "You may all leave."

The eunuch from the Imperial Household Department quickly replied, "Yes...yes."

After the others left, as if remembering something, Feng Zhaoyun suddenly narrowed her phoenix eyes and smiled wickedly, "I've heard that General Xiao's son is exceptionally talented in literature, I..."

Standing at the door, Jiu Yi heard the conversation inside and her shoulders trembled...

Xiao Dezi respectfully said, "Your Majesty, may I go and convey your decree?"

Feng Zhaoyun picked up the teacup beside her with interest, a smile playing on her lips. "Hmm."

Xiao Dezi, still unsure of anything else, quickly led his men and drove the carriage towards the General's Mansion.

Upon hearing this, Jiu Yi, who was standing at the door, leaned against a pillar, closed his eyes, and thought to himself, "Poor County Princess Xiao, my master is clearly harboring malicious intentions."

.........

General's Mansion,

Since her eyes were cured, Xiao Qingyue has remained secluded at home, determined to stay away from politics and the royal family...

When he heard that the new emperor had ascended the throne, he was first taken aback, but then he returned to normal. The Crown Princess was no longer the same as before, so such a treasonous act of forcing the emperor to abdicate was quite common.

He was in his study at the time, with a painting of peach blossoms on his desk and fragrant tea warming over a charcoal fire in a stove beside him, the room filled with the aroma of tea.

He put down his pen, picked up the finished painting, and smiled gently, a smile as warm and refined as jade. No one else could capture the peach blossoms on the paper so beautifully.

At this moment, the once tranquil general's mansion was suddenly disrupted by a group of people who barged in, shattering the peaceful scene.

Leading the way was none other than the current Empress's close attendant, Eunuch De, with Xiao Yushan beside him.

She had just returned from outside and entered the general's mansion when she was greeted by people from the palace who had received an imperial decree to bring Qingyue into the palace.

Entering the palace in the dead of night, what good could come of it for a man like him?

Xiao Yushan dared not stop him, and could only say as they walked, "Your Excellency, my beloved son has recently caught a cold. This old minister wishes to accompany you to the palace to plead guilty to His Majesty. Your Excellency... Your Excellency..."

Xiao Dezi did not stop walking, nor did he pay any attention to her.

What tricks are you playing on this old general?

They had just arrived at the study door. Seeing a group of people coming towards them, Zhu Qing quickly went in and said, "Young Master, Young Master, it seems that someone from the palace has arrived."

Xiao Qingyue paused, turned to look out the window, and was seen by Xiao Dezi.

Xiao Dezi sneered, "General Xiao, isn't the county princess ill? How do you see it? Not necessarily! Are you deliberately defying the imperial decree?"

After saying this, Xiao Dezi snorted and flicked his sleeve, walking straight towards Xiao Qingyue.

Xiao Yushan stood there, stamping his feet in frustration...

Xiao Qingyue came out, and Xiao Dezi stepped forward and said respectfully, "Princess Xiao, we have come by order of His Majesty to bring you into the palace."

Xiao Yushan quickly came over.

Seeing his mother's anxious expression, Xiao Qingyue naturally guessed that nothing good was coming. He lowered his eyes and said calmly, "Please lead the way, Father-in-law."

Then Xiao Dezi was about to leave.

Xiao Yushan grabbed his hand and whispered, "Qingyue, you can't go! Things are different now!"

Seeing her mother so worried, Xiao Qingyue smiled with relief and patted Xiao Yushan's hand, "Mother, don't worry, His Majesty is a wise ruler, and besides... Qingyue's life was given to her by him."

After saying that, he followed Xiao Dezi and walked all the way out of the general's mansion, got into the carriage, and headed towards the palace.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the palace gate.

Chun'en's carriage was already waiting, and the strings of lanterns and silver bells hanging on it already hinted at its purpose.

Zhu Qing got out of the carriage and nervously tugged at Xiao Qingyue's sleeve, "Young Master... shall I go find Lord Bai?"

Xiao Qingyue saw Chun En's car, pursed his lips, and then looked up, "Never mind."

Xiao Dezi stepped forward, "Princess, please."

Once inside the carriage, Xiao Qingyue headed towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Xiao Qingyue was previously granted the title of County Princess by the former Emperor, which clearly meant to extinguish Feng Zhaoyun's hopes. How could the Crown Princess possibly take a County Princess into her household?

Tonight's actions clearly indicate that the new emperor intends to deviate from established doctrines...

According to custom, when the emperor's consort is to be served in bed, he should first bathe and be scented with incense.

But the new emperor's intention was to simply waive those formalities.

Chun'en's carriage arrived at Luanchi, the place where the emperor bathed, located in the backyard of Yangxin Hall.

Zhu Qing was stopped by the palace servants and was so anxious that she jumped up and down. After thinking for a while, she asked around and then turned around and ran towards the palace where Lord Bai was.

Xiao Qingyue was led into the hall, which was very spacious. Upon entering and opening the door, she was greeted by rising steam.

Inside the hall is a large square pool. Above the pool, the beams and pillars are covered with bright yellow silk. The silk hangs down, obscuring half of the pool's surface, making it appear and disappear.

Xiao Qingyue was led to a screen.

Xiao Dezi waved his hand, "Help the county princess change her clothes."

A young eunuch stepped forward to help undress Xiao Qingyue.

Xiao Qingyue took a step back. "Your Excellency, what is the meaning of this? I am a county princess. How can I do such a thing in the Hall of Mental Cultivation?"

Xiao Dezi smiled ingratiatingly, "Princess, please don't do this. If we anger His Majesty, neither of us will be able to explain ourselves."

After saying this, Xiao Dezi's expression changed, and he gestured to the eunuch to forcibly change his clothes.

Soon, Xiao Qingyue was left with only her undergarments and trousers, and the palace servants immediately withdrew from the hall.

Xiao Dezi bowed and gestured, "Please, Your Highness." He then withdrew.

Xiao Qingyue glanced behind the screen...

The gauze curtain fell, obscuring whether anyone was inside. He stood there for a moment, then closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and barefoot, walked around the screen and inside...

..........