Rachel opened her eyes as she felt a cold breeze and looked down at the heavy outfit, she put her hands on her head in frustration.
"Boohoo, Empress Dowager, are you alright?" Seeing her master's unusual behavior, Cai An cried anxiously.
Rachel looked at her maid and sighed.
Cai Lingxin was married to the now deceased Emperor Fu Wuying of the Fu dynasty when she was no more than twelve years old. The Emperor married her knowing full well he would not touch as he was fully in love with his imperial Concubine who had already born him a few Sons.
She had been Empress for Eight years before the Emperor died and his Imperial Concubine followed him in death.
Now his Son Fu Tianxi had taken the reins of the Empire. At first, the relationship between both Cai Lingxin and Fu Tianxi was close they treated each other as brother and sister. But, now…
"I am alright"
Standing up Rachel, she glanced at the mirror to yet another peerless face full of beauty and maturity. Despite still being a woman who has yet to taste a man.
"Cai An, help me dress," Rachel said.
"Yes, Empress Dowager"
-Sometime Later-
Rachel sat in the chair as she opened a book and looked through it, Cai An had already brought her tea. She took the small cup up to her lips and sure enough, it was poisoned.
Cai An was brought up with Cai Lingxin the two had been together since their fragile years. That's why the young Empress had never expected to be betrayed by the maid.
Just because the Emperor loved the imperial Concubine doesn't mean that the women herself were nice. For Many years that women had been vicious to the young empress, and even more so when she grew more beautiful than her as years went by. She bought off her maid to poison the unsuspected person for many years.
Rachel put the cup down and glance at Cai An who smiled sweetly but her eyes betrayed her real emotions.
Cai Lingxin eventually grew resistant to poison and even liked to consume it. Rachel shivered inside as she took another sip. She couldn't decide whether she liked it or not, but the electricity going through her body felt good, no it felt amazing like it could be addicting.
She thought went wild with joy before her mind travel to a scene full of lust and love. Her face went flush red. As she put down the cup.
"The Emperor is holding a Banquet tonight for Lady Wei, yes" Rachel asked.
"Yes, Empress Dowager" Cai An said
Rachel shivered once again as an evil thought went into her mind. 'Well, after being raised with such oppression how was Cai Lingxin supposed to turn out'
"Open the screen," Rachel said to Cai An who went and did as she asked. Opening the screen door revealing a pack of beautiful young concubines who most likely came to her to complain, they looked teary-eyed. "My sisters come sit, you must have been stressed all day," Rachel said sweetly to the girls shocking Cai An and one of the most-regal looking women of the girl.
Dressed in a beautiful red was Empress Jiang Ning, who was of the same age as Cai Lingxin.
After getting all the Emperor's women sitting down in her humble palace, Rachel eased into her chair as the Empress paid her respect along with the rest of the concubines.
The women began complaining and badmouthing Lady Wei who was going to be given a title tonight. The Empress did nothing but stare at Rachels calm face.
"Empress Dowager, usually when it came to emperor and Lady Wei you would be somewhat upset." Empress Jiang Ning said.
The rest of the concubines went quiet suddenly as they had begun to take in Rachels words. Cai Lingxin wasn't in love with the current Emperor no she considered him her younger brother and was very protective of him.
"Lady Wei….I realize I spent so much time worrying about the wrong things that is all. I will not worry about such a woman who 'betrayed' her Empress in exchange for the emperor's attention."
Cai An was frozen as her master was looking straight at her when she said that. Wei Qigang was once the Empress Jiang Ning's own Maid.
Wei Qigang was to much like the Imperial Concubine, fake smiles full of tricks. The Wonderful sibling relationship between the current emperor was destroyed by that women.
Empress Jiang Ning's face tightened but showed no emotion.
"My dear Sister, the emperor was a brother to me, a beloved brother, but in the face of that women he gave that up. So, now I will give up. As for you Sisters, I will not ask you to give up but to improve yourselves. For these past years since the Emperor's coronation, he has yet to have a child. My sister I would love to see all of your beautiful child play in the garden someday." Rachel said shocking the Concubines and the Empress. The Empress Dowager wasn't as talkative as she was now.
"Empress Dowager, may I ask what do you have in mind for us to improve ourselves," Empress Jiang Ning said coming out of her shock.
Rachel gave a light laugh.
It was later in the day and Rachel was gazing into the moonlight, her expression was blank. If she looked down, she would she that her maidservants were violently being beaten by palace guards.
The young girl was crying and asking for forgiveness.
"This Emperor arrives." Said and Eunuch. Rachel looked down at the frozen palace guards and without getting she had told them.
"That maidservant, I don't want to see her breathing by tomorrow." She said waved the guards off as the infamous Emperor her 'step-son' walks in.
Fu Tianxi, the Emperor froze for a moment. Confused as his stepmother should have greeted him since he 'kindly' came to her first.
"Emperor Fu Tianxi, KNEEL!" she said so commandingly with a lot of hostility. This shocked the bot the Eunuch and the Emperor, some servant who accompanied got scared and are already kneeling but shocked as well.
"You…" Emperor Fu Tianxi was stunned and shocked.