Chapter 21 Seemed evil, just because she’s a villainess

    Bai Yu copied the text until late at night. Her hand moved with muscle memory and produced beautiful handwriting of the original body’s. But because she was originally not used to writing Chinese characters, it still took her longer than it should.

    “It’s a bit difficult, probably because my wound was just healed,” Bai Yu said sweetly the next morning when she brought the copied text to her mother.

    “Your fingers are still not fully healed?” Yue Mei was soft on her daughter as always.

    “It’s not much, but some movements are a bit difficult.” She had to use that as an excuse since there were many more events that Bai Yu would have to go through while she was still uncertain whether her skill was on the same level as the original’s or not. If she used her hand as an excuse, then she would have a backup plan in case something went wrong. Though actually, her hands had completely healed.

    “The Emperor had announced that there’ll be a celebration banquet for the people who helped with the disease, but there’s no specific date yet. Still, you should practice your guqin skill. This time you have to catch the Emperor’s attention, and then the title Qin Wang Fei will be just in reach.”

    “Yu-er understands, mother.”

    Bai Yu was not worried about being Qin Wang Fei. This was not yet the part where the fight for the throne turned intense and Ouyang Mingxian married her to consolidate his power. What she was worried about was having to compete with Bai Hua’s astonishing skill at the magic dance. In the series, that was the first time Bai Hua showed her magic to the public, and it was also the time where Bai Yu lost to Bai Hua’s black-level magic.

    No matter what it was, the series or the fate, Bai Yu could not bear to lose!

    But magic guqin was worrisome. She did not know if she could be as good as the original Bai Yu, and so she must hurry back to her residence to practice. Her path as a fashionista had to be halted in the meantime. As for her practice, that would also be after her morning battle.

    “Greetings from Yue-er to first mother. Greetings to first sister.” Bai Yue walked into the main building with her mother, the second Furen. Both of them said their greetings with bright smiles. In this mansion, they were the only two people who dared to interrupt while Bai Yu and her mother were talking. Though their manners were far from pleasant, they were in an acceptable degree that Yue Mei did not bother to call for punishment.

    This was Bai Yu’s first breakfast after returning from the temple. And that must mean she had to meet other women who had respectable positions in this household.

    “First miss seems a little skinnier after returning from the temple. You should eat a lot today,” The second Furen said with a clear attempt at sounding gentle. Today, the mother and daughter pair were dressing more elegantly than usual. There must be something special that Bai Yu did not know about.

    “Thank you second Furen for your concern.” She was probably feeling pleased, thinking that Bai Yu had a difficult time at the village. What she did not know was that it did not bother Bai Yu at all. On the contrary, she was glad to hear others tell her that she was skinny.

    “You look tanned, sister. Normally you’re delicate and graceful like an angel, but now you’ve become sunburned and haggard. The sun is probably so strong in the backwater.”

    “How about you who coop up indoor until your skin pales? Do you really think wearing white is a good choice, sister?”

    “What about it, sister?! What’s the problem with me wearing white?”

    Everyone knew that wearing white would elevate the image of a normal beauty into a saintess. Bai Yue intentionally chose this color because she wanted to attract attention from the guest who would be visiting today. She intended to stand out with her appearance, and she was sure that she would receive an invitation. Her first sister must be jealous so she tried to sabotage her confidence!

    “A pale face, and even paler body, with white clothes that blended with the skin…” Bai Yu sneered, looking at her younger sister up and down. Hmph! Such a poor taste. “…You look like a Ju-on that villagers near the temple told me about. A pale-skinned spirit wearing white. At nightfall, it’ll detach its head, innard from the body, and fly out to eat animal feces.”

    “Y…you” Bai Yue’s face paled at what she heard. She did not realize that what Bai Yu described was an imagination resulting from a combination between Ju-on and Krasue.

    “I hope fourth sister’s head and insides will not float out to find something in the stable to eat at night.”

    “First miss teases Yue-er too much.” It was the second Furen who interrupted to protect her daughter from being more embarrassed. Though she never heard of a Ju-on spirit before, she had to agree that her Yue-er’s paleness did fit the description from Bai Yu.

    “When there’s time, jiejie will teach fourth sister how to choose dresses that compliment your pure white skin,” Bai Yu said with a smile, ending the conversation when her father arrived. Still, she had to internally sigh. Why did people of this time like to mock others using flowery language so much? She would prefer it more if they were straightforward like Ouyang Feilong.

    No. She should not think about that person. Too foul-mouthed! It should be Xu Peipei who was honest at the right degree.

    Bai Han walked into the main house with the third Furen who he had spent the night with. The morning battle then promptly ended with everyone standing up to curtsy to the head of the Bai family.

    Throughout the rest of the meal, Bai Yu did not pay any attention to the bragging from third Furen who considered herself to be the current favorite of their husband. She let her mother handle their enemies like always as she puzzled over the second Furen and her daughter who wore unusually fine clothes to the morning table.

    It was not long before the answer came. After everyone had finished breakfast and gone back to their own building, a maid came running to inform them of Qin Wang and Wei Wang’s arrival.

    Bai Yu was dressed up by her two maids who were determined to not let her lose to Bai Yue, who somehow had already known, and so had been waiting in her best dress since early morning.

    When she arrived, the two royals were already at the front gate. Bai Yu walked slowly in her usual graceful gait, not too rushed or lagged even when she wanted to run. She did not want people to think she was intentionally late to attract Ouyang Mingxian’s attention.

    “Blessings to Qin Wang. Blessings to Wei Wang.”

    Today Ouyang Mingxian wore a dark blue attire with a fur cape the same color as Bai Yu. She did not plan to have a matching set with him at all. It was Ouyang Mingxian who suddenly stopped wearing his favorite black clothes and copied her!

    The tall figure looked at Miss Bai who dressed more beautifully than when she was at the village. She had been wearing a lot of dark blue clothes that he himself had started taking a liking to. Still, even in that same color, she was more charming and graceful than every time they had met before. Ouyang Mingxian could not help but think that this color did suit Bai Yu very well.

    “Miss Bai is as beautiful as ever.” It was Ouyang Wenrou who complimented her out loud.

    He was surprised to see an unmarried woman like Bai Yu chose dark color clothing instead of soft pastel ones that other young ladies loved. Because lighter colors which were popular among the noblewomen would make the wearer look more delicate. The observant Ouyang Wenrou instinctively praised her.

    “Wangye is exaggerating.”

    “Apologies to senior chancellor Bai. Today benwang and third brother suddenly came without notifying you first.” Ouyang Wenrou smiled gently, as always, to Bai Yu. He said this with his usual soft voice to Bai Han, who was dressed as a man ready on his duty, and surely, Bai Han did not dare to be upset about the sudden visit.

    They all went to sit down at the main building. Ouyang Mingxian was at the honored seat, next to him was Ouyang Wenrou, and everyone else sat according to their own ranks. Bai Yu was beside her mother and behind them were the two Furens and Bai Yue. Bai Hua was forbidden from welcoming the royals as usual.

    “Grandmother has asked benwang to deliver the royal banquet invitation to Bai Furen.”

    “Wangye is too gracious.” Yue Mei received the invitation from Qin Wang, whom Empress Dowager Wei always entrusted with every matter pertaining to the Bai family.

    “Also, grandmother wanted to see first miss Bai Yu and third miss Bai Hua today’s morning.”

    An audience with Empress Dowager today’s morning? She was going to see something fun.

    Bai Yu was not excited that she was summoned, but she was excited for Bai Hua. The order must mean that Empress Dowager was keeping an eye on Bai Hua and her relationship with Ouyang Mingxian. This happened faster than Bai Yu had expected.

    “Hua-er has been unwell since she came back from the temple…”

    “Would you like benwang to see her?”

    Yue Mei was going to refuse but was interrupted by Ouyang Wenrou as if he knew her thoughts from the beginning.

    “Benwang had a morning meeting to attend. Two misses, please finish preparing yourselves within one ke.” It was Ouyang Mingxian who pressured her with a cold voice and stiff expression.

    He must be eager to meet Bai Hua. But he probably did not know what Bai Hua was going to face after this. Hmph!

    Bai Yu was brought back to her building to change into a more luxurious dress and accessories. It was a tradition among the nobles to look the most elegant as one could when visiting the palace. For Bai Hua, Yue Mei ordered Xiao Jun to take care of how she would dress.

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    “First mother.” While waiting for the two women who were summoned, a soft voice from a young maiden in white drew everyone’s attention. Bai Yue started acting on her own plan.

    “Lately, third sister’s health is not very good. I am afraid that she will be a burden to our big sister when they are in the palace. Big sister herself also just got back from a faraway village, she must be tired…” Her big round eyes like a young doe were full of meaning when she gazed at the first Furen. “…Can mother please allow me to go and help her third sister?”

    At first, she wanted to dress up to attract the eyes of two Wangyes. But now that there was an opportunity to enter the imperial palace and even visit the Empress Dowager’s palace, she could not help but become ambitious. Even a former maid’s child like third sister could go, then why could a second Furen’s daughter like her not?

    Bai Yue guessed that Yue Mei must be thinking that Bai Hua was going to cause trouble for Bai Yu. Her first mother never wanted anyone to be seen on the same level as her daughter, so Bai Yue took advantage of that thought and implied in her question that she would help hold third sister back. However, she actually wanted to be noticed by the Empress Dowager and Qin Wang.

    She was always prevented from receiving Qin Wang. This time she used an excuse that she was going to see her father off at the front gate and could finally, coincidentally, meet Qin Wang who arrived at the same time.

    “Yue-er is such a clever child.” Yue Mei fell for the doe-eyed girl’s trick. She asked for permission from Qin Wang to let Bai Yue follow, and was easily permitted. Ouyang Mingxian did not see a problem with allowing so, since he himself only wanted to see Bai Hua, while Ouyang Wenrou who came with his brother also only wanted to talk to the woman with whom he got along well.

    It was not long before Qin Wang and Wei Wang’s row of carriages started moving toward the imperial palace. In the cavalcade, there was the Bai family’s carriage included as well. Within its grand and spacious interior, three women were sitting without saying a word to each other. It was an unusual sight, different from how women would normally start gossiping when they gathered.

    Bai Yu was sitting in the middle, with Bai Hua and Bai Yue on both sides.

    “What does big sister think the Empress Dowager summoned you for?”

    “It’s none of your business,” Bai Yu brusquely answered Bai Yue.

    “I hope big sister isn’t saying that because you’re angry. This time you entered the palace with two daughters born from concubines. It’s not just you who’s the first Furen’s daughter anymore.”

    Bai Yu and her mother used to say that it would be almost impossible for a concubine’s child like them to visit the palace, but this time, lower-born children like them were right here in her carriage. This really hurt!

    Bai Hua and Bai Yue did not even have the right to come near Bai Yu’s carriage. But because Yue Mei wanted to make her seem generous in front of Ouyang Mingxian, she had to let them sit with her.

    “No matter how I hear it, you both were just following me, not formally summoned.”

    “But the Empress Dowager ordered to see third sister too.”

    “Yet your name isn’t in the Empress Dowager’s order.”

    Bai Yue immediately shut up. Bai Yu wearily shook her head. Did her mother send this fake doe to help her or to be a hindrance?

    “The palace is full of royals, and the nobles who have close blood relations to the royal family. You two are just daughters from a secondary branch, so you should be careful…” Bai Yu stopped to glance at Bai Hua who was also looking at her. “…When you walk, you have to be both reserved and graceful. Always lower your head slightly. And don’t look directly at the face of those who have higher ranks than you. Ever. Unless you receive permissions.”

    The villainess told her two half-sisters sternly.

    “I know that both of you came to the palace once for the banquet last time. But this time is different because we’re going to the inner court, which is where the Empress Dowager’s palace is. There’s a high chance you’ll meet royal consorts, so you have to always mind your manners.”

    As an older sister, Bai Yu advised them in a calm but serious tone.

    Bai Yue was only innocent and talkative when she was faking. In truth, this fourth sister of hers was both arrogant and hot-headed. She would easily lose her composure when things did not go her way.

    As for the transmigrated Bai Hua, obviously, she would not have the perfect manners of this ancient era. She might have knowledge about some etiquettes, but Bai Yu was still worried that she would try to apply the sense of equality here and forget to control herself when she was faced by the royal who loved mocking others, namely, Empress Dowager Wei.

    Bai Yu was uncertain whether the Empress Dowager would take a liking to Bai Hua or not. If things went according to the series, then the answer would be no. Even worse, in the future she would continue to find ways to hinder the heroine, leading to Ouyang Mingxian being more sympathetic and protective of Bai Hua toward his own grandmother.

    Bai Yu knew full well how the two’s love life would plan out. Still, she had no intention to stop it like the original body did. As long as she did not have to witness it with her own eyes, she could still suppress this heartache.

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    When they arrived at the imperial palace, Ouyang Mingxian and Ouyang Wenrou separated from them and went to the meeting at the throne hall. It seemed that the two royals only escorted them because of the Empress Dowager’s order, not caring about the reason why they were summoned.

    It was because Ouyang Mingxian was so oblivious like this that Bai Hua in the series had to struggle alone against Empress Dowager Wei for quite some time.

    A eunuch had been waiting for them to arrive. When the two royals went the other way, the eunuch then came to lead the three women to the inner court where Empress Dowager Wei, Empress Wang, and other consorts and concubines resided. Bai Yu who had been here countless times already knew the way so having a eunuch to lead her was merely for formality.

    Royal maids were stopped by the scene of three young ladies walking along the trimmed path amidst the sheer white of the imperial palace in the snow. They could not help but stare at them with admiration.

    These three young misses all possessed different styles of beauty.

    They were familiar with the one in the front. She was the first miss Bai Yu, a woman who was graceful and refined in all her manners. On that beautiful face was an ever-present slight smile that made her look like an angel with endless mercy for all living things. Furthermore, she was also known for her skills and high level of magic, making her famous among the maids in the imperial palace.

    The woman in white behind her was distinct with her big, round eyes. Even while slightly lowering her face, her delicate features could attract attention. Though she was not as sophisticated as the first miss Bai Yu, she had an image of an innocent fairy.

    She was different from the miss who was walking beside her. The light pink dress that she wore might not be as elegant as the other two, but it still could not detract from her beauty. If that first miss Bai Yu was the dignified one, then this Bai Hua who they had met once at the banquet was the gentle beauty. Her slender form invoked protectiveness in those who saw her, and her peach blossom eyes that looked around discreetly could easily charm anyone.

    In terms of beauty, it was a tight competition. But in terms of birth, obviously Bai Yu won by a wide margin!

    “Informing Empress Dowager, Miss Bai requests your audience.”

    “Let her in.”

    The voice from inside replied almost immediately after the maid called out. Before stepping through the door, Bai Yu glanced at Bai Hua for a brief moment.

    Good luck to the heroine. The villainess right here will be taking the front-row seat.

    “Blessings to Empress Dowager. May you live and reign for a thousand years, thousand years, thousands of thousands years.”

    Three figures curtsied, greeting with voices that were loud and clear. Empress Dowager Wei saw those who came to her summon, and though she was surprised to see the fourth miss, she did not pay much mind to her.

     “No need for such formality.” The woman in a Chinese phoenix embroidery dress came and took Bai Yu’s hands. Her action reflected both familiarity and care toward the recipient. As usual, the Empress Dowager was careful of her decorative nail guards as to not hurt Bai Yu’s skin with its sharp ends. This time when she told them to relax, she was talking only to Bai Yu. On top of that, she also took her by the hand to lead her to sit on the same long chair like last time. From the beginning to the end, Empress Dowager Wei did not spare a single glance toward the other two.

    So you’re going to do it like this?

    “Aijia already heard that you came back with Qin Wang. Aijia was so worried when there was news that you were in the area of the disease.”

    “Your Majesty, originally, I just went to my ancestral temple. There was a day that I handed out congee to the villagers, so when the disease broke out, I had to remain there to contain the spread.”

    “Ming-er was so worried that he volunteered to go to the village to stop the disease. Aijia was proud to see you both united your strength to save the villagers.”

    “It is nothing much, Your Majesty.” Bai Yu faked a shy reaction. She was beginning to understand why Empress Dowager Wei summoned Bai Hua together with her today. It was because she wanted to show the heroine that Ouyang Mingxian belonged to Bai Yu alone.

    “There’s no need to be humble, Yu-er. You and Ming-er are close since you’re young. To aijia, you are the only one that’s worthy of title Qin Wang Fei.”

    Empress Dowager Wei said with a voice louder than usual. Even while talking to Bai Yu, her eyes did not leave Bai Hua who was standing still in the same place.

    “And these…”

    “Answering Your Majesty, they are my third and fourth sister.”

    “Then you can relax.” After she was satisfied with how long she made them stand, she let them sit down.

    Bai Yu thought that this might be the lightest ‘lesson’ that Empress Dowager Wei could give.

    “You are…”

    “Answering Your Majesty, my name is Bai Hua.” She answered respectfully, even though inside she was irritated by Empress Dowager Wei’s action.

    “So it was you who treated the villager.”

    “Answering Your Majesty, yes, it was me.”

    “Come closer.”

    Bai Hua stood up and walked toward the Empress Dowager before kneeling down in front of her. Her face was slightly lowered, just as Bai Yu had taught her.

    Empress Dowager Wei took Bai Hua’s chin to lift her face up. The nail guards on her ring finger and little finger that were popular among the inner court women slightly pressed down on Bai Hua’s neck. The commanding eyes of the great phoenix met the peach blossom ones that remained calm.

    “You are pretty…” The elder of the inner court said with a voice that gave Bai Yu goosebumps.

    Was this truly the same woman who warmly held her hands?

    “Do you know what pretty flowers are for?”

    “Answering Your Majesty, I do not know.” Bai Hua gazed down. Even the most resolute heart, when faced with the great phoenix who had prevailed countless winters, would still lose. A person had to go through many hardships in order to have that same gaze.

    “Aijia will show you.” Empress Dowager Wei let go of Bai Hua’s face. Then, Lin mama came to support her to walk out of the palace.

    Bai Yu glanced at Bai Hua who was sitting still on the floor, before turning to follow the mistress of the palace to the famed royal garden.

    Because numerous consorts and concubines were living in the palace, this garden had to be exquisitely trimmed and decorated. Even now during winter, where there was a layer of snow everywhere, the garden was as magnificent as ever with the plum blossoms blooming its red petals amidst the cold among other kinds of flowers that could endure the weather.

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    Empress Dowager Wei guided them through the garden by herself. Bai Yu was walking beside her, reflecting how she was the most favorite, while Bai Hua and Bai Yue quietly followed.

    “Yu-er, which flower do you think is the most beautiful?” the Empress Dowager asked after they had been strolling in silence for a while.

    “It is, of course, the sage of winter or the plum blossoms, Your Majesty.” She could immediately answer even without looking at the garden.

    “As expected of you.” Empress Dowager lovingly smiled toward her before turning to Bai Hua.

    “What about you?”

    “Answering Your Majesty, I like the lotus.”

    “A good choice. Lotus is pretty, even though it’s born from mud.”

    Bai Hua did not express gratitude. She chose to remain silent while keeping her head down to control her manners.

    “You, bring that flower to aijia,” the elderly woman said to Bai Yue who had been ignored up until now. Bai Yue followed the order. She went to pluck a pink flower that Bai Yu did not know the name of.

    “Aijia brings you here to tell you the meaning of flowers,” Empress Dowager Wei said to Bai Hua in the same tone she had used at the palace. Bai Yu and Bai Yue could only stand aside and watch the climax play out in front of them.

    “Yes, Your Majesty.”

    “Pretty flowers are for admiring…” She held the flower in her hand, then dropped it to the ground.

    “…And when bored, it can be easily destroyed!” The delicate flower was effortlessly crushed under her foot.

    Bai Hua’s eyes widened as she stared at the crumpled petals under the Empress Dowager’s shoe. The implied meaning was immediately clear.

    Bai Yu calmly observed the reaction of everyone around her. It was not too different from what she expected.

    “Aijia’s tired.” That meant she wanted to return to the palace. But when she lifted her foot from what was left of the flower, Empress Dowager Wei stumbled back. Bai Hua immediately went to help support her, but when the Empress Dowager regained her balance again, she jerked away from the well-meaning heroine.

    Bai Yu watched the two women who were opposite in age and standpoint. One never had any ill will. The other only sought to destroy. Even when Bai Yu was not wicked, others would be so instead of her.

    “Yu-er, help aijia walk back,” Empress Dowager Wei called for another person instead of saying thanks to the one who helped her.

    “Yes, Your Majesty.” Bai Yu went with the flow. She took the elderly woman’s arm and supported her back to the palace with the help of Lin mama.

    Behind them were Bai Yue and Bai Hua who were still standing in the same spot. The plum blossom eyes gazed at the backs that were moving farther away. Bai Yue saw the look on Bai Hua’s face, then decided to stir up her emotions.

    “Big sister was just standing, but third sister was the one who went to help. The Empress Dowager was so unfair. Big sister too, always being pretentious, trying to gain favor at every turn. And that thing about the mud…” Bai Yue twisted her lips when Bai Hua did not show any reaction, not even moving a finger. Still, she was already satisfied, so she hurriedly followed her big sister.

    Only Bai Hua was left behind. Under the long sleeves, her two hands were balled so tightly that they trembled.

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    “Ah! Taizi Fei, look who bengong* sees…” A high-pitched voice sounded at the same time a woman wearing a phoenix crown appeared together with Ouyang Yongxian’s first consort.

    “…Blessings to mother.”

    “Blessings to grandmother.” Taizi Fei curtsied.

    “Blessings from Yu-er to the Empress. Blessings to Taizi Fei.”

    Their lips moved to utter sweet words, but no one cared to follow the tradition and curtsy. For Bai Yu, she was supporting the Empress Dowager so she could not bend her knees.

    It was unusual for Empress Wang and Taizi Fei who ‘happened’ to be taking a stroll at the royal garden. They intentionally refused to curtsy, only slightly bowing their heads. Such actions reflected the relationship between them.

    All throughout the imperial palace knew that Empress Dowager Wei and Empress Wang were balancing each other’s power.

    “Did mother come to view the garden too? What a coincidence.”

    “Empress must be free from royal affairs to have time for a leisure stroll.”

    Empress Wang stared at Empress Dowager Wei with a rebellious gaze. The two women who were two pillars of power in the inner court may use polite words, but their eyes betrayed their true intention. They could not tolerate each other’s presence at all!

    They were no different from how Taizi Fei looked at Bai Yu with unfriendly eyes. It was of no surprise.

    Everyone in the capital knew how much Taizi wanted Bai Yu to become his first consort, and they also knew how Bai Yu firmly refused him. The power of the Bai family and her mother’s family prevented Taizi from forcing her. Furthermore, at that time he desperately needed supports for his position, so the eldest daughter of the general of the east had the chance to become Taizi Fei.

    And even after marrying into the east palace and becoming Taizi Fei, this woman still held a grudge against Bai Yu. The reason was that Empress Wang, mother to Taizi, never gave up on the plan to marry Bai Yu into the east palace.

    As long as Bai Yu held her position as the combined power between the Bai family and Yue family, both Empress Wang and Empress Dowager Wei would never let her go!

    If one day Bai Yu chose to marry into the east palace, it would be impossible for a woman of her status to be the second consort. And so, for Bai Yu to become Taizi Fei when there was already a Taizi Fei, one person had to die to open up the position…This world was cruel like that.

    “Bengong has not seen Miss Bai for quite a while. Would you like to take a walk around the garden with bengong?”

    Bai Yu suppressed a sigh. Empress Wang already had her daughter-in-law next to her, yet she made an offer. It was surely to harass Empress Dowager Wei and put Bai Yu on the spot. If she simply considered appropriateness, then Bai Yu should refuse the Empress since she originally came with Empress Dowager Wei, and she had to help her back to the palace.

    But that offer was made by Empress Wang. A pillar of power in the inner court. The same pillar that supported Taizi as heir apparent.

    At the same time, Empress Dowager Wei was the pillar that was opposite to Empress Wang, and her power was tied to Ouyang Mingxian, her most favored grandson who was rising in politics.

    It might seem like a trivial matter, but because of Bai Yu’s status, even the smallest action could become a statement of support. And most importantly, her father had yet to choose a side.

    Her closeness with Empress Dowager Wei solely came from her mother’s insistence. So now what should Bai Yu, who was stuck in the middle, do?

    Wasn’t today supposed to be the ‘Crushing Bai Hua’ day? Why did she have to be in this situation? Why would a walk around the garden cause her such a headache?

    Should she just faint?

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*Bengong: A first-person honorific used by the Empress and royal consort titled Fei. It means ‘I, who is the owner of the palace’