Chapter 333
**Chapter 331: Demotion**
"Only willing to work for silver, what a bunch of vulgar servants," Liu Ruyan shook her head in disdain.
The eunuch from the Imperial Kitchen silently pursed his lips, a flicker of dissatisfaction crossing his eyes.
Every day, the dishes from the Imperial Kitchen were strictly regulated. If a concubine wanted to add a dish, she had to purchase additional ingredients and pay the cooks for overtime. There’s no such thing as a free lunch; naturally, the palace concubines had to cough up silver.
Liu Ruyan found her lunch quite unsatisfactory.
In the afternoon, the Department of Attire delivered winter fabrics to the various palace ladies. As Liu Ruyan examined the gaudy red and green cloth, her discomfort deepened.
"Why isn’t there any plain yun brocade?" she asked.
A palace maid from the Department of Attire replied, "Plain yun brocade costs one hundred and fifty taels of silver per foot. It’s expensive and doesn’t provide warmth, so it was removed from the list."
The maid left behind three rolls of brightly colored fabric and turned to leave.
Liu Ruyan bit her lip, a hint of dissatisfaction flickering in her eyes.
In the following days, Liu Ruyan felt as if she had lice crawling on her, discomfort enveloping her. The courtyard was barren, not a blade of grass in sight; the ink and paper in her study had all been replaced with the same style as the other concubines; even the clothes and bedding in her chamber had turned into colors she despised—red, green, and purple.
For Liu Ruyan, this was sheer torment. She had always believed herself to be the most unique woman in the palace, like a plum blossom blooming in winter, standing out on her own.
Having her clothing and living conditions turned into the same as everyone else made her feel as if her self-esteem had been trampled upon.
The palace maids and eunuchs in Yuxiu Palace were also quite inconsiderate, going about their tasks half-heartedly. After the incident with Xue Mei, the palace staff had learned their lesson and dared not be too open-hearted with Liu Ruyan.
With no other options, Liu Ruyan had to write to her parents in the Liu family, hoping they would send some xuan paper and silver-white fabric. But the letter was sent out like a stone sinking into the sea; the Liu family completely ignored her.
Once detached from the mundane world, Liu Ruyan found herself enveloped in the stench of copper and smoke for the first time.
She simply couldn’t stand it.
One day, the sun shone brightly, and the Imperial Kitchen sent over a meal of four dishes and a soup, which included a steaming, delicious braised pork knuckle. Upon seeing the greasy knuckle, Liu Ruyan disgustedly set down her chopsticks.
After much contemplation, she finally set aside her lofty pride and went to Chang'an Palace to seek an audience with Li Yuanjing. She wanted to complain about Shen Wei’s targeting and mistreatment. The predicament she found herself in was all due to Shen Wei.
On the day of rest, Li Yuanjing was not handling state affairs in Chang'an Palace; instead, he took his two sons to the training grounds to practice riding.
"Your Majesty, please allow me to escort the Mei Fei into the training grounds," Eunuch Deshun received Li Yuanjing's permission and led Mei Fei inside.
Last night’s snowfall had left a layer of snow on the training grounds. Li Chengyou, dressed in thick riding gear and wearing an adorable tiger-striped hat, held the reins tightly with his chubby little hands, galloping on a pony.
"Go!"
Li Chengyou sat firmly on the pony, his small frame exuding an air of authority, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
After riding for about ten laps, Li Chengyou skillfully pulled on the reins. The pony, being mischievous, deliberately lifted its front hooves, causing Li Chengyou to tumble off and roll in the snow.
"Brother!" Li Chengtai exclaimed in shock.
But Li Chengyou quickly got up as if nothing had happened, shaking the snow from his mouth and flashing a big smile at his father and brother. "I’m fine! I’m used to falling!"
He ran back to the tent and took a large gulp of the hot tea his brother handed him.
Li Yuanjing patted his son’s head. "Your riding skills are impressive, quite reminiscent of your father in his youth."
Li Chengyou lifted his chin proudly, his chubby face beaming. "Of course! Mother said, 'A tiger father doesn’t raise a dog son.'"
Li Yuanjing laughed heartily.
When Liu Ruyan arrived at the training grounds, she happened to witness this heartwarming scene of father and sons. Li Yuanjing's laughter rang out, and the two robust little boys joined in.
Liu Ruyan concealed the bitterness in her heart.
The Emperor had time to ride with his children but no time to visit her in Yuxiu Palace.
Her heart felt like it was being sliced open.
"I pay my respects to Your Majesty," Liu Ruyan said, slightly bending her knee, her eyes filled with a hint of grievance. She had never actively sought anything from Li Yuanjing before; this was her first time setting aside her pride and dignity to approach him.
She felt a twinge of humiliation.
Li Chengtai and Li Chengyou exchanged glances and greeted her, "Hello, Mei Niang."
Liu Ruyan ignored the two princes.
Li Yuanjing glanced at her. The cold weather after the snow made Liu Ruyan appear delicate in her thin, silver-gray long gown, her long hair lightly pinned up with a white jade plum blossom hairpin, resembling a beautiful ice sculpture.
She looked cold.
Li Yuanjing furrowed his brow. "The Department of Attire has shortchanged you on fabric? Why are you dressed so lightly?"
Liu Ruyan felt a slight sting in her nose, her grievances swelling rapidly, flooding her heart like a tidal wave. Tears brimmed in her eyes. "Your Majesty, if you still remember the feelings we shared back then, please help me, Ruyan."
Li Chengtai frowned slightly. He was perceptive and understood that the adults were discussing matters of the harem. He took his brother's hand and said to Li Yuanjing, "Father, I’ll take my brother to ride."
Li Yuanjing nodded.
Li Chengtai led his brother to the horse grounds. Li Chengyou had just finished a cup of water, still warming his seat, and was puzzled. "Going to ride again? But I’ve already ridden for a long time today..."
Li Chengtai didn’t give his brother a chance to argue, his face stern as he returned to the horse grounds. He placed his brother on a pony and then stealthily returned to hide behind the tent to eavesdrop.
Inside the tent, Liu Ruyan was tearful, recounting how Shen Wei had targeted her at every turn.
Li Yuanjing felt a headache coming on and retorted, "Shen Wei is a noble consort. You avoid her, don’t pay your respects, and don’t greet her. That’s indeed against the rules."
Tears streamed down Liu Ruyan's face as she said in disappointment, "Your Majesty, are you really favoring the noble consort?"
Li Yuanjing was at a loss for words.
Liu Ruyan continued to complain, the accumulated grievances overwhelming her. She spoke passionately, "You only see the new laughing, while the old weep. Your Majesty, you truly are heartless—"
*Smack!*
Li Yuanjing could no longer contain himself; he slammed the teacup down on the table. He looked deeply at Liu Ruyan and spoke each word with gravity, "In the cold winter, countless commoners in the north freeze to death in the snow. How many lives could a single piece of plum blossom xuan paper help them survive the winter? You, who are detached from the world, still dare to blame me and the noble consort?"
Liu Ruyan's face turned pale with fear.
For the first time, she saw the Emperor's fury up close.
In her memories, Li Yuanjing had always been handsome and carefree, a vibrant figure like a red plum blossom in the snow. The Li Yuanjing before her now felt strange and terrifying, making her knees weak.
Eunuch Deshun, hearing the commotion outside the tent, hurriedly bent down and entered.
Li Yuanjing's eyes held a hint of impatience. "Deshun, convey my decree: Liu Ruyan’s actions are cunning, disrespectful, and rebellious. From today onward, she is demoted to Mei Pin and placed under house arrest for three months. The Nanzhi Princess will be entrusted to Yu Fei for care."
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