While working in a close environment in which everyone has a high chance of meeting each other every day, there are certain guidelines we must adhere to in order to make life quiet and peaceful.
First and foremost, do not mix personal life with work.
Second, what occurred inside the close doors remain lock inside.
Third, and what Wei Yi Yi regard as the highest point, overtime is bullsht. Don't live in the office. Go home and have a freaking life.
'Ah, sorry, let's salute towards the workaholic who runs the economy.'
There are other minor details such as no dating in the office or no gossips allowed but there's no need for specific since no one follows those.
Look at this four. A perfect example of people who do not follow regulations!
Who would actually go and scratch a co-worker? They look a lot worse after the servants fish them out.
In terms of who looks worse, Ye Ai Ning and Feng Lei took the entire cake! Not only they are dripping wet from head to toe, but also bruise all over. Bright red marks run down from Ye Ai Ning cheeks up until her neck.
Most of the time, Wei Yi Yi feel like she's running a pleasure house for Jiang Yu. No matter how ridiculous it might sound, isn't that's what a harem is? Ultimately, they say it is to ensure the continuation of the bloodline but the ministers think that they're planting seeds of success beside the emperor while the emperor then gets a hold of their weakness, no?
"Your Majesty," Imperial Consort Shen greeted weakly. Out of the four, she's the only one whose kind of still aware of herself.
Su Mei Fan is crying harshly at the back. "Empress!" Her cry intensifies almost brawling her eyes out.
Wei Yi Yi also wanted to cry. She doesn't know what to feel anymore. Is she running a zoo or a nunnery?!
A loud shriek came out of Ye Ai Ning. Her face full of horror as she looks at her reflection on the water. Dumbfounded, she kneels beside the water shouting, "My face! She ruins my face!"
Feng Lei only gave her a snort. What could you expect? This woman is fierce enough to fight it out with a kid. It's not a shocker on what she could do more to an adult. And a fragile lady at that.
Ye Ai Ning hysterical act only resulted on her slipping down the pond again. With a 'splash' her shrieks came to an end and replace with the sound of someone drowning.
Everything is a mess. One of them has a frown on her face, the other is non-stop crying, the next one is silently shivering to the side while the last one returned to the water.
"Do something, empress." Tang Mei urge her. Panic slowly ate the maidservant. She struggles not to reach out. Instead, she lightly brushed her hand on her mistress' sleeve. A slight relieve trump in her heart.
Wei Yi Yi panicked so much she's way past reacting and as calm as the clouds. "Bengong already send someone to call for the emperor."
Wait up for their 'husband' to fetch them, ah.
Ye Ai Ning struggles to get out of the pound. Her foot slipped a few times and loud splash follow after her each time. Her knee hit a rock on the third try. She cried out in pain only to be chock by the water right after.
Finally, some big momos were called out to scoop her out. By the time she step on the ground, her legs gave out and she sprawls out in the soil like a fish out of water.
Mucus, tears and water mix in her face. She's tired, bruise, injured and out of sorts. The imperial noble consort Ye and she are like two different person.
When she heard that the emperor is on his way, her eye turn back alive. Her brain activate and her face turn determine. Ye Ai Ning did not question how the empress could summon the emperor at her beck and call.
What important is she must let Jiang Yu see how much they abuse her! This sorry appearance won't go to waste!
Thinking about how they will pay for each cut and every bruise she receives, an evil laugh echo within her heart.
All blame will go to them! They must be punish a hundredfold!
"Take my little sisters and help them into dry clothes. It'll be bad if they contract a cold." The empress instructs the maidservants. "Someone go to the kitchen! Ask them for warm food and drinks."
"Wh---"
"Once everyone is settled; we will talk what happened then." The empress talk clear, fast and with an absolute tone. Everyone bow in accordance. No one was able to stop her from taking charge nor someone dares.
Ye Ai Ning was not happy with this.
"No! I must talk to his majesty first!"
This bitch is cleaning away the evidence, is she not?!
What happened?! Did she notice her desire to dispose of the Empress? Is that why she's been actively going against her now? When? When did she start being aware?! Ye Ai Ning plan long and slow, only to be met with a sudden change.
Wei Yi Yi was standing while Ye Ai Ning lay on the ground. The empress look down on the consort and said, "It's improper to let his majesty see such 'provocative' appearance. Don't you think so too, Sister Ye?"
The sun is high and glaring, standing at the empress back as she looks down on a small consort, Ye Ai Ning got blinded by her brightness.
The Empress is the Phoenix while the consort is but a small bird--- delusion, and drunk on the dream of becoming one.
Her garments are thin and soft, once wet, they stick to her skin and transparent. With the empress looking down at her, Ye Ai Ning felt an intense shame of herself. A harsh blush burns her face.
Small, meager, pathetic and pitiful her cannot be compared to the real Phoenix? She grind her teeth, indignant and unaccepting.