Bailey bowed and spoke respectfully, "If Your Majesty doubts my abilities, please feel free to continue taking the elixir. However, should any discomfort arise, I am more than capable of offering an alternative solution."
"A-Are you cursing me?" The empress dowager pointed at Baily, struggling to breathe. Nanny Noah, her maid, quickly rushed to her aid, assisting her in catching her breath.
"While it may be challenging to embrace frank advice, it often holds the potential for great benefit when heeded. My intention, Your Majesty, is to safeguard you from any potential deception."
The empress dowager threw a cushion, which struck Bailey on the head. Bailey dared not dodge it and took the
hit.
Bailey glanced at the cushion and the inkstone on the desk beside the empress dowager. It seemed that the old lady wasn't truly angry. Otherwise, she wouldn't have thrown the cushion at her instead.
The empress dowager cast a cold gaze at Baily and asked, "Tell me, why did the priest have to deceive me?"
"I heard that the Nokohill Tips Church is a magnificent place, comparable to a royal palace. The resident priests lead lives of luxury, adorned in lavish silks and exquisite brocades. Such extravagance! While I may not comprehend the path to immortality, I firmly believe immortals should possess compassion and strive to alleviate people's hardships. How can they indulge in such luxury?"
Rory was taken aback, never expecting her to express such views. Those priests did sound like they had gone too far.
The empress dowager slammed the table and asked, "How should I handle them then?"
Bailey pursed her lips and said, "Your Majesty, please assure me that you won't be angered by what I'm about to say."
"Very well, speak freely, and you shall not be punished."
"In my perspective, the church should be immediately closed, and the priests should be dismissed. The monthly funds allocated to the church should be redirected to help the people, showcasing your benevolence."
After Bailey finished speaking, the hall fell into even more profound silence.
Just then, a parrot awakened from its slumber and, upon hearing those words, unexpectedly repeated, "Close the church! Dismiss the priests!"
Bailey was startled. Now only she noticed a birdcage hanging by the window.
She secretly raised a thumb at the parrot, whose talent for mimicry had grown stronger. It repeated those words several times, causing Rory to feel anxious.
"Alright, it is getting late now. You may all leave. I know what to do." The empress dowager waved her hand.
Rory hastily guided Bailey out of the Purple Heaven Palace. Out of anger, he boarded the carriage and then tossed Baily inside.
Bailey felt a sharp pain in her wrist, and the area where he had gripped her earlier had turned dark purple, particularly noticeable.
"What? Do you want to hit me again?"
"Hit you? I would have even killed you. I clearly warned you not to cause trouble before entering the palace. Yet, you not only woke the empress dowager, but you also proposed dismantling the Nokohill Tips Church. If the courtiers were to learn of this, they would drown you in their objections!"
Bailey let out a cynical laugh and said, "Those priests were nothing but a charade, harmless if it weren't for the fact that their concoctions nearly killed the empress dowager! Tell me, Your Majesty, are you willing to sacrifice even your grandmother's life just to avoid any missteps? And it's not just your grandmother. Many in the palace consume these elixirs, including the Emperor, the empress, and your mother. Do you not care about them as well?"
"You naive woman! Do you think Nokohill Tips Church is merely an ordinary church? It's a place of worship for the followers, many of our citizens. The devotion is unwavering and extends far and wide. Moreover, behind Nokohill Tips Church, influential figures with intertwined interests hold sway. You're not merely confronting a few priests. You're challenging the sentiments of the people and several prominent families!"
So that was the case. Bailey frowned in discontent and said, "But it still angers me. Honest, hardworking families barely make ends meet, while swindlers who deceive and harm others thrive. It's a blatant injustice."
"Injustice?" Rory smirked, a hint of
mockery playing on his lips. "There's no such thing as justice in this world." Feeling frustrated, Baily parted the
curtain to catch a breath of fresh air and suddenly noticed a young beggar by the roadside. His head hung low, begging for food.
It was late at night, and the chill in the air would be unbearable for a child dressed so thinly. How could he endure it?
"Hold on!" she called out to Danny, and under Rory's quizzical gaze, she stepped out of the carriage.
Rory glanced outside and saw her crouching in front of the child, taking out all her silver coins and handing them over. "Take this, go home, and get some rest. You can buy warmer clothes tomorrow."
The child had never seen so much money before and gazed at her with eyes that sparkled like stars. "Thank you, ma'am, for your kindness."
Bailey gently ruffled his hair. "No need to thank me, go back home quickly."
Only after the child left did she return to the carriage, meeting Rory's
complex gaze. Bailey closed her eyes,
choosing to ignore his piercing stare.
Inside the opulent halls of the Purple Heaven Palace, Emperor Zachary paid a vait to the empresa dowager and couldn't help but unile at her radiant health. "Who would have thought that my daughter-in-law possesses such remarkable healing skills! With her by your side, your well-being is assured."
The empress dowager feigned annoyance and let out a dismissive huff. "Oh, spare me. With her around, I have even more concerns."
Emperor Zachary quickly asked, "What worries you?"
Before anyone else could speak, the parrot chimed in, "Close the church! Dismiss the priests!"
"What is Loui talking about?" Loui was the parrot's name, and its sharp wit had endeared it to the empress
dowager.
"It echoes the very words spoken by Rory's wife. She claimed that the priests at Nokohill Tips Church are swindlers, tricking people with false promises of longevity. According to her, their elixirs may even cause harm instead of extending life. She went on to say that even if these priests ascend to the heavens, they won't attain immortality. Their claim of having incorruptible bodies is simply a lie, which she believed she could also do."
Emperor Zachary was taken aback. "Bailey has quite the nerve!"
"Exactly! When I heard her say that, I was so surprised I almost fainted," the empress dowager added.
The empress dowager paused momentarily before continuing, "But when I reconsidered, it does make sense. If those elixirs were truly magical, I wouldn't be so foolish as to lose my senses and not see through their charade. Those old priests, relying on their status, have caused enough trouble in the past. When you think about it, they don't resemble any true cultivators
She repeated what Bailey had said earlier. "The girl advises me to use the money intended for Nokohill Tips Church to help the people. I never expected such a suggestion"
Emperor Zachary observed her expression and asked, "Mother, it seems you agree?"
The empress dowager replied, "Providing for a group of incompetents is not as good as aiding the entire nation. It's not entirely unreasonable, as she put it."
"But many people in the country have faith in Nokohill Tips Church. If we were to close down the place, it might cause quite a stir." Emperor Zachary pondered for a moment, then continued. "However, there might be a compromise. I will send someone to handle it tomorrow."
The empress dowager nodded and smiled as she touched her ring. "Your Majesty, have you noticed how different Bailey has become? When I saw her today, she seemed like a stranger."
"Indeed, that child used to be impulsive and reserved in her speech. But lately, her thinking has become clearer and her mind more agile. I wonder if she has finally come to her senses," Emperor Zachary replied.
"It's more than just that. She dared to speak without fearing my authority. It shows rare boldness and determination," the empress dowager remarked.
Emperor Zachary pondered, saying, "If she has indeed acquired wisdom and keenness, Rory is lucky."
The empress dowager sighed. "Unfortunately, Rory is at stubborn as alog. He only focused on his concubine. He has neglected Bailey so much. It seems I will have to intervene to reconcile them."
As night fell the following day, a decree arrived from the palace. summoning King Rory and Queen Consort Bailey
However, it wasn't an imperial decree. It was a special one.
Bailey thought that the empress dowager was still feeling unwell, so she couldn't help but worry as they made their way, "Sir, does the empress dowager have other symptoms?"
The messenger only smiled and said, You will find out when you arrive, Your Highness."
When the two arrived, the empress dowager didn't immediately summon them. Instead, she treated them to a table full of food for them to enjoy.
The two attempted to inquire about the situation from Nanny Noah, who was busy arranging the dishes, but received no answers.
After the two of them finished their
meal in a daze, Nanny Noah finally spoke, "The empress dowager said that the two of you will spend the night in the side palace today. There's no need to return, as the servants have already made the arrangements."
Rory's heart skipped a beat. "According to palace rules, I should not stay overnight."
"The empress dowager has already discussed this matter with the emperor. Your Majesty, there's no need to worry," Nanny Noah reassured him.
Bailey's eyes revealed a rare hint of confusion. "Why is that the empress dowager made such an arrangement?"
Nanny Noal chuckled, covering her mouth. "The empress dowager finds life boring and wants to have more grandchildren as soon as possible."
Huh?
Bailey's eyes widened. Were they being ordered to consummate their marriage?
Soon, attendants led them to bathe. Just as Nanny Noah served Bailey, she noticed the palace markings on Bailey's arm.
"I suppose the bloodstained cloth delivered to the palace on your wedding night with King Rory was not real?"
Bailey's heart skipped a beat. She did not know of this. Rory must have done it. Perhaps he cut someone's finger to stain the cloth.
If one were to consider it, it would be a crime to deceive the ruler.