The woman's crimson lips parted slightly, and spring light seemed to flow through her languid eyes, making her look utterly enchanting and delighted.
Her slender, jade-like hands even reached involuntarily for her collar. With a gentle tear, she exposed a broad expanse of snow-white skin.
Like solidified jade, like white snow.
Still, the woman gazed at the painting in a daze, her eyes growing increasingly misty. Whatever she thought of, even her breathing grew somewhat rapid, and a rosy glow seemed to stain her face, making her breathtakingly beautiful.
Only then did a palace maid step cautiously inside. With a wave of her hand, all the other maids in the palace withdrew.
"Empress Dowager, the Female Emperor went to the Star-Plucking Pavilion again today."
The palace maid spoke very softly, with such caution, but the Female Emperor still raised her head and gave her a faint glance.
"What else?"
"The Female Emperor has been investigating the Blood Rain Demon Venerable lately, and has collected many portraits of him. This... this servant thinks..."
"Thinks what?"
The Empress Dowager's gaze instantly sharpened.
"Th-thinks the Female Emperor wants to make the Demon Venerable her male favorite!"
"She can dream!"
The Empress Dowager instantly exploded, slamming the table with a bang as she rose, resentment showing in her distant gaze.
"This Palace knew it. That woman has to fight This Palace for everything. How is she any different from a man now? Yet she still wants to find a man. Utterly absurd."
The more the Empress Dowager spoke, the angrier she became. Her cheeks, which had held spring's allure and a rosy glow, grew far more furious.
She ground her teeth and said,
"For ten years, This Palace has never fought that woman for anything, nor has This Palace found a man. This Palace