The White Moonlight Bleeds

Because of my efforts, Selena’s days became difficult after moving into my palace.

Today, Consort Yang mocked her.

Tomorrow, Lady Song slapped her.

Every day, I saw new marks on her face.

And every day, I pretended not to see.

“Selena,” I said brightly, “the weather is lovely. Let’s fly kites.”

I dragged her out again and again, letting every consort see her by my side.

They did not dare touch me.

So Selena suffered.

I had not expected Gideon to lose patience so quickly.

Less than half a month later, he summoned Selena to bed and promoted her several ranks to Consort.

A consort had her own palace.

No matter how I begged, Selena moved out.

“After you leave, my heart will feel empty,” I said, holding her hand.

Selena could only smile and act like a loving sister.

“I will visit you often.”

“Then take Qiuxue with you,” I said immediately. “She is honest and obedient. Convenient to use.”

Qiuxue was a maid Gideon had sent to monitor me.

Such a useful arrangement should naturally go to his beloved.

After Selena left, I laughed so hard in my palace that I nearly spilled my hand warmer.

Then I went to the laundry bureau to retrieve Xiaodie.

Xiaodie was my dowry maid.

In my previous life, she secretly brought me white buns in the Cold Palace.

Gideon used that as an excuse to beat her to death.

This life, I would not lose her.

When I found her, she was washing clothes in winter water.

Her hands were red and swollen.

The moment she saw me, she cried.

“Miss!”

I held her frozen hands.

My previous self had truly been blind to believe Gideon’s lie that Xiaodie had improper thoughts toward him.

“Miss, I was wrong. Please take me out.”

Her tears would not stop.

I remembered finding her on the street when I was six.

She had been four, skinny as a monkey, clutching a fallen bun I gave her like treasure.

Later, I brought her home.

We grew up together.

My temper was bad. I caused trouble often.

She always followed me silently and said,

“Miss is always right.”

My nose stung.

I turned away so she would not see.

“Xiaodie,” I said hoarsely, “we’re going home.”

Not long after, Seraphina summoned me again.

This time, she was painting.

The person in the painting looked painfully familiar.

She painted and cried.

I handed her a handkerchief.

She did not take it.

Only after crying enough did she burn the painting.

“You should paint these less,” I said softly, brushing ashes from her sleeve.

“Do you know who suggested the scheme that killed your second brother?” Seraphina asked.

I stilled.

“Selena Song.”

“Her brother Song Zhao was your brother’s deputy. Your brother was too brilliant, and Song Zhao could not rise.”

“So she designed his death.”

“Originally, Gideon only planned to cripple him, like he crippled your eldest brother.”

The position of Left General that Song Zhao now held should have belonged to my brother.

I said nothing.

That night, I wrote again to my father.

The next morning, Song Zhao was ordered to the Eastern Barbarians.

He survived three days.

His corpse returned cold.

Selena cried until her eyes were swollen.

That night, I scattered sleep powder along the path she would take.

The next morning, she missed greetings to the empress.

Seraphina punished her to kneel in the snow for disrespecting the central palace.

I waited until Selena nearly collapsed before appearing.

“Selena, I came as soon as I heard!”

I helped her up, scolding Seraphina aloud for cruelty.

Then I called a physician.

The diagnosis shocked us all.

Selena was pregnant.