Chapter 500 Schemes of the Harem

Ning Xueyan met the reigning Emperor for the first time in the Empress' palace. She kowtowed to the Emperor and Empress together with Commandery Princess Xianyun, with Ao Chenyi following suit with a lackadaisical attitude. The Princess was dressed in a bright red robe while Ning Xueyan was dressed in purple. Ao Chenyi wore his usual black gown embroidered with crimson red spider lily patterns. Ning Xueyan took care to take a step back when the Princess was greeting the Emperor and Empress and knelt behind her. Ao Chenyi had long found a seat for himself on the sidelines. He had only bent his waist ever so slightly earlier, having been stopped by the Emperor when he tried to kneel. The Emperor, seated high on the platform, was smiling. He didn't look as solemn and dignified as expected, but his attention wasn't on the women. After casually nodding, he waited for Ao Chenyi to speak. The Empress appeared to be in her thirties. She wasn't a beautiful woman but her dignity w