The next morning, when Nan Zhiyun woke up, Yu Jingchen had already gone to the morning court. This had been the routine for some time; Yu Jingchen would never wake her in the mornings, and he would be served by his servants as he went to court. By the time Nan Zhiyun woke up, the seat beside her was already cold.

Perhaps because she was leaving the palace today, Nan Zhiyun didn't linger in bed too long. However, she hadn't yet discussed the departure time with Yu Jingchen, and naturally wanted it to be as soon as possible, but Yu Jingchen wasn't there...

Moreover... logically speaking, since Consort Qing was promoted to Noble Consort yesterday, the other lower-ranking concubines in the harem should have gone to congratulate her. And now that she is Noble Consort, the lower-ranking concubines should also have gone to pay their respects.

"Does Your Highness wish to go to Yunpeng Palace?" Qianxia came over to help Nan Zhiyun change her clothes and wash up.

"Go ahead." Nan Zhiyun didn't want to go, but she didn't have the means to do so.

“If Your Majesty doesn’t want to go, then you don’t have to. His Majesty instructed this morning that these greetings should be waived as the year draws to a close. As for congratulations, Your Majesty doesn’t need to make the trip if you don’t want to; we can just send someone to deliver them,” Qianxia said.

"Then I won't go." Nan Zhiyun changed her mind very readily.

She had barely finished speaking when Qianxia interrupted, continuing, "Your Majesty, this servant feels there's really no need to go..." Before Qianxia could finish, she suddenly realized what Nan Zhiyun had just said.

"Your Highness isn't going?" Qianxia was a little surprised. She thought her mistress was going to bring up etiquette again. After all, during her time in the palace, Her Highness had been very careful in everything she did, afraid of doing something wrong that might displease His Majesty.

After that, they became increasingly cautious, but at this time, they feared the Emperor's punishment.

"I'm not going." Nan Zhiyun repeated. Yu Jingchen had already said so, so naturally she wouldn't go if she could avoid it.

"Yes, but should I still send someone to deliver those gifts?" Qianxia asked for instructions.

"Mmm," Nan Zhiyun responded softly.

Qianxia smiled and said, "Then I'll have someone bring breakfast over now." Qianxia continued, and Nan Zhiyun didn't object, which was tantamount to her acquiescence.

Seeing this, Qianxia didn't say anything more and immediately had someone prepare breakfast. Perhaps because her mood had been better these past few days, her complexion had improved, and her body had gradually recovered, Nan Zhiyun's appetite had been much better than before.

Yunpeng Palace

The Imperial Concubine sat in the main seat, and almost all the other concubines had already arrived. After all, the Imperial Concubine not only held the highest rank in the harem, but also managed various affairs of the harem.

"Why didn't Consort Shu come today? Could it be that she doesn't know yet?" The first to speak was Consort Xian.

"Consort Shu is of noble status and enjoys great favor. Moreover, she has always been in poor health. In this cold weather, if she catches a cold, who can bear the responsibility?" Consort De continued.

"Although Consort Shu did not come, she still sent someone to prepare gifts, so she did have the intention," Consort Gui stepped in to smooth things over.

After saying this, she glanced at Consort De, who wisely refrained from saying anything more. Seeing this, the Imperial Concubine changed the subject.

"I heard the Crown Prince was ill a few days ago. Is he feeling better now?" The Imperial Concubine asked the Consort Yuan.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. It's just a common cold, and I'm much better now," Consort Yuan said respectfully. She had grown up in the Jiangnan region and was gentle and modest in nature.

"Among us, Consort Yuan is the most blessed, and so is the First Prince, isn't he?" It was Consort Li again.

Consort Yuan stopped responding, and Consort Li, realizing she'd made a fool of herself, also kept quiet. Although Consort Yuan's background wasn't great, she was now a consort and had the eldest prince; she wouldn't stoop so low as to be discussed and ridiculed by a disfavored consort.

Just then, a palace maid entered from outside.

"Your Highness, Princess Chang Le has entered the palace and is heading to He'an Palace," a palace maid reported.

Upon hearing this, everyone looked up at the position of the Imperial Concubine. The Imperial Concubine pretended not to hear and simply said, "Let her go then."

He then slowly picked up the cup of tea in front of him, took a small sip, and concealed his face with his sleeve, making it impossible to see his expression.

He'an Hall

Nan Zhiyun leaned back on the chaise lounge, looking incredibly lazy and bored, occasionally glancing outside.

Qianxia just came in from outside, and Nan Zhiyun immediately looked over, seemingly expecting something.

"Your Majesty, Princess Chang Le has come to visit you," Qian Xia reported as she entered.

"Princess Chang Le?" Nan Zhiyun was taken aback, somewhat surprised.

“Yes, and they said they came specifically to see Her Majesty,” Qianxia said.

"Please come in," Nan Zhiyun said. Since the person had already arrived, it wouldn't be polite to refuse to see her, especially since she was the eldest princess.

Speaking of this princess, she was just lucky to have the title "eldest." Her birth mother was just a commoner from a small place, and when she gave birth to her, she was just a pretty girl.

She suffered a difficult childbirth, which depleted her vital energy, and she passed away within a few months. She was then adopted by the then-imperial concubine. However, she proved useful, as the concubine carefully nurtured her.

Later, Princess Chang Le also became renowned, proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She was on par with Nan Yin at the time, and the two were often compared. However, she and Nan Yin never had much interaction.

She was once the most favored princess in the royal family, but was eventually betrothed by the Imperial Concubine to her younger brother's son, the Marquis of Yunyang. (Simply put, this Princess Chang Le and the Empress Dowager were of the same generation and were rivals at the time. Not only were they rivals, but the Empress Dowager was also her sister-in-law.)

Nan Zhiyun didn't really have much of an impression of this Princess Chang Le, and she hadn't had much contact with her when she was young. So she didn't know what the purpose of her visit was today.

When Princess Chang Le entered, Nan Zhi Yun had already straightened her posture.

Princess Chang Le bowed slightly to "Consort Shu," and Nan Zhiyun returned the bow, after all, the other party was an elder and His Majesty's aunt.

"I was unaware that the Princess was coming today. I apologize for my rudeness. Please, Princess." Nan Zhiyun invited her to sit down.

"I came uninvited, Your Highness, please don't be offended." Princess Chang Le's attitude was still acceptable.

"Your Highness is too kind. May I ask what brings you here today?" Nan Zhiyun asked her.

"There's nothing else, it's just that I know Your Highness is close to the Empress Dowager, so I wanted Your Highness to ask the Empress Dowager for a favor. I want to choose a marriage for Yuncheng, and I would also like to ask the Empress Dowager to issue an imperial decree to grant Yuncheng a marriage." As Princess Chang Le said this, she kept looking at Nan Zhiyun, afraid of missing the expression on Nan Zhiyun's face.