"Your Majesty, it is dark and the road is slippery. Please travel slowly."

Footsteps sounded, and everyone shared the same goal, but with time running out, there were bound to be some issues.

Xiuning looked at Kangxi, who was walking at the front, and finally spoke up to remind him that he wasn't even riding in a sedan chair. If he bumped or fell, she would definitely punish him.

"I am fine, Lady Hitara, you—" Kangxi turned back to look at Xiuning, who had not yet changed her clothes, and swallowed back the rest of his words. "You can go over slowly."

Xiuning: ...

Xiuning lowered her head slightly, "Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."

The footsteps, which had paused for a moment, faded away again. Xiu Ning remained expressionless, but her hand, which was resting on Xuan Ying's, trembled slightly.

"My lord, you..."

Xuan Ying called out softly, then gestured for the palace servants carrying lanterns to move away, "His Majesty is just anxious, not dissatisfied with you. You don't need to take his words to heart."

Upon hearing this, Xiu Ning scoffed lightly, "I didn't take your words to heart," but she found it rather uninteresting.

Kangxi was quite adept at changing his tune, switching between calling her "beloved concubine" and "Hitara." If Xiuning hadn't genuinely shown no affection for Kangxi, she might have already come to hate Consort Zhang, potentially leading to some palace infighting.

With her head slightly raised, Xiu Ning stepped forward again. "Since the Emperor has already spoken, there's no need for us to rush. Let's walk over slowly."

Xuan Ying nodded, "Yes, this servant understands."

...

By the time Xiuning and her entourage arrived at Xianfu Palace, an unknown amount of time had passed.

But with the palace brightly lit and bustling with people, it seemed no one noticed her as she entered.

Inevitably, Xiu Ning frowned and began to scan the courtyard, only stopping when she saw the bright yellow figure in the center of the main hall.

"Let's go in. I don't think there's any definite news yet."

Xiu Ning whispered a few words to Xuan Ying, then lowered her eyes and hurried into the palace in a low-key manner.

The hall was noisy at this moment. The Fourth Princess of Xianfu Palace had an accident, and both her birth mother, Consort Zhang, and Consort Sun, who lived in the opposite side hall, had to be present.

In addition to the concubines of Xianfu Palace, Consort Nara of the adjacent Chuxiu Palace was also present.

Consorts such as the Empress, Consort Shu, and Consort Tong had already arrived when Emperor Kangxi came.

Xiuning entered the room, first bowed and greeted everyone, then found a seat.

Someone is sobbing softly beside you, their head bowed. It's not loud, but at times like these, it can be incredibly irritating.

"Consort Nara, quickly wipe your tears. Everyone is worried about the Fourth Princess's condition. What kind of behavior is it for you to be crying like this?"

Xiuning knew without looking up that it was Consort Shu speaking from that familiar tone.

"Consort Shu, Consort Nara is also feeling sorry for the Fourth Princess. Your words are a bit too much."

Consort Tong responded, while simultaneously focusing her gaze on Emperor Kangxi in the center.

Emperor Kangxi rested his chin on his hand and remained silent since entering the room.

"What Consort Tong said is quite interesting. She was hoping for a good outcome, but Consort Na was crying and sobbing. It's only because Consort Zhang wasn't there that Consort Zhang would have said such an unlucky thing."

With a soft snort, Consort Shu showed no mercy to Consort Tong and Consort Nara, and even ignored the Emperor. She leaned back in her chair, the smile on her lips more like a mockery.

Xiu Ning covered the smile that almost betrayed her true feelings, while thinking that Consort Shu really had some talent, but unfortunately, she was destined not to live long.

Thinking about what Chunyu had mentioned to her, Xiuning thought to herself that Consort Shu's health was probably already compromised.

No wonder Consort Shu died less than half a year after becoming Empress. If the root is rotten, no amount of tonics will help. It's like a leaky wooden bucket. Do you think painting it with a layer of paint will make a difference?

While preoccupied with trivial matters unrelated to the main hall, Xiu Ning did not forget to observe the expressions of the others.

Consort Nara was called out by name several times, and she was no longer as arrogant as before, but her eyes were red and swollen, clearly indicating that she had been crying a lot, which seemed strange.

Yes, the Fourth Princess is Consort Zhang's daughter, and she has no dealings with Chuxiu Palace. So why did Consort Zhang have to make such a gesture?

No one could figure out Consort Nara's intentions until the Fourth Princess, who had been being treated in the side hall, died. Consort Zhang, overwhelmed with fear, fainted. Only then did Xiu Ning realize that Consort Nara wanted to use the Fourth Princess's situation to bring Bao Qing back from outside the palace.

Inside the room, Consort Zhang lay unconscious, while on the ground, Consort Nara knelt, weeping with tears streaming down her face.

The Empress looked displeased, Consort Shu gloated, Consort Tong remained calm, and the Emperor looked sorrowful.

With all the powerful figures in the harem gathered, there was no room for Xiu Ning to make a move.

She and a group of concubines hid in a corner, listening to Concubine Nara kneeling there and performing.

The Empress spoke up, "Baoqing's health has improved somewhat, but the imperial physician says it's not advisable to move him for the time being."

“But if she is kept outside the palace, it will be inconvenient for the imperial physicians to leave the palace. Won’t that delay her treatment?” Consort Shu asked, unusually helping Consort Nara.

The Empress gave Consort Shu a deep look. "His Majesty has already made arrangements for this matter," she said, not because she was unwilling.

“Your Majesty, I do not wish to bring Baoqing back to the palace. It is only after seeing Consort Zhang today that I felt moved,” Consort Nara wiped away her tears. “With Your Majesty and the Empress caring for Baoqing outside the palace, she will be alright.”

The Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, pondered for a moment, and then spoke, "Do you really think it's better to leave Baoqing outside the palace?"

Consort Nara was caught off guard by the question and even stopped wiping away her tears.

The Empress looked up at Kangxi, her hand clenching tightly inside her sleeve. What did the Emperor mean just now? Did he not trust her?

"Your Majesty, I believe in Your Majesty," Consort Nara said softly, her head bowed, and then fell silent.

The others exchanged glances upon seeing this, until Kangxi mentioned Baoqing's return to the palace, saying, "Let's wait until he recovers a bit."

Consort Nara's eyes lit up. "This concubine understands."

"Empress, I'll leave this to you. I'll return to the Qianqing Palace first." Kangxi turned around, leaving everyone behind and departing directly.

The Empress turned around and smiled, saying, "Nara Consort, please get up."

Everyone, if there's nothing else, please return to the palace as soon as possible.

"Tanyun, accompany me to visit Consort Zhang. As for the Fourth Princess's funeral arrangements, entrust them to the Imperial Household Department; they must be handled with utmost urgency."

Having finished speaking clearly and concisely, accompanied by repeated "This concubine takes her leave," Consort Hesheli Fangyi's figure quickly disappeared from the hall.

Xiuning sighed softly, "Let's go back to the palace."

Xuan Ying responded with a "yes" and reached out to help Xiu Ning walk out step by step.

By the time Xiuning rushed back to Qixiang Palace, it was already late at night.

Chunyu had been waiting at the door. Seeing Xiuning enter, she rushed to greet her, "My lady..."

"Are Ning Chuge and Yider alright?"

"No, the princess and the prince are sleeping soundly, and there's been no movement at Qixiang Palace."

"That's good..."