Even though she was in the palace, did her father not care about her life or death?

However, the thought of Su Wanyan going to find Consort Lin and Consort Xian made him clench his fists in frustration.

As the year draws to a close, every household in the capital is preparing for the New Year, and the palace is even busier.

On New Year's Eve, there is a New Year's Eve banquet. In addition to staying up all night, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Emperor Yuanhe is required to receive the homage of his ministers and also attends a banquet in the Taide Hall to bestow blessings.

Such grand ceremonies in the first month of the lunar calendar naturally involve opening an altar to pray for blessings. Every year on the morning of the first day of the lunar calendar, Emperor Yuanhe would get up early to burn incense and bathe before going to the altar to pray for the protection of the Great Jin Dynasty, so that there would be favorable weather and peace for the country in the new year.

So before the year was over, there was a lot of preparation work to be done in the palace, and there was no one idle anywhere.

Meanwhile, the capital city also had many celebratory activities, such as dragon lantern parades and float displays. The court officials each performed their duties, not only to ensure the smooth running of the celebrations for the people of the capital, but also to guarantee their safety.

However, just when everything was proceeding smoothly, an urgent message shattered the peace of the capital.

On New Year's Eve, all the concubines in the palace had arrived at Zhaoyang Palace for the banquet.

At this time, Emperor Yuanhe was still in his palace, and the empress was helping him change into his court robes.

On such important occasions, the emperor and empress usually appear together to show their affection and harmony.

After helping Emperor Yuanhe change into his court robes, Xia Yunshang's personal maid brought over a bowl of soup.

Xia Yunshang took the soup and handed it to Emperor Yuanhe: "On New Year's Eve, Your Majesty will inevitably have to drink with your court officials. Although fine wine is good, it is bad for the spleen and stomach. This is a medicinal soup that I specially prepared. It warms the stomach and protects the spleen. If Your Majesty drinks it now, you will be drinking more wine later. This will also make me less worried."

Emperor Yuanhe received these soups and broths every day, some from Consort Lin, some from Consort Xian, and others from other concubines in the palace. He drank them several times a day, and Xia Yunshang would also always cook some soup for him. He had long been used to it.

Of course, sometimes they send over desserts and snacks.

However, the soup that Xia Yunshang had been sending over these past few days had always helped him shake off his fatigue, which made him crave it.

So Emperor Yuanhe had no suspicions at this moment and took a few gulps down.

When Emperor Yuanhe and the Empress arrived at Zhaoyang Palace, all the concubines in the palace rose and bowed in unison: "Your Majesty, we greet you and Your Majesty the Empress."

Emperor Yuanhe and Xia Yunshang took their seats in the main seats. Emperor Yuanhe waved his sleeve slightly and said, "Rise, both of you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress."

Consort Lin and Consort Xian sat facing each other on either side of the main hall. Just as they stood up, Emperor Yuanhe asked, "I heard that the Empress Dowager has not been feeling well recently. Has she been examined by the imperial physician?"

Consort Lin knew that the question was directed at her, so she lowered her eyes and smiled gently: "Thank you for Your Majesty's concern. I have already had the imperial physician examine me, and he said that I will be fine after a few days of rest and there is nothing to worry about."

Emperor Yuanhe nodded upon hearing this: "This winter seems to be colder than in previous years. I recently acquired a fine sable garment."

He instructed, "Liu Rencai, send this to the Empress Dowager's palace later to express my heartfelt sentiments."

Liu Rencai quickly accepted the order: "Yes."

Emperor Yuanhe then said to Consort Lin, "I have been busy with state affairs and have not visited my mother for some time. Thanks to you, I am able to fulfill my filial duty to her in my stead."

After he finished speaking, he waved his hand, and a eunuch presented a box of pearls to Consort Lin.

"The pearls salvaged from the East Sea are of excellent quality. Given the current tensions between the Great Jin and the East Sea, it is truly rare to find such a box of fine treasures. I hereby bestow this upon you."

Consort Lin accepted the gift with composure and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

When this box of pearls was sent out, the most favored Consort Xian was not happy. She rose and curtsied, saying, "Your Majesty, if this box of pearls is given to Consort Lin, what about me? I want some too."

Only Consort Xian would dare to so openly ask the Emperor for a reward in the palace.

However, Emperor Yuanhe deviated from his usual practice: "Today is New Year's Eve banquet, and the rewards from each palace have already been sent to your palace. Naturally, you are no exception."

Consort Xian was speechless. What she wanted was a unique reward like Consort Lin's, not the same one as everyone else.

Before she could say anything more, the Empress intervened, saying, "It's New Year's Eve family banquet today, so please don't be so formal."

She picked up a glass of wine and smiled, "Hereby, I wish all my sisters will serve the Emperor wholeheartedly in the coming year and continue the royal lineage."

Everyone raised their glasses, saying, "We will remember Her Majesty the Empress's teachings."

Consort Xian was furious. Reluctantly, she picked up her wine cup, not forgetting to glare fiercely at Consort Lin.

In fact, Emperor Yuanhe did not begin to neglect Consort Xian today. Long before the death of the eldest princess, when she was still preoccupied with vying for favor, Emperor Yuanhe had already grown impatient with her.

However, years of being favored by the emperor had made Consort Xian forget how to restrain herself. As she had not yet committed any major mistakes, Emperor Yuanhe turned a blind eye to her.

Not long after the banquet had begun, a eunuch suddenly rushed into the hall: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened, Your Majesty!"

Emperor Yuanhe frowned, and Xia Yunshang's heart jumped. She observed Emperor Yuanhe's expression and spoke in a steady voice: "What kind of behavior is this, all flustered and disorderly!"

Too many things have happened recently, and Emperor Yuanhe had a bad feeling. He asked calmly, "What is it?"

The eunuch looked panicked: "Your Majesty, there's a plague in the palace... there's a plague in the palace!"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yuanhe stood up abruptly: "What?"

Not only Emperor Yuanhe, but all the concubines present were shocked and covered their mouths and noses with handkerchiefs.

plague?

How could a plague break out in the palace?

Which palace did this rumor originate from?

Before long, a flurry of panicked discussions erupted in Zhaoyang Palace.

"What's going on?" Emperor Yuanhe frowned, his expression already showing anger.

Plagues have always been terrible; they can even lead to the siege and burning of cities. This is the capital city; how could a plague suddenly break out here?

And there were absolutely no warning signs.

Is someone deliberately spreading rumors to confuse the public, or is this really true?

"It was...it was found in the servants' quarters. The servant had only said she was feeling unwell, so we gave her a few days off to rest. But...unexpectedly, when she was found, she was already dead in her quarters. The imperial physician diagnosed it as a highly contagious plague."

"Outrageous!" Emperor Yuanhe roared in anger. "If it were a plague, why hadn't it been discovered for so many days? How could the imperial physicians diagnose the death of a palace maid?"

How could the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital possibly treat palace maids?

Does the person behind this really think he's senile and easy to fool?

The eunuch hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, we originally intended to dispose of that palace maid, but we noticed sores growing under her clothes and her death was unusual. That's why the head maid suggested we summon the imperial physician to examine her, and that's how we discovered it was plague."