"Greetings to Consort Fucha." As usual, Lady Fucha arrived late today. She almost fell when she bowed to Consort Yin, but fortunately, Consort Yin was with Mingyue today, who picked Lady Fucha up in one go.

"Princess Fucha, there's no need for such a grand gesture. I can't accept it," Yin Qingyi said leisurely, watching as Mingyue helped Fucha to her feet. Her gaze, however, drifted subtly to Fucha's legs, inwardly thinking, "This Yinzhen really has no mercy for women! Making such a beautiful woman kneel and chant sutras for an hour or two in this freezing weather—he's really something!" Despite these thoughts, Yin Qingyi felt no sympathy for Fucha. After all, Fucha wanted to use Kangxi to make her fall out of favor, or even worse, to get rid of her! Therefore, Yin Qingyi felt no compassion for someone who wanted her dead; not taking action herself was already her last act of mercy.

"My legs were just weak, Consort, there's no need for such mockery," Lady Fucha straightened up and looked at Consort Yin. Although she had seen this Consort Yin before during her last visit to pay her respects, Lady Fucha was still stunned by Consort Yin's face upon seeing her again, which only fueled her jealousy. Her tone naturally carried a hint of sarcasm.

"Oh dear, if I'm not mistaken, Sister Fucha, who are you talking to? This is Consort Fucha! Consort Fucha probably didn't mean it; she must have been tired from serving the Master last night. Hehe, Consort Fucha must know that, after all, the Master often goes to Luoxue Pavilion. Oh dear, wait, it seems the Master hasn't been to Luoxue Pavilion for a long time. Does Consort Fucha not know that? Oh dear, look at my mouth! Consort Fucha, please don't be offended; I'm just a straightforward person, you know that." There was a hint of schadenfreude in Li Shi's eyes. What's the use of being beautiful? If she's going to lose favor, she'll still lose favor anyway.

"Well, compared to you, I think I can still remember." Yin Qingyi felt that Li Shi really didn't have a brain. These words were indeed a slap in the face to her, but how much better was she herself?

"You!" Madam Li was furious, but Yin Qingyi's words were right. Compared to Yin Qingyi, she hadn't served the master for a long time. Although she often saw the master, he would only visit the young prince each time. Not to mention staying overnight, he hadn't even eaten in her courtyard for a long time.

"What are they talking about? It's already so lively before I even came out!" The Princess Consort entered right on cue.

After everyone stood up, bowed, and sat down, they all sat down.

Yin Qingyi remained silent. She had come to pay her respects only out of courtesy, but she couldn't speak to the Fujin (the wife of the deceased). Unless someone wanted to see them quarrel, Li Shi would certainly want to, but Yin Qingyi would simply ignore her, and the Fujin would be even less likely to. Even if she had a major conflict with Yin Qingyi, she would never quarrel in such a setting.

"Speaking of which, it seems that Sister Fucha is tired from serving the master. She arrived so late both times to pay her respects, and she couldn't even stand properly when she bowed. I wonder if she's willing to serve the master but not able to." Li Shi, who never misses a chance to stir up trouble, said it directly.

"Oh? Fucha, that's where you're wrong. The master still needs more children. You can't monopolize him. He should also visit the homes of the other ladies in the inner courtyard more often. Do you understand?" The Fujin looked at Fucha with displeasure. She had seen Fucha's restlessness from the first day she entered the mansion. Look at her, she's only been favored for a few days and she's already so unruly. Everyone knows how difficult it is to serve the master in the inner courtyard. Who else is like Fucha, unable to even stand up the day after serving the master? If you're going to pretend, at least do it convincingly.

"Yes, Your Highness, I will respectfully obey your teachings." Fucha felt wronged. Did they even want this favor? She also wanted her husband to go elsewhere! Kneeling like this every day had swollen her knees; every visit from her husband was torture! If she kept kneeling, her knees might be ruined, but who could Fucha tell? She couldn't simply shut her husband out. Standing and sitting were torture for her knees. Lost in thought, Fucha lost her balance and fell to the ground.

“…” Yin Qingyi watched the scene silently, giving Yinzhen a thumbs up in her heart. He was really cunning!

"Fucha! It seems you haven't taken my words to heart at all. Since you like being on the ground so much, then go and kneel on the veranda for an hour!" The princess was furious. This Fucha was truly pretentious! Since that's how it is, let her kneel to her heart's content!

The Princess Consort had actually punished her very lightly; she wasn't made to kneel in the courtyard but on the veranda. This wasn't because the Princess Consort was exceptionally kind, but because Fucha had recently been favored by Yinzhen, and the Princess Consort dared not go too far. An hour might be somewhat torturous for a woman in the inner courtyard, but it was truly a light punishment, provided that her knees were healthy. Clearly, Fucha's knees were not healthy. However, only Consort Yin knew this, but would Consort Yin say it? Of course not.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I was wrong. I didn't mean it. My legs just gave way and I couldn't stand properly. Please, Your Majesty, have mercy." Fucha Shi never expected things to turn out this way. She knew her own condition best. If she knelt for an hour, her knees would be completely ruined. At least she had a brazier in her own courtyard and room. But outside, it was freezing cold, and her knees were injured. Would they even be usable after an hour?

"Fucha, the Fujin has already shown mercy. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been as simple as just an hour." The newly promoted head maidservant beside the Fujin went over and pulled Fucha away.

No matter how much Fucha pleaded, she was still forced to stand in the corridor. When Yin Qingyi left, she glanced at Fucha and saw that her face was pale. It seemed that things would get lively when she returned to the main courtyard of Luoxue Pavilion.

Just as Yin Qingyi had expected, as soon as she returned to Luoxue Pavilion, Fucha Shi, who was kneeling in the main courtyard, fainted. When the Fujin (the wife of the emperor) received the news, she was shocked. Could it be that Fucha Shi was...? The Fujin panicked and hurriedly sent someone to fetch the imperial physician. Fucha Shi was then moved into the east side room.

After the imperial physician arrived and took her pulse, he quickly withdrew his hand. His gaze lingered on Lady Fucha's knee before slowly shifting away. He already knew about the injury on her knee and how it had occurred, but naturally, he wouldn't reveal it now. However, out of a physician's compassion, the physician still felt regret; Lady Fucha's leg was... alas.

"Physician, how is Lady Fucha?" The princess looked at the physician who had been silent for a long time, her heart pounding in her chest.