I heard that the bandit leader of Vulture Village entered the Prince's Mansion today. Everyone in the mansion is hiding in their own courtyards and dares not come out. Even the maids and servants in each courtyard are walking around the walls, for fear of running into the bandits and accidentally having their necks snapped.

Consort Jin, with her forehead red and swollen, leisurely led Zhuoya to Dianxiang Courtyard.

Consort Jia was also hiding in the courtyard, not wanting to run into Ji Chenhai and his son. When she saw Consort Jin arrive, the humiliation from yesterday surged into her heart, and her throat immediately felt itchy again, with a metallic taste in her throat.

That bastard Shanyu Heye actually came to her for treatment!

What did she and Shang Xiye take Li Jiao for? A free healer?!

"This servant greets Consort Jia," Zhuoya stepped forward to greet her, breaking the awkward silence in the room.

Rongju was, after all, just a servant girl, so she couldn't keep up the act and went over to bow to Chanyu Heye as well.

Consort Jia then spoke in a nonchalant tone: "The Prince was just saying that yesterday, I didn't expect you, Consort Jin, to actually come. You didn't come when I invited you the other day, I thought you didn't know the way to my Dianxiang Pavilion."

"What do you mean by that, sister? I was really not feeling well the other day. If I weren't so exhausted and out of it, I wouldn't have been hit so hard by that bandit yesterday with a teacup," Shanyu Heye said, coughing lightly while covering her face with her handkerchief.

When Consort Jia heard her say this, and saw that her face was indeed a little pale, her complexion improved: "Rongju, go and get Consort Jin a box of bruise-removing ointment."

Rongju then took a small porcelain box with white and gold floral patterns from the cabinet in the inner bedroom.

Zoya stepped forward and took it.

Consort Jia then said, "The bruise-removing ointment is the most effective wound medicine in Nanli. If you apply it, your injury will heal in just two days, just in time for Consort Yin's birthday banquet."

"Thank you very much, sister. What, is Consort Yin going to hold a birthday banquet this year?" Shanyu Heheye was somewhat surprised.

Although Consort Yin was favored, women are always sensitive about their age.

Especially the concubines in the palace, who relied on their youth and beauty to win favor, mostly did not hold birthday banquets.

Consort Jia's mood improved considerably when she mentioned this matter. She picked up her teacup, her long, bright red fingernails twitching, and leisurely skimmed the foam off the surface with the lid: "The Empress Dowager has given us face, so she has no choice but to hold it. At that time, noble ladies and young ladies from all the families in the capital will attend, and some young gentlemen will also be invited, but they will be in two separate courtyards."

The imperial concubine's birthday banquet invited young gentlemen from various families in the capital.

What kind of amazing move is this?

The inner palace was mostly inhabited by women, and most of the attendees were also women from various families. Although the banquet was to be held in two separate courtyards, it was inevitable that they would run into each other in the Imperial Garden. If a few dissolute and frivolous individuals were to enter, trouble was bound to ensue.

Chanyu Heye gently pressed his swollen forehead with a handkerchief, thinking that with the Empress Dowager arranging this for Consort Yin, Consort Yin's palace would probably have to replace several batches of cups, bowls, and teacups in the next couple of days.

But why did Consort Jia bring this up out of the blue?

"As the weather gets warmer, the Empress Dowager told me the other day that she suddenly wanted to help her cat get pregnant. This is really worrying. What will happen if the cat stops meowing after the season is over?" Consort Jia said wistfully, taking a sip of tea, as if chatting with a parent.

Zoya gripped the bruise cream slightly tighter in her hand.

Shanyu Heye paused for a moment, then said, "Sister, you never suffer any loss. Whatever I take from you, you ask me for the same in return."

"Who says your country's horses are the best at producing foals? We're just using each other's strengths," Consort Jia said with a light laugh. "Don't worry, if the Empress Dowager's cat really does give birth, you'll get half of the reward."