"Now that you've entered the palace, don't think too much about it. Time will tell, and I believe the Emperor will eventually see your goodness." Consort Shu said calmly, "I have other matters to attend to, so I won't accompany you to admire the flowers in the Imperial Garden."
"Respectfully seeing off Consort Shu." Qingyan bowed.
Consort Shu and Bin'er left the Imperial Garden.
Bin'er couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, what do you mean by Qingyan? Does she want to leave the palace and marry someone else?"
Consort Shu did not speak.
I just felt that Qingyan's eyes looked complicated.
"Don't mention to anyone that you just ran into Qingyan in the Imperial Garden," Consort Shu instructed.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The two chatted casually as they walked out of the Imperial Garden.
Consort Shu glanced up unintentionally in the direction of Qingfeng Garden.
I saw a figure.
Consort Shu suddenly stopped in her tracks: "Could it be that Consort Zhen has someone else with her?"
"Who goes there?" Consort Zhen followed Consort Shu's gaze and looked over. "Nobody's here?"
"Perhaps I'm seeing things," Consort Shu said calmly.
The two walked side by side to Qingfeng Garden.
"The Imperial Concubine Shu has arrived!"
"Sister, what brings you here?" Consort Zhen rose and bowed, "Greetings to Consort Shu, Your Highness."
"It's been a while since my sister visited, so I happened to make some pastries and brought some over for her," Consort Shu said in greeting.
"Let me see what delicious food my sister has brought." Consort Zhen gave an awkward laugh and took two steps toward Consort Shu.
However, the way she walked was somewhat unsteady.
"What happened to my sister's leg?" Consort Shu asked with concern, her expression hardening.
"My knees are a little red and swollen, but it's nothing serious. I've already applied some medicine," Consort Zhen said timidly.
"Why is it red and swollen? Has the imperial physician been summoned?" Consort Shu asked, reaching to pull up her trouser leg.
Consort Zhen took several steps back: "Sister, it's alright, it'll be over soon."
"How can it be alright? Her Majesty the Empress punishes you by making you kneel in the Imperial Garden every day. The old wounds haven't healed yet, and new ones have appeared. I'm afraid that if this continues, Your Majesty's legs will be left with a chronic condition," Zhenzhu, the personal maid behind Consort Zhen, muttered softly.
"How dare you! Who gave you permission to gossip like this?" Consort Zhen's eyes darkened.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me." Pearl was so frightened that she immediately knelt on the ground.
"Get out of here now!" Consort Zhen snapped.
Consort Shu glanced at her knees: "What exactly happened? Doesn't the Emperor care?"
"His Majesty hasn't visited me for some time now," Consort Zhen said, her eyes welling up with tears. "The palace is never short of new faces; I'm just a fleeting memory."
Hearing Consort Zhen's words, Consort Shu also felt uneasy.
In this deep palace, there's no fear of not being favored.
What I fear most is starting out being showered with love and attention, only to suddenly fall out of favor.
People don't lack the ability to endure loneliness, but rather they can't handle the sense of loss.
Consort Shu and Consort Zhen chatted for a few more minutes.
When she returned to Qiluan Garden.
Mu Qianqian woke up just then.
Consort Shu held Mu Qianqian while she drank milk.
A hurried sound of footsteps came from outside.
"Mother, Mother..."
Consort Shu's eyes lit up: "Lin'er, why are you back now?"
Overjoyed, Mu Junhan knelt on the ground, weeping with joy: "Greetings, Mother Consort. May Mother Consort be blessed."
"Get up quickly, let your mother see you." Consort Shu's eyes welled up with tears of emotion.
Ever since Mu Junhan went to keep vigil for the Empress Dowager.
She hadn't seen her eldest son for almost a year.
"Mother Consort has been counting down the days. Shouldn't it still be more than thirty days before we can return to the palace?" Consort Shu asked in surprise.
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