The sky outside looked bright and sunny, but once people entered Yonghe Palace, the environment still felt cold and gloomy.
Looking at the empty Yonghe Palace courtyard, Chen Yuwei thought to herself that this was the result of Consort Xian's years of recuperation.
Even the palace servants who used to serve her were all gone, leaving the palace in a state of utter desolation. Anyone who saw it would surely say that life in the harem was difficult.
"Master, please slow down."
Xingkui couldn't help but frown. The main reason was that the ground of Yonghe Palace looked too dirty, with fallen leaves and dead branches everywhere. If the master accidentally stepped on them, it wouldn't be good if it affected his mood or even if he bumped into something.
"It's alright. After we leave, go to the Imperial Household Department and ask the servants there to send some people over to clean up."
"She lives here with the rank of a Noble Consort; how dare anyone else look down on her?"
Does he really think there's no one else in the harem he can use? He simply doesn't value his own life.
Xingkui nodded in agreement, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant understands."
After bypassing the somewhat empty courtyard, the two arrived at the main hall where Consort Xian was recuperating.
At the entrance, Cui Rui stood there motionless, looking respectful and devout.
"How is Your Majesty doing lately? Has the imperial physician come to diagnose her and prescribe any medicine?"
Chen Yuwei asked a couple of questions out of boredom, and then gestured for Xingkui to step back.
"Your Highness, the Imperial Noble Consort is currently doing well."
The imperial physician came a few days ago and has already rewritten the prescription, but the prescription itself is different.
Cui Rui couldn't speak anymore. What could she say? The prescription was barely enough to prolong her life.
Chen Yuwei could understand Cui Rui's helplessness in leaving things unsaid, but it was none of her business.
To put it bluntly, Consort Xian's current situation is due to the problems she made in her own choices.
In the early years, I didn't plan to take good care of myself, and my health deteriorated over time until it completely collapsed and there was no way to save me.
Currently, he is barely clinging to life with the medicine from the Imperial Medical Academy, which is a normal course of action after weighing various pros and cons.
"I'll go in and take a look. You two, stay at the door."
Chen Yuwei didn't want to say anything more, so she waved her hand, turned around, and went into the hall.
The main hall was even colder and more deserted than the outside. Chen Yuwei felt that she was already dressed quite warmly, but she still couldn't help but shiver after entering.
Chen Yuwei: ...In such an environment, how can Consort Xian recover properly? You must be joking.
She muttered to herself, then a smile appeared on Chen Yuwei's lips as she quickly walked around the screen and came to the bedside.
Consort Xian
Chen Yuwei opened her mouth, even though Consort Xian seemed to be resting with her eyes closed.
Consort Xian's eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes, allowing Chen Yuwei to see just how terrifying her gaunt face truly was.
With such an appearance and demeanor, people would believe she was an ordinary woman.
Who would have thought that beneath this facade lies the identity of a noble imperial concubine in the harem?
"Imperial Noble Consort"
Consort Xian had difficulty speaking at this point, and managed to utter Chen Yuwei's name. After a long pause, she finally managed to say an apology.
Chen Yuwei shook her head and walked to sit down on a round stool.
"You invited me here because there's something you want to say?"
Seeing Consort Xian in this state, Chen Yuwei knew without a doubt that she wouldn't live much longer.
If that's the case, then there's no need to play hard to get with the other party; a dying person is very likely to go crazy.
"I have asked Your Highness to come here because I wish to ask you to take care of my only two children after I pass away."
After Consort Xian finished speaking, the cough that came out of her throat seemed to be able to lift the entire roof of the inner room.
Chen Yuwei looked calmly at Consort Xian until the other's condition improved, "Use the contents of that memorial to exchange for Consort Xian's own two children."
In my opinion, Consort Xian's actions were a losing proposition.
The memorial Consort Xian handed her contained information about her years of cultivating connections within the harem, the political landscape of the court, and various secrets she had learned about the harem.
Most importantly, the Empress Dowager was not innocent in these matters.
When the late emperor's first wife passed away, the empress dowager was involved in the proceedings.
The current emperor was raised and educated under the care of the late empress in his early years.
This is something Chen Yuwei was unaware of.
Because when Chen Yuwei entered the palace through the imperial selection, the late emperor and empress had already passed away.
Within a few years, Hongli successfully ascended the throne and took control of the government, but he and the Empress Dowager had a major falling out over Niohuru.
It turns out that the mother and son really had no feelings for each other. Niohuru was probably just using that as an excuse. They might have actually wanted to control each other.
"It's not a loss; no one else would use it as effectively as the Imperial Noble Consort." Therefore, the memorials could only be effective in the hands of the Imperial Noble Consort.
Consort Xian turned to look at Chen Yuwei; she had difficulty seeing people even in the dim light.
After recovering from the physical discomfort caused by talking too much, Consort Xian did not forget to ask the Imperial Noble Consort whether she had agreed to her request for cooperation.
Chen Yuwei raised an eyebrow, "No problem, I will try my best to meet Consort Xian's requirements."
We cannot be completely certain because neither of us knows the Emperor's condition.
If one day I end up like Consort Xian, then the cooperation will have to be cancelled.
It can only mean that something hasn't happened yet, as long as the probability is low; it doesn't mean it definitely won't happen.
Chen Yuwei never agrees to anything without a guarantee, because she's afraid of things going wrong.
"Your Highness is joking. Others in the harem may have problems, but Your Highness has cultivated this relationship for many years. His Majesty will certainly not treat Your Highness the same way he treats me."
The two women were treated and perceived differently by the Emperor, a fact that Consort Xian was well aware of.
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