Huo Qinghe had just taken her medicine and gone to sleep when Jinyang summoned the imperial physician last night. She only found out about the physician's visit after waking up the next day.
Huo Qinghe also learned about the Emperor's summons to Consort Fu last night.
"With so many beauties in the harem, it's truly hard to fathom His Majesty's likes and dislikes."
The one speaking was Granny Wang, who came in carrying the medicine.
"The imperial physician examined the lady last night and said she had caught a chill and had a fever. However, this morning, Green Locust and the others checked and the fever had subsided."
Huo Qinghe nodded gently: "What you say is true. There are many concubines in the harem, and nothing lasts forever. I understand these principles. It's just that the Emperor's heart is unpredictable, which inevitably makes people feel uneasy."
Granny Wang nodded repeatedly: "Your Highness is wise. Consort Yi from Xianfu Palace sent some things over earlier. In this palace, rank is still the most important thing. Apart from favor, rank and offspring are what you can rely on in this palace."
Granny Wang's words are certainly reasonable.
Huo Qinghe lowered her eyes: "Put away everything that Consort Yi sent. Without favor, how can there be offspring and rank? Tomorrow is the first day of the month, so I can't go, which saves me trouble. I don't have an appetite, so I'll drink my medicine and sleep for a while."
Granny Wang sensed something from Huo Qinghe's words, silently responded, and fed Huo Qinghe the medicine.
She no longer felt anything about the Emperor summoning Jinyang to see her last night; she was just wondering what the Emperor's impression of her was.
This became her guiding principle for future actions.
The first day of the sixth lunar month is the day when the six palaces go to Kunning Palace to pay their respects.
Huo Qinghe was ill, Consort Ming was in her late stages of pregnancy, and Huo Yiyun, who was under house arrest, did not attend the event.
The remaining concubines all came forward.
Empress Xue had been suffering from a headache these past few days, and when she appeared, everyone below had already arrived.
"His Majesty remembered that he was unable to enjoy the Dragon Boat Festival family banquet with his sisters due to state affairs, so he specially rewarded the six palaces. The rewards for Consort Ming and Consort Cao, who are pregnant, will be even more generous. I heard His Majesty say that the rewards given to Consort Ming and Consort Cao are the dark blue gemstones that the late Emperor bestowed upon His Majesty when he came of age."
Consort Cao stood up a beat late to express her gratitude: "Your Majesty and the Empress are very grateful for your kindness. I have no way to repay your kindness."
Consort Chi was leisurely sipping her tea when she said, "Oh. A raven-blue gemstone, I wonder how it compares to Consort Huo's ruby?"
Xue Yinjia frowned: "Consort Chi. Today, Consort Huo is ill and has not come out. Who are you referring to? They are both gifts from His Majesty. Do you have to distinguish between them? Consort Chi, haven't you received enough precious gifts from His Majesty? And now you're getting jealous."
Consort Chi stood up gracefully: "Yes, Your Majesty and the Empress are very grateful for your kindness."
Xue Yinjia gave her a warning look: "His Majesty has bestowed great rewards upon the six palaces, which shows that he cares about all the sisters. The six palaces should be more harmonious. Consort Zhou, you are the head of Yanxi Palace, and now that Consort Huo is ill, you should take good care of her."
Consort Zhou had only just learned the origin of the ruby, and hearing Empress Xue's words now, she felt utterly disgusted. She stood up indifferently and said, "I have remembered Your Majesty's words. But Consort Huo is already being cared for by His Majesty, so there is no need for me to show her any concern."
With neither the Huo brothers present today, they're all speaking without any restraint.
Xue Yinjia felt that her headache from last night was not as bad as it was now: "I just said that Consort Chi was jealous, and I think Consort Zhou, you're also acting strangely. Do you speak like this in front of the Empress Dowager and His Majesty?"
Consort Zhuang was the first to stand up: "Your Majesty, please calm down and take care of your health."
Upon hearing the sound, the concubines in the hall all stood up.
Empress Xue pressed her temples, her head aching. "Sit down, all of you. His Majesty's gifts to the six palaces are a testament to your diligent service. It's one thing to speak without restraint in front of me, but you cannot do so in front of His Majesty. I think you've all forgotten the lesson of Consort Chang."
Upon hearing Empress Xue mention Consort Chang, even Consort Chi's shoulders trembled, and she pursed her lips, remaining silent.
Consort Zhou suddenly stopped.
The newly arrived Consort Xie glanced at Consort Meng, who sat to her left, with a puzzled look, but saw only the same puzzled look in Consort Meng's eyes.
Consort Fu, sitting opposite Consort Xie, kept her head down and showed little reaction.
Consort Chang? I'd never heard anyone in the palace mention such a person before.
Consort Zhuang, however, rarely showed anger: "Consort Chang deserved her fate. Someone like her deserves to die a hundred times over."
Xue Yinjia gave her a reassuring look: "Alright, it wasn't a big deal originally. I only said that Consort Chang wanted to teach you a lesson. Like His Majesty, I only hope that the sisters in the harem can live in harmony."
"I am a little tired. You may all leave. Consort Cao, you stay."
Cao Shanlu responded, her expression softening considerably.
She knew perfectly well how Consort Chang had brought this upon herself.
Thinking of Consort Chang, Cao Shanlu couldn't help but raise her hand to protect her lower abdomen.
...
Huo Qinghe did not go to Kunning Palace to pay her respects, so she was unaware of the undercurrents within the palace. However, she did know about the Emperor's grand reward to the six palaces.
The maids were overjoyed when they heard the news: "With His Majesty's reward, the reward that Madam receives won't be too conspicuous."
It was Green Cloud who spoke.
Seeing this, Green Locust added, "That's right. But I've also heard that besides the most generous rewards His Majesty gave to Consort Ming and Consort Cao, the reward given to you, Madam, is the most special. You received the first one."
Huo Qinghe is in much better spirits today, but her mouth still tastes bitter after taking medicine for two days.
However, Huo Qinghe had drunk quite a lot of herbal medicine when she was in the Huo family. In addition to the herbal medicine she had drunk recently, Huo Qinghe had drunk so much medicine that she could no longer taste anything on her tongue.
"Let's stop taking the medicine in a few days." Huo Qinghe finished her medicine.
Greenery silently accepted the medicine bowl and withdrew.
“Too much medicine is bad for your health. Once you’ve recovered, my lady really doesn’t need to take any more medicine.” Green Heart said with some concern.
"I remember that it's Empress Dowager Zhou's birthday soon? I'll start preparing as soon as I recover."
Green Locust replied, "The Empress Dowager's birthday is on June 28th. His Majesty celebrates for the Empress Dowager every year. We servants will help you prepare, Madam."
The emperor valued filial piety, and the empresses and concubines naturally had to follow suit.
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