Inside the east side hall.
Song Xibai didn't wake up until the end of Chenshi (7-9 AM).
She sat up and turned to see the water clock, and was startled.
"Wei Hong! Fu Liu!"
Two palace maids rushed in at the same time.
"Master, what's wrong?"
As Song Xibai put on her clothes, she said, "It's so late, I'm already late to pay my respects to the Crown Princess. Why didn't you wake me up earlier?"
Fu Liu and Wei Hong exchanged a glance and laughed at the same time, then walked to Song Xibai's side, one on each side.
"Your Highness need not worry. His Highness instructed before he left that you are exempt from paying your respects for three days."
Wei Hong straightened her sleeves.
"Yes, yes! This servant personally went to the inner palace to convey His Highness's words,"
With a smile, Fu Liu helped Song Xibai sit down in front of the dressing table.
Song Xibai breathed a sigh of relief.
If you asked for leave in advance, then there's nothing to worry about.
“Our Highness is very attentive to you, Master! No one in the entire Eastern Palace receives such treatment as you do.”
As Fu Liu spoke, she looked quite proud of herself.
Song Xibai's eyebrows twisted into a caterpillar shape.
If she hadn't explained the situation to the Crown Prince from the beginning, she herself would have believed it.
Wei Hong didn't say much. She picked up a comb from her dressing case and was about to comb Song Xibai's hair.
Fu Liu stepped back to the side, but continued talking.
"Your Majesty, this comb was specially delivered by the Imperial Household Department a few days ago. It is made of the finest sandalwood and was offered to the Buddha for forty-nine days. In our Eastern Palace, only the Crown Princess and Your Majesty have one."
Song Xibai didn't know that.
The comb had no gold or silver decorations and was carved with the common "Fu" character pattern, so Song Xibai thought it was just an ordinary object.
I never imagined there were so many intricacies involved.
"It's just a comb, no need to be so particular." Song Xibai waved her hand and turned to instruct Wei Hong, "Just do a simple bun! No need for greetings today, just dress casually."
Wei Hong nodded, quickly combed her hair into a small bun, and secured it with two pearl hairpins. The rest were either fixed on top of her head or hung down to her temples.
Without the heavy headdress, Song Xibai felt much more relaxed.
Before long, Song Xibai, having finished washing up, sat down at the round table and began to eat her belated breakfast.
Unexpectedly, after only drinking half a bowl of porridge, Ding Mama's voice rang out from outside.
"Xi Liangdi, this old servant has come to deliver something to you on the orders of Her Highness the Crown Princess."
Song Xibai quickly wiped his mouth and called her in.
Granny Ding brought only two palace maids with her, one of whom carried a small food box.
Song Xibai was puzzled. It was past mealtime. Did the Crown Princess still want to serve dishes?
Who would serve vegetables so early in the morning?
She suppressed her curiosity and greeted Granny Ding with a smile.
"Why is Granny here at this hour?"
Granny Ding curtsied slightly, a polite smile on her face.
"His Highness is concerned for Consort Xi, and our Crown Princess is also worried about your health. That's why she specially instructed this old servant to go to the Imperial Pharmacy to have someone brew some tonic medicine and send it to Consort Xi."
As she spoke, Granny Ding gestured for the palace maid to open the food box and take out an exquisite soup bowl decorated with gold and colorful patterns.
Song Xibai's brows furrowed immediately.
She knows her own body and has no problems, so why would she drink tonics for no reason?
A palace maid presented her with a bowl of soup.
After smelling the herbs and identifying several of them, Song Xibai's expression darkened.
Red ginseng, prepared rehmannia root, angelica root...
These are all medicinal herbs that promote fertility.
The Crown Princess's meaning couldn't be clearer.
The pressure to have a baby has reached such a point that Song Xibai doesn't know what to say.
Fortunately, these medicines won't cause any harm.
Song Xibai took a deep breath, smiled, took the bowl, drank two sips, and put it aside.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness the Crown Princess. I am deeply grateful."
She stood up and respectfully bowed deeply towards the central hall.
Ding Mama was satisfied and led the palace maids out.
Song Xibai pursed her lips slightly, her brows conveying a sense of aloofness.
Wei Hong quietly walked up behind her: "Master, shall I go and pour out this medicine?"
Song Xibai glanced at the soup bowl.
"No need, this medicine is fine, it's a mild and balanced tonic."
The entire Eastern Palace is so small that anyone talking in their sleep or turning over at night will be heard. If Ding Mama leaves and she has someone pour out the medicine, it will reach the Crown Princess's ears in no time.
Song Xibai did not want to confront the Crown Princess.
No need.
I'll be leaving in a month at most, why create unnecessary trouble?
Song Xibai took a deep breath and drank the medicine in one gulp.
After finishing her medicine, she lost her appetite and waved for the palace maids to leave.
At this very moment, the Crown Princess is inside Renshou Palace.
The Empress Dowager had always had trouble falling asleep, and since she went to bed late, she also woke up late. Therefore, the concubines would all go to Renshou Palace to pay their respects at Chenshi (7-9 AM).
The Crown Princess usually arrives 15 minutes early to show her filial piety.
But today, the Empress Dowager got up even later, and the Crown Princess and the others waited for a quarter of an hour before she finally came out.
As usual, the Crown Princess drank a cup of tea and then prepared to take her leave with the others.
But just as she reached the door, she suddenly heard the Empress Dowager calling her.
"Your Highness, come here. I have something to tell you."
The Crown Princess was somewhat surprised, but she still obediently turned around and walked to the Empress Dowager's side.
"Grandmother, is there something you need when you call for your granddaughter-in-law?"
The Crown Princess bowed her head respectfully; her manners and posture were impeccable, even the strictest palace maids could not find a single fault with them.
The Empress Dowager stared at her for a long time, knowing that because of the matter of having children, Zhao was extremely strict with herself, fearing that if she made any mistake, she would be dragged down from her position as Crown Princess.
"Sit down! It's been a long time since we, grandfather and grandson, had a proper conversation."
The Empress Dowager lovingly pulled the Crown Princess over and made her sit in the seat closest to her.
The Crown Princess's heart skipped a beat, but she put on an expression of being flattered and surprised.
"Thank you for the seat, Grandmother."
The Empress Dowager patted the back of her hand, pondered for a long time, and then spoke again.
"Recently, some court officials have suggested that the Crown Prince take more concubines. With the New Year approaching, foreign countries will send congratulations. An envoy from Yili has brought a princess with him, and she is already on her way."
The crown prince was immediately startled.
"Princess Yili? What does Father mean?"
The Empress Dowager glanced at her and said, "Your father means that he has no shortage of women in his harem, and this princess cannot be given to a subject at will. Therefore, it is very likely that she will be given to the Crown Prince."
The Crown Princess could no longer sit still.
A princess, bestowed upon the crown prince, would at least be a concubine.
If he had his own children, he wouldn't have to worry. But given his current situation, his position is already unstable. With the princess's arrival, the situation in the Eastern Palace will inevitably change drastically.
The Crown Princess doesn't even consider Song Xibai a threat, because Song Xibai is of commoner origin and has no powerful backing. Even if she is favored, she can't cause any trouble.
But if she were a princess, it would be different.
In particular, with the Oirat Tatars pressing closer to the north and the court's military preparations strained, it is precisely the time when Yi Li is needed.
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