After much deliberation, Consort Nian decided to reveal her plans to her uncle, Nian Xiyao, in the capital. She then picked up a pen and ink and personally wrote a letter, which she then handed to Bai Zhi.
Bai Zhi, upon seeing that it was a request for Nian Xiyao to track the Fourth Prince's movements outside the palace, looked at Consort Nian with a panicked expression and asked in confusion, "Your Highness, we've already risked our lives by bribing the cleaning eunuchs. If Lord Nian is also involved, and the Emperor finds out, he certainly won't forgive you easily. What if... what if the Emperor misunderstands that Nian has ulterior motives, and I'm afraid he'll take his anger out on the entire Nian family..."
Consort Nian shook her head absentmindedly and said painfully, "I can't care about that anymore. We can't find out the Emperor's whereabouts by relying on our spies in the palace. If the Emperor hadn't secretly left the palace, why would he have disappeared at several crucial moments?"
Bai Zhi helped Consort Nian up and advised, "Your Majesty, it's really not worth taking this risk at this time..."
Consort Nian shook off his hand and scolded, "I told you to go, so go! Why all this nonsense?"
Bai Zhi had no choice but to put the letter away in her hidden sleeve and wait until the next morning to take Nian Shi's nameplate and leave the palace.
Meanwhile, ever since the Fourth Prince released Lady Fucha from the Cold Palace, she had been living in a side hall of Qixiang Palace. Although it was only a side hall, it was still a hundred times better than the Cold Palace. In addition, since no principal lady had ever lived in Qixiang Palace, Lady Fucha did not have to be subservient to anyone else.
After Fucha finished tidying up her residence, she noticed that no maids from the Imperial Household Department had come to serve her. Just as she was about to inquire, an eunuch from the Imperial Household Department arrived at the side hall with his men.
Although Lady Fucha was only granted the title of "Daying" (a low-ranking concubine), she was still a minor consort. The eunuchs coldly instructed the head eunuch to send the basic necessities, then hastily finished their task and prepared to leave.
Lady Fucha stopped the eunuch and asked in confusion, "Excuse me, Your Excellency, why is there not a single maidservant serving in Qixiang Palace? Did the Imperial Household Department forget to arrange one?"
The leading eunuch sneered, and his disdainful look greatly displeased Empress Fucha.
"Consort Fucha, you've been living in the palace for more than just a day or two. Have you forgotten the palace rules so quickly? Although the Emperor has shown mercy and released you from the Cold Palace, he has only bestowed upon you the title of Consort..." The eunuch bowed respectfully towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation and continued, "With the rank of Consort, you are not assigned maids to serve you. You must do everything yourself..."
Lady Fucha was taken aback and exclaimed in surprise, "No maids? Are you expecting me to do all the work in the palace by myself?"
The eunuch rolled his eyes and chuckled, "A concubine is the lowest-ranking woman in the palace, only slightly higher than a maid or palace maid. What maid would want to serve you? Besides, I heard that you've worked in the Imperial Laundry Department. I think that no matter how tiring the work in Qixiang Palace is, it can't compare to the work in the Imperial Laundry Department. You're definitely capable of handling it..."
Lady Fucha overheard the eunuch mocking her past in the Imperial Laundry Department, and felt a surge of resentment. However, having just been released from the Cold Palace, she couldn't afford to cause any more trouble and incur the Fourth Prince's wrath. So, she suppressed her anger, smiled, and took a small silver ingot from her purse, placing it in the eunuch's hand.
Empress Fucha smiled kindly at the eunuch and said, "You've gone to a lot of trouble, sir. I know my rank is not high, and I forgot the rules of the palace for a moment. I hope you will be understanding."
The eunuch twirled the silver in his hand, secretly pleased, thinking that Lady Fucha was quite clever. He immediately changed his expression, smiling as he said to Lady Fucha, "I've never seen many servants who have come out of the Cold Palace, and Your Highness is one of them. Your Highness is exceptionally intelligent; I was simply blind."
The young eunuch left satisfied, leaving Lady Fucha alone in the empty room.
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