Cheng'en Hall.
Consort Shu looked anxiously outside the door, but finally, the appearance of Granny Du made her instantly happy.
"Granny, how is it? Has His Majesty come to Cheng'en Palace?"
Consort Shu asked anxiously.
She sent Granny Du to inquire about His Majesty's whereabouts every day, but the news Granny Du brought back each day disappointed her.
Ever since the day Her Majesty caught her arguing with Gu Jiangli in the Chengen Palace, he hasn't visited her palace for seven days straight.
What caused her even more pain was that His Majesty not only did not come to her place, but also did not visit any of the concubines' palaces.
Granny Du returned earlier today than she had a few days ago; perhaps she brought back good news.
Consort Shu thought this, but the moment she saw the expression on Granny Du's face, she suddenly felt deflated.
Du Mama shook her head regretfully, "Your Majesty, His Majesty is resting in the Hall of Mental Cultivation and will not be coming. Your Majesty should also rest early tonight."
Consort Shu's body went limp, and she collapsed onto the soft couch.
"It's been seven days. His Majesty hasn't come to Chengen Palace for seven days," Consort Shu murmured.
In the past two years, even when His Majesty was very busy with official duties, he would only stay away from her palace for a maximum of three days.
But now it's been seven days...
Such desolation and loneliness washed over her like a tide.
"Your Majesty, look on the bright side. Although His Majesty didn't come here, he didn't go to the other concubines' quarters either. That's a good thing."
Granny Du tried her best to comfort her mistress.
Consort Shu's expression changed, and her tone suddenly became sharp.
"A good thing? Do you think this is a good thing, Granny Du? Are you so old that you can't even tell the difference between good and bad?"
Consort Shu's words were barbed, which startled Granny Du.
"This... is better than His Majesty going to other concubines. At least there won't be any other concubines competing with you for His Majesty's favor."
Consort Shu sneered, "His Majesty doesn't come to me because he's angry with me; he's the one who chose not to come."
"But His Majesty doesn't see Gu Jiangli because he doesn't want to! It's because Gu Jiangli rejected him! He can't see her!"
"His Majesty neither punishes her nor settles for other concubines. What does this prove? Don't you understand!"
After a scolding from Consort Shu, Granny Du slowly came to her senses.
"Granny, this proves that Gu Jiangli is now the most important person in His Majesty's heart. If he can't see her, he'd rather stay alone in the Hall of Mental Cultivation until the next day than share his favor with anyone else!"
"He is telling me, and all the concubines in the harem: even without Gu Jiangli's company, he will not choose me, nor will he choose anyone else!"
"Granny, tell me, is this a good thing?"
Granny Du shook her head blankly, denying her own foolish words.
Consort Shu's shoulders suddenly slumped. "Does the Emperor really like her that much?"
Granny Du hurriedly spoke up again to comfort her.
"Your Majesty, don't be sad. His Majesty's anger towards you is only temporary. In a couple of days, His Majesty's anger will subside, and he will treat you as well as usual."
Consort Shu suddenly smiled, but her smile was tinged with madness.
"Really? Everyone has been bewitched by Gu Jiangli. Can His Majesty really change his mind?"
"Yes, of course! His Majesty has given you almost all his favor these past two years. How could that Gu Jiangli take it all away overnight? His Majesty has only been deceived by Consort Xian for a short time."
“But wasn’t it enough that she deceived His Majesty once? Why did she even…” Consort Shu was interrupted by Granny Du halfway through her sentence.
"Your Majesty! Be careful what you say!"
Consort Shu immediately stopped, swallowing back all the words she wanted to say.
"He said he would help me! He was so confident and certain! He said that with just a few words from him, His Majesty would immediately turn back and treat me like nothing had happened!"
She took several deep breaths, her voice choked with emotion several times.
"But even he! Even he... was bewitched by Gu Jiangli's beauty. Not only did he not help me, he also helped my enemy, helping her gain more of His Majesty's favor!"
"Why? Why did he betray me too?"
"Your Majesty..." Granny Du looked sorrowful, wanting to comfort her but not knowing how to begin.
“Granny,” Consort Shu’s expression grew increasingly frantic, “the person who has always doted on me has already turned his heart towards her after only two days of contact with her.”
"The person I called to help me only met her briefly before turning around and helping her."
"Granny, do you think that woman is really that beautiful?"
"Does it really cause people to lose themselves and their minds?"
The old woman advised:
"Your Majesty, Gu Jiangli is all beauty and no substance. She has only temporarily captivated His Majesty's heart with some tricks of feigning gentleness. Given time, she will surely reveal her true colors! At that time, His Majesty will definitely feel disgusted with her again, so please rest assured."
"The real face...?" Consort Shu was taken aback.
"Yes, wasn't Consort Xian's pitiful appearance in front of His Majesty just an act? As long as it's an act, it will inevitably be exposed one day."
"She'll be exposed? When will she finally be exposed?"
"Your Majesty, please wait a little longer..."
Consort Shu clenched her fists.
"I don't want to wait! I want to see that vile woman kneel down and beg for mercy before me right now!"
Consort Shu's spirited demeanor made Granny Du feel a little worried.
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