When Yan Nangui woke up from his afternoon nap, he saw a cantaloupe on the table.
"Was it sent by the Imperial Household Department?"
"Your Majesty, no, it was bestowed by the Empress. Only Consort Xiangxian has it, as do Consort Luo and Consort Xia," Luo Kui said.
Yan Nangui raised an eyebrow: "So you really see me as an accomplice?"
Luo Kui smiled, unsure what to say.
"Is Xia Meiren one too?" Chanyi asked.
"If Consort Xia could rely on the Empress, wouldn't the Empress be very happy? But in my opinion, it won't be easy." Consort Xia always acted independently, unwilling to depend on anyone. That's actually for the best; it's a smart choice.
The less she has to rely on, the more His Majesty will feel that she is having a hard time.
"Last night, Consort Xia served the Emperor, and today she received a reward from Her Majesty the Empress." Yan Nangui smiled.
"It's true that the Empress is trying to win people over, but this is just too much of a target of hatred." The newcomers haven't even had a chance to serve the Emperor yet.
How can I not be angry?
Despite being favored by the emperor, Xia Meiren was of ordinary birth and did not hold a very high position.
You might offend someone.
It didn't matter that the geese were flying south; she simply asked someone to cut up the melon, and sure enough, it was sweet and soft. It was her favorite green-fleshed melon.
If it weren't for the fact that this stuff is considered cooling, she could eat three at once.
Unfortunately, Chanyi and the others were watching over her and wouldn't let her eat much.
Around noon, the sky darkened, and it looked like it was going to rain.
Jiangxiang quickly ordered someone to bring the meal. After all, the small kitchen didn't have enough food.
So normally, we eat at the main kitchen.
Just as the food was brought back, thunder roared and a heavy rain began to fall.
Yan Nangui squinted comfortably; she wasn't afraid of thunder. Sitting in the outer room to eat felt much cooler.
This is much cooler and more thorough than ice. A wind is blowing, and it's raining outside.
The kitchen staff dared not delay her meals.
But some people might not be like that.
Those who live nearby are fine, but those who live further away and have a lower social status simply have to eat whatever is available in this weather.
Summer is alright, but winter is the real hardship.
The newly promoted concubines are alright, since their future is uncertain and no one dares to offend them recklessly.
However, since they both lived in Linhua Palace, Wu Baolin ate better than Ding Liangren. How could this not make people angry?
However, they are just throwing a tantrum, while some people can't even get angry.
In Yingfu Palace, when the weather is like this, Consort Zhen can't get out of bed.
Her joints were in severe pain, but the imperial physicians wouldn't come whenever she called.
Even if you get there, the disease is incurable.
It can only provide temporary relief.
Because of her children, she now has less and less money left to rely on.
The Eighth Princess has been betrothed to a noble family in the capital; their social standing is quite good. She will also have her own princess residence.
However, that young man was truly unremarkable.
He was not the eldest son either.
But what could she do?
It was His Majesty's decree that the residence was granted.
She was even more afraid that her daughter would suffer, so she provided a lot of financial assistance.
It supplemented the income for both the daughter and the son.
When a daughter gets married, the Imperial Household Department at least gives her some gifts. There are still six months left, so it shouldn't be too bad.
But the twelfth prince is currently in a predicament, and it's unclear what will happen to his marriage in the future.
Princess Jane endured the pain in her joints and had no thought of food.
Over the years, her former beautiful appearance has long since disappeared; she is now sallow and withered, hardly resembling someone under forty.
Not to mention her, even Consort Cao, who was not yet twenty years old, was also worn out.
Finally, after the heavy rain stopped, their meals were able to be retrieved.
Over the years, I've gotten used to not eating anything particularly good.
But today all we have is stir-fried cabbage.
It's likely that neither the aunt nor the niece ever imagined that, despite being born into a noble family and once being imperial concubines, they would end up constantly lacking food.
Perhaps due to excessive crying, Consort Zhen's eyesight has deteriorated over the past year.
It's incredibly blurry. Each day feels less and less hopeful.
We'll just have to endure it.
Stir-fried cabbage isn't bad, but how good could the cabbage they get be?
She had no appetite while she was sick, and after a few bites she stopped eating.
I didn't try to stop them when they got wet; what's the point of trying to persuade them? They just took it and ate it themselves.
"Your Majesty, just bear with it. Things will get better once the Eighth Princess and the Twelfth Prince are married," Yu Shui muttered to herself.
But she herself didn't believe that.
In the evening, Shu Chengfeng arrived at Zhaochun Palace.
Yan Nangui was looking at her morning glories; after a heavy rain, even more of them had bloomed.
"Aren't you afraid of mosquitoes?" Shu Chengfeng laughed.
"Isn't this a fan in hand? Your Majesty, may you rest in peace?" Yan Nangui said with a smile as he approached.
She clearly didn't intend to go out; she wore a peach-colored inner garment casually over an outer robe. Her hair was half covered and half loose.
He looked completely at ease.
Fortunately, the emperor was coming today without prior notice, so she couldn't be blamed.
His days are numbered.
He then took her hand and said, "If you're not afraid of mosquitoes, why don't you go for a walk? I've been so busy these past few days, my eyes are getting blurry."
Yan Nangui thought for a moment, and since there was still some time before dinner, she nodded and went back to change into a dress.
Simply tie your hair up; as long as you don't look rude when you go out, that's fine.
The two had just reached Buyun Bridge when, inside Linhua Palace, a palace maid spoke to Wu Baolin.
Wu Baolin also tried to persuade Ding Liangren to go along.
Ding Liangren ignored him completely.
In the end, Wu Baolin went by himself.
Yan Nangui and Shu Chengfeng were strolling along the lake when they saw a woman dressed in a beautiful pink gauze dress approaching from behind.
"Greetings to His Majesty, and greetings to Consort Yan." Wu Baolin bowed her head, displaying her best posture.
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