The Empress Dowager insisted that she go, and Consort Cheng also wanted to see the Emperor, so she agreed.
On the way to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Consort Cheng was filled with unease, because she was unsure of how the Emperor would treat her.
The Empress Dowager said that she and the Emperor are relatives, so the Emperor shouldn't be too harsh on her, right?
Before she knew it, she had arrived at the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Li Yu was guarding the door. He was surprised to see Consort Cheng arrive, but he still smiled.
"May I ask what brings you here, esteemed sir?"
Consort Cheng truthfully replied, "The Empress Dowager sent me to deliver soup to the Emperor."
It was the Empress Dowager's idea! That Empress Dowager probably didn't have good intentions. Li Yu knew the Emperor didn't want to see these newly arrived concubines, so he quickly made an excuse:
"His Majesty is currently discussing state affairs with several ministers and is likely unable to meet with you."
Consort Cheng smiled indifferently, "It's alright, I'll wait here until His Majesty is finished before going in."
With a quick glance, Li Yu suggested, "It's a bit hot and humid today, and it's quite sunny waiting here. Why don't you go back first, Your Excellency, and leave the soup behind? When His Majesty has a moment, I'll bring the soup in."
“That won’t do.” Consort Cheng immediately refused. “Thank you for your kind offer, Eunuch Li, but the Empress Dowager said that I must deliver it in personally.”
Li Yu wanted to send her away, but suddenly the palace doors were opened, and several ministers came out.
Judging from the situation, the Emperor must have finished his business. Consort Cheng seized the opportunity and entered the palace without waiting for Li Yu's permission.
Suddenly, a woman entered, carrying a food box. Hongli initially thought she was a new palace maid, but the maids serving him were all rigorously selected and required his personal approval. Li Yu had not reported the matter of changing maids. A look of suspicion flashed in Hongli's eyes.
Who goes there?
The Emperor actually asked her who she was? Consort Cheng thought she had misheard. "Your Majesty, I am a newly arrived Consort Cheng, a candidate for the imperial concubines this year. Don't you remember me?"
Isn't it normal not to remember her? "There are so many concubines, how could I possibly recognize every single one of them?"
The Emperor's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over her head, chilling Consort Cheng's heart. Feeling wronged, she couldn't help but mutter softly, "But I am your cousin, Rouzhu!"
Only when the name "cousin" was mentioned did Hongli have a vague recollection of her; the woman before him must be his uncle's daughter.
The Empress Dowager orchestrated the promotion of the imperial concubines, and Hongli didn't bother with the titles and ranks, so much so that he didn't even know that his cousin had been granted the title of Noble Lady Cheng.
"I have many cousins, but I have never met most of them and have no recollection of them."
Hongli spoke bluntly, leaving her no room for embarrassment. Consort Cheng felt quite awkward, but then she thought that her cousin was the emperor, high above others, and naturally wouldn't care about other people's feelings. She shouldn't fuss over such trivial matters.
Consoling himself in this way, Cheng Guiren was no longer sad. "It doesn't matter if you don't remember. After today, you will remember me, cousin."
She was quite familiar with him, addressing him affectionately. Hongli frowned and corrected her, "I am the emperor, I have no relatives in the Hall of Mental Cultivation!"
Consort Cheng was originally mindful of the rules, but upon seeing the Emperor, she became so excited that she forgot them. Seeing that the Emperor was angry, Consort Cheng was startled and lowered her eyes, saying timidly, "Yes, Your Majesty, I misspoke."
Remembering the important matter the Empress Dowager had entrusted to her, Consort Cheng personally opened the food box, filled a bowl with ginseng soup, and presented it to him, saying, "Your Majesty is busy with state affairs and should also take care of your rest. Drink this ginseng soup while it's hot! It's good for your health."
Hongli didn't even glance at it, and replied perfunctorily, "Leave it there! I'm reviewing memorials, you can go back now."
She'd only been there a quarter of an hour, hadn't even exchanged a few words with the Emperor, and was she already leaving? If she were to leave like this, Consort Cheng felt unwilling, so she made up an excuse...
"The Empress Dowager instructed me to bring soup to Your Majesty. Please have a sip! Otherwise, the Empress Dowager will scold me for not taking good care of Your Majesty."
Hongli's dark eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze slowly hardening. "Are you trying to use the Empress Dowager to pressure me?"
Fearing that the emperor would misunderstand, Consort Cheng hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I had no such intention. I was just afraid that the Empress Dowager would blame me and say that I am useless."
Why should she worry about something so simple? "Why don't you just tell the Empress Dowager that I have already drunk it?"
"But...but I can't lie! I stutter easily when I lie." She looked innocent, as if she were saying that she was pure and naive.
Perhaps other men would like such an innocent and naive girl, but Hongli had absolutely no interest in this so-called "little white rabbit."
"Not being able to lie in the palace is not a virtue to be proud of, but a death warrant!"
Consort Cheng did not understand the emperor's meaning. She only heard the emperor issue another order to leave. At this moment, she was filled with shame and indignation. What terrified her even more was that she felt tightness in her chest and shortness of breath, and her whole body was burning hot, especially her cheeks.
Her mouth was dry and parched, so she unconsciously leaned on the table for support and spoke with difficulty, "Your Majesty, I am feeling unwell. May I sit down and rest for a moment, and have some water?"
Why is she so fussy? If it were anyone else, Hongli would have kicked her out immediately, but she is his cousin, and after all, they are relatives. Out of consideration for his uncle, Hongli did not go too far and ordered someone to serve her tea.
Consort Cheng was truly thirsty. Disregarding her decorum, she drank a cup of tea in one gulp, but she still felt parched and had a strange sensation slowly flowing through her body. This unfamiliar feeling terrified her, and she instinctively looked to Hongli for help.
"Cousin, I feel terrible, please help me."
Consort Cheng's face was flushed and she felt weak all over. Judging from her condition, it didn't seem like she was faking it. Hongli then got up and walked to her side, touched her forehead with the back of his hand, and felt that her forehead was very hot. He guessed that she might have a fever.
Hongli immediately ordered someone to fetch the imperial physician and had a carriage prepared, saying he wanted to send her back to the palace. However, she grabbed his hand and pressed his palm against her face, as if only by feeling him could she feel better.
With her eyes half-closed, she murmured softly, "Cousin, save me!"
At this moment, Hongli was very close to her. He vaguely smelled a special scent, which was not the fragrance in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. This scent was unfamiliar and did not resemble ordinary cosmetics. Hongli couldn't help but become suspicious and wondered if Consort Cheng had ulterior motives for coming here!
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