Consort Fucha, both happy and shy, rode in the Phoenix Spring Grace Carriage to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Following protocol, Granny Liu, the head of the bedchamber, washed her clean, wrapped her in a rose-red brocade quilt, and was carried by several eunuchs to the large, plump dragon bed.
After the lights in the Hall of Mental Cultivation were turned off, it seemed as if the women in the inner palace received a signal, and they gradually turned off their lights and went to bed.
Yikun Palace
Consort Hua had just recovered from a long illness and hadn't left the house for days; her complexion was no longer as rosy as before.
She was clearly a stunningly beautiful woman, but now her brows were furrowed with worry, and her much thinner body leaned against the headboard as she drank her tonic sip by sip.
Zhou Ninghai was surprised to find that the usually decisive and efficient Consort Hua looked so frail and delicate, just like Consort Duan.
After Consort Hua finished drinking her medicine, Songzhi wiped the traces from the corner of her lips and couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, are you really going to the palace banquet for the Emperor's birthday?"
“You’ve only just started to feel better. What if you go out and catch a chill?”
Actually, what Songzhi wanted to say was that Consort Hua had just suffered such a huge blow. Even when she saw the Emperor, she had to suppress everything and pretend that she knew nothing.
She even had to force herself to flatter and vie for favor, fearing that Consort Hua wouldn't be able to handle it.
Consort Hua understood Songzhi's concerns and calmly replied, "Now that things have come to this, is there anything I cannot bear?"
"Don't worry, I'll travel in a sedan chair both ways, and I won't be exposed to the wind at the palace banquet. The Emperor is so heartless, but for the sake of the Nian family, I must live well."
Zhou Ninghai hesitated before speaking, "But why don't you tell the truth to the General, so that he can be on guard?"
Consort Hua said worriedly, "My brother's temperament is too strong and easily broken. If I tell him now, who knows what trouble will cause? At that time, the Nian family may really be doomed."
"The Emperor is the most cunning. Since he was on guard against me so early, he must have already made many preparations. Let me think about what to do before I tell my brother."
The mere mention of the fat orange cat filled Consort Hua with utter disgust. How could she have ever fallen in love with such a heartless and ungrateful person?
Thinking back, she realized that for the past month or so, she had either been recuperating from illness or thinking about the future of Lady Nian, and had not paid any attention to what was happening in the palace. She didn't even know if any new talents had emerged in the harem.
Consort Hua asked, "Tell me about the situation in the harem during the days I have been ill."
Songzhi glanced at Consort Hua, seeing her expressionless face, unable to discern her thoughts. But after caring for the Emperor for so many years, could Consort Hua truly just throw it all away?
Zhou Ninghai then recounted the events of the past few days to Consort Hua in detail: "During the time Your Highness was ill, the Emperor came several times, but I followed Your Highness's instructions and did not allow the Emperor to enter."
"Consort Cheng came a few more times afterward, but Her Majesty was always resting, so she left some things and then left."
"For the past month or so, although Consort Cheng has been serving at the Hall of Mental Cultivation almost every day, the Emperor has hardly ever favored her. On the contrary, Consort Shen of Xianfu Palace has been receiving the Emperor's special attention."
"Today, the Emperor went to Jingren Palace to dine with the Empress, and then summoned Consort Fucha to serve him in bed. Among the newly entered concubines, only these three have made their mark; the others have not yet seen the Emperor's face."
"By the way, Consort Li and Noble Lady Fucha also came to visit, but Your Majesty instructed me to stop them."
Consort Hua scoffed, "Your Majesty came to see if I'm dead or not!"
Songzhi said, "Actually, this servant thinks that His Majesty is somewhat worried about Your Highness."
Consort Hua said, "If he truly cared about me, he wouldn't have treated me like this!"
“My child back then was a fully formed male fetus. He used Consort Duan to abort my child, which was also his own son!”
“Consort Duan is just as pitiful as I am. Back in the Prince’s mansion, she was the only one I was close to. The Emperor had a thousand ways to make me miscarry, but he chose to have her serve me that bowl of medicine laced with safflower to prevent miscarriage.”
"After thinking about it for days, I finally understand. It turns out that the Emperor is wary of her just as much as he is of me. Despite holding the title of Consort, she lives a life worse than the lowest servant in the palace."
"I have humiliated her for years, and the Emperor has ignored her completely. She is more pitiful than I am. Tell me, does she harbor more hatred, or does I harbor more hatred?"
As Consort Hua spoke, there was not a trace of tears in her eyes, her voice was extremely cold, but her expression was as casual as if she were saying that she wanted to eat crab meat pastries today.
Zhou Ninghai now realized that the Empress was truly different.
However, what this means is...
Zhou Ninghai asked, "Does Your Highness mean that you and Consort Duan should reconcile their differences?"
Consort Hua said, "It's hard to say who was right and who was wrong about what happened back then. She took the blame, and I even gave her a pot of safflower. It's impossible to turn hostility into friendship now."
"However, there are some things we can cooperate on."
Songzhi said, "Your Majesty is right, but Consort Duan is now a cripple. Even if Your Majesty gives her a chance, I'm afraid she won't be able to be controlled."
Zhou Ninghai disagreed with what Songzhi said. Although Consort Duan had been severely suppressed by them over the years, she was still a consort. Even a broken ship still had some nails!
Consort Hua said, "We can talk about these things later. There is only one thing that is most important."
Zhou Ninghai asked, "What is it that Your Majesty is referring to?"
Consort Hua said coldly, "Why can everyone else give birth, but I can't? What I've endured, the Emperor must also endure!"
Songzhi exclaimed in surprise, then whispered, "Does Your Highness intend for the other concubines to also...?"
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