The Empress was unaware of Consort Fucha's thoughts. She noticed that Consort Fucha was accompanied only by her maid, Sang'er, and that Consort Fucha looked sickly.
Remembering how respectful Consort Fucha had always been to her, the Empress turned to Huichun and instructed her...
"I'm worried about Consort Fucha going back like this. Have someone prepare a warm sedan chair to send her back."
"Yes, ma'am."
After thanking the Empress, Consort Fucha was helped away by Sang'er. Once everyone was gone, the Empress's spirits, which she had managed to muster with great effort, began to wane.
Sitting in the chair, the Empress closed her eyes, tilted her head, supported her head with her right hand, and kept massaging her temples.
Seeing this, Jianqiu quickly stepped forward to massage the Empress, saying, "Your Majesty is not fully recovered yet and has been tired all morning. Let me help you to the warm pavilion to rest for a while."
The Empress's eyes were closed, and she was clearly very tired. She shook her head listlessly and said, "No need, I'll just sit here for a while."
"His Majesty is about to wake up, and I need to stay by his side to take care of him."
Jianqiu said anxiously, "But how can your body take it?"
The Empress opened her eyes, her gaze sweeping over the young eunuch guarding outside, and said weakly,
"My health is fine; the Emperor's affairs are more important."
When Jianqiu saw the Empress's meaningful look, she was slightly taken aback but quickly understood.
This is the Hall of Mental Cultivation, not the Jingren Palace. She felt sorry for the Empress, but she felt sorry for the wrong place.
Jianqiu said, "I was mistaken. Fortunately, the imperial physician said that His Majesty is fine."
"But Your Majesty, no matter how anxious you are, you must take care of your own health. Otherwise, what will happen if the Emperor falls ill before he has fully recovered!"
The Empress forced a smile, but said nothing. She simply looked worriedly toward the bedchamber, as if everything was understood without words.
Outside the flower hall, Xia Xiazi was ordered by Su Peisheng to report to the Empress that Da Pang Ju had woken up.
I didn't expect to see this just as I was about to go in, I thought to myself.
The Empress's concern for the Emperor was beyond question, but the Emperor remained indifferent to her.
Even though the Emperor knew perfectly well that Consort Hua had provoked the Empress in every way for years, even reversing the proper order of things and openly mocking her, he not only didn't intervene but also indulged her greatly.
Xiazi suddenly realized that the emperor was no different from those men outside who favored their concubines over their wives.
Startled to realize that she dared to think that way, Xiaxia slapped herself across the face to wake herself up.
Everything the Emperor does is right, and even his mistakes are right; there's no need for a lowly servant like him to decide!
Rubbing the side of her face that she had slapped so hard, Xiaxia quickly put on her signature smile and walked inside.
"Your Majesty, this servant greets you. Your master sent me to inform you that the Emperor has awakened."
The Empress, who had been sullen and worried, was overjoyed to hear the news that the chubby orange cat had woken up. Her ears perked up as if hearing celestial music, and she exclaimed with delight,
"Really? That's wonderful! Jianqiu, help me over there."
Jianqiu smiled and said, "Yes, Your Majesty can finally rest assured now."
*
When the Empress arrived, the chubby orange was half-lying on the bed, with three or four pillows featuring two dragons playing with a pearl behind him.
His eyelids were drooping, revealing only a slit; he was clearly listless, slumped there, being fed porridge by Su Peisheng.
When the Empress entered, his eyes widened slightly, but it was barely noticeable unless you looked closely.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
The chubby orange cat said weakly, "The Empress has arrived."
The Empress stepped forward, took the porridge from Su Peisheng's hand, and while feeding the chubby orange, said with concern, "Your Majesty, I have always been here."
"The Empress Dowager came over after hearing the news, but the Emperor was still unconscious, so she returned to Shou Kang Palace to pray for the Emperor's well-being."
"Is Your Majesty feeling any better now?"
The chubby orange said, "Your Majesty, you've worked hard. I'm much better now."
"Where is Consort Hua? I haven't seen her."
In the past, if the Empress heard the chubby girl ask why Consort Hua was not present at such a time, no matter how composed she appeared, she would still inevitably show some resentment.
This time will be no exception...
The smile on the Empress's face faded considerably, and her hand movements became less fluid and hesitant than before.
"My sisters have all arrived, but His Majesty is still not awake. I was worried that too many people would disturb His Majesty's peace, so I received you all in the flower hall."
"The Empress Dowager instructed that the concubines take turns attending to His Majesty when he is ill. My health is not good, so Consort Hua has been in charge of the affairs of the inner palace during this period, and she has managed them quite well."
"Therefore, the procedures for attending to the sick should also be drafted by Consort Hua. I think it won't be long before they arrive."
After feeding the porridge, the Empress wiped the corners of the fat orange's mouth with a silk handkerchief. What good was being the Empress? She had nothing left after all these years.
How come she never noticed before that after so many years of marriage, the two of them had nothing to talk about except for other women?
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