Chapter 376

Chapter 376 "It's just that she sees how Zhaohua Palace is the only one of the Six Palaces without other residents—a unique favor—and so she wants to imitate Your Highness, to show that the Emperor treats her specially too." Xiaoshu lowered her voice and said, "She doesn't stop to think that Zhaohua Palace has no one else because the Emperor arranged it personally." "Even if she manages to drive everyone else out of Fanghua Palace now, that's just her being contrived. How could that compare to our lady?" Xiaoshu's words were harsh, but they were all true. If you were to ask whether Hua Yu had done anything truly wicked, she really hadn't. She just spent her days scheming with her own little calculations, stirring things up here and there. Xie Run could have ignored it, but she now bore the responsibility of managing the Six Palaces. The Empress was increasingly unable to handle affairs, and Consort Wen could only manage so much. Most of this big burden fell on Xie Run's shoulders. She could ignore Hua Yu once or twice, but she couldn't ignore her forever. Xie Run sighed. "Beauty Wu hasn't recovered well since leaving her confinement month. They say her room still has the brazier burning, and she's still seeing blood." "No matter how hard-hearted I am, I can't make her move courtyards right now. If she suffers any more, it could affect her for the rest of her life." The weather was still cold, and with the room sealed up tight on all sides, a stale smell inevitably built up after being shut in for so long. Beauty Wu loved burning incense, filling the room with a thick, fragrant scent to mask that musty odor. Even though Beauty Wu lived quite far from Fanghua Palace, Hua Yu insisted that the incense from Beauty Wu's room was too strong and was bothering her. The Emperor had been good to Hua Yu too—neither side hall of Fanghua Palace had anyone assigned to live there—yet she still wasn't satisfied, stirring up trouble all day long. Xie Run felt somewhat irritated as well, recalling how the Empress had just mentioned that the imperial beauty selection would take place in two months. Suddenly, an idea began to form in her mind. Xie Run said, "We can't let her keep making a scene. We won't return to the palace first—let's go to the Imperial Study to see the Emperor." Dantao suddenly spoke up. "Your Highness, don't be hasty. This servant just remembered something that might teach Consort Hua a lesson." Xie Run raised an eyebrow, looking at Dantao with some surprise. She smiled. "I thought Xiaoshu was the one most dissatisfied with her. If anyone were holding in frustration, it should have been Xiaoshu offering me advice." Dantao smiled gently. "It was just a coincidence. Otherwise, this servant's dull mind wouldn't have thought of it." Xie Run said, "Let's hear it first." "Since you dare to bring it up, you must have some confidence in it." Dantao said softly, "Your Highness may not know this, but Consort Hua is extremely protective of the child in her belly. She won't allow herself to suffer even the slightest hardship." "Now she eats five meals a day, and each meal must have the Imperial Kitchen prepare dishes with endless variety. She rarely gives any rewards, yet constantly finds fault and complains, stirring up considerable resentment in the Imperial Kitchen." "This servant happened to overhear a few cooks mention it when I went to the Imperial Kitchen yesterday. They said that although a pregnant woman eats for two, she must still moderate her diet—if she eats too much, the baby can grow too large and cause difficult labor." Xie Run was taken aback, her expression turning serious. "Shouldn't this be something the senior nursemaids by Consort Hua's side have reminded her about? Why hasn't anyone mentioned it?" That last question was asking whether no one had reported it to Xie Run. Now that Xie Run managed the Six Palaces, if anything went wrong with Hua Yu's pregnancy, Xie Run would not escape a charge of negligence when punishments were handed down—she might even be held responsible for several lives. Dantao said softly, "They certainly advised her." "But no matter how much the senior nursemaids say, they can't control Consort Hua's mouth. She's fixated on the Imperial Heir in her womb and won't tolerate the slightest grievance..." "Besides, Your Highness knows Consort Hua's temperament well enough—she's no different from Beauty Wu. She always thinks herself clever and doesn't listen to much advice." Xie Run asked, "How long has she been like this?" Dantao replied, "Only about ten days or so. If it goes on longer, it will definitely cause problems." "After all, Consort Hua carries the Imperial Heir in her womb. If anything truly goes wrong, none of the attendants serving her can escape responsibility." Xie Run's heart settled slightly. "So what are you thinking?" This was asking for the plan Dantao wished to propose. Dantao said, "I imagine the Imperial Kitchen wouldn't dare let Consort Hua keep eating without restraint—if something goes wrong, no one could bear that responsibility." "But if they don't satisfy Consort Hua's wishes, she'll likely make a scene. If that scene gets out, Your Highness would have something to say about it." Xie Run only needed to hear the beginning before ideas formed in her mind. "Send someone to the Imperial Kitchen to pass word that for Consort Hua's own good, her meals must be moderated—no indulgence." "The Imperial Heir is of utmost importance now, so Consort Hua must bear a little hardship for the time being." "If Consort Hua wants to make a fuss, just let her come find me." Dantao nodded and immediately went down to arrange it. Xie Run still took Xiaoshu to the Imperial Study. The Emperor was busy at the moment, so Xie Run waited at the door for a while. After half an hour, two ministers emerged from the Imperial Study, and Eunuch Shian invited Xie Run inside. The Emperor had been speaking for a long while and was quite thirsty, so he was drinking tea. Xie Run approached with a faint smile. "This consort came over from the Imperial Garden today and saw that many flowers have already bloomed. I was thinking—when might Your Majesty and I arrange to enjoy the flowers together?" The Emperor set down his teacup and smiled. "Do you think I don't know your temperament by now?" "You never come to the Three Treasures Hall without a reason. Every time you visit the Imperial Study, it's always because you have something to ask of me. Admiring flowers is just an excuse." Xie Run smiled as she sat down beside the Emperor: "Your Majesty is still sparing my feelings. Otherwise, you would have said that every time I come to the Imperial Study, it's to lodge a complaint, and that this time I've certainly brought you some troublesome matter." The Emperor furrowed his brow and clicked his tongue. "So it really is a complaint?" "Isn't it?" Xie Run looked at the Emperor innocently. "It seems I should visit the Imperial Study more often when I have nothing to do, so that in the future, Your Majesty won't frown the moment you hear I'm coming." The Emperor pulled Xie Run into his embrace in one motion. "Then by all means, do come more often?" "Consort Jingshu, Consort Hua, Noble Lady Xichong, and the others come every few days to deliver all sorts of things to me. Their soups and broths are nearly flooding the Imperial Study. Yet I never see you come even once or twice. Clearly, you've never kept me in your heart." Xie Run said with a pitiful look: "Heaven have mercy!" "It's simply that I didn't dare to disturb Your Majesty. I was afraid that coming to the Imperial Study too often would interfere with your handling of state affairs, so I've been obediently staying in my own palace, only hoping that Your Majesty might occasionally think of me and come to visit." "And now, in Your Majesty's words, I've become someone without a heart?" Xie Run continued to look aggrieved while massaging the Emperor's arm, speaking to herself: "Though I've suffered a bit of injustice, who's to blame? I just can't bear to see Your Majesty suffer." "I'm afraid Your Majesty's hands are tired from writing for so long, so I'll endure my grievances and massage your hands for you." The Emperor laughed despite himself: "I haven't been writing. Rather, I've been scolding people and smashing two teacups." Xie Run said with exaggerated concern: "Then it must be that smashing the teacups tired your hands. I'll massage those for you as well." The Emperor burst into hearty laughter and reached out to pinch Xie Run's cheek. After the laughter subsided, he asked: "Now tell me, what is it you've come to see me about?" He paused, then emphasized: "Say something proper." Xie Run cast him a sidelong glance from her narrow, fox-like eyes—three parts reproachful, seven parts gentle and alluring. "When have I ever said anything improper?" The Emperor put on a serious face. "Just now." Yet his hands were anything but proper, kneading Xie Run's waist persistently. Xie Run laughed. "I've come to lodge a complaint against Consort Hua." The Emperor's head began to ache the moment he heard Hua Yu's name. "What has she done now?!" "She caused a scene just the day before yesterday, and I already had Beauty Duan moved to Chonghua Palace. What more does she want?" Xie Run pressed her lips together. "This time, she wants Beauty Wu moved out." The Emperor's expression darkened at the news. Xie Run said gently: "It's not that I have no regard for the child in Consort Hua's womb, but Beauty Wu hasn't fully recovered after giving birth to the Seventh Prince. The imperial physicians all said she needs to rest quietly. It's still early spring, and the cold outside is not insignificant. If Beauty Wu is forced to endure the trouble of moving, she may be left with ailments that plague her for the rest of her life." "I don't have the heart to be so cruel, so I could only come to ask Your Majesty to make the decision." The Emperor lowered his eyes. "Beauty Wu was living perfectly well. How did she provoke her?" The Emperor still held some affection for those who had borne him children. Moreover, Beauty Wu's illness was a consequence of giving birth to the Emperor's child, so the Emperor would never treat her harshly. Xie Run dabbed the corner of her mouth with her handkerchief. "Consort Hua said the incense burning in Beauty Wu's chambers was too strong and bothered her." The Emperor's expression turned extremely complicated for a moment. Xie Run rarely saw the Emperor wear such an expression, but every time it happened, it seemed to be because of Consort Hua. The Emperor: "She finds the incense in Beauty Wu's chambers too strong?" "How strong could the incense be to reach all the way to her palace?! Does she have a dog's nose?!" The Emperor's brow was so furrowed it could crush a mosquito to death. Xie Run sat quietly by his side, choosing not to add fuel to the fire. After a moment, the Emperor called out: "Shi'an!" Eunuch Shian immediately lifted the curtain and entered. "Your Majesty." The Emperor: "Go tell Consort Hua that if she finds Fanghua Palace unsuitable to live in, I will have her moved to the Summer Mountain Villa. She can stay there until she gives birth, and then I'll send someone to bring her back." The Summer Mountain Villa was a retreat specially used for escaping the summer heat during the Retired Emperor's reign. After the Emperor ascended the throne, he had been too busy with state affairs to visit the Summer Mountain Villa last year, only having it repaired when the opportunity arose. If the Emperor went to the Summer Mountain Villa to escape the heat, any consort brought along would naturally receive immense favor. But if the Emperor wasn't going and instead sent Consort Hua there alone, that was a blatant punishment. Eunuch Shian immediately went out to make the arrangements. Xie Run then said: "Your Majesty, I'm feeling a bit troubled today, so I'll mention something to you in advance to prepare you." The Emperor glanced at her. "Another matter concerning Consort Hua?" Xie Run smiled with a hint of mystery. "It does have some connection to Consort Hua." The Emperor: "...I don't want to hear it." The Emperor always spoke casually in front of Xie Run, occasionally with a touch of childishness. Xie Run smiled. "Her Majesty the Empress mentioned the matter of the imperial beauty selection today. It seems quite a few new faces will be entering the palace when the time comes." The Emperor didn't know what Xie Run was scheming, but hearing that it wasn't about Hua Yu, his expression finally improved somewhat. Xie Run added, "Now that we're considering Consort Hua's pregnancy, we've moved everyone else out. When her palace becomes empty, we'll probably need to place several new Selection Candidates there." Hua Yu's current commotion was precisely to drive everyone out of Fanghua Palace. If all the newly arrived Selection Candidates were placed in Fanghua Palace, Hua Yu would likely be furious to death. But she wasn't skilled at argument anyway—even if she were dissatisfied, she couldn't out-debate the Empress and Xie Run. She'd probably have to swallow her anger and endure it. The Emperor raised an eyebrow, looking at Xie Run with a hint of teasing. "How does my Consort know there will be so many Selection Candidates? I haven't even mentioned the imperial beauty selection yet." Xie Run said, "One must always be prepared, so I'm informing Your Majesty in advance. We don't want Consort Hua to feel wronged later and come making a fuss over this matter." The Emperor saw through Xie Run's little scheme, knowing that Xie Run was also annoyed with Hua Yu and was using this open tactic to retaliate against her. He was merely amused that Xie Run would inform him beforehand. "You've already planned it all out, and you still come to ask me?" "I told Your Majesty first, naturally because I also wanted to hear Your Majesty's opinion. If Your Majesty doesn't permit it, I naturally wouldn't dare overstep. Moreover..." Xie Run looked at the Emperor with a smile, "It's also to amuse Your Majesty." The Emperor doted on Hua Yu, but sometimes he truly grew impatient with her tantrums. When Hua Yu caused too much trouble, the Emperor was happy to see her suffer a setback. It was like watching a show when he had nothing better to do. "I knew you looked obedient and gentle on the surface, but you're full of mischief inside!" Xie Run put on an innocent look. "What is Your Majesty talking about? I don't understand." The two fooled around for a moment when the person Eunuch Shian had sent returned. "Reporting to Your Majesty, Consort Hua is making a scene demanding to see you." Xie Run had by now been pulled by the Emperor to grind ink beside him. Hearing this, she instinctively looked at the Emperor. The Emperor was still reviewing memorials, asking without changing his expression, "What is she making a fuss about?" "Consort Hua says Consort Wen is bullying others with her authority, cutting her food rations, and mistreating her and the Imperial Heir in her womb." Xie Run's grinding motion paused, and she instinctively coughed lightly. The Emperor waved a hand. "How bad has the scene gotten?" "After this servant delivered Your Majesty's decree, Consort Hua cried very hard and insisted on coming to find Your Majesty to seek justice. Had the palace attendants not stopped her, she would have already left Fanghua Palace." "Outrageous!" The Emperor threw down his brush, coldness spreading across his brow. Xie Run stood by his side, her expression unchanged. She knew the Emperor's rebuke wasn't aimed at Consort Wen, but at Consort Hua. No matter how much Hua Yu caused trouble, the Emperor would indulge her somewhat out of consideration for her brother. But if she didn't take the Imperial Heir in her womb seriously, that would be stepping on the Emperor's reverse scale. Xie Run set down her ink stick. "Your Majesty, Consort Wen has always been gentle by nature and kind to others—she would never mistreat anyone without cause. And Consort Hua still carries the Imperial Heir... Why don't I go take a look?" Xie Run was puzzled inwardly. She had sent Xiaoshu to the imperial kitchen to put in a word—how did this involve Consort Wen? The Emperor flicked his sleeve. "I'll go with you to see what else she wants to make a fuss about." Xie Run followed the Emperor to Fanghua Palace. As they arrived, they could still hear Hua Yu's scolding voice: "Those wretched servants in the imperial kitchen are utterly insolent—they only have eyes for Consort Wen and don't regard me and my child at all." "What is Consort Wen anyway?!" "How many times has she seen the Emperor in a year? She's nothing but a decoration sent over from the Xia Dynasty. The Emperor only gives her face out of consideration for his marital bond with the Empress, and yet she dares to cut my food rations." "She usually pretends to be weak and virtuous, but inside she's full of malice. She's probably jealous of my favor and deliberately targeting me!"