Chapter 390

Chapter 390 Concubine Shen looked skeptical: "Could it be that old nanny causing trouble?" Then she denied it herself, "That's even more impossible! Her entire life's fortune and honor rests on the Sixth Prince—how would she dare act recklessly?" Xie Run shook her head: "Let's wait and see. If someone is doing this deliberately, the Emperor won't let them off lightly." Concubine Shen nodded, "I feel something is off about this. I won't go parading in front of Lady Xian anymore." Xie Run asked again: "How is the Sixth Prince's condition?" After all, he had been raised in her palace for a time, so Xie Run couldn't help asking a few more questions. Concubine Shen smiled: "I knew you would ask, Sister, so I deliberately stayed there a while." "The Sixth Prince's condition isn't serious—he'll be fine once away from the lily pollen. It's just that the allergy has caused many rashes, and they probably won't subside for a while." Concubine Shen then advised Xie Run: "Sister, don't overthink this. You're currently raising the Fifth Prince and carrying a prince in your womb. Too much worry isn't good for you." "The Sixth Prince has Lady Xian to look after him. If you show too much concern, Lady Xian will likely feel uneasy again." Xie Run truly didn't want to get involved with Lady Xian either. "Enough, you're right." Concubine Shen suddenly lowered her voice: "There's something else—I don't know if you've noticed, Sister Xie." Xie Run looked up at her, "What is it?" "The Empress's health... I feel it's not been good lately." Concubine Shen said: "From last month to this month, we've only paid our respects three times. Other times, either we were told there was business and needn't come, or the Empress was unwell and excused us from attending." "Today, as I was returning from Lady Xian's place, I saw Consort Wen hurrying along with her attendants, heading in the direction of Fengyi Palace." A hint of worry appeared on Concubine Shen's face: "I wonder if something has happened to the Empress." Her current good fortune was due to two things: first, the Empress not making trouble, and second, Xie Run's protection. If either of these were lost, her days ahead would surely be restless. Xie Run sighed: "Don't I share the same worry?" Xie Run had actually noticed long ago. But Fengyi Palace was tightly sealed—no one could glean any information. The Empress was also stubborn; unless absolutely necessary, she would never reveal the slightest weakness. I fear that by the time we actually get word, it will already be too late for anything. Xie Run's current pregnancy wasn't as stable as her last one. She'd experienced many pregnancy symptoms in the first three months. After the fourth month, she began experiencing back and waist pain. Now at nearly six months, she felt her body growing heavier, and she slept poorly at night. She didn't have the energy to constantly monitor matters across the Six Palaces. "If something truly happened in Fengyi Palace, word wouldn't leak out so easily. Everyone can only wait." Xie Run paused mid-sentence, then suddenly asked: "Among the new women who entered the palace, is there anyone particularly favored by the Emperor?" Concubine Shen wasn't expecting her train of thought to jump so quickly. She thought for a moment: "Talented Lady Xue counts as one. The others the Emperor has only visited once or twice." "Lady of Beauty Kong has decent looks, but unfortunately, on her second night of service, something happened—the Emperor didn't stay the night and instead summoned Talented Lady Xue midway." Concubine Shen, afraid Xie Run might feel upset, deliberately added: "That Talented Lady Xue only earned the Emperor's temporary favor with a bit of cleverness and charm. But deep down she's someone who loves scheming and calculating—the Emperor dislikes that type most, so I doubt she'll receive much lasting favor." Xie Run gave her a helpless look, "That's not what I'm worried about." Concubine Shen quickly praised her, "I knew you weren't the jealous type, Sister!" Xie Run: "..." Xie Run's inquiry about the newcomers was actually to hear about Noble Lady Bai's situation. That one was skilled in her methods—if she got the chance, the harem would likely see a different scene altogether. Her current quietness made Xie Run uneasy. Xie Run remarked: "Talented Lady Xue is one thing. But Noble Lady Bai—I hear she's well-educated, gentle, and intelligent. Why doesn't the Emperor visit her more often?" Concubine Shen instantly understood Xie Run's meaning: "Noble Lady Bai... perhaps she's too proper and reserved, not quite to the Emperor's liking." In other words, Noble Lady Bai was very well-behaved. Concubine Shen said cautiously: "You may not know this, Sister Xie. Everyone in the palace thought she would gain favor, since her temperament is somewhat similar to yours, and her looks aren't bad either." "But the Emperor only visited her once and never thought of her again. Clearly, the Emperor only has you in his heart, Sister—those other common beauties can't catch his eye." Seeing Xie Run's helpless expression, Concubine Shen laughed awkwardly and returned to the main topic: "She herself doesn't compete, doesn't fight, doesn't stand out. So no one has really paid attention to her." Concubine Shen thought to herself—previously, Sister Xie never asked about new harem women gaining favor. This sudden concern probably meant she was worried that if Noble Lady Bai gained favor, it might threaten her position. Concubine Shen immediately became vigilant and decided that when she visited Fanghua Palace in the future, she would keep a closer eye on this Noble Lady Bai. Matters at Fengyi Palace were kept tightly under wraps, with not a hint of information leaking out. But as Qixi Festival approached, the Empress Dowager suddenly announced she wanted to celebrate and prepared to hold a Qixi banquet at Cining Palace. Everyone knew that the Empress Dowager had been hiding a beauty in Cining Palace. Holding a banquet at this time was as obvious as Sima Zhao's intentions—known to all. This time, however, the Empress Dowager was unusually considerate, even sending someone to Zhaohua Palace to deliver a message. "The Empress Dowager dotes on Noble Consort Zhao and the Imperial Heir, and has specially instructed that Noble Consort Zhao need not attend the Qixi Festival banquet, lest the crowd and commotion disturb her." "The Empress Dowager also praised Noble Consort Zhao as a woman of great fortune, and has specially bestowed two jade ruyi, four gold hairpins, and four bolts of brocade." These were indeed generous gifts. Xie Run said with a smile, "The Empress Dowager is most kind. I am deeply grateful and moved. I would ask the eunuch to convey my gratitude back to Cining Palace." The head eunuch of Cining Palace quickly smiled and replied, "Of course, of course!" After seeing the messenger off, Xie Run chuckled. "Has the Empress Dowager changed her ways? When she wants something done, she's even learned to put on a gracious front." In the past, whatever the Empress Dowager wanted done, she simply did—no matter who came, not even the Jade Emperor himself, could get a soft word out of her. This time, sending gifts to Xie Run was essentially a gesture of goodwill toward the Emperor. I've already yielded—shouldn't you give me some face and take my woman into the harem? The tactic wasn't particularly clever, but the Empress Dowager's noble status and her position as the Emperor's own mother meant it might just work. The Emperor couldn't very well refuse the Empress Dowager all face. Xie Run accepted the gifts and sent someone to inform the Emperor. The Emperor, ever generous, told her to keep them all—consider them a gift from a grandmother to her grandchild. Only then did Xie Run feel at ease accepting them. Xiaoshu brought over freshly prepared dessert for Xie Run to taste and said softly, "I wonder if the Emperor will grant the Empress Dowager's wish and take in that lady from Cining Palace?" "The Empress Dowager has always been partial—whoever she favors, she won't let anyone else shine. Who knows what will happen then."