Chapter 395

Chapter 395 Xie Run sighed. "Dantao, there's a century-old ginseng in the storeroom. Go fetch it, then take it to Fengyi Palace on my behalf and see how the Empress is doing." Dantao was also stricken with grief upon suddenly hearing that the Empress didn't have much time left. "This servant will go at once." After Dantao left, Xie Run supported her lower back and paced back and forth in the main hall. Before long, Dantao returned and shook her head gravely at Xie Run. "The ginseng was delivered, but Fengyi Palace isn't allowing anyone in now. It seems the Empress... I'm afraid things are truly bad." Xie Run sighed. "The Empress Dowager... why must she choose this very moment to make a fuss?" Sometimes, stupidity is cruelty. Say what you will, the Empress Dowager simply didn't value the Empress's life. But the Empress Dowager held a noble status, and no one could say a word against her. Inside Fengyi Palace, the Empress Dowager's expression was equally unpleasant. She clutched the Emperor's hand and complained: "Emperor, I had no idea she was this ill." "I merely had her stand and listen to a few words of admonishment—no beating, no scolding—and she became like this." "I had no intention of harming her. It's her own body that failed her..." The Emperor gave the Empress Dowager a cold look. "Mother has vented her anger today. Are you satisfied?" The Empress Dowager was immediately struck speechless. The Emperor continued: "Mother naturally cannot be at fault. It's only that the attendants by your side are foolish—they couldn't even tell that the Empress was unwell. With such a lack of discernment, how are they fit to serve by Mother's side?" "Someone, dismiss everyone who served at Cining Palace today." Then, glancing at Eunuch Shian, he added: "You will select some proper attendants for Mother on my behalf. We must not let Mother suffer the slightest grievance again." The Empress Dowager said angrily: "Emperor, if you dismiss everyone by my side, do you intend to make me a solitary woman, or do you intend to imprison me?" The Emperor replied: "Your son would not dare." "Your son only feels for Mother. For Mother to misunderstand your son so—it truly chills your son's heart." When he uttered the words "chills the heart," the Emperor's gaze at the Empress Dowager grew even colder and more frigid. The Empress Dowager suddenly felt a surge of fear and dared not say another word. It wasn't until Xie Jiang had finished administering the Empress's medicine and come out that he unhurriedly paid his respects to the Emperor. "Your Majesty, the Empress's body is already at its last breath. This humble official can only administer strong medicine now to prolong her life." "Beyond that, there is nothing more I can do..." The Emperor stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression as calm and deep as still water. "How much longer can the Empress hold on?" Xie Jiang pondered for a moment. "If she is not agitated and is properly cared for, perhaps another month or half a month." The Emperor immediately issued an order: "Convey my command—the harem shall be temporarily managed by Noble Consort Zhao, Consort Jingshu, and Consort Wen. No one is to disturb the Empress. Without my command, no one is permitted to set foot inside Fengyi Palace." Eunuch Shian: "This servant obeys!" The next day, news that the Empress didn't have much time left spread throughout the Six Palaces. The harem, which had only just settled down, quietly began to stir with restless ambitions. In Fanghua Palace, Noble Lady Bai removed the ornaments from her hair and slowly combed it with a wooden comb. "The Empress doesn't have much time left. I wonder who will have the chance to ascend to that position." Caiyue said in surprise: "The Empress is still with us—how can you speak of such things, mistress..." Caiyue hesitated, as if wanting to say more. Such words were far too bold. She could hardly believe they came from her own mistress's mouth. She didn't know when it had started, but Caiyue found it increasingly difficult to understand her mistress. Bai Fu smiled faintly. "Just mentioning it casually. Even if I don't bring it up, won't others think about it?" "Do you think any of them truly worry about the Empress?" Caiyue dared not speak and busied herself in silence. Bai Fu thought: If she has ambitions for the Empress's position, she only needs to do something that crosses the line. Bai Fu knew her current rank was low, and she had no connections or means in the palace, so she dared not make any moves. She knew her path was not easy. Since she couldn't climb up herself, she could only hope that those above would fall, clearing a path for her to rise. Caiyue didn't quite catch what she said and asked in confusion: "Who?" Bai Fu said flatly: "Just do your work." As Bai Fu was contemplating how to navigate her path forward, she suddenly saw Talented Lady Xue walking out with a palace maid. The maid walking beside her carried an unlit lantern. Caiyue asked curiously: "It's not even dark yet—where is Talented Lady Xue going with a lantern?" Bai Fu replied: "She's somehow managed to attach herself to Noble Lady Xi recently. She's probably heading to Yongning Palace now to visit Noble Lady Xi." After a moment's thought, Bai Fu suddenly smiled slightly, her voice growing much softer: "Or perhaps she's going to see the new Talented Lady Sun." Two days prior, two newcomers had quietly entered the palace. One was a young lady from the Duke of Ying's household, Consort Jingshu's cousin, who had been conferred the title of Talented Lady Sun. The other was Grand Tutor Ning's granddaughter, conferred as Noble Lady Ning. Because there was so much going on in the palace, these two had entered without making so much as a ripple. To save trouble, the Empress had directly arranged for Talented Lady Sun to stay at Yongning Palace, saying that sisters from the same family should live in the same palace to look after each other. Consort Jingshu had been rather displeased about that. She clearly didn't want to see Talented Lady Sun, yet she arranged for Talented Lady Sun to be placed in her own palace—was she deliberately trying to make her uncomfortable? From the very first day Talented Lady Sun entered the palace, Consort Jingshu had been tormenting her. It was as if she was telling the entire harem: I simply do not get along with Talented Lady Sun. If Talented Lady Xue went to Yongning Palace now, she would probably witness quite a show. Caiyue frowned and said, "The Empress is unwell, and everyone is keeping their heads down waiting for news. How dare she run around so boldly?" "Consort Jingshu is not one to have a good temper either. Last time, she beat Forest Lady Ming so badly that she still can't get out of bed. If she goes and provokes her, she might well become the next Forest Lady Ming." Bai Fu's gaze was calm. "I actually hope they make a scene. The bigger and more chaotic, the better." "Once they stir up enough trouble that the Emperor grows weary of them, that will be the day I rise." For Bai Fu, the news that the Empress didn't have much time left was truly good news. When all was calm and peaceful, she had no chance to rise. But once the palace descended into chaos, who could remain sitting calmly like a fisherman on a boat? Noble as the Noble Consort, Consort Shu, and Consort Wen were—did they truly want to remain at the Fei rank for the rest of their lives? Bai Fu said thoughtfully, "If something happens to the Empress, I'm afraid there won't be a chance to serve the Emperor for a whole year." "After a year, the ministers will urge the Emperor to establish a new Empress, and even more noble ladies will want to enter the palace." "I wonder if the Emperor will still remember people like us..." Caiyue finally felt a sense of urgency, her face full of worry. "Mistress, if you can't serve the Emperor for a year, what will happen to you in the days ahead?!" The Emperor hadn't shown any particular favor toward her mistress—he had only summoned her once and then forgotten her. With so many new and old concubines in the harem, if she couldn't serve the Emperor for a year, Noble Lady Bai's days would be numbered. Bai Fu smiled. "Why should we be anxious? There are naturally plenty of others who will be."