Chapter 408

Chapter 408 Xiaoshu was ironing clothes and casually replied, "Wouldn't that make you seem even more respectful toward Her Majesty the Empress?" Dantao was massaging Xie Run's legs and smiled helplessly at the remark. "But our mistress has always been respectful to Her Majesty the Empress. Who in the palace doesn't know that?" Xiaoshu thought for a moment. "Ordinary days are ordinary days, but mourning rites are mourning rites." Xie Run seemed to have a vague inkling of what they meant, and her heart suddenly skipped a beat. After a long pause, she said softly, "Having walked ninety-nine steps, there's no reason not to take that final one." If the Emperor truly had such intentions, she should accept them with composure. If he had other plans... she had no way to refuse either. The two maids glanced at her, a hint of confusion in their eyes. Xiaoshu brought up another matter. "Mistress, Consort Wen didn't come to the Empress's mourning rites today, and when the Emperor arrived, he didn't even ask about her." Dantao added, "Consort Jingshu didn't mention it either, which shows she probably knows something as well." Xiaoshu wondered, "Could Consort Wen really be connected to the Empress's death?" Dantao cut her off. "Whether she is or isn't, from the moment Eunuch Shian went to Yongming Palace to demand her presence, Consort Wen won't have an easy time of it." Eunuch Shian coming to fetch her meant that Consort Wen was already implicated in the Empress's death. Whether she had done it intentionally or not, this storm was unavoidable. "The Empress's mourning rites will continue for some time yet. I wonder if Consort Wen will still show up?" "That probably depends on what Lord Jing can get out of Yunxiang." The two maids analyzed the situation for a while before belatedly realizing that Xie Run had gone quiet. Turning around, they found that Xie Run had fallen asleep, leaning against the side. They exchanged a glance, both filled with concern. Not daring to say another word, they quietly fetched a quilt and draped it over Xie Run. It wasn't just the people of Zhaohua Palace who worried that Xie Run's daily trips to Fengyi Palace would wear her down. People from other palaces were also keeping an eye on Xie Run—though not out of any goodwill. "The Empress certainly picked a convenient time to die!" "Noble Consort Zhao is over seven months pregnant and still goes to Fengyi Palace every day to put herself through that ordeal. Who knows how much longer she can hold out." "If she slips and it ends in the death of both mother and child, then Heaven itself is helping our mistress!" In the side hall of Yongning Palace, Talented Lady Xue had come to visit Noble Lady Xi again, deliberately saying such things to please her. Noble Lady Xi wore a faint smile that revealed neither pleasure nor displeasure. "Noble Consort Zhao is in good health. Just the other day at Fengyi Palace, she was heavy with child and still slapped Zhaorong Huizhao across the face, then dragged her along for quite a distance... I imagine she'll manage to get through the Empress's mourning rites." That was what she said, but the fact that she didn't stop Talented Lady Xue from speaking at all made it clear that Talented Lady Xue's words reflected her own true thoughts. Noble Lady Xi continued, "If it truly becomes too much, she could always claim illness and stay home. Who would force her to come?" Talented Lady Xue smiled. "That's not necessarily true." "The Emperor dotes on Noble Consort Zhao as if she were the jewel of his eye, yet this time he's shown her not a shred of pity. He's watched her go to Fengyi Palace every day to mourn, and hasn't said a single word." "That shows the Emperor believes Noble Consort Zhao ought to pay her respects to the Empress. If Noble Consort Zhao were to ask for leave and the Emperor refused... now that would be interesting." Noble Lady Xi let out a soft laugh. "How could that be? The Emperor values his heirs above all." Talented Lady Xue replied, "That was in the past. Back then, there were few children in the palace—only two princes—so they seemed all the more precious." "Now, though... with our Eighth Prince and Ninth Prince, the Emperor isn't as attentive to heirs as he once was. I hear he hasn't visited Lady Xian in quite some time." "In the old days, even if the Emperor didn't care for Lady Xian, he would at least consider the Sixth Prince." Noble Lady Xi curled her lips and said slowly, "The Empress is gone, Consort Wen is caught up in this affair, Zhaorong Huizhao is under house arrest... The days are only going to get harder." After a moment, Noble Lady Xi seemed to suddenly think of something and asked, "You've served the Emperor a few times yourself. Has there been any news?" "Now that the Empress has passed, whether it's a month at the least or a year at the most, the Emperor likely won't visit the harem again." "If you have the skill and the luck to conceive a child... I will certainly protect you." Talented Lady Xue kept her head lowered, her true thoughts hidden beneath her gaze. She said softly, "This humble one has no such fortune. My monthly cycle just ended." Her words carried an air of infinite regret. Noble Lady Xi sighed along with her. "My heart aches for you, sister." But their true intentions were known only to themselves. In Fanghua Palace, Noble Lady Bai's people kept a constant watch on Talented Lady Xue. The moment Talented Lady Xue left Fanghua Palace, word was sent back. "I saw her heading in the direction of Yongning Palace. No doubt she's off to see Noble Lady Xi again!" "Those two meet every few days. Who knows what schemes they're cooking up!" Noble Lady Bai's maid, Caiyue, felt indignant on her mistress's behalf. "Talented Lady Xue only has a sharp tongue. In looks, bearing, and learning, she can't hold a candle to you, mistress." "Even that cleverness of hers is all calculation. I don't know how the Emperor came to favor her. And now, during the Empress's mourning period, she can't even stay put—out and about every day, visiting here and there..." "Enough!" Noble Lady Bai rebuked coldly. "Since when did you become so fond of nagging?" Caiyue immediately shrank her neck and dared not say another word. Noble Lady Bai continued, "Talented Lady Xue keeps visiting Noble Lady Xi—she must be plotting something. But with Consort Jingshu being as shrewd as she is, could she truly not see through it at all?" "Consort Jingshu is allowing Talented Lady Xue to go to Yongning Palace freely, which suggests she has some inkling of what they're scheming." "I just hope they don't harbor any improper intentions..." Bai Fu knew better than anyone how tightly the Emperor controlled the harem, and she also knew best his habit of settling scores after the fact. The Emperor normally left the harem to its own devices, but with the Empress's death still shrouded in suspicion, this was precisely the time when he had spread his eyes and ears across the Six Palaces. These people thought themselves clever and discreet, but none of them could escape the Emperor's calculations. Bai Fu could even envision the miserable fates that awaited them. Her heart was exceptionally calm as she asked softly, "And Lady of Beauty Kong... has she not had her monthly cycle this month?" Caiyue's expression turned somewhat serious as she nodded. "This servant has made inquiries. Lady of Beauty Kong said that for the three days before each cycle, the pain is so unbearable she can only lie in bed." "But now it's been over a month, and Lady of Beauty Kong still hasn't shown any signs. It seems she must be with child." Noble Lady Bai's tone could not hide her envy. "She's truly fortunate." It was much the same as in her previous life—only the timing of the imperial favor had shifted slightly, and yet she had still conceived. Caiyue said with concern, "Mistress need not worry... Conceiving first isn't necessarily a good thing." "Right now, the whole palace is troubled over the Empress's matter." "With the Empress gone, the Six Palaces have no mistress. Noble Consort Zhao is pregnant and can barely look after herself; Consort Wen is implicated in the plot against the Empress; that leaves only Consort Jingshu to handle palace affairs—this is the most chaotic time in the harem." "If news of her pregnancy were to leak out, who knows how many people would covet it. Whether she can even carry the child to term is questionable." Bai Fu raised her head, her clear black-and-white eyes staring quietly at Caiyue, until Caiyue began to feel afraid. "Mistress, did this servant say something wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"