Chapter 419

Chapter 419 "Thinking about it now, that aloofness may be irritating, but it does retain some of Prime Minister Li's old integrity." Xie Run never imagined she'd one day sit in Zhaohua Palace, reminiscing with Consort Jingshu about the affairs of the harem. Suddenly, Xie Run said softly, "The old-timers who came into the palace together from the prince's mansion seem to be fewer and fewer now." Consort Jingshu: "...Isn't that so?" Consort Jingshu had come to see Xie Run simply because she was bored from being cooped up too long and wanted someone to share news with. The Empress's death, Consort Hui's death, and Noble Lady Xi's sudden illness... These three major events weighed on her heart like mountains. The other consorts in the palace were all oblivious, and Consort Jingshu, mindful of her status, couldn't very well discuss such matters with them. Only Noble Consort Zhao held high enough rank and had a tight enough lip. She might not know this news now, but she would sooner or later. So after agonizing for two days, Consort Jingshu, unable to bear the pressure any longer, came to Xie Run for a "casual chat." Consort Jingshu: "Having talked with Noble Consort Zhao today, this sister feels much better. It's as if the heavy burden on my shoulders has lightened considerably. No wonder the Emperor always enjoys speaking with Noble Consort Zhao." That was just how Consort Jingshu talked—her words sounded pleasant, but she always couldn't resist adding a few snide remarks at the end. She was clever, but her heart was a bit small. Xie Run only replied calmly, "Then Consort Jingshu should learn more from Ben Gong. In time, you'll naturally gain the Emperor's favor." Consort Jingshu: "...This sister only hopes that you'll finish your confinement soon and take the Management of the Six Palaces back from my hands." Xie Run: "No rush, no rush." Consort Jingshu's eye twitched. She stopped beating around the bush and asked directly, "Last time, Noble Consort Zhao observed a double confinement period after giving birth to the Fifth Prince. Now that you've given birth to the Tenth Prince, are you also planning to observe a double confinement?" Xie Run: "?" How had the conversation suddenly veered onto her confinement? Consort Jingshu stared at Xie Run, seemingly unwilling to let the matter drop without an answer. Xie Run: "...That matter will have to depend on what the imperial physician says." Consort Jingshu: "The affairs of the Six Palaces are tedious. Before, with the Empress in charge and Consort Wen able to assist, this sister could manage. But now the Empress is gone, and Consort Wen can't handle major responsibilities—she spends all day in her own palace weeping for the Empress." Only then did Xie Run belatedly realize that Consort Jingshu was urging her to get back to work. Xie Run said calmly, "You've already held on this long, sister. Surely a few more days won't hurt?" Consort Jingshu left with a darkened face in the end. Those unaware of the situation might have thought the two had quarreled. Xie Run, thinking of the tedious palace affairs, also felt a headache coming on. When she gave birth to Taotao, she could observe a double confinement. But now that she'd given birth to Baozhen, she truly couldn't rest for two months. Everyone could understand a woman observing one month of confinement after childbirth. But now that the Retired Emperor had passed, even the Emperor himself had to go mourn daily. If Xie Run said she needed a double confinement to recover, she would surely invite gossip and criticism. The Emperor most likely wouldn't like it either. Observing mourning for one's elders was also an important test in ancient times. After seeing off Consort Jingshu, Dantao and Xiaoshu lowered the curtains and brought honey water to moisten Xie Run's lips. Xie Run took a moment to compose herself and sort through her thoughts. When she opened her eyes, she saw worried expressions on Dantao's and Xiaoshu's faces. Xie Run smiled. "Why do you all have such expressions?" "Was Your Ladyship frightened?" Dantao stepped forward to tuck Xie Run's blanket in. "Consort Jingshu is just as petty as ever, deliberately describing the scene of Consort Hui's death—she probably wanted to scare you!" Xie Run's gaze was calm and faint: "Your Ladyship has weathered storms before. When would I ever be frightened by a few words?" "As Ben Gong sees it, the ones truly frightened are you two girls, aren't they?" Dantao and Xiaoshu smiled wryly. Dantao sighed: "This servant truly didn't expect... that Consort Hui was actually killed by Noble Lady Xi." "Though this servant doesn't know the specifics, just hearing Consort Jingshu's brief description was enough to make one's heart race." Xie Run felt helpless inside. Those few words from Consort Jingshu hadn't scared her, but they had frightened the two young maids beside her. Well, it made sense. Everything they'd encountered in the palace and the prince's mansion had been schemes and intrigues. Even when harming others, it was always done in roundabout ways—where would they have ever heard such bloody talk? Xie Run said slowly, "The Emperor intends to keep this matter hidden. Even if Consort Jingshu knows the truth, she cannot tell others." "From now on, not a single word more about this matter!" Dantao and Xiaoshu said in unison, "This servant understands!" Xie Run: "If the Empress's death was orchestrated by Noble Lady Xi, then she must be extremely calculating to have hidden herself so flawlessly behind the scenes." "It's just that Noble Lady Xi probably never expected her own son to expose her." "Noble Lady Xi's luck wasn't very good either. If her palace's principal consort had been anyone else, she might have gotten away with it. But she happened to live in Yongning Palace, whose principal consort is the shrewd Consort Jingshu." "I suspect that in her secret scheming with Talented Lady Xue, not a single move escaped Consort Jingshu's eyes." Consort Jingshu was absolutely not someone who spoke without basis. If she dared to assert with confidence that Consort Hui's death was connected to Noble Lady Xi and Talented Lady Xue, she had likely known quite a bit of information for some time. The Emperor wanted Noble Lady Xi to die quietly of illness, yet even so, he could not escape Consort Jingshu's watchful eyes. Had Consort Jingshu's face not been ruined back then, she would likely have become Xie Run's formidable rival. Xiaoshu listened for a while before asking, "Your Ladyship, Consort Jingshu said it was Noble Lady Xi and Talented Lady Xue who harmed Consort Hui. Noble Lady Xi has received her punishment—what about Talented Lady Xue?" Xie Run was silent for a moment before saying, "Soon." Given the Emperor's temperament, he would not keep Talented Lady Xue around for much longer. Noble Lady Xi was at least one of the Nine Concubines and had borne a prince. If the Emperor wanted to kill her, he would need to resort to some means. But Talented Lady Xue was merely a Cairen without much favor. For the Emperor to deal with her, it would take but a single word. Yet Xie Run herself thought long and hard and still could not understand—Noble Lady Xi had a child in her care, so why would she take such a great risk to harm the Empress? She had harmed the Empress, not just any other concubine in the harem! Xie Run could think of many explanations. For instance, if the Empress died, new women would not be able to attend the Emperor's bed, no new children would be born, and there would be far fewer rivals competing for favor with her Eighth Prince. Another possibility: if the Empress died early, no new women would enter the palace for a short time. Even if a new Empress did enter, her foundation would be unstable, and she would not be able to steal the spotlight for a while, making it convenient for Noble Lady Xi to expand her own influence. Yet another explanation: she was actually scheming for the Empress's position, thinking to topple the Empress and take the seat herself. But none of these explanations were convincing enough. Unfortunately, Xie Run had just given birth and could only remain in Zhaohua Palace to recuperate, unable to go out and investigate these matters. By the time she finished her month of confinement, who knew whether Noble Lady Xi would still be alive? On the second day after Consort Jingshu came to see Xie Run, Talented Lady Xue was rebuked by the Emperor, who declared that she had shown disrespect before the Retired Emperor's spirit tablet, stripped her of her rank, and cast her into the Cold Palace. Such thunderous wrath rarely appeared in the Emperor. It frightened the people of the Six Palaces into shrinking their courage by a notch.