Sister Qing jumped in fright.
"Empress Dowager, you mustn’t speak like that!"
"What if... what if someone is framing the Noble Consort?"
"In a place like the Harem, when is it ever clean?!"
The Empress Dowager took a handkerchief, wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye, and gave a cold laugh.
"Framing her?"
"Do you distrust me, or do you distrust the Emperor?"
Sister Qing hastened to say she dared not.
The Empress Dowager continued, "Even a vicious tiger will not eat its cubs; my son, the Emperor, would never do such an absurd thing!"
"As for the Empress... I have spent a lifetime in this Harem. No matter what, my roots run deeper than hers! The Empress’s petty tricks are hardly worth a glance in her eyes."
After the incident with Honored Lady Hu came out, the Empress Dowager had spoken about it several times, both openly and covertly, and the Empress hadn’t dared to make another move.
"It shouldn’t be her!" The Empress Dowager still shook her head.
Sister Qing thought again.
"That day the Noble Consort fell..."
The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes in thought and then sighed. "In the palace, how could there ever be a peaceful day! This matter was too long ago; it’s truly not easy to investigate now."
The Empress Dowager gave another cold laugh.
"Those women are only capable of such schemes!"
"Then, Empress Dowager, you..."
The Empress Dowager sighed deeply once more.
"It’s hard to keep the palace entirely clean, so let this matter rest! The Imperial Physician said that even without the fall and without a premature birth, the child would have been born this way!"
"So..."
The Empress Dowager pondered for a long time, as if making a very deliberate decision.
"Later, find a way to send a message out. Next year is the imperial selection... Select all the suitable girls of age from our clan!"
Sister Qing naturally understood the Empress Dowager’s meaning. Uneasy, she ventured, "Regarding the Noble Consort..."
The Empress Dowager huffed softly.
"She only has herself to blame for not being ambitious enough. I’ve certainly helped her enough! If it weren’t for me, her child would have long been harmed by the Empress!"
Sister Qing sighed and said no more.
「 」
The Little Prince had died young, so his funeral was not grand. He wasn’t even given an official ranking. Meaning, he wasn’t even granted the title of Eldest Imperial Son. What’s more, he didn’t even have a name; it was as if he had never existed in this world.
To the Harem, this was undoubtedly tremendous news. Whoever gave birth to a son next would still have the eldest son—how wonderful. The Emperor’s many consorts probably wished they could close their doors and laugh heartily three times over!
Especially the Empress. Her heart was already resounding with gongs and drums. She felt as if she had joyfully strolled through the Jade Pool in the Ninth Heaven, then ridden a seven-colored auspicious cloud around the world, before finally spiraling back and settling within herself.
Of course, the Empress was the Noble Consort’s nemesis; this was no surprise.
However, Consort Yun, who should have been the least happy, even she, behind closed doors while pretending to secretly shed tears, couldn’t suppress a few hidden snickers.
Heh, fortunes turn every thirty years.
Sometimes, that’s just how people are. One moment you’re flourishing like brocade, the next, the guests have left and the tea has grown cold.
Those so-called "good sisters" from before suddenly vanished. Of course, the Noble Consort had no real good sisters to begin with.
Among the many concubines in the Harem, one person became the ultimate winner in this war without smoke. She stood before the window, her expression both triumphant and sinister.
"Empress, Noble Consort, your methods are still too naive. I am the one most suited for this Harem!"
「 」
The weather gradually cooled. By mid-October, most people had started using charcoal fires. At the Empress’s residence, the Ground Dragon heating system had even been lit.
It was unclear if it was due to excessive joy or something else, but the Empress had caught a chill in early October and hadn’t recovered since. It had dragged on until now, and she was still coughing.
Sister Ji was extremely anxious.
"This is terrible, Your Majesty! You must have the Imperial Physician see you!"
"As the saying goes, autumn is the time to build up one’s strength, yet Your Majesty, you’ve lost a great deal of weight!"
The Empress coughed twice, sipped some tea to soothe her throat, and then said, "The Emperor... he hasn’t come for so long. He must still be angry with me..."
Sister Ji said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor is wise. He will eventually understand it wasn’t you. You must try not to dwell on it so much!"
The Empress gave a bitter smile.
"How could I possibly not dwell on it!"
"Even though things have cooled down with the Noble Consort, it isn’t exactly lively here either!"
"Who has been favored recently? Is it still Lady Xia?"
Sister Ji nodded and added, "There have been several. He has visited Consort Ning, Consort Hui Pin, and... Honored Lady Xi has also been summoned to attend him!"
The Empress let out a cold laugh.
"The Emperor, ah, he still prefers the clever ones! He only visits Consort Ning and Consort Hui Pin because of the Princess!"
To still be summoned to attend him in bed without having children—*that* is true favor!
It was truly vexing. In this situation, it seemed Consort Ning and Consort Hui Pin wouldn’t be able to speak up for her.