The emerald canopy fell. Minister Yang, just forty, was still as vigorous as a tiger crossing a mountain—his touch light and practiced, his movements steady.
Though not as fierce as in his early twenties, he was still strong and powerful, embracing her with the utmost tenderness.
Under the canopy, Madam Yang, charming and delicate, seemed to cry and laugh at once, sobbing for a good half Shi Chen.
Ultimately, she could bear it no longer and could only arch her body to endure his passionate advances.
The maids stood in the corridor with hot water prepared, ready to attend to them.
They waited until their faces flushed, but still, no call for water came from within.
In small groups, they whispered amongst themselves.
"The master and madam truly share a deep affection!"
"Isn’t that so? These are the benefits of an older husband and a younger wife. In the future, I also want to marry a husband older than myself!"
"Do you think the master and madam will really have another daughter?"
"Haven’t the master and madam always wanted a daughter?"
Another maid nodded. "Mm-hmm, it’s quite possible!"
Madam Yang was a full eight years younger than Minister Yang, just over thirty this year.
At sixteen, she married Minister Yang, and by eighteen, she bore Yang Chenyi.
Giving birth to him had damaged her health, causing Minister Yang such profound heartache that it cut him to the core.
Afterwards, he adamantly refused to let her bear another child.
But she herself did not want to stop there. She occasionally mentioned her desire for a daughter, and so Minister Yang had obliged...
Under the canopy.
Madam Yang clutched her stomach, her face full of reproach.
"You old scoundrel, can’t you be a bit gentler!"
Minister Yang chuckled.
"My dear wife, how have I not been gentle?"
As he spoke, his large hands caressed her stomach, skillfully massaging it as if he had done so a thousand times before.
Before long, they called for water and bathed. After washing and resting, the night passed without further incident.
...
「In the palace」
Empress Dowager Zhen lived in a side hall of Ningshou Palace with her two children; the quarters were rather cramped.
Tonight it had rained again, and two places in the room had started leaking once more.
She had ordered someone early that morning to summon the Ministry of Internal Affairs for repairs.
But despite repeated attempts at repair, the leaks were still not fixed.
On the bed, the Sixth Master lay pale and weak, having just taken his medicine and fallen asleep.
Empress Dowager Zhen covered her mouth with a handkerchief, crying with muted sobs.
The Imperial Physician had just said that there was no feeling left in the Sixth Son’s leg. Even if it were barely saved, it would be unusable.
Her precious Sixth Son had become a cripple. Her hatred burned fiercely.
Palace Maid Tao Yue came to report.
"Imperial Noble Consort, Sister Qing from the Empress Dowager’s household has arrived!"
Empress Dowager Zhen’s gaze turned cold, followed by a sneer.
"Are they that impatient already?"
So impatient to come and witness her humiliation?
The Late Emperor had passed away. Only her two sons were still minors.
The Empress Dowager, seeing no alternative, had reluctantly agreed to let her live in Ningshou Palace with her children.
The others had long since died or been scattered, dismissed by the Empress Dowager through various means.
Many now resided in the various nunneries outside the palace.
Within the palace, she was the only one of her kind left.
The Empress Dowager disliked her. Furthermore, the Emperor was not her biological son, making her existence in the palace awkward.
Back when the Late Emperor was alive, with her two sons and her high rank as an imperial consort, how splendid her life had been.
But now... she found herself completely under the Empress Dowager’s control, unable to regain her former prominence.
Empress Dowager Zhen clenched her teeth. After a long pause, she managed to suppress the bitterness in her heart and forced a false smile.
"Quickly, invite her in."
Shortly after, Sister Qing entered.
After performing the customary salutations, she opened the food container she carried.
"Here are a few jin of bird’s nest to help the Little Prince recuperate. This jar contains Tiger Bone Liquor, which the Empress Dowager specially had someone find among the common folk!"
"Applied to the wound or consumed in a small cup daily, it is said to have wondrous effects!"
Empress Dowager Zhen accepted the food container with a beaming smile and said gratefully,
"I thank Her Majesty the Empress Dowager for her profound kindness!"
As she spoke, she made to kneel.
Sister Qing hurriedly stopped her. "Imperial Noble Consort, you mustn’t."
With that, she glanced at the sky. "It’s raining outside, and the paths are treacherous. I shall take my leave now."
Empress Dowager Zhen, seemingly moved, dabbed at her tears. She held Sister Qing’s hand and personally saw her to the door.
"Sister Qing, please be careful on your way!"
Sister Qing smiled. "Ah! Imperial Noble Consort, please go back inside!"
With those words, she withdrew.
Empress Dowager Zhen waited until Sister Qing’s figure vanished into the rainy night. Only then did her expression abruptly change.
Having lived in the deep palace for so long, everyone becomes a chameleon, saying one thing to one person and something else entirely to another.
Those who didn’t know how to adapt likely wouldn’t have survived this long.
Back in her room, Empress Dowager Zhen stared at the jar of so-called Tiger Bone Liquor.
The more she looked at it, the more she felt the Empress Dowager was doing this deliberately, mocking her.
At this thought, she raised her hand, intending to smash it to pieces.