It wasn’t until they left the city that the steeds truly bolted, heading along the official road toward the Royal Hunting Grounds a hundred miles away.
The Emperor’s personal eunuch, Li Shengan, stayed behind in the palace to ensure nothing went awry. Only a few of Li Shengan’s disciples followed.
「...」
「In the palace」
With the Emperor gone, the Empress relaxed completely. Since that incident, she had always been somewhat afraid of the Emperor. Even without leaving her residence, she lived in constant trepidation every day, fearing she might do something wrong and provoke the Emperor’s anger once again. Now, she could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
After breakfast and her medicine, the Empress lay down on a soft couch to rest. She asked Yu Lan, "Has anything happened in the palace lately?"
Yu Lan remembered being told that the Emperor had encountered Honored Lady Jiang in the Imperial Garden, and she recounted the incident.
Upon hearing this, the Empress smiled. "Just as I expected! Honored Lady Jiang bears some resemblance to Lady Xia. In the twilight, mistaking one for the other is perfectly normal!"
Yu Lan laughed. "Then, Your Majesty, why don’t we... sound out Honored Lady Jiang? If Honored Lady Jiang knows her place and is willing to follow Your Majesty and serve you, perhaps she could become the next Xia Jieyu. If she were to have a child, Your Majesty could take it into your care; what a delightful affair that would be!"
The Empress thought for a moment, then frowned and said, "This is a good idea, but it requires careful, long-term planning. We mustn’t rush! In the past, the Emperor would show me some consideration, favoring the women I promoted. Now, however, I’m truly uncertain if I can even get them into the Emperor’s bed. It won’t be easy to accomplish this!"
Yu Lan remained silent. If Her Majesty wasn’t confident, she certainly dared not presume any more.
With furrowed brows, the Empress pondered for a good while before saying, "Alright, first go and gauge Honored Lady Jiang’s attitude. If she is willing, I can lend her a helping hand. Tell her, if she’s willing to stand by me, she won’t lack anything that Xia Jieyu has!"
Yu Lan assented and departed.
「...」
「In Xifu Palace」
With the Emperor away from the palace and no one accompanying him, Noble Concubine Shih felt somewhat more at ease. Her cousin, in the end, was still the same, she thought. To him, women were nothing but a seasoning, a distraction amidst his busy affairs of state. As long as one was obedient, attractive, and could serve him well, anyone could be favored. Who could truly be important enough to make him lose sleep? She herself was once favored like no other, but wasn’t she now easily cast aside? Xia Jieyu, too, would face such a day. After all this time, she had come to accept it. She understood that to maintain long-lasting favor, a child was the only true tie. Therefore, she had to take good care of Honored Lady Shih, ensuring she gave birth to a healthy, plump son. Only then would she truly be set for life, without worries.
Having made up her mind, Noble Concubine Shih hurriedly took a sip of tea to compose herself.
Ying Yue, as usual, brought in the soup tureens, large and small. "Your Highness, the Imperial Kitchen has prepared red date pork ribs, clear stewed beef, and wolfberry black chicken soup today!"
Noble Concubine Shih frowned. "Only three soups?"
Ying Yue hesitantly nodded. "Your Highness, that’s quite a few! Weren’t there always three soups in the past?"
Without giving it much thought, Noble Concubine Shih ordered directly, "Tell the Imperial Kitchen to add more soup! Add two more fortifying soups, beneficial for a pregnant woman!"
Ying Yue hastily nodded. "This servant will go right away!"
Noble Concubine Shih thought to herself. She had absolutely no reason to feel guilty. Her younger sister was pregnant, after all. The Imperial Kitchen, seeing that she had lost the Emperor’s favor and was merely an Honored Lady, prepared her meals as usual. While they didn’t skimp, they weren’t particularly meticulous either. That being the case, if she, her elder sister who held the rank of Noble Consort, took a little extra care of her, who could possibly object? As she thought this, she felt increasingly justified.
「...」
Before the midday meal, all five soups were finally prepared. Noble Concubine Shih took the soups to Honored Lady Shih’s quarters.
Honored Lady Shih was lying in bed, sound asleep. Ever since becoming pregnant, Honored Lady Shih had not gotten out of bed, merely resting after her meals each day. The nutritious soups provided by Noble Concubine Shih offered different varieties daily. Gradually, she began to put on weight. At least, a double chin had appeared.
When Noble Concubine Shih saw the double chin, a flicker of a smile touched her eyes.
Ying Yue placed the soup on the table, and Noble Concubine Shih approached to wake Honored Lady Shih.
"Sister... Sister! It’s time for the midday meal!"
Zhaoer also hurried over. "My lady, the Noble Consort is here!"
Honored Lady Shih, hearing someone calling her and smelling the aroma of the soup, opened her eyes. "Noble Consort!"
Noble Concubine Shih sat at the edge of the bed. "I’ve told you, there’s no need to call me ’Noble Consort’; we are sisters!" Having said that, she instructed Zhaoer, "These nutritious soups are all the best from the Imperial Kitchen. Serve some to your mistress!"