"From now on, there is no need to bring such things up here!"
Having spoken, he tossed the letter into the basket for waste paper.
"Yes!"
Li Shengan’s neck shrank again, and he felt a chill down his spine.
「In Xifu Palace」
The Noble Consort had received treatment from the Imperial Physician and rewards from the Empress. Her condition had finally stabilized, but she still had a low fever. She leaned listlessly on her bed, her eyes hollow and devoid of any sparkle.
Ying Qiu tried to feed her medicine, but she stubbornly refused to drink it.
"My lady, please take a sip. It’s good medicine. It will make you better!"
Noble Concubine Shih’s eyes moved slightly as she looked at the bowl.
With a hollow voice, she asked, "Do I still have good medicine here?"
The once bustling glory had now become utterly deserted. In the past, all those flattering women, the Honored Ladies and the Ladies, had fervently sought her favor.
Now, all of a sudden, it had cooled down.
In Xifu Palace, two Honored Ladies had died, leaving only Shih Jieyu.
Shih Jieyu!
Noble Concubine Shih’s eyes suddenly filled with a fierce resolve.
"Where is that woman? Has she, too, turned against me?"
Ying Qiu hurried to comfort her. "The Little Princess is getting better, and Shih Jieyu doesn’t visit often!"
At the mention of the Little Princess, the Noble Consort was once again overcome. Tears streamed down her face.
Ying Qiu’s arms ached from holding the medicine bowl. "Your Highness, please drink at least some!"
Noble Concubine Shih began to ask again where the medicine had come from.
Ying Qiu: "..."
「Everyone in the palace was living well.」
Except for the Noble Consort.
The Emperor had dismissed the matter, so naturally, no one was courting her favor anymore. Her medicine and her meals were not even as good as Consort Ning’s. The Empress pretended to be unaware and no longer gave her support.
In the blink of an eye, September came, and the air cooled considerably after a few rains.
September 9th, the Double Ninth Festival.
The Empress began preparations more than ten days in advance because this year’s Double Ninth Festival was not just any festival, but also the day the Little Princess turned half a year old.
The Third Princess, due to her premature birth, was weak from the start. There were no celebrations for her first-month or hundred-days anniversaries, for fear she might not survive. Now, having been cared for in the Empress’s palace for more than a month, she had grown much healthier. Her face was plump, and her body was chubby and white. Dressed in a bright red bellyband, her large, sparkling eyes were incredibly endearing.
The Empress thus thought about arranging a feast for the Little Princess as well. To do this, she went to the Imperial Study Room specifically to ask for the Emperor’s opinion.
Zhao Junyao certainly had no objections. He had always been especially kind to his children; regardless of favor, she was still his own flesh and blood. He agreed immediately.
The Empress, reassured, began the joyous preparations.
However, preparations for the feast required invitations to be sent out. When it came time to send out the invitations, the Empress encountered a dilemma.
"As for the Noble Consort... should an invitation be sent to her?"
Sister Ji did not dare to decide on her own, so she said, "Why don’t Your Majesty ask the Emperor’s opinion?"
The Empress felt a bit conflicted. "Such a trivial matter...!"
She really could not decide on such a triviality. Thus, she sent someone again to ask for the Emperor’s opinion.
It wasn’t until half a day later that Yu Lan returned.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor’s opinion is that since the Noble Consort’s illness has not yet healed, there is no need to send an invitation."
After speaking, she paused. "The Emperor had another thought, which is... The Noble Consort is unwell and must reflect behind closed doors, so it is not befitting for her to be disturbed. Therefore, the Emperor wants Your Majesty to find a new residence for Shih Jieyu!"
The Empress’s heart skipped a beat. "I almost forgot about this matter! She’s just a Jieyu now, not an Honored Lady. It’s really not appropriate for her to be squeezed into Xifu Palace!"
Having said that, a touch of smugness crept into her heart.
It seemed the Emperor had truly made up his mind this time! Was she finally going to win this prolonged tug-of-war that had lasted for years? Had she finally gained the Emperor’s recognition?
At least for the time being, the Noble Consort wouldn’t be able to stir up any trouble for a good while.
How wonderful!
「A few days before the Double Ninth Festival, invitations were sent to all ladies in the harem of Sixth Rank Honored Lady and above. Only Noble Concubine Shih did not receive one.」
Another matter was announced by the Empress when everyone came to pay morning respects.
"Shih Jieyu has reached the Fourth Rank and has also given birth to the Little Princess. It is no longer proper for her to stay in Xifu Palace. She will move to the main hall of the Lijing Pavilion!"
Although she, a Jieyu, wasn’t much favored, the Lijing Pavilion was about the same size as the Qingya Residence. Even Consort Xian Pin and the Little Prince managed to live there. A Jieyu and an Honored Lady squeezed together should be manageable!
The Empress added another sentence. "The Noble Consort needs to recuperate quietly. She must not be disturbed at random!"
"Move there in the next few days! This too is the Emperor’s wish!"