Noble Concubine Shih looked at the few dishes on the table, her heart souring even more.
"This is getting ridiculous! What is all this?" she fumed. "I am a Noble Consort, yet I’ve fallen to such a state?!"
Ying Qiu was somewhat at a loss. "Your Highness, this... isn’t that bad!" she ventured. "I heard... there’s been flooding in the south again. The Emperor has sent aid and is even eating frugally himself!"
Noble Concubine Shih gave a cold laugh. "No need for comfort; I don’t want to hear any of it! Just eat!"
Ying Qiu silently curtsied and stepped forward to serve the food.
After hurriedly finishing her breakfast, Noble Concubine Shih had nothing else to do.
"In half a month, it will be the Mid-Autumn Festival..." she murmured, looking out the window with a sigh. Another year of sweet osmanthus blooms, another year of the full moon for reunions.
Noble Concubine Shih thought again of her ill-fated child. If my child were still alive, how could I have fallen to this state! They have all risen, each with children of their own! And me? What about me?
Ying Qiu did not dare make a sound.
Noble Concubine Shih dared not think further and simply stood up to walk outside. "Let’s take a walk!"
Ying Qiu hurriedly followed.
Throughout the walk, Noble Concubine Shih remained silent. After some time, she suddenly spoke. "How is Ying Yue? In the Laundry Bureau, has anyone bullied her?"
Ying Qiu stiffened, her eyes gradually reddening. "She’s... she’s doing well! The last time I visited her, she even asked me to convey her greetings to Your Highness!"
Noble Concubine Shih’s eyes also reddened. "It’s good that she’s well. Make sure you visit her more often!"
Ying Qiu let out a soft sigh. "I will, Your Highness."
Neither mistress nor servant spoke further.
In truth, Ying Yue had gone to the Laundry Bureau and, not long after, died of illness. They said she died of illness, but wasn’t it truly from being tormented to death? Ying Qiu dared not tell her mistress this.
Noble Concubine Shih harbored suspicions but dared not inquire further. Asking too many questions would be more than her heart could bear.
Noble Concubine Shih returned after walking for half a Shi Chen. Because the Emperor was displeased with her, even the palace attendants began to treat her with neglect. She no longer wished to endure the disdainful looks of others.
「Qingya Residence」
After a restful sleep, Xia Ruqing woke up, had breakfast with Little Bun, and then headed to the Imperial Garden.
"The chrysanthemums are blooming beautifully right now," she declared. "We should pick some petals to make chrysanthemum tea!"
Zi Yue seemed puzzled. "Your Highness, isn’t chrysanthemum tea usually made from... the small blossoms? How can these large ones be used?!"
"What’s wrong with large ones? I think they’re quite nice!" Xia Ruqing retorted.
Zi Yue fell silent. As long as Your Highness is happy, she thought.
Mistress and servant went to the Imperial Garden, strolling along the shore of Taiye Pool. On both sides of the path, chrysanthemums bloomed in vibrant profusion. There were large, full blossoms of every imaginable color and shape.
Xia Ruqing was dazzled by the sight. "These flowers... they really don’t seem suitable for making tea with..." she mused. "But... picked and arranged in a vase, they’d be quite lovely, wouldn’t they?"
With that, she indeed grabbed a basket and skipped off happily to pick flowers.
Just as she was carefully selecting the most beautiful buds, a person approached from the opposite direction.
"Greetings, Consort Xian Pin!"
Xia Ruqing looked up. "Oh my..." A closer look revealed it to be Honored Lady Jiang.
However... seeing the person before her dressed and adorned so similarly to herself, Xia Ruqing gave a cold inward laugh.
"So it’s Honored Lady Jiang!" she said. "Rise!"
Xia Ruqing managed to remain polite, even to an imitator.
Honored Lady Jiang’s face paled, but she stood up. "Thank you, Consort Xian Pin!"
The two sat down in a nearby pavilion.
Xia Ruqing took a sip of tea and smiled. "People say Honored Lady Jiang and I look alike, though I’ve never paid close attention. Seeing you dressed like this today, I must say... there is indeed a resemblance!"
"Zi Yue, don’t you think so?" Xia Ruqing added with a smile.
Zi Yue dared not interject. Honored Lady Jiang’s face grew even paler. Who couldn’t discern the veiled criticism in her words?
Honored Lady Jiang could only muster an awkward smile. "Your Highness jests. My humble appearance cannot compare to Your Highness’s celestial beauty!"
Xia Ruqing laughed again, lightly waving the round fan in her hand. "Honored Lady Jiang, if your appearance is ’humble,’ then what does that make the rest of us?"
After a moment, she continued, "I hear... that Honored Lady Jiang is skilled at playing the guqin. I heard that last time at Taiye Pool, even the Emperor was full of praise for your performance! One of these days, I really must learn to play the guqin as well!" Xia Ruqing spoke leisurely.
Her words, both overt and implied, were laced with sarcasm directed at Honored Lady Jiang.
Just as Honored Lady Jiang was awkwardly wondering how to respond, the Emperor arrived.
Xia Ruqing felt incredibly helpless. Your Majesty, your timing is so impeccable, anyone who didn’t know better might think you did it on purpose!
After the customary greetings, Zhao Junyao pulled Xia Ruqing to sit beside him. As for Honored Lady Jiang, a mere Honored Lady, she was not qualified to be seated.