Noble Concubine Shih should have been pleased to see Xia Ruqing dressed so unattractively. But she just couldn’t bring herself to be.
Because she knew, even dressed like this, her cousin still liked Xia Ruqing.
The more Noble Concubine Shih thought about it, the angrier she became. What exactly did her cousin see in her?
Nothing but a vixen!
Xia Ruqing heard such mockery but didn’t retort, merely offering a faint smile.
"This concubine is at fault for being an eyesore to Your Highness, Noble Consort!"
"It’s just that this concubine is unwell and fears the cold, unlike Your Highness, Noble Consort, who is so robust you can wear anything!"
The last phrase, "can wear anything," truly struck a nerve with Noble Concubine Shih.
Today, her outfit—anyone not blind could see it was a close imitation of the Empress’s ceremonial robe.
She could never become Empress, so she had to resort to such blatant imitations.
Everyone knew it, but no one dared to say it aloud.
Now, Xia Ruqing had pointed it out so bluntly.
Noble Concubine Shih felt that Xia Ruqing had utterly destroyed her face.
She was seething and on the verge of lashing out.
But at that very moment, an announcement came from outside.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
The words Noble Concubine Shih was about to blurt out were caught in her throat.
No matter how furious she was, she had to join the others in greeting the Emperor.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Zhao Junyao, dressed in a Dragon Robe and draped in a black and gold-trimmed dragon cloak, strode in from outside, followed by Li Shengan and about ten other eunuchs.
His face was very stern as he looked at the large group of women paying their respects.
"You may all rise!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The voices of the assembled ladies became especially sweet and captivating.
However, Zhao Junyao paid them no mind.
Instead, he looked up towards Xia Ruqing.
Yet, the moment his gaze fell upon Xia Ruqing, he almost lost his composure.
He couldn’t help but feel a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
This woman, is she a ball?
Though his heart ached for her a little, Zhao Junyao truly couldn’t help it.
She looked so much like the snowman Yi An and the others had built in the Imperial Garden.
This barely suppressed amusement, in Xia Ruqing’s eyes, was mockery.
So, she secretly glared at him.
But in the eyes of Noble Concubine Shih and the others, it was clearly doting affection.
Noble Concubine Shih felt a wave of bitterness in her heart.
See? I told you! No matter how ugly she dresses, cousin still likes her!
As for herself, no matter what she wore, her cousin couldn’t even be bothered to glance her way.
Hmph...
Finding the sight too glaring to endure, Noble Concubine Shih finally forced a smile and stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, it is about time!"
Zhao Junyao then came back to his senses, gave a light cough, and nodded.
Afterward, he proceeded inside with the Princes.
In the past, when the Empress was present, she could also enter the Grand Temple.
Now that the Empress was absent, only the Emperor and the Princes could enter.
And Noble Concubine Shih, no matter how much she dressed the part, was not allowed.
The Second Prince was still young, so his Wetnurse Nanny carried him, following behind the Crown Prince.
Noble Concubine Shih watched the departing figures of the Emperor and the Princes, her heart filled with deep bitterness.
For many years, the ancestral rites on the first day of each month were her most painful time.
She had to watch the Empress and her cousin complete the grand ceremony together.
And she, merely a concubine, could only kneel outside and watch.
But rightfully, she should have been the one marrying her cousin!
「The ceremony began.」
All the Concubines knelt outside the Grand Temple.
When those inside kowtowed, those outside had to follow suit.
As for when to kowtow, they just needed to follow the eunuchs’ signals.
Just as the rituals inside commenced, Little Zhuzi appeared from nowhere in a nearby corner, signaling Zi Yue with his eyes.
Zi Yue understood and whispered a few words into Xia Ruqing’s ear.
Xia Ruqing listened, surprised, and then asked in a hushed voice, "Will this really work?"
Zi Yue replied, "Your Highness, this is the Emperor’s wish!"
Xia Ruqing mulled it over. Then, as if reaching an epiphany, she nodded, and then...
Her eyes closed, and she "fainted."
"Your Highness!" Zi Yue cried, "Your Highness, what’s wrong?" her face a mask of "panic."
The commotion disturbed those nearby.
Consort Ning was kneeling in front of her. There was no one to her left, and to her right were Consort Cheng Pin and Consort Hui Pin, in that order.
Seeing Xia Ruqing faint, Consort Ning was somewhat skeptical but certainly wasn’t going to get involved.
Consort Cheng Pin, however, seemed a little concerned.
"What are you standing around for? Quickly help your mistress up!"
Zi Yue, now emboldened, hurried to help Xia Ruqing up with Zi Su’s assistance.
At this moment, Little Zhuzi appeared just in time.
Pretending the Emperor had been disturbed by the commotion, he came to relay a message.
"The Emperor has decreed that Consort Xian Pin, being gravely ill, is granted permission to return to her palace and summon an Imperial Physician!"
With a single sentence, Xia Ruqing was given a legitimate reason to leave.
And so, under everyone’s watchful eyes, she was sent back openly and legitimately.
The other concubines didn’t dare say much.