However.
All the concubines seemed to have agreed to stay far away from Ma Liyi.
Even Honored Lady Lu, who usually lived in the side hall of Xihuai Palace and diligently curried favor with Ma Liyi,
was currently sticking closely behind Consort Zheng, pretending not to see anything.
Afraid that getting too close would bring trouble upon themselves!
But Ma Liyi seemed completely unaware of everyone’s alienation.
She remained immersed in her unrestrained pride, feeling superior among the crowd.
The concubines were once again speechless:
"This person is beyond help! It’s better to stay away in the future!"
Everyone silently moved a little further away.
The procession continued forward.
Ningshou Palace was soon reached.
Sister Ma had already come out to greet them, ceremoniously paying respects.
"Greetings, Empress!"
Xia Ruqing descended from the Phoenix Sedan and said politely.
"Sister Ma, please rise!"
"Thank you, Empress!"
Sister Ma expressed her gratitude and led them inside.
Xia Ruqing led the concubines from the main gate to the main hall.
Though the path was adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, winding corridors, with magnificent or intricately exquisite jade palaces at various places in the palace,
it no longer had the former prosperity.
Every three or five steps stood a Palace Maid or eunuch.
They bowed with expressionless faces, rose with expressionless faces, extremely proper yet devoid of warmth.
They seemed like cold copper walls and iron bastions.
The entire Ningshou Palace, through winters and summers, was always cold and desolate, regardless of the prosperity and liveliness outside.
Xia Ruqing, on the first and fifteenth of every month, would bring the harem concubines to pay respects.
Everyone had more or less gotten used to it.
Except for a sigh in their hearts: "The Empress Dowager has amazingly squandered her good cards to such a mess,"
there wasn’t much other reaction.
But those newly entered into the palace, since it was their first time here,
this atmosphere made them shrink their necks and fill with confusion.
"Isn’t the Empress Dowager the Emperor’s birth mother? How did it come to this?"
Confused as they were, none dared to look around too curiously.
Everyone remained silent, speaking no words.
They entered the main hall.
The Empress Dowager, already dressed and made up, wore a deep red Phoenix Robe, sitting upright on a high seat.
Her complexion was passable, her expression calm without revealing joy or anger.
Xia Ruqing led the concubines inside, properly paying respects and greetings.
"Greetings to the Empress Dowager!"
The Empress Dowager mechanically tugged at her lips, waved for everyone to rise.
Then, those who were granted seats sat, those who were to stand stood, and everyone arranged themselves according to their ranks.
As usual.
Xia Ruqing braced herself, sitting beside the Empress Dowager, stiffly engaging in small talk.
She wasn’t skilled in verbal display, and her jokes weren’t funny.
She had to rack her brains to find topics to discuss.
Fortunately... among the concubines, there were always those who were articulate.
With a joke here and a conversation there, and with occasional assistance from Consort Cheng and Consort Hui,
the atmosphere wasn’t too awkward.
Having been in the deep palace for decades, how could the Empress Dowager not understand the gulfs before her?
In these years of being effectively ’confined’ by the Emperor, she remained peaceful without causing any trouble.
She always appeared as if she had seen through worldly affairs and just wanted to live out her remaining days.
The Emperor wanted to be a filial son, so she cooperated by being a kind mother.
The Empress needed to be filial to set a precedent for the world, so she acted as a good mother-in-law, gaining a reputation as a virtuous Empress.
Everyone got what they needed, and that wasn’t bad at all.
In any case, she would never regret the decisions she made back then.
If given another chance, she’d still make the same choice!
No, if given another chance, she’d never enter here again!
The Empress Dowager half-closed her eyes, slowly and methodically fingering the Buddhist beads in her hand.
Occasionally she made a joke with the Emperor and concubines, and otherwise remained silent, listening.
After about two quarters of an hour, the Empress Dowager tugged at her lips.
"Alright!"
"It’s getting late, and I’m feeling a bit tired, so you all may leave!"
Xia Ruqing, feeling relieved, quickly stood up.
"In that case, I won’t disturb Mother-Empress’s rest any longer!"
"I’ll come visit you again at the Shen Hour this afternoon!"
The Empress Dowager nodded.
"You may go now!"
After speaking, she turned and went into the inner chamber, supported by Sister Ma.
Xia Ruqing exhaled comfortably, shed her burden, and led everyone away.
...
The Mid-Autumn family banquet in the evening was held in Ninghe Hall.
With new arrivals in the palace, this year’s Mid-Autumn banquet was livelier than in previous years.
When Xia Ruqing and Zhao Junyao escorted the Empress Dowager in together,
the main hall was already filled with various unfamiliar or familiar, enchanting and charming figures.
Everyone stood up with a rush, kneeling to pay respects.
"Greetings, Emperor!"
"Greetings, Empress Dowager!"
"Greetings, Empress!"
Zhao Junyao waved a hand, "Rise, all of you!"
Amid a chorus of thank yous, everyone got up and took their seats.