amaotonovel Chapter 359 She was even more wary of Consort Chun
Chapter 359 She was even more wary of Consort Chun
The hall was eerily quiet. After a long while, the sound of the emperor turning the pages of memorials could be heard. Jingming mustered his courage, raised his head, and peeked over.
Under the candlelight, the Emperor didn't even lift his eyelids, already engrossed in handling state affairs at his desk. Jingming hesitated for a long time before finally speaking, "Your Majesty, Consort Rong and Consort Xie both sent over some refreshments today... What do you think...?"
The Emperor frowned impatiently, his tone icy: "Enough with the noise! Do I really have to summon someone to serve me in bed?"
Jingming was so frightened that he fell to the ground again, this time not daring to even breathe.
News from the imperial harem always spreads faster than the wind.
Within half a day, the news spread throughout the palace that Consort Chun and Consort Meng had both fallen ill. Adding to this the fact that Consort Qi was in her postpartum confinement period and Consort Shen was pregnant, four high-ranking concubines were suddenly missing.
Not to mention that Consort Qing and Consort Pei were confined to the palace.
Under such circumstances, even those of low rank like Lady Wu and Consort Yang became restless, not to mention the two beauties, Rong and Xie.
But regardless of whether Jingming, the chief eunuch, mentioned Rong and Xie intentionally or unintentionally, the emperor seemed to have no intention of summoning them.
In the study of Cuiyu Hall, the candlelight cast Meng Shu's long shadow.
She had just finished writing letters to Zhou Bai and Xiu Yun and was about to get up when Green Willow pulled her into the inner room.
Xiuyun sent an unusually large amount of stuff this time, probably because she felt she wouldn't be able to return to the capital for two or three years. The letter also specifically mentioned the handover of the Disi Pavilion—something Meng Shu had already discussed with her. She wanted to take advantage of this trip away from the capital to return the Disi Pavilion to Manager Qi of Yongxiu Cloth Shop.
Of course, on the surface, it was Yongxiu Cloth Shop that acquired an embroidery shop.
As the hour of Xu (7-9 PM) was drawing to a close, Xu Jinxi entered, bowing slightly, to report:
"Your Majesty, this afternoon, Consort Rong and Consort Xie both sent people to Funing Palace to deliver refreshments. Consort Yun went in person, but she did not see the Emperor. It's already this late, and there's still no movement from Funing Palace. It seems the Emperor will not be summoning anyone to his bedchamber tonight."
Meng Shu was slightly surprised after hearing this, and then asked, "Is there any news from Qu Baolin?"
"Your Majesty, Consort Qu has been frequently visiting Consort Shen's residence in Shujing Palace these past two days. However, if Consort Song is also there, she will not stay long before coming out."
After Xu Jinxi left, Donggua picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and stuffed it into his mouth, saying indistinctly, "Judging from this, Consort Song and Consort Qu are the most composed. Green Willow? Has Consort Song not served the emperor for quite some time?"
Green Willow poured a cup of tea and handed it to Winter Melon. After thinking for a moment, she said, "It's been more than a month since we returned from the palace. During this time, apart from the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, Consort Song hasn't seen the Emperor at all."
"It's true, Consort Song seems aloof and indifferent, but she's particularly close to Consort Shen. Ruizhu said that Consort Song whips herself before going out to pay her respects every day."
Donggua took a big gulp of tea. Remembering Ruizhu's constant eavesdropping and gossiping, he chuckled and said, "Without her, this gossip, there's really a lot less fun."
Listening to their gossip, Meng Shu chimed in, "Since there's not much to do on weekdays, Donggua, you should go out and about more. There are two new cooks from Lin'an who have just arrived at the Empress's palace."
Donggua's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly: "I'll take Chun'er to spar and learn from her in a few days."
“By the way, Shushu,” Donggua leaned closer, “I’ve been thinking about making soup lately. My master taught me a lot, and I’ll have Doctor Jian try them all out. Then I’ll make you a nourishing soup every day.”
Meng Shu was listening with a smile, but upon hearing this, she suddenly remembered the strong smell of medicine in the Fengyi Palace of Changchun Garden that day, and her stomach churned, making her want to vomit.
Seeing this, Green Willow hurriedly stepped forward to help her up, patting Meng Shu's back to help her catch her breath while glaring at Winter Melon: "Imperial Physician Jian just said this morning that Her Majesty should not take too much tonic, and you, on the other hand, immediately started talking about a perfect tonic, making Her Majesty uncomfortable!"
Donggua was startled. "Why do I feel like throwing up whenever I hear about tonic soup? Is this morning sickness? There are apples steaming on the stove in the small kitchen. I'll go get them right away." With that, she lifted her skirt and hurriedly ran out.
Jian Zhi once mentioned that steaming an apple until soft or slicing thin ginger and holding it in one's mouth is the best way to stop nausea. Although Dong Gua is a careless person, he kept these words firmly in mind and prepared them well in advance.
This commotion didn't gradually subside until 9 PM, and Lingcui Palace returned to tranquility. However, at this moment, lights were still lit in various parts of the six palaces.
Renming Hall.
The Empress had just taken her medicine, and the bedchamber was filled with a much stronger medicinal smell than when she had been in the temporary palace. Even the agarwood burning in the gilded lion-shaped incense burner could not suppress the odor.
Upon learning that the Emperor had not summoned any of his concubines to his bedchamber, the Empress said indifferently, "I originally thought that the Li family had redeemed themselves this time, and that Consort Rong should be able to regain the Emperor's favor by taking advantage of this opportunity. It seems that she is indeed useless."
Granny Gui stepped forward, carrying candied fruit, and whispered, "This old servant finds something rather strange. Consort Chun and Consort Meng have both been unable to serve the Emperor these past few days. Your Highness, could there be something amiss?"
Xingyu continued, picking up where Gui Mama left off, "Consort Meng is alright, but she was ill for a few days while she was at the imperial palace. I heard she suffered from nightmares and couldn't sleep at night. The Emperor even specially ordered Master Minghai of Guangci Temple to make a calming sachet..."
Seeing the Empress's suddenly cold expression, she quickly changed the subject: "But Consort Chun has been favored ever since she entered the Prince's residence. If she had been properly cared for, there should have been good news coming from Huining Palace by now."
"Illnesses in the palace are always three parts real and seven parts fake. But if a woman is truly pregnant, she can't hide it."
The Empress lowered her phoenix eyes slightly; she had her suspicions, too. But compared to Meng Shu, she was clearly more wary of Consort Chun.
Leaving aside the fact that Consort Chun continues to enjoy the Emperor's favor, the Tang family is no longer what it used to be. Not only is Marquis Tang Xian of Lin'an a powerful figure in the court, but his son Tang Lin is also appreciated by the Emperor and is frequently summoned to court.
Furthermore, although the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Lin'an was born out of wedlock, she married exceptionally well. Her husband, at a young age, was appointed a Light Cavalry Commandant and ordered by the emperor to guard the northwest. It is said that his prestige in the army is growing daily. The Tang family still has several daughters of marriageable age; if they could arrange a few more marriages with influential families…
Thinking of this, a shadow crossed the Empress's eyes—if Consort Chun were truly pregnant, it would be difficult to tell who the real mistress of the six palaces was in the harem.
"I remember back when I was in the Prince's residence, there was a girl named Dong'er in the Yunyi Courtyard where Consort Chun lived?"
Granny Gui bowed and replied, "Yes. This girl's relatives are still working on our Marquis's estate. After she entered the palace, she was assigned to Consort Meng by Consort Chun. However, she has always been a low-ranking maid who does menial cleaning and sweeping, and she can't even get close to Consort Meng."
The Empress chuckled upon hearing this, "The more inconspicuous something is, the easier it is to use."