Jianqiu also remembered the matter from some time ago, when Her Highness had planned to make a move against Answering Lady An. She asked, “Your Highness, are we going to pluck the flowers ourselves this time?”
“No. I don’t like flowers like these. We may as well send them to Consort Hua.”
Jianqiu understood at once and said nothing more.
They had already spread word to Yikun Palace that Answering Lady An resented General Nian and Consort Hua. Given Consort Hua’s temper, it was only a matter of time before she struck. They only had to sit back and watch the show.
“The wind is picking up, Your Highness. It’s time to return to the palace.”
Yixiu gathered her cloak around herself and turned to leave with her attendants, as though she had never been there.
The new Mistresses had been in the palace for some time. In the blink of an eye, it was time for them to attend the Emperor’s bedchamber.
The Palace Affairs Office brought in the newly made name plaques, and the Emperor glanced at them lazily.
They bore the names of several newly appointed Noble Ladies. Even Answering Lady An, at the very bottom, was included. Only Attendant Wan was missing.
The Emperor’s gaze sharpened.
“Why isn’t Attendant Wan’s name plaque here?”
The eunuch from the Palace Affairs Office hurriedly replied, “Your Majesty, Attendant Wan is ill and cannot attend your bedchamber.”
“Ill?” The Emperor rolled the beads in his hand, wearing a faintly mocking smile.
Su Peisheng understood the Emperor’s thoughts and stepped forward to explain quietly, “When Consort Hua punished Attendant Xia, Attendant Wan was there and was badly frightened. Then, when she went to the Imperial Garden, she came upon Fuzi, the palace maid from Consort Hua’s residence who had drowned.”
The Emperor raised his brows and shifted his thumb ring.
Su Peisheng continued to remind him, “Fuzi was the palace maid the Empress sent to Yikun Palace some days ago.”
The Emperor furrowed his brow, his gaze fixed on Consort Hua’s name plaque.
Reading the Emperor’s expression, Su Peisheng said to the eunuch from the Palace Affairs Office, “How long has it been since Consort Hua’s name plaque was replaced? Bring a new one tomorrow.”
The Emperor made no comment at Su Peisheng’s words. He raised his hand and selected Noble Lady Shen’s plaque.
After completing his duties, the eunuch from the Palace Affairs Office wiped the sweat from his brow and hurried out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Standing beside the Emperor, Su Peisheng noticed his mind had wandered and said with a beaming smile, “Your Majesty has been reading memorials for a long while and must be tired. Why not rest for a bit?”
Leaning back in his chair, the Emperor asked Su Peisheng, “How has the Empress been lately?”
“Her Highness the Empress has just finished managing the new Mistresses’ arrival and is now busy preparing for the year-end festivities. She has her hands full,” Su Peisheng replied.
The Emperor’s eyes shifted. He nodded.
“The Empress has been working hard lately. Remind me to have lunch with her tomorrow.”
Su Peisheng promptly agreed.
The Emperor rubbed his fingers together, as though he felt that was not enough, and added, “The Empress’s health isn’t very good. I hear a skilled Imperial Physician has recently arrived at the Imperial Medical Bureau. Go issue an order for him to pay his respects in the Empress’s palace every day and help improve her health. Oh, the Empress suffers from headaches. Make sure he massages the acupoints on her head.”
“This servant understands. I’ll go to the Imperial Medical Bureau and deliver the order at once. I’ll also convey Your Majesty’s concern to the Empress.”
The Emperor waved a hand, then relaxed and returned to reading his memorials.
When Su Peisheng arrived at Jingren Palace with the imperial decree, Yixiu was preparing to go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to speak with the Emperor about Fuzi and Attendant Xia.
After hearing Su Peisheng out, Yixiu thanked him, then had Jianqiu see him off.
When Jianqiu returned from seeing him off, she found Yixiu sitting on the low couch, looking troubled.
When Yixiu saw her, she asked with a trace of melancholy, “Jianqiu, do you think the Emperor truly cares about me, or is he trying to silence me for Nian Shilan’s sake?”
“Your Highness, don’t dwell on it. You and the Emperor have been husband and wife for many years, and your bond is deep. It’s only natural that he cares about you,” Jianqiu said with a frown.
Yixiu smiled, but her smile was bitter.
“When has the Emperor ever cared about me? Forget it, Jianqiu. There’s no need to say more. I’m tired.”