Empress Wei smiled gently at Yun Xiangye and said, “There’s no need for such formalities. Please rise and take a seat.”
Yun Xiangye stood up and complied, seating herself beside Xie Zhixuan.
After Empress Wei instructed the female official to draft the decree allowing Ye Wanhe to leave the palace, she sent a eunuch to the Eastern Palace to announce the decree.
While waiting for Palace Attendant Li to arrive, Empress Wei and Xie Zhixuan began discussing matters related to the Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace.
Listening from the side, Yun Xiangye recalled that her cousin had mentioned two days earlier that among the five noblewomen who once wished to marry Gu Yan, one was the younger sister of the Crown Princess.
Empress Wei said, “Seeing that Yan’er’s daughter is already two years old, and Cheng’er is two years older than Yan, yet the Eastern Palace still lacks an heir, the wedding should not be delayed any longer. Yesterday, I consulted a Taoist priest, who said that the sixth day of the fourth lunar month is an auspicious day for marriage.”
Xie Zhixuan replied, “But isn’t the Fu family’s daughter still in mourning for another year?”
Empress Wei responded, “After all, it’s only for a stepmother. She has already observed mourning for two years, and no one will find fault with it. The Eastern Palace cannot remain without children for long. Given the scarcity of heirs in the palace, I think it would be best to welcome the Crown Princess into the palace in the fourth month.”
Everything needed for the Crown Princess’s wedding had long been prepared in the palace, but the designated Crown Princess, Fu Qianran, had been delayed by five consecutive years of mourning.
Xie Zhixuan agreed, “What you say makes sense, Sister-in-law. Holding the wedding in the fourth month is indeed feasible, as the Eastern Palace cannot remain without imperial heirs indefinitely.”
Empress Wei smiled lightly and said, “Seeing the adorable Nuonuo the other day made me quite envious. I only hope to hold a dear grandchild in my arms next year.”
Hearing Empress Wei praise Nuonuo, Yun Xiangye smiled faintly.
“Mother.”
Crown Prince Zhao Cheng entered the room and, seeing Xie Zhixuan present, bowed respectfully and said, “Aunt.”
Yun Xiangye quickly stood up and bowed to Zhao Cheng. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
Zhao Cheng replied, “There’s no need for formalities, Sister-in-law.”
Yun Xiangye noticed her cousin following behind Zhao Cheng.
Ye Wanhe was dressed in the attire of a senior palace maid, her head lowered respectfully as she bowed to the Empress and the Princess Royal.
Zhao Cheng stepped forward and addressed Empress Wei, “Mother, have you issued a decree ordering Aunt Ye to leave the palace?”
Empress Wei replied calmly, “It’s quite a coincidence. Wanhe turns out to be Xiangye’s cousin. Wanhe has already reached the age of twenty-five, which is the designated age for leaving the palace. I have granted her permission to leave before the New Year so she can reunite with her family sooner.”
Zhao Cheng frowned slightly and said, “But Mother, Wanhe does not wish to leave the palace.”
Yun Xiangye looked at Zhao Cheng, puzzled. How could Sister He not want to leave the palace?
Her uncle and aunt were eagerly awaiting Sister He’s return so the family could reunite.
Empress Wei turned to Ye Wanhe and asked, “Is that so?”
Zhao Cheng nodded. “Mother, at Aunt Ye’s age, she holds the position of a first-rank female official in the palace and serves as the senior palace maid in the Eastern Palace. If she leaves the palace, she may not have a promising future.”
Yun Xiangye, disregarding the risk of offending Zhao Cheng, whispered, “But my uncle and aunt have been longing for Sister He’s return so the family can reunite…”
Zhao Cheng glanced indifferently at Yun Xiangye before turning to Ye Wanhe behind him and asking, “Wanhe, tell us, do you wish to stay in the palace or leave?”
Yun Xiangye looked at Ye Wanhe with hopeful anticipation. If it weren’t for the approaching New Year festivities, her uncle and aunt might have accompanied her to Chang’an. The entire family deeply missed her cousin’s return home.
Ye Wanhe knelt before Empress Wei and said, “This humble servant thanks Your Majesty for your grace in allowing me to leave the palace early.”
She raised her eyes to glance at Zhao Cheng, whose expression was dark and gloomy, then bowed her head and said, “However, this servant does not wish to leave the palace. I am willing to continue serving by my master’s side.”
Xie Zhixuan smiled lightly and said, “You are indeed loyal. However, there are rules in the palace—women may leave upon reaching the age of twenty-five. Your family is waiting for you to return home and reunite with them. You should go back and reunite with your parents.”
Ye Wanhe lowered her gaze and said, “Her Highness has treated me well all these years. I wish to continue serving Her Highness…”
Zhao Cheng breathed a slight sigh of relief and said to Xie Zhixuan, “Aunt, since Wanhe is willing to stay in the palace, there is no need to make her leave.”
Yun Xiangye looked at her cousin kneeling on the ground. She did not believe her cousin was staying in the palace voluntarily.
Although her uncle’s family was not extremely wealthy, they were still a small merchant household. While not a prominent noble family, they did have maidservants at home to serve them. Her cousin would not give up being a young lady to become a servant merely for the sake of loyalty.
Clearly, if her cousin had said today that she wished to leave the palace, both Empress Wei and Princess Royal would have helped her depart.
Xie Zhixuan looked at Ye Wanhe kneeling on the ground and asked, “Why do you carry the scent of medicine on you?”
Ye Wanhe hurriedly replied, “Your Highness, I have been feeling unwell these past few days and took some medicine.”
Xie Zhixuan said to Ye Wanhe, “Rise and come here.”
Ye Wanhe slowly stood up and walked to Xie Zhixuan’s side.
Xie Zhixuan reached out and grasped Ye Wanhe’s wrist.
Seeing Xie Zhixuan taking her pulse, Ye Wanhe quickly said, “Your Highness, this servant… this servant dares not trouble you to take my pulse…”
Xie Zhixuan felt Ye Wanhe’s pulse with her fingers, slightly furrowed her brows, glanced at Zhao Cheng, then released Ye Wanhe’s wrist. She took a handkerchief from nearby and wiped her hands.
Seeing Xie Zhixuan’s displeased expression, Yun Xiangye asked softly, “Mother, is my cousin’s health alright?”
“Nothing serious,” Xie Zhixuan said calmly.
Ye Wanhe curtsied and said, “Thank you, Your Highness, for taking my pulse.”
Xie Zhixuan glanced at Zhao Cheng, then said to Empress Wei, “Sister-in-law, you mentioned earlier that the Crown Prince’s wedding would be held on the sixth day of the fourth month. It is time to announce it to the world.”
Empress Wei smiled lightly and said, “Yes, after discussing it with the court, we will announce that the wedding will take place in April.”
Zhao Cheng showed no joy on his face at the prospect of his upcoming marriage. He merely cupped his hands and said, “Mother, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave.”
Empress Wei smiled faintly and said, “You may go.”
Yun Xiangye curtsied respectfully as Zhao Cheng left. Watching her cousin’s retreating figure, Yun Xiangye was filled with confusion. Why did her sister insist on staying in the palace when she could have left? What was so good about being a servant in the palace, living cautiously and fearfully?
Yun Xiangye turned to Xie Zhixuan and said, “Mother, I would like to see my cousin.”
Xie Zhixuan replied, “Very well.”
Yun Xiangye left Fengyi Palace to catch up with her cousin. However, before she could reach her, she remembered Nuonuo at home. If Nuonuo woke from her nap and did not see her parents, she would surely cry.
There would be plenty of time to ask her cousin for clarification later. For now, it was more important to leave the palace early.
As Yun Xiangye walked back toward Fengyi Palace, she overheard a conversation from inside the room.
Xie Zhixuan handed the handkerchief she had used to wipe her hands to a palace maid and said, “Throw this handkerchief away.”
Empress Wei took a light sip of tea and asked, “What’s the matter? Did you forget your handkerchief after examining Wanhe’s pulse?”
Xie Zhixuan replied, “The scent of safflower in the medicine on Ye Wanhe is quite distinct, clearly indicating a common contraceptive medicine formula. When I felt her pulse, it showed signs of depleted qi and blood due to nightly indulgence and excess. With such a strong medicinal odor clinging to her, it’s evident she has been drinking contraceptive medicine frequently. She is already struggling to conceive, and if she continues taking it a few more times, she may become completely infertile in the future, beyond any remedy.”
Empress Wei coughed twice, her voice turning cold. “No wonder Ye Wanhe was unwilling to leave the palace earlier. As a woman who has become the Crown Prince’s consort, how could she bear to leave? I even praised her earlier for being honest and dutiful.”
Empress Wei continued, “The Crown Princess is about to enter the palace. Such a seductive and bewitching servant must not be allowed to remain in the Eastern Palace for long.”
Yun Xiangye, standing at the entrance, overheard the conversation inside and halted her steps just as she was about to enter Fengyi Palace. She frowned deeply.
Recalling the scene from two days ago when she saw her cousin drinking medicine, her heart ached with sorrow. She couldn’t understand why her cousin would be unwilling to leave the palace.
Without a second thought about whether Nuonuo would fuss upon waking and not finding her, Yun Xiangye turned and hurried toward the Eastern Palace.