Сhарtеr 20: Мade by thе Еmpress Нerself?
Нuа Shu’s ехрrеssion wаs саlm аnd detaсhed as she spоkе while turnеd slightlу tо thе sidе.
Tо dаrе to schеmе somеthing like this required bоth cаpability аnd cоuragе.
Uрon heаring this, Consort Нui аlsо hаd a vaguе susрiсiоn in her heаrt.
But bеhind these high-rаnking positiоns were рowerful, influentiаl fаmiliеs.
Huа Shu сasually tоok а bоoklet frоm the small сabinеt, glаnсed аt it a few timеs, and then sроkе.
“Since my sister likes jade braсеlets, I happеn tо have a раir of exquisite Double Happiness jade bracelets in my collection. I’ll gift them to you.”
As she spoke, she closed the booklet. Nanny Wen, standing beside her, immediately sent someone to fetch them upon hearing this.
The booklet was nothing special—just an inventory of items from her small private treasury. As for the names of those intricate gold, silver, and jewelry pieces, she truly couldn’t remember them all.
Hua Shu had always been clear about rewards and punishments. Those who helped her would naturally not be treated unfairly.
Consort Hui’s expression faltered slightly. Her hand unconsciously stroked her bracelet before she quickly rose to express her gratitude.
She hadn’t expected the Empress to know her preferences.
She had many bracelets, but fine jade bracelets were rare and precious.
For such a reward, she didn’t even entertain the thought of refusing.
Outside the Palace of Earthly Tranquility,
Several young eunuchs carried over Cow’s Milk. Nanny Wen, seeing this, couldn’t help but smile and ask, “Why is the kitchen so eager to send Cow’s Milk to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility today?”
The leading young eunuch hurriedly replied, “Nanny Wen, please don’t tease us. This is all the Emperor’s order! We hope you can put in a good word for us so Her Majesty won’t hold it against us.”
Nanny Wen didn’t give them a hard time and told them to return first.
Her gaze fell on the Cow’s Milk, and she felt a sense of relief.
Fortunately, the Emperor’s attitude toward Her Majesty had improved somewhat.
Just then, she saw Chief Eunuch Wang approaching, and the two exchanged glances.
“Nanny Wen, why are the two young eunches guarding the front gate, Xiao Qu’er and Xiao Wan’er, nowhere to be seen?”
He was asking about the two young eunuchs.
“Traitorous filth who betrayed their master were naturally beaten to death,” Nanny Wen replied coldly.
Last time, when Consort De tried to frame their mistress, they discovered that there were traitors within the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. They had been dealt with long ago.
Of course, this matter had not been made public.
Chief Eunuch Wang’s pupils contracted slightly, and he withdrew his expression with a hint of fear.
How did he not know about this?
Nanny Wen ignored him and instructed someone to bring the Cow’s Milk inside.
Cining Palace.
Empress Dowager Zhao, dressed in simple black and gold everyday attire, stood by the pond, idly feeding the fish.
“During the days I was away, the Empress seems to have completely changed her temperament.”
Her words carried a hint of confusion.
Nanny Guan, standing beside her, nodded and said, “Your Majesty, this servant believes the Empress has become wiser. Look, the Emperor visits the Palace of Earthly Tranquility more frequently now. It’s a good thing.”
“At least she’s not being foolish anymore,” Empress Dowager Zhao couldn’t help but sigh.
Apart from her family background, it was also because Hua Shu’s elder sister, after marrying Marquis Yongping, had gained an excellent reputation among the noblewomen in the capital for managing the household well, supporting her husband, and raising children—she was exceptionally capable.
The Empress Dowager thought that since the elder daughter was like this, the family’s upbringing must be good, so she took a liking to Hua Shu.
When Hua Shu first entered the palace, nothing seemed amiss.
Who would have thought the Empress would be so muddle-headed, constantly fixated on the Emperor’s movements and competing with the concubines for favor, already losing the dignity befitting an Empress.
Later, she even did foolish things that disgusted the Emperor.
She also began frequently coming to Cining Palace to weep and complain, which was utterly improper.
Empress Dowager Zhao had grown tired of her and thus avoided seeing her. Later, she didn’t know what happened, but she heard the Empress had fallen ill.
Unexpectedly, upon returning to the palace this time, she found that the Empress’s temperament had changed significantly.”I still feel something is amiss. When I have time another day, have her come see me.”
Empress Dowager Zhao had spent enough years in the palace to understand well that a person does not change for no reason.
Either it is an act, or they have undergone a major upheaval.
Could it be that something has happened in the palace that she is unaware of?
……….
In the rear palace, Consort Rong remained the most favored.
During the eighth month, the Emperor was busy with state affairs, leaving little time to visit the rear palace.
At the beginning of the month, the Empress was unwell and excused the morning greetings from the various palaces.
However, the daily copies of the Palace Regulations still had to be submitted as usual.
Nanny Wen and the maidservants under her were inspecting them one by one.
“This handwriting is only thirty percent similar; it certainly wasn’t written by Consort Xian herself.” Nanny Wen compared them with a glance. The handwriting submitted each day was different.
Anyone with eyes could see it.
Hua Shu had come out to bask in the sun for the first time in a while, feeling as if her body was growing moldy from lying down all day.
These submitted copies were indeed interesting; they revealed the personalities of each palace.
Whether they were written by a substitute or by the consorts themselves was clear at a glance.
She would not pursue this matter, but she could still see who was restless.
Yun Yue supported her mistress, mentioning that the Emperor had visited on the first day of the month. After that day, the Emperor seemed very angry and had not returned.
That day, Her Ladyship was resting, and nothing had happened. She wondered if someone had been gossiping.
Hua Shu listened, merely smiling without a word.
Relying on the Emperor, one could gain power and satisfy desires.
However, Hua Shu would never let her heart be moved by him. In the treacherous rear palace, if she were the first to fall in love in this battle of hearts,
it would be a dead end.
For the Emperor, women were mere diversions in his leisure time.
Coincidentally, the Emperor was the same to her.
“Then instruct the small kitchen to make some Milk Cake and send it to the Palace of Heavenly Purity,” Hua Shu said, sitting down on a stool in the courtyard.
Upon hearing this order, the two maidservants immediately went to prepare.
These days, the Emperor rarely visited the rear palace. If Her Ladyship did something, it could help stabilize their relationship.
Hua Shu yawned, feeling drowsy again. In truth, she knew that whenever the Emperor came, he would stay for a long time.
But for the Emperor, what was too easily obtained held no interest.
Yet what was difficult to obtain was also easy to give up, as he was too lazy to bother with entanglement.
It was precisely this distance—neither too close nor too far—that made him think and guess.
………
Inside the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
Li Sheng was at the palace gate when he spotted a maidservant approaching from ahead, seemingly from the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.
Yun Xiu carried a food box and, upon seeing Li Sheng, hurried forward. “Eunuch Li, this servant is Yun Xiu from the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. Her Ladyship specifically ordered me to bring this Milk Cake for the Emperor. Please deliver it on my behalf.”
Li Sheng tucked his horsetail whisk behind his back and took the box. “A gift from Her Majesty the Empress. I will present it to the Emperor at once.”
Yun Xiu curtsied. “Thank you, Eunuch. I appreciate your trouble.”
With that, she turned and left.
As Li Sheng carried the food box inside, he couldn’t help but think: of all things, why did Her Majesty the Empress send Milk Cake?
Last time, the Emperor had forbidden Her Majesty from having it, only to later specifically order the imperial kitchen to send it to her.
Moreover, when Consort Rong had asked the Emperor to drink Cow’s Milk, the Emperor had said he didn’t like it.
This Milk Cake was likely to end up benefiting a servant like him.
When he entered the Inner Hall, the Emperor was reading a book.”Your Majesty, Empress specifically sent someone over, saying she made Milk Cake for you to try.”
Li Sheng placed the food box on the small table without opening it.
But when he turned around, he discovered the Emperor had already stood up and, at some point, walked right behind him.
Li Sheng’s hair stood on end in fright, but years of servant training allowed him to calmly step aside.
“Did Empress make it herself?”