Tenth day of the fifth month · Zhongcui Palace
“Your Highness, Fangguan has already escorted Eunuch Sheng out of Zhongcui Palace.”
Lanji glanced at her mistress’s livid expression and reported cautiously.
“Despicable! That wretch Fu—just wait!”
Qi Yanyao took a deep breath, standing in the main hall with her emotions tightly suppressed as she ordered:
“Inform Nanny Lou and Nanny Cao. Suppress all the rumors spreading throughout the palace—no matter the cost.”
Consort Qi clenched her fists tightly, her chest filled with anger!
That dog servant Sheng Shizan represented the emperor’s will. When he delivered the decree earlier, his expression had been openly disdainful—clearly, she, a Noble Consort, held no status in his eyes—
The reason was obvious: the emperor had never truly regarded her with respect!
Hah. Lady Yi had only just served the emperor for the first time last night, and by morning the emperor had already sent Sheng Shizan to “notify” her to suppress the rumors. Clearly, the emperor was very satisfied with that woman’s service—
Indeed, the quiet ones bite the hardest!
The rumors had originally been her doing, meant to stir chaos in the palace… Now, unless she spent heavily to suppress them, they would not settle.
Worse still, this action would offend many long-serving palace staff…
“Yes, this servant will handle it immediately.”
As a senior maid, Lanji had heard the decree as well. Her mistress already lacked imperial favor, and now the emperor’s displeasure was laid bare. How could she dare disobey?
To preserve her position as Noble Consort, she had no choice but to endure.
Although she had failed to become empress, she was still the highest-ranking consort in the harem.
Thus, for three days, the palace was thrown into turmoil.
Consort Qi suddenly enforced strict discipline over rumors, and after making an example of a few, all the palace servants became fearful—
In particular, Noble Lady Liu, who was known for her loose tongue, was caught red-handed by Consort Qi’s chief matron. She and two other concubines who had been with her were punished and confined for a month.
Likewise, Lady Wen, who had been whispering with Lady Wei, was reported and received the same punishment.
With several consorts and concubines punished in succession, the entire harem fell into order within three days.
Though confinement for a month seemed light—no corporal punishment or deduction of stipends—it struck at the very heart of the concubines—
Being confined meant removal of their name plaques, and thus losing the chance to attend the emperor!
Especially for newly entered concubines, missing this critical period meant it would be extremely difficult to compete for favor later.
What angered them even more was that since her first night, Lady Yi had been summoned to Qianqing Palace for seven consecutive nights!
And with Consort Qi strictly suppressing rumors, none dared voice their resentment. After all, the emperor held ultimate authority, and the two Empress Dowagers did not interfere with his choices.
It was not until the fourteenth day of the fifth month—
When Prince Huai returned from Huangku Temple and advised the emperor—that the rotation of concubines resumed.
—On the ninth day, Prince Huai had left the capital with his consort to visit Huangku Temple, lighting an eternal lamp for his mother, Noble Consort Rong, whose birthday fell on the eleventh.
Because of the ongoing war, Prince Huai was concerned for the people and sought to persuade the emperor against personally leading the campaign. He stayed only six days before returning.
Even the journey itself took nearly half a day, and if not for appearances, he would not have left the capital at such a critical time.
Seeing that the emperor had finally begun to distribute his favor again, the concubines of the harem collectively breathed a sigh of relief…
…
Fourteenth day of the fifth month · Yikun Palace
“…Mistress, you?”
After Xuduo reported the latest news—that Ruan Ji had been summoned to Qianqing Palace—Surang and the others cautiously observed their mistress’s expression.
“Hm?”
Fu Lingxi rubbed her waist, sensing something off. Opening her eyes slightly, she saw Nanny Rong and the others looking at her with concern.
Blinking in confusion, she asked:
“Why are you all making such strange faces? Whether the emperor summons someone is not something a mere concubine like me can question or feel upset about. Don’t worry—I’m perfectly fine.”
Then she looked pitifully at Nanny Rong and Ziluan:
“But… can my meals be changed? I’m not a rabbit—I don’t live on bland food!”
For seven days, she had been eating rich imperial meals at Qianqing Palace, only to return to tasteless, plain food here. She had no idea how Ziluan had misunderstood her preferences…
“Mistress, please endure for three more days.”
Before Ziluan could respond, Rongshan stepped forward to comfort her:
“Once this ten-day period passes, you may return to normal meals. For now, your health must come first.”
“…Fine.”
Fu Lingxi sighed helplessly. After all, Nanny Rong was following the emperor’s orders to nourish her body with spirit-infused ingredients—she knew better than to complain.
Aside from being overly lustful, that emperor had not treated her poorly!
If not for the fact that he had the exact same face as her senior brother—and had given her his pure yang energy—she would have wanted to beat him senseless.
Of course, she could only think that.
Ever since gaining her cultivation, the pressure he exerted on her could be summed up in one word—
Submission.
Aside from the first dual cultivation, which had raised her to the middle stage of Qi Refining (Martial Master), her progress over the next seven days had slowed significantly. She was now stuck at the high stage, unable to advance further.
【In my previous life, I had to meditate, refine qi, train techniques, and temper my mind… so troublesome! In this life, I can just lie back and win.】
Now, Fu Lingxi worried about one thing:
Where was she supposed to learn martial arts and techniques? At the very least, she needed to maintain appearances—she couldn’t just suddenly know everything without a teacher!
Damn it, how annoying.
Yet no matter how troubled she felt, she did not dare reveal it in front of her servants, lest they overthink and cause her further trouble.
Seeing that their mistress was not upset, Surang and the others returned to their duties.
Even Nanny Rong nodded in satisfaction, thinking her new mistress was broad-minded and sensible, before heading to the kitchen to prepare nourishing meals…