Consort Shu’s face turned completely pale. If she had not forced herself to stay upright, she would have collapsed to the ground.
The Empress’ words made it clear—this matter involved her.
Not only that, the Empress had seen through her intentions.
With just a few words, she had given her a lesson.
Such an Empress—how terrifying.
Huashu did not say anything further. She simply turned and walked back inside.
Consort Shu stood frozen, staring at the Empress’ back. She pinched her own hand until it bled and didn’t even notice.
Her maid, Zhiluò, hurried to support her, worry evident in her voice. “Your Highness, are you alright?”
Consort Shu’s strength completely drained. Half of her weight leaned on Zhiluò.
She forced a bitter smile.
At this moment, she realized her mistake—she had acted too hastily.
Her entire journey now seemed absurd and ridiculous.
The mistress and maid walked back to Qixiang Hall. Only then did Consort Shu finally explode.
“The Empress has always been lying in wait, hasn’t she?” Consort Shu’s hands trembled as she buried herself in the bedcovers, tugging at them as if venting some inner fury.
“She is so calculating! Zhiluò, did you see just now, when the Emperor turned away, he didn’t even glance at me!”
“Did the Emperor notice something?”
“Does the Emperor now despise me?”
Consort Shu muttered frantically, her voice still restrained.
Zhiluò was shocked. Aside from the time when she had lost her child, the Consort had never shown such a loss of composure.
“Your Highness, how could that be? The Emperor is merely troubled for a moment,” Zhiluò knelt by the bed, soothing her.
“Your Highness, you were fortunate not to fall into the Empress’ trap. She deliberately provoked you; the angrier you are, the more she succeeds.”
Hearing this, Consort Shu stopped smashing things. She only wept quietly, burying her face in the covers.
Her voice trembled. “Anyway, the Emperor did not pursue the matter further. Qin Shi’s tongue was cut; she knows to stay obedient to save her life.”
“Yes, Your Highness. The Emperor trusts you. Besides, there are many who speak such words in the harem. Who knows where the eldest prince heard it? The Emperor’s lack of investigation might be because he has heard it himself.”
Zhiluò, as Consort Shu’s personal maid, knew exactly where her worries lay. Mentioning the Emperor was enough to calm her mistress.
Consort Shu’s composure returned somewhat. Yet when she thought of the Empress mentioning her father, and the slight displeasure in the Emperor’s expression, she still felt uneasy.
“Father had instructed the Emperor. Could it be he thinks there was some oversight on my part?”
Zhiluò turned to pour her a cup of tea and handed it to her. “Not at all. The Emperor has often praised the Grand Tutor and regards him as a teacher. If he harbors caution, it is toward the Empress’ maternal clan. On the court, many people have criticized Grand Tutor Hua.”
“That’s right. I and the Emperor share a childhood bond. How could the Empress shake that?” Consort Shu murmured, holding the tea cup tightly.
Suddenly, she thought of something. “Send someone reliable to watch Qin Shi. See if she attempts to write anything.”
A wet nurse was essentially insignificant, and the blood-letter had already reached her.
Yet Consort Shu could not be fully at ease. She had to eliminate any potential trouble and ensure the Emperor did not doubt her.
“Your Highness, Consort Shu’s face yesterday was ghastly. Even on the way back, she was frightened,” said Wen Shi, inwardly pleased.
Previously, she thought Consort Shu was among the few clever ones in the palace—but clearly, appearances could be deceiving.
This time, she had schemed and even tried to manipulate the eldest prince. Her heart was wicked.
“Your Highness, she should have been forced to reveal who was behind it,” Yun Yue said, adding herbs to the bath.
Huashu reclined on the chair, fanning herself, and smiled. “Why speak of Consort Shu? Just a maid’s words.”
Besides, the Emperor had no such intention.
This showed he did not wish to confront the matter publicly. His handling of Qin Shi was already a warning.
As for whom it was directed at—it was obvious.
A maid’s words could not shake Consort Shu’s position.
Now that the eldest prince’s matter was settled, palace gossip could be quieted, at least for a while.
Huashu stood, looking at the steaming bath.
Wen Shi smiled. “Your Highness said you wanted flowing water. Prince Gong worked diligently and even specially brought hot spring water, saying it would be better for your health.”
Huashu smiled, set down the fan, removed her outer garments, bent over, and tested the water, adjusting to its warmth.
“Such trouble is unnecessary. The weather is warm; flowing water is more comfortable, and it avoids people claiming my luxury.”
She dismissed the attendants.
Huashu undressed and stepped into the pool.
She submerged herself, moving through the water with the agility of a fish.
After playing for a while, she floated, facing the sky, relaxing fully.
A deep sigh escaped her. It had been so long since she felt this comfortable.
Closing her eyes, she enjoyed the sunlight on her body. She lifted her feet slightly, sinking backwards into the water.
At that moment, she felt something grab her arm and pull her upward.
The sudden force nearly made her choke on her herbal water.
She surfaced, anger flashing in her eyes, only to meet a pair of deep black eyes, which held a trace of tension.
Huashu looked up; water trickled down her body, dripping onto his hand, warm enough that he instinctively let go.
Instead, Huashu seized his wrist. “When did Your Majesty arrive?”
She took in the man before her, dressed in a black-and-gold dragon robe. From the previous struggle, one sleeve was soaked.
Chu Ze lowered his gaze. He had actually been there for a while and found it absurd to see her floating in the pool like this.
She was the first to use the backyard pool as a personal bath.
“I just arrived. Empress, be cautious. There is no attendant nearby,” Chu Ze said, his tone carrying a subtle rebuke.
Huashu tugged his hand, moving closer, leaning on the water surface.
“Your Majesty is concerned for me,” she said.
Though the water contained some herbs, the scene was still visible.
Chu Ze was a normal man—he could not remain unaffected. He turned his head. “Enough bathing, rise. Prolonged immersion may cause a chill.”
His concern was genuine, though it sounded more like an order.
Huashu smiled, tugging his hand, applying a little more force.
She whispered into his ear, “Why not, Your Majesty, serve me instead?”
Her fingertips lightly brushed his Adam’s apple, watching it move.
At that instant, water splashed.
Huashu’s body was pressed against the pool edge, the cold water chilling her back.
Her legs in the water were easily spread apart.
She could not break free.