The emperor left Caiyun Hall, and Li Sheng cautiously asked, “Your Majesty, where are you headed?”
“To Kunning Palace,” Chuze replied.
Li Sheng saw the emperor’s dark expression, clearly displeased, and couldn’t help but feel concerned for Empress Hua Shu.
As they reached the imperial carriage, a group of people approached. Upon closer inspection, it was the empress’s procession.
Li Sheng hurriedly warned, “Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived.”
Chuze frowned and glanced sideways. By the moonlight, he could see the empress walking steadily toward them.
She wore a gold-threaded phoenix-patterned cloud-shoulder robe, her hands held gracefully at her waist. The long skirt swayed lightly as she approached the emperor and performed a formal bow.
“What is the Empress doing here?” Chuze observed, inwardly speculating on her intentions.
Hua Shu sensed the coldness in the emperor’s tone and understood immediately.
As she suspected, Rong Zhao Yi had acted deliberately—fainting and feigning innocence, hoping to report her to the emperor.
“I heard that Rong Zhao Yi has been unwell and even fainted. I came to check on her condition,” Hua Shu said carefully.
She emphasized the word condition, curious to see what kind of ailment this was.
“Empress, do you not know why Rong Zhao Yi is unwell?” Chuze said, seeing her come directly without pretense.
Hua Shu looked up at him, her gaze steady.
“I do not know, Your Majesty. If you claim I poisoned Rong Zhao Yi, I deny it. I would never take blame for something I did not do. Furthermore, regarding today’s incident, I refuse to be falsely accused. It would be better to confront Rong Zhao Yi now—I want to see what she has to say.”
With that, she moved to step inside.
The emperor stopped her by grabbing her arm, pulling her away.
The strength imbalance left her with no choice but to follow, feeling a faint ache in her arm.
She glanced back at Chuze, seeing the clear knowledge in his expression, yet the displeasure he held toward her.
Damn emperor.
As they reached the stairs of the upper waters pavilion, Hua Shu lightly pressed her lips together and deliberately misstepped, “accidentally” leaning into the emperor.
Chuze instinctively caught her; her body was soft, sliding into his embrace, carrying the lingering fragrance of flowers.
He froze briefly, then, coming to his senses, gripped her arm and forced her against a pillar. “Empress, you’d better not play tricks. I’ve told you—”
“Yes, Your Majesty has said that I must behave properly and avoid mistakes. So upon hearing the news, I came to explain.”
Hua Shu lifted her head slightly; they were so close that their breaths nearly mingled.
Chuze felt a stir of heat. He wanted to release her, but she tugged at his collar, her lips slightly parted. “What else do you want from me, Your Majesty? I was worried you might misunderstand, but it seems you know everything clearly.”
Her eyes flickered with complex emotions—disappointment, sorrow. “Rest assured, Your Majesty. As long as no one else provokes me, I will dutifully serve as your empress.”
She let go, straightened her robe, and lifted her posture.
In that moment, she truly looked like a dignified and noble empress.
Turning her back to the emperor, she smiled wryly. “Though, Your Majesty’s taste… is rather ordinary.”
With that, she gracefully departed, leaving Chuze staring after her, a mixture of loneliness and longing tugging at him.
Little did she know how pleased she was, her smile hidden.
She might have been accused of wrongdoing, but in truth, she had simply spoken openly. Who had anything to hide? She knew her own heart.
After she left, Chuze stood there, lost in thought.
Had he been too harsh toward the empress?
But that thought lasted only a moment. His mind quickly returned to her parting words.
“Ordinary taste?”
Was she mocking him?
Chuze’s fingers tightened slightly, almost audibly.
Li Sheng, coming up behind, paused.
Why did he suddenly feel a pain in his body? What was wrong with the emperor now?
Perhaps it was just an illusion—but recently, it seemed the empress could effortlessly provoke the emperor’s anger.
The emperor had never been like this… could it be because of Rong Zhao Yi and the heir in her womb?
“It’s chilly at night, Your Majesty. Perhaps you should return to the palace and rest,” Li Sheng suggested.
With the empress herself present, the emperor surely wouldn’t wish to go to Kunning Palace.
After a long pause, the emperor said nothing, standing silently, his gaze deep, lost in thought.
“The Empress Dowager will return soon, right?”
Previously, Master Puzang had returned from his travels. The Empress Dowager visited the palace, and now a month had passed.
“Your Majesty, in three days, the Empress Dowager will return,” Li Sheng replied, unsure of the emperor’s intentions.
Hua Shu had been personally selected by the Empress Dowager. Surely she would wish for unity between emperor and empress.
“Hmm,” Chuze said, walking slowly. “You think of the Empress, she—”
“What, Your Majesty?” Li Sheng asked, noticing the unfinished sentence.
Chuze waved dismissively. “Never mind. It’s best if she behaves herself.”
He walked with hands behind his back, mind restless, not wanting to dwell on such matters.
Within the palace, Rong Zhao Yi remained the most favored, followed by Consort Shu, with two new faces appearing:
Yang Jieyu and Wu Meiren.
They were recent selections into the palace. Especially Wu Meiren, who had not received favor in the past few months. It was said she gained the emperor’s attention after performing a dance in the imperial garden, and thus earned favor.
At Chuxiu Palace, the courtyard bustled. The five-year-old Crown Prince played while Consort De stood on the steps, smiling.
Consort De had been close to the emperor for years, aged twenty-four. She wore a dark green robe, her shawl neatly draped over her arm. Though not as youthful as the palace’s younger beauties, she appeared dignified and proper.
By her side was Consort Wan, her complexion mostly recovered. “The Crown Prince is truly clever and lively. Recently, the emperor praised him. I must congratulate you, sister.”
Consort Wan maintained a friendly relationship with Consort De, flattering her openly.
Consort De glanced ahead, somewhat disdainful of the flattery, though her lips couldn’t help but curl in pride.
In the palace, who did not think highly of her?
The emperor may favor Rong Zhao Yi, but it couldn’t surpass the Crown Prince’s mother.
A maid outside reported, “Mistress, Consort Xian has arrived.”
Consort Wan smiled. “It seems Consort Xian knows whom to associate with in the palace.”
Recently, Consort De had held authority. Consorts Xian, Shu, and Rong Zhao Yi had not visited. Unexpectedly, the first to come was Consort Xian.
Consort De pursed her lips and had someone call her inside, then turned to the inner rooms.
The position of Noble Consort could only be hers, and she alone was qualified.
Consort Xian was the daughter of the Grand Commandant, with a strong family background. Unfortunately, her womb was uncooperative, giving birth twice to daughters.
As the visitors entered, Consort Wan stepped forward to greet them.
Consort Xian didn’t even glance at her, walking past directly.