Upon hearing the Emperor’s words, Chen An paused briefly before quickly responding.
He thought to himself that the Emperor’s move was likely intended to have the imperial physicians examine Consort Shu while also curing her habit of sending someone to summon the Emperor for every little matter.
After all, to protect their official positions, the physicians would do their utmost to ensure Consort Shu remained in good health. If any issues arose, they would report them immediately.
This way, the people of Le’an Palace would no longer come to invite the Emperor every day.
Shortly after, the imperial palanquin changed direction and returned to the imperial study.
Le’an Palace.
Supported by her maids, Consort Shu walked outside, unconsciously stroking her abdomen. From time to time, she glanced around, a smile playing on her lips.
Although her pregnancy was still in its early stages, Consort Shu was extremely cautious, even supporting her waist as she walked, as if she were already eight or nine months along with a large belly.
However, as time passed, she still did not see the expected entourage.
Growing impatient, Consort Shu glanced at the eunuch beside her. “The flower banquet has ended. The Emperor should be arriving soon, right?”
Recently, she had monopolized the Emperor’s favor and had no intention of sharing his attention. The moment she heard the Emperor had attended the flower banquet, she felt as though thousands of insects were gnawing at her heart.
Before the eunuch could reply, a young eunuch appeared from around the corner, followed by several imperial physicians carrying medicine chests. The young eunuch stepped forward, bowed, and reported, “Consort Shu, His Majesty has urgent matters to attend to in the imperial study and has instructed the imperial physicians to attend to Your Ladyship’s health. He asks that you rest peacefully and focus on nurturing the pregnancy.”
The arriving physician, with hair half-grayed, was a veteran of the palace. Few other consorts enjoyed such privileges.
Yet, to Consort Shu, none of this mattered. When she heard the Emperor would not be coming, her expression darkened immediately.
What could be more important than her?
Consort Shu could not even be bothered to feign gratitude. Instead, she angrily shook off those around her and stormed back into the palace, walking so quickly that the maids and matrons attending her hurried to keep up.
“Your Ladyship! Please mind your health!” The entire Le’an Palace was thrown into chaos. The newly arrived physicians watched in astonishment. They had heard of Consort Shu’s arrogance but never imagined she would be so disrespectful.
Nevertheless, they steeled themselves and entered the palace, for the Emperor’s command could not be disobeyed.
Consort Shu stormed back into her room and swept everything off the table, the sound of shattering porcelain echoing in the air. She seethed, “Why won’t the Emperor come to see me?”
As she vented her anger, she seemed to recall something and stopped, turning to the matron behind her. “Was someone at the flower banquet trying to seduce the Emperor? No, the banquet has ended. Wasn’t it said the Emperor would come?”
Seeing Consort Shu so enraged, the matron quickly tried to calm her. “Your Ladyship, please don’t be angry. Think of the prince in your womb! We must not let anything happen to him!”
At this moment, the most important thing was not the Emperor but the imperial heir in her belly.
After finally conceiving, there must be no mishaps.
Hearing this, Consort Shu barely managed to restrain her temper. Supporting herself on the table, she sat on the couch. The matron beside her continued, “Perhaps His Majesty truly has official duties and cannot leave. He must be thinking of you, otherwise why would he send such experienced physicians to attend to you?”
Everyone in the palace knew of the Emperor’s favor toward Consort Shu, but missing one or two visits was hardly significant.
Consort Shu remained silent but no longer continued her outburst. She had clearly taken the words to heart and was no longer as angry.
At that moment, a eunuch entered from outside—it was Yuan Qi, the chief eunuch of Le’an Palace. Yuan Qi stepped forward to report.
He explained that after the flower banquet, the Emperor had originally intended to come to Le’an Palace. However, on the way, he encountered Beauty Yu from Xili Palace. After conversing with her for a while, the Emperor changed his route and returned to his quarters.
Before Yuan Qi could finish speaking, Shu Fei could no longer contain her anger. She flipped the chessboard, sending it crashing to the ground. Chess pieces scattered everywhere, bouncing and rolling across the floor.
Everyone in the room immediately knelt, not daring to provoke Shu Fei in her rage. Some even wished they could vanish into the ground, hoping she wouldn’t notice them.
“Beauty Yu… very good,” Shu Fei spat out the word “good” through gritted teeth, a flash of malice in her eyes. “How dare she try to steal His Majesty’s favor from me? If she wants to curry favor and serve His Majesty, I will make sure she doesn’t get her wish.”
As she spoke, Shu Fei glanced at Yuan Qi kneeling below. “Find a way to have the Imperial Bedchamber Bureau remove Beauty Yu’s name from the roster. Or bribe someone in her palace. In any case, I don’t want to hear that she served His Majesty tonight.”
Only she was allowed to steal favor and snatch others’ opportunities. How could someone else, especially a mere Beauty, dare intercept the Emperor?
………
News of Beauty Yu’s chance encounter with the Emperor and His Majesty’s subsequent change of plans to return to the imperial study quickly spread among the palace consorts.
Those who had always envied Shu Fei now seized the opportunity to mock her. However, most speculated that the Emperor would summon Beauty Yu to serve him that night.
Luo Shuran thought the same. She believed the Emperor might genuinely favor someone like Beauty Yu, just as he had in her previous life, when he doted on Beauty Yu for quite some time.
After finishing her meal, Luo Shuran took a walk, bathed, and prepared to retire early.
Just as she was about to lie down, she heard movement outside. Soon, Xi Chun burst through the door, a smile on her face. “Mistress, someone from the Cheng’en Palace is here! His Majesty has summoned you to serve him!”
The Emperor had summoned… her?
Luo Shuran sat on the bed, instinctively pinching her thigh. The sharp pain confirmed it was real.
She had no choice but to get up, wash, and dress. It wasn’t until she boarded the Cheng’en carriage that Luo Shuran fully grasped the reality—the Emperor had indeed summoned her.
The long corridor was dark, illuminated only by the few lanterns around Luo Shuran. As the carriage slowly passed, it dispelled the darkness, bringing light to its path.
She looked up, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Regardless, she must seize the Emperor’s favor.
Luo Shuran longed to grow stronger quickly, even wishing she could take revenge immediately. But some things couldn’t be rushed.
Arriving at Cheng’en Palace, she was already familiar with the routine. Today, Luo Shuran had specifically instructed the matron to keep her makeup light. After all, the intense activities in bed always left her drenched in sweat, which felt sticky and uncomfortable.
The matron agreed wholeheartedly. In her opinion, Talent Luo’s face needed little embellishment—it was already stunning enough. Excessive makeup would only obscure her natural beauty.
Once ready, Luo Shuran entered the inner chamber. She noticed the room felt cooler than usual and spotted blocks of ice placed in the corners, more than there usually were.
Even the Emperor couldn’t stand the heat.
After all, their encounters were often intense and vigorous, leaving them both breathless and drenched in sweat.
Passing through the beaded curtain, Luo Shuran instinctively glanced toward the couch but saw no sign of the Emperor. She walked further inside, but even the imperial bed was empty.
It seemed the Emperor had not yet arrived. Thinking this, Luo Shuran walked barefoot to the dragon bed and sat down to wait.
The dragon bed was soft and comfortable. Hugging her knees, Luo Shuran realized she had been sleeping quite early recently, and now, right on schedule, she felt drowsy.
The more she tried to stay awake, the sleepier she became. Even though her mind remained alert, her body instinctively leaned to the side until she was about to topple over onto the bed.
A hand caught her waist, and she fell into a scorching embrace.