Arriving at the Jade Peace Palace, Yun Qin took a deep breath as she gazed at the vermilion gates, mustering all her acting skills. She pounded on the door with all her might while crying out anxiously, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty! This humble maid begs an audience with Your Majesty!”
The commotion inside stirred, and soon the door cracked open a sliver.
Without wasting words, Yun Qin squeezed through the gap.
The palace maids and eunuchs at the entrance immediately moved to block her. Struggling against them, Yun Qin continued shouting, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Please come see my mistress! She’s been vomiting terribly, hasn’t eaten all day, and we’ve already sent for the imperial physician!”
She had sent Xiao Dezi to fetch the imperial physician precisely to avoid the Emperor dismissing her with a remark like, “If she’s unwell, go back and summon the imperial physician.”
Calling for the physician also added credibility to her plea. After all, her mission was to bring the Emperor back—no matter what lies she had to tell, it was better to exaggerate the severity.
Even if the Emperor grew angry later and formed a poor impression of her, so be it. Her immediate superior was Concubine Hui; securing her favor came first.
Her cries were so pitiful that soon the entire Jade Peace Palace was roused, though the main hall remained unlit.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty…” Yun Qin persisted.
A palace maid strode over. “Are you all dead? Drag her out at once!”
As she spoke, she shot Yun Qin a venomous glare.
The maids restraining Yun Qin seemed to gain confidence, digging their nails into her arms as they hauled her outward.
Enduring the pain, Yun Qin kept shouting, “Your Majesty, please come see our mistress…”
Before she could finish, another maid rushed over and clamped a hand over her mouth, leaving Yun Qin to struggle fiercely.
“Your Majesty…”
Just as Yun Qin was about to be dragged away, a tall, stout eunuch emerged from the side hall.
“What’s all this racket?”
At the sound of his voice, everyone present froze.
The newcomer was none other than the Emperor’s personal eunuch, Xu An.
While others shrank back in fear at the sight of him, Yun Qin felt half her worries melt away.
Her greatest fear had been that Xu An would refuse to intervene.
As the Emperor’s closest attendant, he understood the imperial will best. If he chose not to step forward, it would mean the Emperor had firmly decided against seeing Concubine Hui.
Seeing him now meant Yun Qin was halfway to success.
Instantly, Yun Qin ceased her wailing, continuing only with silent struggles.
“Drag her out now!” The palace maid, alert, immediately signaled to the two maids holding Yun Qin.
But it was too late. Xu An had already descended from the corridor. “Which palace does she hail from?”
At his question, the maids restraining Yun Qin hesitated briefly. Seizing the opportunity, Yun Qin broke free, bowed deeply, and addressed Xu An.
“Replying to Eunuch Xu, this humble maid serves at the Palace of Spring Joy. My mistress, Concubine Hui, has fallen ill. We’ve already summoned the imperial physician, but our entire palace is in disarray, with no one capable of handling the situation. We had no choice but to beg His Majesty to come and steady our spirits.”
Seeing Yun Qin—a delicate young girl with disheveled clothes and hair, weeping pitifully and looking utterly wretched—Xu An couldn’t tell how much of her story was true.
But everyone knew Concubine Hui currently carried a precious treasure in her womb. In such matters, it was better to err on the side of caution…
“Such a grave matter, and you didn’t explain clearly!” Shifting blame first, Xu An then said, “Wait here. This humble servant will report it.”
“Thank you, Eunuch.” Yun Qin replied with tearful gratitude.
As he entered, Yun Qin felt the gazes burning into her back—if looks could kill, she would have been sliced to pieces by now.
Yet under those piercing stares, Yun Qin remained steadfast, kneeling without a tremor.
Before coming, she had been somewhat afraid, but now what was there to fear? Chunxi Palace and Yukang Palace were bound to clash sooner or later. Today would just be an appetizer.
Soon after, lights were lit in the inner chamber. A moment later, Xu An walked out and beckoned to Yun Qin. “The Emperor summons you inside to answer his questions.”
“Yes.”
Yun Qin rose steadily, quickly smoothing her clothes and hair. She went through the motions, but only for Xu An’s benefit.
Of course, she had to keep this disheveled appearance for the Emperor to see. Even if their Chunxi Palace had broken the rules by knocking on the door in the middle of the night, those from Yukang Palace were no better for dragging her out without asking for an explanation.
Xu An couldn’t help but glance at Yun Qin a few more times. Just a moment ago, she had been crying and shouting fiercely, but now she was as docile as a little rabbit. The speed of her change in demeanor was truly astonishing.
Yun Qin followed Xu An lightly into the inner chamber. With a slight lift of her eyes, she took in the scene.
The Emperor was leaning on a soft couch, wearing only a bright yellow undergarment. Beauty Liu clung to him as if boneless, her hand resting on his chest, looking like a delicate, dependent little bird.
Yun Qin took a quick glance, unable to clearly see the Emperor’s expression, but confirming he wasn’t angry, she quickly lowered her gaze.
“This servant pays respects to the Emperor and to the Meiren.”
“How is Concubine Hui?”
The low, magnetic voice carried a tone of indifference, making it impossible to guess his thoughts.
Unconsciously, Yun Qin’s palms were already damp with sweat. She could only brace herself and say, “Your Majesty, Her Ladyship has been vomiting severely today and has hardly eaten anything all day. Fearing harm to the Dragon Fetus, she forced herself to eat—vomiting after eating, then eating again after vomiting, tormenting herself until midnight. She has also been crying intensely, and we servants were truly worried… We could only take the liberty of coming to request Your Majesty’s presence, begging you to persuade Her Ladyship to stop tormenting herself.”
The more she spoke, the smoother it became. By the end, she even managed a fitting sob.
In front of the Emperor, she couldn’t just speak recklessly. This account was half-truth and half-fabrication: the vomiting was false, not eating was true, fearing harm to the Dragon Fetus was false, but the intense crying was real.
Even if the Emperor went and noticed something, he wouldn’t be too angry, nor would he take it out on her.
“Your Majesty, since Sister Hui Fei is unwell, it would be more appropriate to summon the imperial physician. What use is calling Your Majesty over? Your Majesty cannot treat illnesses.”
Hearing this, Yun Qin was inwardly surprised. She barely restrained herself from looking at Xu An. Had he not mentioned that Chunxi Palace had already summoned the imperial physician?
Yun Qin’s mind raced. Xu An had no reason to conceal it, so it must have been that the Emperor hadn’t listened to his report before summoning her inside.
This meant… Yun Qin lowered her head even further. This could only mean the Emperor was too anxious to wait for Xu An’s report.
So, was this indifferent demeanor an act for Beauty Liu?
Yun Qin’s eyes flickered, her head dropping even lower, her heart finally settling in her chest.
What she needed to do now was to cooperate with the Emperor and play her part well in this performance.