At the time of paying respects, Lin Anran did not see Concubine Yue, and only then did she learn that Yue was ill.
After finishing her greetings to the Empress Dowager, Lin Anran sent Granny Jian to take Luo Li back to Fengyi Palace. She herself went to Qinxing Hall with Chunhua.
It had rained last night. Although the capital’s weather had shifted from a cool autumn into early winter, it wasn’t cold enough to actually make someone fall ill.
Through sobs, Luoyu recounted everything that had happened the night before.
Listening, Lin Anran could only feel that the harem truly was a place of constant turmoil, full of power struggles and competition for favor.
Having inherited the original host’s memories, she knew that although Yue had been sent to the Emperor’s bed by the original Empress and thus became a concubine, she was absolutely loyal to the Empress and could not tolerate anyone insulting her.
Yue had understood that the Consort Noble stealing the Emperor’s attention was aimed at undermining the Empress, and she also knew that Consort Jiang was aligned with the Noble Consort. That was why she had spoken back against Consort Jiang last night and ended up being punished.
In truth, Yue had been dragged into this matter because of her.
Lin Anran did want a quiet “retirement life,” but that didn’t mean she would meekly endure and hide away in Fengyi Palace.
One could be lazy, could lie flat and avoid competition, but one could not be useless—when the time came to stand on one’s own, one had to be convincing enough to earn respect.
The imperial physician arrived quickly, and seeing that the Empress was still present, he did not dare be careless.
After diagnosing her and prescribing medicine, Lin Anran had Chunhua give him extra silver, instructing him to select the best medicinal herbs.
Lin Anran couldn’t help but sigh again—being transmigrated into a noble Empress with a rich dowry really was good. Unlike in her previous modern life, she no longer had to worry about money.
Now she could finally say with confidence: anything that can be solved with money is not a problem.
She glanced around Yue’s residence. Compared to her own Fengyi Palace, Qinxing Hall could almost be described as bare and shabby.
It was clear Yue lived very frugally.
After thinking for a moment, Lin Anran gave Chunhua all the loose silver she had on her and instructed Luoyu to take good care of Yue. Then she left Qinxing Hall with Chunhua.
Luoyu weighed the heavy pouch of silver in her hands, almost moved to tears.
The rewards she had received serving Yue for a year weren’t even as much as what the Empress gave in one visit.
Although Yue was not favored and poor, she was kind and treated her well, so Luoyu had never thought of betraying her.
Now seeing how the Empress was protecting Yue, she became even more determined to remain loyal.
Yue was the Empress’s person, and she was Yue’s maid—by extension, that made her the Empress’s person too.
…
Fengyi Palace
When the imperial palanquin landed, Lin Anran had not even stepped down when a palace maid quickly approached and whispered a few words into Chunhua’s ear.
Chunhua raised her brows slightly and signaled the maid to withdraw before helping Lin Anran down.
“Your Majesty, when Chunfen delivered clothing today, she met a maid from Consort Noble’s palace in the Imperial Garden. They exchanged a few words, and after Chunfen returned to Fengyi Palace, she began deliberately inquiring whether anything unusual had happened in your daily life.”
After speaking, Chunhua added cautiously, “Your Majesty, it seems the Noble Consort has instructed Chunfen to monitor your daily routine.”
Lin Anran said nothing.
So her “modern-day fellow traveler” was still suspicious of her.
Luckily, ever since she transmigrated, she had been acting like a lazy fish—doing nothing unusual—so she hadn’t exposed any modern behavior.
She wasn’t really afraid of the Noble Consort; she just thought it was unnecessary trouble and didn’t want to deal with it.
Seeing that Lin Anran remained silent, Chunhua hesitated before asking, “Your Majesty, should we find a reason to dismiss Chunfen?”
“No need. Let her stay,” Lin Anran waved it off casually, then asked, “How is the investigation I asked you to conduct yesterday going?”
Everyone serving in Fengyi Palace had been there for years. They had originally been carefully vetted for clean backgrounds and lack of connections to other consorts before entering service.
But that was at least one or two years ago.
A year or two could change many things—especially people’s loyalties.
With the original Empress’s loss of favor and her depressive condition, she was constantly at risk of being deposed. It wasn’t strange for palace servants to seek other backers.
And indeed, what they found after investigating was shocking.
Fengyi Palace had become a paradise for spies and hidden agents.
The Emperor, the Empress Dowager, the Four Consorts—all had placed informants there. Even the lower-ranking consorts had their eyes inside Fengyi Palace.
Lin Anran could only think: can’t I just retire in peace?
“You’re saying Zhi Zi belongs to Consort Jiang?” Lin Anran raised an eyebrow.
Chunhua immediately knelt, ashamed. “This servant has failed Your Majesty’s expectations in managing Fengyi Palace. Please punish me.”
Lin Anran told her to stand.
She had no intention of punishing her.
The original Empress had suffered from depression and frequent emotional breakdowns. Chunhua was already exhausted managing both her moods and the palace affairs. The fact that Fengyi Palace hadn’t completely fallen apart already showed she had done well enough.
“It’s fine. Just be more careful in the future.”
Lin Anran then instructed Chunhua to bring Zhi Zi closer to serve her personally.
In the following days, Zhi Zi not only replaced Xia Mo in dressing Lin Anran, but also took over the social duties that had previously belonged to Qiu Yue.
Soon, everyone in the harem knew Zhi Zi had become the Empress’s new favorite.
As the saying goes, good fortune lifts the spirit—Zhi Zi’s status rose quickly, and she became increasingly charming and radiant, like a flower in bloom.
When Consort Jiang saw that her person had gained the Empress’s favor, she was initially pleased.
But seeing Zhi Zi become more and more alluring, she grew anxious and took an opportunity to warn her, reminding her to remember her place.
But Zhi Zi, like an overfed white-eyed wolf, not only ignored her warning but even said proudly:
“Your Highness Consort, today is the first day of the month. The Empress suddenly had her monthly cycle, so to avoid disappointing His Majesty, she has arranged for this servant to attend the Emperor tonight.”
Zhi Zi believed she could follow in Qiu Yue’s footsteps—become a concubine after one night, and escape servitude.
If she were lucky enough to conceive a royal child in one night, wealth and glory would be within easy reach.
And if she could give birth to a prince, her hardships would finally be over.
Consort Jiang looked at the defiant Zhi Zi and suddenly felt a crushing sense of regret—like she had shot herself in the foot.
Just the thought of another lowly maid becoming her “sister consort” made her feel disgusted.
Night fell.
Lin Anran was about to go to bed when the door suddenly opened. Chunhua’s voice followed: “This servant greets Your Majesty.”
Lin Anran: “???”
Didn’t I send Zhi Zi to sleep with the Emperor… so why is the Emperor here in my room?