For a man, such things would already be no small matter — and yet they had all befallen a single woman. Even if the Emperor did not particularly like Hua Zhi, he found himself unable to speak a word of punishment. If she had used her injuries to scheme and maneuver for herself in some way, that would be one thing — but she never had. Had Shao Yao not brought it up, the Emperor would have entirely forgotten the matter at Yinshan Pass.

The moment Hao Yue saw things turning unfavorably, she immediately moved to offer an apology. In this palace, offering an apology did not necessarily mean conceding defeat.

But the syllable of “Your Majesty” had barely reached her lips when Hua Zhi appeared in the doorway, one hand braced against the frame. She seemed not to have noticed anything amiss in the courtyard’s atmosphere, nor to have heard a word of Shao Yao’s speech just now. Her expression was composed as she lowered herself to the ground in a deep bow, her trembling voice making plain that she was short of breath.

“Hua Zhi pays her respects to Your Majesty. Pays her respects to Your Highness.”

“Huahua!” Shao Yao stamped her foot in frustration and turned to run back inside.

The Empress Dowager, who was right beside Hua Zhi, personally lifted her to her feet, yet her words were directed at the Emperor. “I hope Your Majesty will forgive me for overstepping — this young lady from the Hua Family only just regained consciousness. We must not trouble her until she faints again. When a person enters these gates, she ought to leave them just the same — our imperial palace is not a place that consumes people.”

“Mother is quite right.” The Emperor stepped forward, taking a genuine look at Hua Zhi for the first time. Her complexion was ghastly pale, not even the faintest color on her lips. Such a slight frame — a gust of wind not much stronger than ordinary might carry her away. And yet she did not appear fragile in the least. She stood there straight as bamboo and made it easy to forget that her health was far poorer than others’.

Poor health — and no easy temperament either. He could not imagine what Yanxi saw in her. She would likely have difficulty bearing children in the future, the Emperor reflected, his gaze shifting subtly. Such a circumstance… might actually be rather convenient.

He gave a vague wave in Shao Yao’s direction and smiled with a reproving air. “We only came to ask the Divine Physician Yu about the progress of the medicine he has been preparing for you — and here you are finding fault with Us.”

The Divine Physician, well acquainted with his apprentice’s temperament, immediately took up the thread and provided the relevant update.

Hua Zhi dropped her gaze, concealing the mockery that lay beneath. If not for Shao Yao’s preemptive strike, the Emperor would indeed have found cause to punish her — not a serious punishment, merely a way to bother her a little. It would have pleased his favored consort while also allowing him to demonstrate imperial authority before her. Two gains for one effort — why would he not?

With the matter thus smoothly resolved, the Emperor briefly asked a few questions and was about to take his leave when the Empress Dowager spoke.

“The rules and propriety of this palace ought to be properly established. Your Majesty, what do you think?”

The Emperor answered with cautious diplomacy. “You have always been excellent at maintaining the rules.”

“Excellent?” The Empress Dowager looked at Hao Yue with an expression that was half a smile. “I have been sitting here all this while and have not seen Noble Consort Yue come to pay her respects — and this you call excellent?”

Hao Yue’s expression changed at once. She had been careless!

She had been so focused on thinking about how to appease the Emperor that she had forgotten this entirely.

She was immediately about to kneel, but the Empress Dowager stopped her. “This forced courtesy I have no need of. As for the Emperor’s favored consort, it is not in my power to do anything to you. But I can always choose not to see you. In the future, do not appear before me. This imperial palace is not so small — I trust you can manage to avoid me.”

Hao Yue prostrated herself in a continuous stream of apologies. “It is this consort’s error. This consort…”

The Empress Dowager took Yuxiang’s hand and rose, treating the person before her as though she did not exist. “I am tired and shall take my leave. Young lady of the Hua Family, make your way out of the palace early and take good care of your health.”

“Yes. Thank you for your concern. This subject respectfully sends off Your Highness.”

“Mother, Consort Yue did not intend…”

The Empress Dowager turned back, her smile not reaching her eyes. “Is Your Majesty saying that since you favor her, I must favor her as well? If this is an imperial command, I will obey it.”

The Emperor bowed his hands repeatedly. “Your son would not dare.”

“Then consider this — a small act of filial piety on your part.”

The Empress Dowager’s procession withdrew at a measured pace. The palace maids helped Hao Yue to her feet. She looked toward the Emperor with an expression at once aggrieved and defiant, biting her lip without speaking a word.

The Emperor usually found this approach highly effective with him. Today, however, it was rather less so. Hao Yue had truly mishandled this — and as a result, he too had lost face before the Empress Dowager.

Looking at Hua Zhi, the Emperor’s tone was mild. “Since your health is poor, take good care of yourself and recover. Laife, go to the storehouse and see what medicinal ingredients might be suitable — bring her a few varieties.”

“Yes.”

Hua Zhi curtseyed. “This subject is grateful for Your Majesty’s gracious bestowal.”

The Emperor looked toward Shao Yao. Shao Yao gave a contemptuous huff and turned her head away. “You have such a temper — We haven’t even blamed you for speaking out of turn and here you are holding a grudge against Us. Is this any way to behave?”

“It’s not as though today is the first day I have refused to behave.” Shao Yao made no further show of it and rolled her eyes before darting away. The moment she was inside the medicine room she broke into a wide grin. She needed to send word to Yanxi — she had done a splendid job of protecting Huahua!

The Emperor could only shake his head at Shao Yao. Punish her? He truly could not bring himself to do it.

Out of the side hall, the Emperor spoke without turning back. “There is no shortage of scheming minds in the rear palace. We have no wish to add another to their number.”

“It is this consort’s error. Perhaps due to the pregnancy, my heart has been most unsettled these past few days, and my temper has suffered for it. I request to confine myself to my quarters in self-reflection, and I hope for your permission.”

The Emperor turned around. A trace of warmth came into his eyes. He nodded. “You do show some self-awareness. We understand — first becoming a mother, you naturally find some adjustment difficult. You need to make the transition sooner.”

Hao Yue bit her lip and nodded, her eyes glistening with moisture as if they could speak — silently coaxing him without a word.

The Emperor was satisfied and smiled, patting her cheek. “We will come to your quarters tonight.”

“Your Majesty, this consort is in self-confinement!”

“Is there a single door in all the world that could keep Us out? Tell Us where it is — We will go and have it torn down this very moment.”

Hao Yue cut him a sideways glance — half cross, half coy — dipped into a curtsy, and walked away.

The Emperor’s smile deepened. He felt as though even his step had more vigor.

Inside the Rulan Palace, the last trace of ease vanished from Hao Yue’s face. Something was wrong. It was not merely that events were unfolding differently from her previous life — the people themselves were different. In her previous life, the Hua Family had no such formidable figure within it. The Sixth Imperial Prince should have died long ago. And a number of others who should have died had also not died. Even the leader of the Seven Luminaries Division had not unmasked himself. And all of this — could somehow be traced back to Hua Zhi.

Just what was the background of this Hua Zhi?

Hao Yue rose to her feet. She did not have much time left to position her pieces. The Sixth Imperial Prince, backed by Gu Yanxi’s support, was the greatest obstacle — he had to be eliminated. And then there was that Hua Zhi. If all these changes were linked to her, then with her removed, would everything not fall back into place?

The mere thought of Hua Zhi filled Hao Yue with hatred. She had won the infatuation of the Seven Luminaries Division’s leader, and on top of that Shao Yao — who had the Emperor’s unique regard — shielded her so fiercely; even the Empress Dowager stood on her side. If she were not dealt with, what chance would Hao Yue have?

“Someone come.”

A female official appeared silently at her side.

“Pass the word. I want everything there is to know about Hua Zhi’s background — as quickly as possible.”

“Yes.”

“And furthermore, tell him — there are not enough people.”

The female official gave an almost imperceptible tremor and immediately assented.

Hao Yue gave her a glance. “Those who serve me wholeheartedly — I will never treat them shabbily.”

The female official dropped to both knees with a thud. “This servant would never harbor a divided loyalty.”

“Very good. Go.”

“Yes.” Hao Yue lowered her gaze, lifted the lid of her teacup, and lightly skimmed away the foam. She would not treat them shabbily — she would ensure they received a generous burial. And so one could hardly say she had broken her word, could one?