That night, the Emperor stayed over at Jiaofang Hall.

It had been a long time since the Emperor had spent the night at Jiaofang Hall. Now that he had finally stayed, in truth he no longer had the energy for anything intimate between a man and woman — he merely accompanied Empress Xu through dinner, chatted with her for a while, and then they each went to sleep.

Empress Xu was at an age of restless desire, and secretly kept several handsome attendants by her side to “relieve her boredom.” This was an open secret within Jiaofang Hall that no one spoke of aloud.

Princess Changping, who kept attendants of her own at her residence, had clearly learned this habit from her mother.

Palace rules were strict, so Empress Xu did not dare to be too brazen — the attendants she kept by her side truly were handsome men who had been castrated.

Princess Changping, however, living alone at her residence, had far fewer restraints. Under the guise of “attendants,” the men she kept were, in truth, fully intact men.

Because of this, Empress Xu had privately reprimanded Princess Changping more than once. But the princess was no easy-tempered person either — within a few exchanges, the two of them would be arguing, leaving Empress Xu fuming with anger. Yet there was little she could do about a daughter so set in her dissolute ways.

The next morning, after the Emperor rose, Empress Xu attended to him with great care, helping him dress and wash.

Touched, the Emperor smiled and said, “Such trivial matters can be left to the attendants and maids. You are the Empress — why trouble yourself with this?”

Empress Xu smiled gently. “This humble consort is first Your Majesty’s wife, and only after that the mistress of the six palaces. Attending to my husband’s dressing and washing is simply my proper duty.”

Empress Xu had climbed from being an ordinary consort to the position of mistress of the six palaces — and she had relied not only on her beauty and intelligence, but on this very gentle, considerate devotion.

Hearing these words, the Emperor was even more moved. He could not help taking the Empress’s hand and sighing, “With you here, the harem remains peaceful and at ease, and my own heart feels especially settled.”

Empress Xu gently rested her head against the Emperor’s shoulder.

The Emperor put his arm around her, and as if merely making idle conversation, asked, “Why have I not seen Ling Jingshu attending you today?”

Empress Xu’s expression did not change. She replied with a light laugh, “She has only been in the palace a few months, and her duties are with the flowers and plants of Jiaofang Hall. She rarely attends me personally.”

She paused, then added, “If Your Majesty wishes to see her, I can simply have her summoned to attend more often from now on. Such a young, fresh beauty — never mind Your Majesty, even I find myself delighted just looking at her!”

The Emperor coughed, somewhat awkwardly. “I merely asked in passing, with no other meaning. You misunderstand, Empress.”

Misunderstand?!

Empress Xu lowered her eyes, the corner of her mouth curling into a cold smile.

The Emperor had been fond of women since his youth. Back then, in order to win his favor, she had deliberately catered to his tastes and brought Wei Jieyu to his side. The gentle, beautiful Wei Jieyu had quickly captured the Emperor’s heart, and she had deliberately delayed letting Wei Jieyu attend his bedchamber — so that whenever the Emperor wished to see the beauty, he would have to come often to her own sleeping quarters instead.

Step by step, she had risen to the highest position among the six palaces — and Wei Jieyu’s rise to favor had no small part in that.

But now she was already Empress of the realm, a model for all mothers under heaven. The Emperor, too, was aging, willing in spirit but no longer able in body when it came to women. The methods she had once used held no appeal for her to use again now.

Besides, Ling Jingshu suffered from a strange ailment — beautiful as she was, she could only be admired from afar, never approached closely. Even if she wished to offer up a beauty, Ling Jingshu would not be a suitable choice.

After the Emperor left, Empress Xu went to the main hall as usual.

The consorts came one by one to pay their respects to Empress Xu, and after that, the female officials and the chief eunuch of Jiaofang Hall came to report the day’s affairs.

Empress Xu praised Ling Jingshu warmly and graciously, and bestowed upon her a reward of a hundred taels of gold.

Luo Yan’s eyes nearly bulged out of her head with envy and resentment. Even Rui Lian, watching this, felt a pang of jealousy. Empress Xu was never stingy toward those around her and was rather generous — but a reward of a hundred taels of gold all at once was exceedingly rare.

Ling Jingshu accepted the reward and gave her thanks, feeling considerably more at ease in her heart.

It seemed Empress Xu had not formed any other intentions toward her. Otherwise, she would have been kept behind for a private “heart-to-heart” just now, rather than being given gold.

“Reporting to Her Majesty the Empress, Her Highness Princess Changping has come to pay her respects and is now waiting outside the hall,” a maid respectfully reported.

Empress Xu gave a casual hum of acknowledgment. “Let her come in, then.”

Ling Jingshu and the others, sensing the moment, took their leave.

No sooner had they withdrawn outside the hall than they encountered Princess Changping, who had come to pay her respects.

As always, Princess Changping was dressed in fine, magnificent robes; her face, which closely resembled Empress Xu’s yet appeared younger, was alluring and charming. In her high, flying-cloud bun she wore two gold hairpins, their tassels hanging down beside her ears, and the way her eyes moved was utterly intoxicating.

Ling Jingshu and the others bowed together in greeting to Princess Changping.

Princess Changping paid no attention to anyone else, and merely smiled at Ling Jingshu, saying, “A’Shu, wait here for a moment. After I go in to pay my respects to Mother, I’ll come find you to talk.”

What could Princess Changping possibly want to say to her?

Ling Jingshu was secretly puzzled in her heart, but on the surface she smiled and agreed.

Luo Yan, Qiu Shuang, and the others grew even more envious and resentful in their hearts. This Ling Jingshu had won the favor of the Crown Grandson, had won special regard from Empress Xu, and now even Princess Changping was treating her with unusual warmth and esteem.

Truly, comparing oneself to others was enough to make one furious!

Princess Changping entered the main hall, while Ling Jingshu waited beneath the long corridor outside.

At first there was nothing unusual — just the ordinary exchange of greetings. But after a while, she could faintly hear Empress Xu’s voice carrying an undertone of anger. Princess Changping seemed unwilling to back down, and her tone grew correspondingly heated.

Ling Jingshu unconsciously strained her ears and caught fragments of words here and there.

Prince Consort… divorce… and the name Lu Hong!

What was going on?

Had Princess Changping already become entangled with Lu Hong?

A sharp crash rang out!

It was the sound of a teacup being smashed to pieces!

Just how harshly Empress Xu had scolded Princess Changping, no one knew — but in any case, about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn down, Princess Changping emerged with a face full of fury, her willow-leaf brows raised in anger, her cheeks flushed red with rage.

Ling Jingshu hesitated only briefly before stepping forward to greet her. “This servant does not know what matter Her Highness wished for me to wait here for.”

Princess Changping, her anger not yet spent, said stiffly, “It’s nothing.”

Ling Jingshu took no offense, saying gently, “Since it is nothing, this servant will take her leave. The hundred-some pots of peonies in the Peony Room still need my tending.”

For some reason, Princess Changping changed her mind. “Wait! Are you going to the Peony Room right now?”

Unable to read Princess Changping’s intentions for a moment, Ling Jingshu answered cautiously, “Yes, this servant spends most of her day there.”

Princess Changping roused herself and forced out a smile. “I have long heard that you excel at growing peonies. Today happens to be a good chance to go with you to the Peony Room and broaden my horizons.”

Ling Jingshu was startled for a moment, then quickly smiled and replied, “If Her Highness has such refined interest, how could this servant not accompany you? Allow me to lead the way.”