Turning her body away in irritation, Hua Chun crossed her arms over her chest, pouting so hard her lips could have hung a palace lantern.
A flicker of amusement crossed his eyes. Yuwen Jie reached out and removed her shoes, then sat on the edge of the bed, placed her legs across his own lap, gently squeezed them, and began massaging along the veins.
Slightly startled, Hua Chun looked at him in surprise.
Why this sudden massage? How did he know her calves had been uncomfortable these past few days? She hadn’t even mentioned it to the imperial physician — it wasn’t a serious issue. Could he really be this attentive, having specially looked into medical texts or something?
“We heard that pregnant women’s legs tend to thicken,” the Emperor said flatly, as if sensing her burning gaze. “Not sure if massaging can make them a bit slimmer.”
Hua Chun: “…”
She tried to kick him with her foot, but it was pressed back down. Hua Chun pouted. “There are plenty of slim-legged women in this palace, a whole handful for Your Majesty to choose from — why bother with this concubine?”
The Emperor paused, looked around, and asked her earnestly, “Do you smell something?”
“What?” Hua Chun was bewildered.
The Emperor wrinkled his nose. “Not sure whose vinegar jar has tipped over — quite sour indeed.”
“…” Torn between laughing and crying, Hua Chun fell back and huffed. “Can’t win against you — whatever makes you happy, Your Majesty!”
The soreness in her legs melted away under his kneading, and Hua Chun felt quite comfortable, rubbing her face against the pillow, growing a little drowsy. The Emperor said nothing, his hands never stopping, and looked up to have Eunuch Qin bring in a soft cushion, tucking it beneath her belly so she could lie comfortably on her side.
“Thanks.” She murmured softly and, holding the blanket, truly fell asleep. The Emperor shifted position, sitting up beside her on the bed, and had Eunuch Qin bring over the memorials as well.
Having watched the Emperor grow up since childhood, Eunuch Qin had once felt he was somewhat selfish and arrogant — though that was hardly his fault, being surrounded by admirers his whole life as an emperor, it was difficult to learn how to love someone. But now, Eunuch Qin felt something indescribable in his heart, as though his own thoughtless child had suddenly matured. Before, he’d only ever thought the Emperor was strong; but now, he had become strong and gentle both.
Sighing softly, Eunuch Qin withdrew with a smile on his face.
Madam Tang was brewing medicine, carefully consulting a medical text as she selected the ingredients with precision. The physician-in-training beside her checked it over and found nothing amiss.
“Consort Zhaoyi is in quite the good mood,” Noble Consort Xu’s voice suddenly sounded nearby. Madam Tang paused and looked up at her. “Your Highness, why have you come here? His Majesty is still in the main hall — none of us can go in.”
“This palace isn’t here to see His Majesty, only to find you,” Noble Consort Xu said, eyeing her. “The snow outside has all been cleared — would you care to take a stroll?”
After a moment’s thought, Madam Tang handed her fan to the physician-in-training beside her and stood. “Watch over the medicine pot for me — this palace will be back shortly.”
“Yes,” the physician answered.
Tang Guning followed Noble Consort Xu outside. As soon as they left Yangxin Hall, Noble Consort Xu spoke. “Look at the state of this palace now — those with rank have been given the green placard treatment, those without favor go unnoticed, and Consort De alone stands unrivaled. And here you are, calmly brewing medicine for her?”
“Whatever is meant to be hers will be hers. Even without her, His Majesty might not necessarily favor us,” Madam Tang said calmly. “Your Highness should try to let it go.”
“Let it go? Every day, alone in a cold, empty palace, having to watch Madam Hua’s every mood — how could anyone let that go?” Noble Consort Xu glared. “Noble Consort Shu and Noble Consort Meng are both in the cold palace, Consort Hui has vanished since her demotion, Noble Consort Wu is already dead, and the Empress Dowager has shut herself away and no longer manages harem affairs. Don’t you feel we’ve already become turtles in a jar? The day Consort De grows displeased, she could crush us without a second thought!”
“What does Your Highness intend to do?” Tang Guning asked her directly.
Noble Consort Xu narrowed her eyes. “You’re the only one who can get close to her now — she trusts only you. Why not think of a way to quietly send her to the underworld?”
Madam Tang curved her lips. “Your Highness speaks so easily of it. What method could possibly kill Consort De without implicating this concubine?”
Noble Consort Xu thought it over, then smiled faintly, taking Madam Tang’s hand. “Sister is a clever woman — surely you can think of a way, can’t you?”
Wanting to stay out of it herself, yet wanting to push her into committing this capital crime? Tang Guning sneered inwardly, then said, “This concubine truly cannot think of such a method. However, Your Highness might try surrendering to Consort De instead — once you’re on the same side, wouldn’t that be as good as eliminating an enemy?”
Noble Consort Xu frowned — how could she possibly swallow that humiliation? Besides, the grudge she’d built with Consort De before ran so deep, and Consort De wasn’t foolish — how could she possibly accept her now?
This Madam Tang was also a shrewd one — it seemed she wouldn’t fall for persuasion easily. There was no point trying further. Noble Consort Xu said, “Since that’s the case, you should head back.”
“This concubine takes her leave.” Madam Tang nodded and turned to walk back. Halfway there, she glanced back — Noble Consort Xu had already vanished.
Though she had no intention of helping her, one thing Noble Consort Xu had said was quite right — it had to be admitted, as long as Consort De remained in the palace, no one else in it would ever get a chance to rise.
Hua Chun had begun preparations for the Spring Festival banquet. Though Yuwen Jie had some objections about her staying busy while heavily pregnant, looking around the palace, there was really no one else who could manage things besides Hua Chun. So he could only have Qing Niao take careful care of her, telling her to rest whenever she grew tired.
“It’s not that delicate,” Hua Chun said, pouting as she picked out tableware. “A bit of movement now and then is good for me.”
“That’s what you say, but with all these things being moved back and forth, if you knock or bump yourself, His Majesty will be heartbroken too,” Qing Niao said. “Better to sit off to the side — tell this servant what you need, and I’ll go look.”
“All right.” Hua Chun nodded, pulling out a design sketch and handing it to her. “Go find someone to make this thing for me.”
Qing Niao was startled, taking the drawing and looking it over. “You even know how to design something like this?”
Hua Chun lifted her chin. “I got curious once and went and studied it specially — I know some of the principles. The craftsmen in this palace are far more capable than we might imagine, so leave it to them, it’ll be fine.”
“All right.” Qing Niao nodded, had Rui’er watch over her, and lifted her skirts to hurry outside.
“Your Highness.” Madam Tang brought over the medicine. “You should take your medicine now.”
“Set it down, I’ll drink it in a moment,” Hua Chun said, smiling at her.
Having been frightened by the “ghost,” Consort De was, per the imperial physician’s instructions, required to drink a bowl of pregnancy-nurturing medicine every day. Madam Tang kept watch over the brewing area, and no extra doses of the medicine would be sent to Yangxin Hall, so she needn’t watch to make sure Consort De finished it. If Consort De wanted to protect the pregnancy, she’d have to drink it regardless.
So Madam Tang simply bowed and withdrew.
Watching her retreating figure for a moment, Hua Chun handed the medicine to Rui’er. Rui’er scurried off to the side hall and pulled out a pregnant cat, feeding it the medicine.
After several days of the medicine, the cat looked no worse for wear at all — in fact, it had even put on some weight. Rui’er thought her mistress might just be overthinking things — how would Madam Tang dare to tamper with anything right under the Emperor’s nose? If there were something wrong with the medicine, wouldn’t Madam Tang be the first one to pay with her life?
“Meow.” The cat in the cage let out a cry, turned in a few circles, and lay back down. Rui’er took the medicine bowl and left, at ease.
Huiming Hall.
The Emperor paid his routine respects, and looking at the Empress Dowager reclining on the soft couch, looking somewhat unwell, he pressed his lips together and asked, “Has Mother’s old illness flared up again?”
Sighing softly, the Empress Dowager said, “A minor ailment, nothing to worry about. But you… have you been staying at Yangxin Hall this whole time lately?”
The Emperor nodded.
“Ah, she’s pregnant now, so it’s only right to dote on her, but you shouldn’t favor her exclusively either,” the Empress Dowager said, lowering her eyes. “When you have time, go visit Consort Hui too.”
The Emperor glanced at the Empress Dowager and said nothing. As for whom to favor and whom not to favor in the harem, he had never once listened to the Empress Dowager’s opinion on the matter. Before, with so many people and such a tangled web of relationships, he’d had no choice but to keep Hua Chun hidden. Now that the thorns had all been cleared and the path smoothed, there was absolutely no reason to wrong her any longer.
Knowing he wouldn’t listen, the Empress Dowager grew even more troubled. The news she’d recently gathered all said that the Emperor was even reviewing memorials at Yangxin Hall, showing not the slightest reservation in front of Consort De. If Consort De were witless, that would be one thing — but she happened to be clever and well-versed in state affairs. If this ended up repeating the precedent of Empress Lü, what then? The Yuwen family’s dynasty could never be allowed to fall into a woman’s hands!
Before the dynasty’s stability, even an imperial heir could be set aside — after all, if the dynasty itself were lost, what use would an heir be?
So when the Emperor brought up the matter of establishing an Empress, the Empress Dowager shook her head. “She doesn’t even know yet whether she carries a son or a daughter.”
The Emperor said, “Whether it’s a son or a daughter, no one in this harem is more suited to be Empress than she is.”
“Who says the Empress must be chosen from within the harem?” the Empress Dowager frowned. “The year’s end is approaching, the feudal princes are coming to the capital, and among your several cousins there should be a suitable candidate too.”
Yuwen Jie frowned, looking deeply at the Empress Dowager. “Do you intend to go back on your word?”
“She hasn’t yet given birth to an imperial prince — how would this be going back on Our word?” the Empress Dowager said, turning her head aside, somewhat stubbornly. “Before she gives birth, if We find someone more suitable for the position of Empress, We will still establish her for you.”
“Thank you, Mother.” The Emperor nodded. “But your son has no need of this. If you wish to play matchmaker, why not first arrange a princess consort for your other son — this son notices that the Worthy Prince’s daughter, the young lady, seems quite suitable.”
Prince Xian was the weakest in power among the feudal princes — what good was it having a pretty daughter? The Empress Dowager pursed her lips and waved her hand. “That’s not something you need to worry about. Let the matter of establishing an Empress rest for a while — we mustn’t spoil her too much, or what will you do if she ends up climbing onto your head?”
With her timid nature, would she dare? Yuwen Jie pressed his lips together; seeing the Empress Dowager was unlikely to be reasoned with, he’d have to postpone what he’d originally planned as a surprise for Hua Chun.
Hua Chun had not paid her respects to the Empress Dowager in a long while now — technically improper by etiquette, but out of consideration for her feelings, the Emperor hadn’t forced the matter, and the Empress Dowager hadn’t held it against her either. Still, this meant the rift between the two women only grew deeper.
The Emperor had tried to persuade Hua Chun, but the moment the Empress Dowager was brought up, Hua Chun turned as prickly as a hedgehog, and it always took him a good while of coaxing to calm her down.
So the Emperor had ultimately decided to simply play the quiet, handsome man caught in the middle.
Heavy snow fell as the time came for the feudal princes to arrive in the capital. Prince Xi pulled himself out of the chaos of battle and, leading fifty thousand troops, advanced toward Yanjing with a face full of storm clouds.