At this moment.

Consort Xiao had just gotten up, the same as always.

Radiant and dazzling.

Adorned with pearls and jewels.

Dignified and noble.

Sang Lan was combing her hair.

But halfway through, Sang Lan’s hand paused and she let out a soft gasp. The reaction wasn’t very pronounced, but Consort Xiao still noticed. Through the bronze mirror before her, she asked, “What’s wrong?”

Sang Lan came to her senses and quickly shook her head. “Noth… nothing.”

Her voice was trembling.

Consort Xiao didn’t believe her. She reached her hand toward the hair at the back of her head, turned her head to the side, and looked in the mirror, only to see several white hairs.

Her expression immediately froze.

White hair!

For a consort, this was practically fatal!

Most of the ladies in the palace depended on their youth.

Seeing Consort Xiao’s expression change, the comb in Sang Lan’s hand trembled several times and fell to the ground.

She also quickly knelt down.

Kowtowing: “Your Ladyship, spare me!”

Sang Lan had always been in charge of Consort Xiao’s hair. With the appearance of several white hairs, she certainly couldn’t escape punishment.

But who knew that Consort Xiao glanced at Sang Lan kneeling on the ground with a slightly somber expression. “Am I so terrifying? All of you must beg me for mercy.”

“No, how could Your Ladyship be terrifying? It’s this servant’s fault for letting Your Ladyship grow white hair.”

“When people age, they naturally grow white hair. This isn’t your fault. I’m not someone who kills without blinking. I don’t kill at the drop of a hat. Only servants who have committed errors do I kill, but you’ve been by my side for many years, caring for me attentively. How could I bear to kill you?”

At this, Sang Lan breathed a sigh of relief.

“Thank you, Your Ladyship.”

“Get up. Don’t kneel anymore. Continue helping me comb my hair.”

“Yes.”

Sang Lan picked up the comb from the ground, stood up, and continued combing her hair.

Extremely cautious and careful.

Suddenly, Consort Xiao seemed to remember something. She turned her eyes and asked, “By the way, it’s been a while since Prince Yi’s wedding. Take my decree out of the palace and have the princess consort and the secondary consort come to the palace tomorrow. Tell them I wish to have a word with the two of them.”

“Yes.”

Sang Lan acknowledged the order.

At this moment, Duan’er entered and bowed. “Greetings to Your Ladyship.”

Consort Xiao glanced at her. “Why aren’t you watching over the princess? What are you doing here?”

Immediately, Duan’er knelt down, crying and pleading, “Your Ladyship, please save the princess. The princess hasn’t eaten or drunk anything for two days. If this continues, this servant fears the princess’s body won’t hold up.”

Upon hearing it was about Jing Xuan.

Consort Xiao’s fine brows furrowed, her expression darkening. “How is the princess now?”

“She’s been sitting in her room the entire time. It’s been like this for two days. This servant has begged her to eat but she refuses.”

Hmph!

“Does she want to anger me to death before she’s satisfied?” Consort Xiao was furious, yet also worried. “Listen well. No matter what, you must make the princess open her mouth and eat. I don’t care whether you pry open her mouth or forcibly stuff things into it—in any case, you must make her eat. If anything happens to the princess and she cannot marry into Huyi on schedule, I will have all your heads.”

So what she cared about wasn’t her own daughter, but whether that person… could marry on schedule.

Hehe.

Duan’er was completely disappointed. Before coming here, she had still held a thread of hope, thinking that Consort Xiao would ultimately show compassion, would set aside her lofty position and act like an ordinary mother to persuade Jing Xuan.

Who knew—

This woman only had power and nobility in her eyes.

Duan’er’s heart turned cold. She collected her tears, rose from the ground, bowed, and left.

Returning to Jing Xuan’s sleeping quarters.

The palace maids quickly asked, “How did it go? What did Her Ladyship say?”

She didn’t respond. She unlocked the door, and before entering, instructed them, “None of you are to enter, and don’t eavesdrop either. I want to have a word with the princess.”

Everyone nodded.

The door closed!

Duan’er entered. Jing Xuan was still sitting there in the same position. She walked over and knelt down.

“Princess, why must it be this way?”

Yes, why must it be this way?

“This servant will say something treasonous—if the princess truly has grievances and hatred in her heart, then all the more reason you should live well. Only by living do you have a chance!”

Ugh!

After she finished saying this, Jing Xuan’s scattered gaze suddenly moved.

Realizing that her words just now had an effect, Duan’er continued, “The princess once said that living is a fate worse than death! Since it’s a fate worse than death, why torment yourself like this?”

She awakened Jing Xuan!

The hands resting on her thighs slowly clenched into fists, grasping the brocade fabric in her palms.

“Princess, please wake up. If this continues, the person who ends up suffering and heartbroken will only be you.”

For a long while—

Her eyes gradually cleared. She propped herself up, barefoot on the cold floor, and walked to the mirror.

The person in the mirror wore a white dress, long hair falling loosely against her face. That entire face was pale without a trace of blood, especially those eyes—deeply sunken and bottomless, hollow and lifeless.

Like someone about to die.

Was this still the willful and difficult Jing Xuan from before?

Her long-numb body, with the coldness from the soles of her feet spreading throughout, gradually came back to life.

After a long while—

She moved her mouth. “Bring the meal over.”

Duan’er was overjoyed. “Yes, this servant will have the imperial kitchen prepare it right away—the princess’s favorite dishes.”

Delighted beyond measure.

Jing Xuan nodded.

Duan’er rose from the ground and quickly went out to send someone to the imperial kitchen to request the meal.

Soon, a full table of dishes was prepared.

Jing Xuan ate a lot, and her spirits improved considerably. After a good night’s rest, she woke up the next day full of energy.

Everyone in the palace was moved to tears of joy.

“I heard people from the hall have arrived—the princess consort and the secondary consort.” Duan’er informed her.

Jing Xuan’s eyes flashed coldly as she ordered, “Help me with my toilette.”

“Yes.”

Duan’er helped her dress and apply makeup. Jing Xuan picked up a piece of red lip paper and pressed it lightly to her lips several times. Flame-red lips appeared in the mirror—that person, alluring and mysterious.

She also selected a rather striking pearl hairpin and wore it in her hair.

“Princess, this pearl hairpin doesn’t suit you.”

“I like it this way.”

She smiled, looking extremely innocent.

After finishing her toilette, she lifted her skirt hem, preparing to go see those two sisters-in-law. Just as she stepped out the door, she was blocked.

“Princess, Her Ladyship said you are not to step out of your room.”

“I’m going to pay my respects to Mother Consort. Are you going to block me from that as well?” She smiled.

“We wouldn’t dare.”

“Then don’t block me.”

Having said this, she pushed aside with one hand the several people blocking her way.

That vigor—it was as if the old Jing Xuan had returned.

In the great hall of Zhangzhi Hall.

Ji Muqing and Chen Xiang had already arrived, the two sitting on the left and right sides respectively.

One graceful and virtuous!

One poised and generous!

Consort Xiao sat in the seat of honor. She raised her phoenix-like brows and looked tenderly toward Ji Muqing, asking, “I heard you took a fall a few days ago and hit your head. Are you feeling better now?”

Ji Muqing touched the still somewhat bruised injury on her forehead, then looked triumphantly toward Chen Xiang across from her before responding, “Muqing has recovered quite a bit. These past days, the prince has been taking care of me as well.”

“That’s good. When I first heard the news, I was quite frightened. Your body is delicate—with such a collision, we mustn’t let anything serious develop.”

“With Your Ladyship’s concern, how could Muqing not be well?”

“You girl, you certainly know how to talk.” Consort Xiao smiled broadly. To others watching, she truly seemed to genuinely like Ji Muqing.

But—

Chen Xiang was unhappy inside.

Watching Ji Muqing’s ostentatious expression, combined with Jing Yi’s earlier warning to her, her heart bled with hatred.