Early the next day, Gu Yi was officially promoted to Consort Gu.

Within half an hour, all six palaces had discovered the news: Consort Gu had encountered a villain and fallen into the lake at night, and this reward was to comfort and console her after the shock.

In Luoying Palace, Noble Consort De asked, “What did the imperial physician say? Is that Gu woman truly injured?”

Dong Cao replied, “This servant bribed the medicine boy. The boy personally heard Imperial Physician Hu say that Lady Gu has a knife wound on her leg—a real injury. Who knows if it will leave a scar?”

If her body was scarred, whether she could still serve the Emperor in the future would be another matter.

Noble Consort De slightly furrowed her willow-like eyebrows, “How could an intruder enter the Imperial Garden? Do the imperial guards not want their heads anymore?”

Dong Cao said, “What the Noble Consort says is true. I heard that His Majesty punished Commander Qi of the imperial guards with fifty lashes. Today, the number of palace guards on patrol has doubled, fearing that the villain might still be in the palace!”

Hearing this, Noble Consort De felt a lingering fear and sighed, “Lady Gu is also unlucky… Let the reward be as it is.”

Dong Cao nodded, “Noble Consort… these… chuwan balls, we haven’t found an opportunity to tamper with them these past few days… Should we take advantage of Consort Gu’s injury… and have someone go to the Court of State Ceremonial to exchange the chuwan balls?”

Noble Consort De took a frustrated deep breath, “Forget it. His Majesty must be displeased at this time. This consort… doesn’t wish to create any more disturbances…”

In Caiwei Palace, Noble Consort Shu paced back and forth, her mind unsettled.

Yu Hu advised, “Noble Consort, please don’t worry. That villain has probably already left the palace. Noble Consort need not fear.”

But Noble Consort Shu asked, “After Tanyuan Hall caught fire, who escorted Consort Mother Liu out?”

Yu Hu shook her head, “This servant asked around among the eunuchs who helped extinguish the fire, but none of them saw. When they arrived, they only heard that Consort Mother was safe and sound, but no one seemed to know exactly who first discovered the fire.”

So it was Xiaoyan’s people.

Noble Consort Shu’s heart sank further, her fists tightly clenched inside her sleeves. She pressed on, “What about the Consort Mother? Where is she now? Are consorts allowed to visit her?”

Yu Hu said, “It seems Consort Mother has been moved to Pingcui Palace. As for whether people are allowed to visit, this servant doesn’t know. But who in the palace would visit the Consort Mother anyway…”

Consort Mother Liu was the mother of Prince Shen, Xiao Lü.

Prince Shen, leading the former forces of Crown Prince Heng in Qingzhou Prefecture, had posthumously titled Xiao Heng as Emperor Jing and ascended the throne himself. Who in the imperial palace would dare to visit Consort Mother Liu!

Noble Consort Shu lightly bit her pink lips, “This consort… will go to Pingcui Palace to see the Consort Mother.”

Yu Hu’s voice stiffened slightly, “Noble Consort…” She wanted to persuade her further, but saw Noble Consort Shu already walking quickly out of Caiwei Palace.

Yu Hu had no choice but to follow.

Pingcui Palace was a small palace in the northwest corner of the Western Garden. Due to years of neglect, the red paint on the palace doors had peeled off, giving it a very desolate appearance.

Xiaoyan walked through the courtyard and stepped into the hall.

The palace servants in the hall silently and unobtrusively withdrew outside, closing the hall doors.

Consort Mother Liu was kneeling before a Buddhist shrine, holding a string of tourmaline and emerald prayer beads, her eyes closed, murmuring prayers.

She wore a chestnut-colored padded jacket and a tea-colored skirt. Though not yet forty, her temples were already frosted with white.

“The Consort Mother’s devotion to Buddha remains steadfast. After being frightened last night, you still don’t forget to pray today.”

Hearing his voice, Consort Mother Liu’s shoulders trembled slightly. She slowly turned her head to see Xiaoyan in his tall jade crown, wide robes with golden thread embroidering dragons swallowing pearls, and a jade belt at his waist carved with five-clawed dragon patterns.

A vindictive expression flashed across her face before she calmly said, “The Emperor is concerned, coming to visit this old woman.”

Xiaoyan smiled faintly, “The Consort Mother served the Late Emperor for many years. I naturally respect you.”

Consort Mother Liu’s expression suddenly changed, “The Late Emperor…” The calm on her face could no longer be maintained, “How dare you mention the Late Emperor…”

Xiaoyan smiled broadly, “Why shouldn’t I mention him… Prince Shen constantly uses the Late Emperor’s banner. If he can mention him, why can’t I…”

Consort Mother Liu said angrily, “How can you be compared to my Lü’er? You killed your father and brothers! Disregarding basic ethics, colluding with foreigners to attack the capital. Though you ascended the throne, your murderous karma is too heavy. You will surely be despised by thousands and leave an infamous name for thousands of years!”

Xiaoyan shook his head and laughed, saying slowly, “Consort Mother… you probably won’t live to see whether I… am despised by thousands and leave an infamous name for thousands of years… Consort Mother, you take poison daily, unwilling to burden Prince Shen, but you will eventually exhaust yourself like an oil-depleted lamp, unable to wait for Xiao Lü’s people to come…”

Consort Mother Liu’s most secret thoughts were revealed by his words, and her body suddenly chilled. She had been taking poison for months, thinking she had escaped Xiaoyan’s notice, waiting only for death. But he had known all along and was coldly watching her die. Last night had been her last chance to see Lü’er again, but he had ruthlessly cut that off.

Consort Mother Liu couldn’t help but feel a mix of shame and anger. Her throat made soft rasping sounds as hatred burst forth from her heart, “Xiaoyan, you killed Xiao Guo and Xiao Heng! And you use me to threaten my son! If you kill all those surnamed Xiao under heaven, and you have no heirs, will this Xiao family kingdom eventually be surnamed Xiao or Qi? Hahahaha!” Consort Mother Liu stood up from before the Buddha, laughing wildly, “But even if it bears the surname Qi, it’s still better than having someone born of a bastard like you on the throne!”

After speaking, Consort Mother Liu stared unblinkingly at Xiaoyan, waiting to see his furious expression.

But the Xiaoyan before her was no longer the young man in her memory.

He just stood in place, his eyelashes slightly lowered, laughing softly, “Whether I have heirs, whether this kingdom is surnamed Zhang or Wang, is not for the Consort Mother to worry about. However… I will certainly fulfill the Consort Mother’s wish. After your passing, you will be buried together with Prince Shen, which can be considered a fulfillment of your mother-son bond…”

Consort Mother Liu stood in place, her eyes bulging, “Xiaoyan, if you harm my Lü’er… you will die terribly…”

Xiaoyan slightly shook his sleeves, smiled lightly, and said, “Now that I’ve seen the Consort Mother, I won’t stay any longer. Take care, Consort Mother.”

He turned and opened the hall doors, leaving behind shrill cries.

In the courtyard of Pingcui Palace, a loquat tree had been planted. In previous years, due to neglect, it never bore fruit.

But this year in autumn, it had flowered. Under its broad, thick leaves were hidden several clusters of small white flower buds.

Xiaoyan stopped to admire the flowers for a while. Only after the palace servants had returned to Pingcui Palace, and calm had been restored as before, did he head out.

As he reached the palace gate, Eunuch Gao bowed and said, “Noble Consort Shu is coming this way to Pingcui Palace.”

Xiaoyan looked up to see a figure dressed in imperial consort-colored clothes walking down the palace corridor.

Noble Consort Shu approached and curtseyed, “This concubine greets Your Majesty.”

Xiaoyan smiled faintly, “Noble Consort Shu, no need for formalities.”

Noble Consort Shu smiled, “This concubine heard that Tanyuan Hall caught fire last night, and Consort Mother Liu was frightened. Today, I’ve come especially to Pingcui Palace to visit Consort Mother Liu. I didn’t expect Your Majesty to be here too.”

Xiaoyan nodded, “Noble Consort is thoughtful. The Consort Mother is paying respects to Buddha. You may go in.” With that, he strode away.

Noble Consort Shu bent her knees, “This concubine respectfully sends off Your Majesty.”

Noble Consort Shu, seeing the Emperor walk away, instructed Yu Hu, “You wait here.” Then she entered Pingcui Palace alone.

Consort Mother Liu had her back to her, kneeling on the blue bricks in front of the hall.

Noble Consort Shu said to the palace servants in the hall, “You may withdraw for now.”

After the palace servants had left the hall, Noble Consort Shu moved closer and called out, “Consort Mother.”

After waiting for a while, Consort Mother Liu finally turned her head, her eyes narrowed, as if it took her a long time to recognize her. “It’s A-Shu… You’re wearing such heavy makeup… I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Noble Consort Shu lightly touched her vivid magpie-brown lip color with her index finger, “A-Shu hasn’t come to see Consort Mother for a long time. Please don’t blame me.”

Consort Mother Liu shook her head and turned back, continuing to hold her prayer beads and recite Buddhist scriptures.

Noble Consort Shu stood behind her, seeing that she wouldn’t turn back again, and knew she might not wish to speak more. So she turned to leave.

But Consort Mother Liu spoke lowly, almost in a whisper, “The Emperor… he knows I’ve been taking pearl medicine. Qi Shu, think about how to protect yourself.”

Noble Consort Shu’s face immediately stiffened, fear and unwillingness gripping her heart. She curtseyed, “Qi Shu takes her leave. Take care, Consort Mother.”

Consort Mother Liu said no more, and only the sound of Buddhist recitation remained in the hall.

Qi Shu’s mind was in turmoil. She had thought she had done it without anyone knowing.

How did Xiaoyan know, and when did he find out?

If he knew, did that mean he could guess that she hated him?

Hated that it wasn’t him who had died.

Yu Hu, seeing Noble Consort Shu emerge from Pingcui Palace with a deathly pale face and a desolate expression, repeatedly asked, “Noble Consort, Noble Consort, what’s wrong? Are you unwell somewhere?”

Noble Consort Shu shook her head, “It’s nothing.” She secretly took a deep breath, her mind racing with thoughts, “This consort… this consort will go to Heluo Palace to see the newly appointed Consort Gu.”

*

Due to the severe pain in her calf, Gu Yi couldn’t get out of bed and could only half-lean against soft cushions, reading a storybook.

The storybook had been secretly given to her by Concubine Qi when she came to visit early in the morning. Concubine Qi had asked her to study it and then work on creating a new storybook.

As her loyal book fan, Concubine Qi hadn’t forgotten to say before leaving, “Since the Consort is injured and can’t go anywhere, why not write a book?”

Gu Yi: …

But she really couldn’t go anywhere!

Gu Yi listlessly flipped through the storybook, discovering that it was about a monk’s journey of cultivation. Initially, she didn’t have high expectations.

But as she continued reading, she realized it was a palace erotica.

The monk, on his journey of subduing demons and monsters, sacrificing himself to feed tigers, encountered various female demons, all of whom he took under his wing.

The descriptions were extremely explicit, the wording very spicy.

It was simply an affront to decency!

So she read on with full concentration.

When Tao Jia ran into the bedchamber, what she saw was Gu Yi, eyes gleaming, unable to put down the book.

She interrupted, “Consort, a palace servant has come to report that Noble Consort Shu has arrived! She’ll be at the hall entrance soon!”

“Who?” Gu Yi looked up, still not having come back to her senses.

Tao Jia said urgently, “Noble Consort Shu from Caiwei Palace.”

Gu Yi stuffed the book under her pillow. “Why is Noble Consort Shu coming to Heluo Palace?” They had no connection at all.

Tao Jia shook her head, “Perhaps because the Consort is injured, Noble Consort Shu has come to visit?” As she spoke, she lowered her head, pinching the corner of her clothes, twisting and turning as she said, “Can this servant not serve closely later? This servant is somewhat afraid of Noble Consort Shu.”

Gu Yi was puzzled, “Why?”

Tao Jia then stammered, “When this servant was young and ignorant, I offended Noble Consort Shu. When she came to the palace to see the Late Empress Dowager, this servant… this servant threw grasshoppers into her skirt!”

Fierce! Tao Jia, so you’ve been this fierce since childhood!

Gu Yi couldn’t help but laugh, “Alright, find some clever palace maids to come in and serve.”

Tao Jia immediately went to arrange it. Soon, several green-clothed palace maids entered the bedchamber.

Just at this moment, a palace servant announced, “Noble Consort Shu enters the hall.”