Princess Fuqing, her face pale, clutched the Empress’s sleeve. “Mother…”

The Empress, finding the act more exhausting than managing the imperial harem, wearily patted Princess Fuqing’s hand. “Aquan, don’t worry. Couples quarrel at the head of the bed but makeup at the foot. A few harsh words mean nothing.”

Princess Fuqing leaned close to the Empress and said with pursed lips, “But Father is the ruler of the nation—”

The Empress offered a reassuring smile. “The ruler of the nation is also your father.”

Remembering her father’s years of affection, Princess Fuqing felt slightly relieved. After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, “Mother, do you truly dislike Fourteenth Sister?”

The Empress smiled. “What about you, Fuqing?”

Princess Fuqing shook her head. “I don’t dislike her. I think Fourteenth Sister is rather pitiful.”

“Oh?”

“While it’s natural for children to pay for their parents’ debts, Fourteenth doesn’t know anything. Isn’t there a saying that the ignorant shouldn’t be blamed?” Princess Fuqing pursed her lips. “If Father wants Fourteenth Sister to be the legitimate princess, I don’t think it’s a big deal. Mother, you needn’t quarrel with Father over this…”

The Empress lovingly stroked Princess Fuqing’s hair. “Child, you’re concerning yourself with adult matters now. Come, let’s eat. Mother knows how to handle these things.”

Seeing the Empress’s response, Princess Fuqing said no more and began eating properly.

The Empress watched her daughter, feeling quite pleased.

Fuqing had a good nature. Such a disposition might seem disadvantageous, but she believed it would bring her daughter good fortune. A girl from a humble family needed a fiery temperament to climb the ranks, but Aquan was already the most noble legitimate princess in the world. No one would dare offend her, no matter how mild her temperament.

With Aquan’s nature, she would surely live in harmony with her future husband.

At this thought, the Empress recalled someone, a mocking smile playing on her lips. Unlike Princess Rongyang, who relied on her noble status to think she could have everything, ultimately harming herself and others.

After Princess Fuqing left, the Empress immediately ordered her trusted elderly maid to go to the Fourteenth Princess’s residence and warn her to behave and not entertain any improper thoughts.

The quarrel between the Emperor and Empress, as well as the Empress’s warning to the Fourteenth Princess, spread through every corner of the imperial harem like a gust of wind.

When Noble Consort Xian heard about it, her first reaction was envy.

See, the Empress was different from them.

When they saw the Emperor, which one of them wasn’t gentle and submissive, suppressing their anger no matter how upset they were? But the Empress? She dared to argue with the Emperor.

The Empress was the Emperor’s wife, truly different from the rest.

After she sighed in admiration, determination flashed in Noble Consort Xian’s eyes.

She must help her fourth son compete for the position of heir apparent. It didn’t matter if she couldn’t become Empress for now. Once her son ascended to the throne and became Emperor, she would surely secure the position of Empress Dowager.

Thinking of this, Noble Consort Xian’s heart burned with anticipation. She even dismissed the Empress’s warning to the Fourteenth Princess.

The Empress must have been too angry, sending someone to intimidate a sickly princess was truly unbecoming. Hmph, the Empress Dowager would likely have something to say about this.

When the matter reached the Empress Dowager’s ears, she indeed had some criticisms.

“The Empress has always been steady. What’s gotten into her today? Is a small suggestion from the Emperor worth such anger?”

The trusted elderly maid secretly found it amusing.

The Empress Dowager was upset with the Empress for hurting the Emperor’s feelings, but if the late Emperor had tried to casually place a princess under the Empress Dowager’s care as a legitimate princess, she would likely have lost her temper on the spot.

“Don’t take it to heart. The Emperor and Empress have always been harmonious. I’m sure they’ll reconcile soon.”

The Empress Dowager remained displeased. “I think the Empress has become somewhat conceited now that Princess Fuqing’s eyes have healed.”

An outstanding legitimate princess versus a blind legitimate princess would face vastly different futures.

In the Empress Dowager’s view, the Empress had previously been docile and obedient when faced with a blind princess and no hope. Now that she felt her daughter had prospects, she couldn’t help but become smug.

This wouldn’t do.

The Empress Dowager frowned and said to her trusted elderly maid, “Tell Elderly Maid Duo to bring some tonics to the Fourteenth Princess. Say that I’m worried about her health and want her to recover well so she can come pay her respects to me.”

Unlike the direct and crude power struggles between the Empress Dowager and the Empress in opera scripts, in reality, every confrontation between these two noble women was subtle and understated.

For instance, now that the Empress Dowager was displeased with the Empress’s behavior, she wouldn’t directly reprimand her. Instead, she sent someone to visit the Fourteenth Princess.

While the Empress disliked the Fourteenth Princess, the Empress Dowager deliberately showed concern for her. This was a smokeless rebuke to the Empress, letting everyone in the harem know that the Empress Dowager was dissatisfied with the Empress.

The trusted elderly maid hesitated. “Should we send Elderly Maid Duo over now or wait until tomorrow?”

The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow. “Go earlier. Let people know that although the Fourteenth has lost her birth mother, she’s not a rootless weed.”

The trusted elderly maid complied and went to instruct Elderly Maid Duo about the matter.

Winter days darkened early, and night had already fallen completely. Strings of palace lanterns under the eaves emitted a soft glow.

The snow on the eaves and tree branches was a dazzling white, almost blinding.

Elderly Maid Duo walked forward expressionlessly, with one palace maid holding a lantern to light the way in front, and another carrying a brocade box closely behind.

The wind was bitingly cold, seeping into their necks despite their thick clothing. All three felt the discomfort of walking outside on such a frigid night.

As servants, they had to complete their master’s errands promptly no matter how unpleasant, so the three quickened their pace.

The Fourteenth Princess’s residence seemed somewhat desolate, with only one palace maid guarding the door at this hour.

Seeing Elderly Maid Duo and her companions approach, the maid hurriedly greeted them.

“Has Her Highness retired for the night?”

The palace maid glanced at the door and said softly, “Her Highness should still be awake. Please wait a moment, I’ll go announce you.”

The maid opened the door, walked in a few steps, and called out, “Your Highness, Elderly Maid Duo has come from the Empress Dowager to see you.”

Deep within the layers of curtains, the Fourteenth Princess’s faint sobs abruptly ceased.

After a while, a voice straining for composure replied, “Please invite Elderly Maid Duo in.”

Elderly Maid Duo took the brocade box from the maid accompanying her and said calmly, “You two wait here. The Princess is shy and probably doesn’t want to see too many people right now.”

The two maids saw nothing unusual in this and agreed, beginning to chat quietly with the maid guarding the door.

Elderly Maid Duo carried the brocade box and walked in step by step.

The scent of medicine grew stronger.

She soon saw a pale-faced young girl sitting propped up against the bed, her eyes slightly red.

“Paying respects to Your Highness.”

The Fourteenth Princess moved slightly, her voice weak, “Elderly Maid Duo, there’s no need for formalities. Thank you for coming to see me so late.”

Elderly Maid Duo glanced at the Fourteenth Princess and asked gently, “Has Your Highness been crying?”

The Fourteenth Princess was startled by Elderly Maid Duo’s question, and tears began to flow uncontrollably.

Elderly Maid Duo quickly approached, soothing her in a gentle voice.

“Every time I come to see Your Highness, you seem thinner than before. Your Highness, if you continue like this, the beautiful soul underground will be heartbroken…”

The Fourteenth Princess’s sobs grew more mournful. She murmured, “I miss Mother so much… Elderly Maid, why did my mother suddenly leave…”