In contrast to the harmonious atmosphere at Prince Yan’s residence, the mood at Yuquan Palace was far from pleasant.
Noble Consort Xian only learned of Yu Jin’s return from the south when she went to pay her respects at Kunning Palace. It was already irritating enough to rise early on such a cold day to pay respects to another woman, but then to hear such vexing news made it worse.
Even now, Noble Consort Xian could recall the expressions on those little harlots’ faces. They were mocking her for not knowing her son had returned. These impudent wenches, seeing the Empress increasingly favored by His Majesty, dared to be so brazen in front of her. Their pig brains didn’t consider that no matter how powerful the Empress became, what use was it? An Empress without a son would be nothing but a figurehead as Empress Dowager in the future. The one who truly held sway in the vast imperial harem would still be His Majesty’s birth mother.
Although Noble Consort Xian managed to keep her composure outwardly, when the Empress mentioned Prince Yan’s return, she still felt her face flush with heat, barely managing to conceal it.
Upon returning to Yuquan Palace, she downed two cups of hot tea but remained furious. More than those short-sighted little hussies, she was most infuriated with her seventh son!
What kind of creature had she given birth to? He had been away in the south for so long, returned with the living Viscount Dongping, met with His Majesty and the Empress, yet didn’t take a single step towards Yuquan Palace!
At that moment, if Yu Jin were standing before Noble Consort Xian, she might have lost control and thrown the tea in his face.
“That beast!” she exclaimed.
Her trusted elderly maid gently advised, “Your Highness, please don’t get upset. Be careful not to trigger your headache again.”
At the mention of this, Noble Consort Xian’s expression contorted.
Ever since she had feigned illness to create an opportunity for her fourth daughter-in-law and seventh daughter-in-law to offer incense at Baiyun Temple, she had fallen ill. After being bedridden for quite some time, she was left with recurring headaches that even the imperial physicians couldn’t diagnose or treat.
While silently cursing the useless physicians, Noble Consort Xian couldn’t help but feel alarmed. Could it be that the Bodhisattva truly knew she had faked her illness and was punishing her?
With this thought, Noble Consort Xian felt somewhat guilty. However, this hint of guilt didn’t make her lessen her favoritism; instead, she grew increasingly dissatisfied with Yu Jin and his wife.
Having paid a price without achieving her goal, how could she be satisfied?
As she fumed, a sudden pain stabbed her head, as if someone had pierced it with an awl. The pain came and went quickly, but it left Noble Consort Xian instantly covered in sweat, her face pale.
“Your Highness, is your head hurting again?” The trusted elderly maid watched anxiously.
Her mistress wasn’t young anymore. If anything were to happen to her, the servants who depended on her would be in dire straits.
Noble Consort Xian waved her hand to stop the elderly maid from wiping her sweat with a handkerchief. She instructed, “Tell them I’m ill and request His Majesty to come.”
The elderly maid hesitated for a moment.
“Go,” Noble Consort Xian insisted.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The New Year celebrations weren’t quite over, but Emperor Jingming had been rather leisurely these days. Especially after Yu Jin safely brought back Viscount Dongping yesterday, sparing an old father from the tragedy of burying his son, His Majesty was in a particularly good mood. He had taken out a storybook and was lounging on a low couch, reading contentedly.
Pan Hai approached and said, “Your Majesty, Yuquan Palace has sent someone to request your presence.”
Emperor Jingming set aside his book and glanced at Pan Hai.
Pan Hai bowed lower and said, “Noble Consort Xian is unwell—”
Emperor Jingming raised an eyebrow. “Has a physician been summoned?”
Pan Hai lowered his head even more. “The messenger didn’t say, Your Majesty.”
Emperor Jingming’s brows furrowed.
If she was ill, shouldn’t they call for a physician? What use was there in summoning him?
However, understanding and tolerating the little schemes of his consorts, Emperor Jingming hesitated for a moment before getting up from the couch. He said indifferently, “Prepare the imperial procession to Yuquan Palace.”
Although it interrupted his leisure time reading, she was still a woman who had been with him for many years. It wouldn’t hurt to check on her.
When Yuquan Palace heard of His Majesty’s arrival, Noble Consort Xian immediately went to greet him.
“If you’re unwell, why come out? You should be resting,” Emperor Jingming said, observing Noble Consort Xian. Seeing her face as pale as paper and her hair slightly damp, he didn’t suspect she might be feigning illness, and his tone softened considerably.
Noble Consort Xian smiled weakly and walked alongside Emperor Jingming as they entered. “It’s the old ailment acting up again. When my head hurts, it feels like I’m dying. I shouldn’t have troubled Your Majesty to come, but—”
She trailed off into silence.
Emperor Jingming sat down on a low couch and gestured for Noble Consort Xian to sit as well. “What is it?” he asked.
Noble Consort Xian sat down, her head slightly bowed, revealing her long, slender neck, making her appear somewhat fragile.
Her voice was soft, tinged with a sigh. “Today, while I was combing my hair in front of the mirror, I found quite a few white hairs. It suddenly struck me that I’ve truly grown old. Now, as my illness lingers like silk being drawn out, one never knows when it might take a turn for the worse. I just wanted to see Your Majesty as much as possible while I still can.”
Emperor Jingming’s face darkened slightly. “It’s the New Year season. Don’t speak of such things.”
Noble Consort Xian curved her lips in a smile so faint it was colorless. “I’m just expressing what I feel, Your Majesty.”
Noble Consort Xian was beautiful, her charm undiminished even with age. But at this moment, Emperor Jingming indeed noticed that the radiant woman in his memory had aged.
Noble Consort Xian and the others had been with Emperor Jingming since the late Empress was still alive. If Noble Consort Xian had aged, hadn’t Emperor Jingming as well?
With this thought, Emperor Jingming’s tone grew even gentler. “You should focus on recovering. If the current imperial physicians can’t cure you, we’ll have the Medical Academy’s Director or Deputy Director take a look. Don’t overthink things.”
Noble Consort Xian personally poured a cup of tea and offered it to Emperor Jingming. She said softly, “It’s not that I fear growing old, Your Majesty. I just want to see you more often, and see our children more.”
Emperor Jingming casually remarked, “Doesn’t the fourth prince visit you frequently?”
Noble Consort Xian fell silent for a moment, then said wistfully, “The fourth prince is filial indeed. It’s just… thinking of the seventh prince makes me a bit sad. The seventh prince was taken from the palace when he was little. As his mother, I couldn’t see him even when I wanted to. Now that we can finally reunite, this child has grown distant from me…”
Emperor Jingming’s tone grew slightly stern. “The seventh prince hasn’t visited Yuquan Palace yet?”
Noble Consort Xian nodded slightly. “I only learned of the seventh prince’s return when I went to pay respects at Kunning Palace today. Come to think of it, being his mother has brought me little joy…”
Since she had completely given up hope for her seventh son, she would rather drag him down into the mud. At least then he wouldn’t have the ability to cause trouble for her fourth son.
Emperor Jingming indeed became displeased. He snorted, “That unruly boy! How improper!”
He had visited the Emperor and Empress, so wasn’t it only natural to come to Yuquan Palace as well? How could he show such disregard for propriety?
“My dear, don’t be angry. I’ll summon that rascal to the palace and give him a good scolding,” Emperor Jingming said.
It would serve as a way to pass the time in these boring days.
As Emperor Jingming left Yuquan Palace and was about to instruct Pan Hai to summon Prince Yan to the palace, an attendant reported that Prince Yan was requesting an audience.
“Let him in,” Emperor Jingming said.
Soon after, Yu Jin entered Yangxin Hall and formally greeted Emperor Jingming.
Emperor Jingming glanced at Yu Jin, his face slightly stern. “What brings you to the palace so early?”
He planned to thoroughly reprimand this boy for neglecting his mother after he finished stating his business.
Yu Jin replied, “Son has come to the palace for two reasons. First, to specifically visit Noble Consort Xian and second—”
“Wait, what did you say?” Emperor Jingming interrupted.