Feng Jiu’er, holding the silver needle, brought it gently close to Noble Consort Ya’s face.
The needle slid in almost at once.
“Noble Consort, does it hurt?” she asked in a low voice.
Beneath her closed lids, Noble Consort Ya’s eyes rolled slightly. She shook her head. “It’s bearable!”
Two treatments a day, and the effect was clear. Noble Consort Ya’s mood soared — she held a banquet in honor of Feng Jiu’er and the other two.
After the evening meal, Feng Jiu’er personally gave Noble Consort Ya a full-body massage.
Once Noble Consort Ya had fallen asleep, she and Qiao Mu and Xiao Yingtao left the chamber and made their way back to the little house in the rear garden.
As the night deepened, the entire Ya Fragrance Hall sank into stillness.
In the back garden, in the little house by the stables, three of them slept on a small bed. Jian Yi slept alone, in another room.
On the bed, Qiao Mu lay facing away from the other two, gazing out the window.
“Xinyue told me Noble Consort Ya has been waiting for someone this whole time, but Feng Qiongcang is in the palace — I wonder who she’s waiting for?”
“Every woman in this palace is lonely. Who knows who she’s waiting for?”
Xiao Yingtao, lying in the middle, looked left and right.
Unfortunately, all she could see on either side were backs.
Feng Jiu’er lay with her back to Xiao Yingtao, facing the other direction.
The bed was simply too small — everyone had to lie flat, which made it rather difficult.
“Little Feng.” Xiao Yingtao poked Feng Jiu’er in the back.
“What is it?” Feng Jiu’er answered flatly.
“Nothing — I thought you were asleep.”
Xiao Yingtao withdrew her hand. “You don’t need to worry, anyway. There’s no way you’re the one who’s lonely in this palace.”
“I wasn’t worried.” Feng Jiu’er raised an eyebrow. “I was only thinking about who Noble Consort Ya is waiting for.”
“Do you two think it might be the First Prince?”
Suddenly Qiao Mu turned over to face Xiao Yingtao.
“The First Prince has been away at the front for a long time now — I heard he’s due back in the capital soon.”
“This woman is in such a hurry — could she really be waiting for the First Prince?”
“No way.” Xiao Yingtao frowned. “Young as she is, she’s still his stepmother, after all.”
“That’s not exactly unheard of, you know.”
Qiao Mu pressed her lips together and turned away again.
“The First Prince is already thirty this year — a man that age still unmarried has to have a woman somewhere, or something’s wrong with him!”
“Besides, in the palace, who else is there to rely on besides the Emperor?”
“The ministers don’t live in the palace. I’d guess it has to be one of those two princes.”
Feng Jiu’er composed herself and shook her head. “Second Brother wouldn’t dare do such a thing.”
“Back then, Second Brother nearly died — Noble Consort Ya was convinced it was Ninth Imperial Uncle who poisoned him, and the one who kept hunting us down was the First Prince.”
Where the Second Prince was concerned, Feng Jiu’er still felt some measure of fondness. But toward the seemingly honest, warmly sentimental First Prince, she felt nothing at all.
“So do you think it might really be the First Prince Noble Consort Ya is waiting for?” Qiao Mu asked.
“I don’t know.” Feng Jiu’er shook her head. “The First Prince seems too honest — he doesn’t look like the type to do something like that.”
“Still, you can’t judge a person by appearance! No one can say for sure about this.”
“Either way, starting with Noble Consort Ya was the right call.”
Xiao Yingtao agreed.
“I’ve long heard even the Empress isn’t her match — that woman is no simple thing.”
“Let’s sleep. It’s getting late.”
Feng Jiu’er reminded them.
“Mm.” Xiao Yingtao nodded.
Qiao Mu said nothing further and closed her eyes.
In the deep of the night, two dark figures slipped out from behind the house.
Before dawn, both returned and slipped back inside, as though nothing had happened at all.
The days repeated themselves one after another — five days passed in the blink of an eye.
On the morning of the sixth day, Noble Consort Ya sat before her mirror, her smile brighter than the rising sun outside.
“Xiao You, is this really this palace’s own face? This palace feels years younger.”
“Noble Consort, it really is your face — truly.” The maid’s face was full of smiles too.
“The red rash disappeared two days ago, and it’s gotten smoother and smoother these past two days — it feels just like a peeled egg.”
“No one would doubt it now if someone said the Noble Consort was only twenty-two.”
“Truly?” Noble Consort Ya picked up the small mirror beside her, stood, and walked outside.
The maid walked ahead, holding back the curtain and opening the door for her.
The two of them made their way out of the main hall.
Noble Consort Ya admired her own reflection in the light spilling in from outside the hall.
It had been years since she’d smiled so freely at her own reflection — clearly, she was truly satisfied with her looks now.
“Xiao You, have Little Feng come — just her alone.”
Noble Consort Ya waved a hand.
“Bring some food along too — tell her it’s this palace’s reward for them.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The maid cupped her hands in acknowledgment and turned to leave.
Soon, the maid returned, leading Feng Jiu’er with her.
From inside the chamber came the sound of Noble Consort Ya’s delighted laughter, along with the flattering words of the maids.
“Little Feng, please wait here.”
The maid turned back to look at Feng Jiu’er.
“All right.”
Feng Jiu’er nodded in response.
The maid nodded and turned toward the chamber.
About a quarter hour later, footsteps finally sounded from within.
Dressed in rich, elegant finery, Noble Consort Ya emerged from the hall with graceful, swaying steps.
Feng Jiu’er turned and bowed. “Noble Consort, greetings!”
“No need for formality!”
Noble Consort Ya waved a hand. “Little Feng, your skill really is impressive.”
“This palace is in good spirits today — why don’t you come walk with this palace?”
“Yes, Noble Consort.”
Feng Jiu’er bowed once more.
Noble Consort Ya, bringing along Feng Jiu’er and Gong Xinyue — that is, the maid Xiao You — took a carriage to another hall.
When a woman is feeling smug, she never forgets her rival in love.
Feng Jiu’er had guessed correctly — Noble Consort Ya was taking her to the Xinran Hall, Noble Lady Xin’s residence.
Word had it that Noble Lady Xin had only recently been granted her title by the Emperor, and her beauty was said to be exceptional.
Feng Jiu’er had met this woman before — she had been the very first person from the harem to visit the wellness parlor.
Noble Consort Ya’s steps were brisk the moment she stepped down from the carriage, as though she couldn’t wait to fly straight inside.
The maid stayed close beside her, every bit the protector.
Feng Jiu’er didn’t mind coming along for a walk — the day after tomorrow was the legendary date of Prince Ye’s wedding, and yet there had been no stir in the palace about it so far.
These past few nights, she and Jian Yi had covered nearly the entire palace grounds — the only place they hadn’t yet gone near was the area around Feng Luan Hall.
The guard around Feng Qiongcang’s quarters was far too tight; Feng Jiu’er wasn’t ready to take that risk yet.
“Noble Consort Ya, what wind has blown you over here?”
An old matron came forward to greet them.
“Where is Noble Lady Xin? This palace has business with her!”
Noble Consort Ya strode straight in, not even glancing at the old matron.
The old matron immediately turned and hurried after her.
“This humble one didn’t know Noble Consort Ya was coming. Noble Lady Xin is currently having her meal — would Noble Consort Ya care to…”
“Just take this palace to her!”
Noble Consort Ya still didn’t look at the old matron, her steps growing even quicker.
“Yes, Noble Consort Ya.”
The old matron bowed and rushed ahead into the hall.
Gong Xinyue, with her long legs, easily kept pace with Noble Consort Ya.
Feng Jiu’er’s legs were short, and as the woman ahead walked faster and faster in her anxiousness, Feng Jiu’er could only speed up to keep up.
The three of them crossed an open courtyard and entered the main hall at its center.