With the Empress position remaining vacant, Noble Consort Xiao was the de facto mistress of the rear palace, so the newly selected forty-nine noble ladies naturally had to pay their respects at Yuhua Palace.

Looking at these girls like flower buds, Noble Consort Xiao’s expression was indifferent as she lazily dismissed them.

Among the noble ladies leaving Yuhua Palace, some breathed sighs of relief while others harbored resentment.

They too had been raised as treasures in their families’ palms, yet Noble Consort Xiao looked at them as if viewing cats and dogs—how could this make them comfortable?

Among them, the Li-surnamed noble lady who had been granted the title of Consort An was the most displeased.

Consort An was a daughter of the Empress’s natal Li family. Empress Li, who had died of illness many years ago, was her clan sister, and because of this, she was granted the rank of consort immediately upon entering the palace.

In her view, Noble Consort Xiao was purely the monkey claiming kingship when there were no tigers in the mountain. If her clan sister were still alive, Noble Consort Xiao would never be so proud, looking at them as if they were ants.

Thinking about the Li family’s decline over these years compared to Noble Consort Xiao’s glory, Consort An felt resentful.

Beauty she had, talent she had, and lineage she had even more of.

Compared to Noble Consort Xiao, all she lacked was an opportunity. Now that she had entered the palace, she was determined to reclaim glory for the Li clan.

In Yuhua Palace, Noble Consort Xiao reclined on the beauty couch and asked Taohong carelessly, “That Consort An—is she a daughter of the Empress’s natal Li family?”

Taohong quickly replied, “Indeed she is.”

Noble Consort Xiao curved her lips in a smile. “She seems quite spirited. Rather reminds me of myself when I first entered the palace.”

Taohong smiled. “A mere consort—how can she compare with Your Ladyship?”

Noble Consort Xiao restrained her smile and said lightly, “You’re wrong about that. When I first entered the palace, I was merely a lowly lady-in-waiting—still far from the rank of consort.”

Taohong smiled with pressed lips. “But her title is ‘An’—His Majesty surely means for her to remain peaceful and quiet, not to displease Your Ladyship.”

Noble Consort Xiao was clearly pleased by these words, stroking her swollen abdomen as she laughed softly.

Everyone knew the Emperor’s purpose in filling the rear palace. Truth be told, this consort selection was because of her.

Her pregnancy had given the Emperor hope, which in turn gave hope to those ambitious families.

Was she angry? Not at all.

She had understood long ago that no matter how much favor she received, it was rootless duckweed—men would change at any time for the sake of profit. In the end, the child in her womb was her greatest support.

Yet these people harboring such thoughts had no idea how this child of hers came to be.

Thinking of this, Noble Consort Xiao straightened her expression and toyed with an orange-yellow tribute mandarin, saying lightly, “I’m craving beggar’s chicken. Have Nanny Dou go tell Miss Luo that since I’m pregnant, I cannot consume food brought in from outside. Please ask her cook to come to the palace.”

Nanny Dou departed with her orders.

The snow had stopped. Qingxing Street had been swept clean, revealing wet bluestone slabs with snow piled higher than one’s knees on both sides of the road.

This winter’s snowfall seemed particularly abundant.

A small sedan chair with blue curtains stopped not far away, and Nanny Dou walked into the Youjian Tavern.

Seeing Nanny Dou enter, the female proprietor hurried forward. “You’ve arrived! Quickly drink a cup of hot tea to warm yourself.”

Nanny Dou removed her heavy outer garment and handed it to the accompanying little palace maid, asking, “Is Miss Luo here?”

The female proprietor handed Nanny Dou a cup of goji berry and red date tea, smiling. “It’s only morning now—the owner hasn’t come yet.”

“What about Xiu Gu?”

“Xiu Gu hasn’t come either.”

Nanny Dou took a sip of tea. The slightly sweet tea made her exhale comfortably. “Then please send someone to the Luo residence to say that Noble Consort Her Ladyship has summoned Xiu Gu to the palace to cook.”

“Please wait a moment.” The female proprietor went to the back and called for Zhuang Han to deliver the message.

“Noble Consort Xiao has summoned Xiu Gu to the palace to cook?” Upon receiving the news, Luo Sheng’s brow furrowed slightly as an ominous premonition arose.

Yuhua Palace sending people monthly to fetch beggar’s chicken had almost become routine. Only once had they actively summoned Xiu Yue to the palace—that time when she had hinted at “early birth of a precious child” with pastries.

The timing of Noble Consort Xiao summoning Xiu Yue to the palace this time, coming just after the consort selection concluded, made it impossible for her not to overthink.

Summoning Xiu Yue to the palace to warn her was certain—the fear was that it wouldn’t be as simple as just a warning…

She could only hope she was judging a gentleman’s heart with her own petty mind.

“After entering the palace, you must be extremely careful and cautious.” Luo Sheng solemnly instructed Xiu Yue.

Xiu Yue nodded. “Miss, rest assured. This servant understands.”

The master and servant hurried to the Youjian Tavern, where Nanny Dou was already on her third cup of goji berry and red date tea.

“Miss Luo has arrived.” Seeing Luo Sheng, Nanny Dou immediately showed a warm smile.

Coming out of the palace once a month to relax, receiving good food, good drink, and good treatment at the tavern—even a naturally cold face would show a smile, let alone Nanny Dou’s cold face, which wasn’t natural but rather the demeanor an old palace matron had to maintain due to her position.

Luo Sheng pointed at Xiu Yue. “Xiu Gu only knows how to work, not how to speak. After entering the palace, please look after her, Nanny Dou.”

Having received an ingot of gold, Nanny Dou smiled cheerfully. “Miss Luo, rest assured. Our Lady is very fond of Xiu Gu’s cooking.”

Watching Xiu Yue depart with Nanny Dou, Luo Sheng thought for a moment, then dove into the kitchen to busy herself.

In Yuhua Palace, Noble Consort Xiao, who had been dozing, opened her eyes upon hearing the report. “Bring her in.”

Shortly after, Xiu Yue came before Noble Consort Xiao and curtsied.

Noble Consort Xiao nodded slightly, her tone gentle. “No need for such formality. Taohong, take Xiu Gu to the kitchen.”

In the kitchen, all the ingredients for beggar’s chicken had been prepared. With Xiu Yue’s skilled cooking, it didn’t make Noble Consort Xiao wait long before the finished beggar’s chicken was presented.

A palace maid received the beggar’s chicken, cracked open the mud shell, peeled away the lotus leaves, arranged the chicken meat on a plate, and presented it to Noble Consort Xiao.

Taohong stepped forward to receive it. After tasting it first, she handed a pair of silver chopsticks to Noble Consort Xiao.

Noble Consort Xiao picked up a piece of the golden-roasted chicken and ate a bite. It was tender, soft, and fragrant—truly delicious.

The taste was genuinely excellent.

But after eating several bites, Noble Consort Xiao suddenly turned her head aside, feeling nauseous.

Xiu Yue, keeping Luo Sheng’s instructions firmly in mind, saw Noble Consort Xiao react this way and felt her heart rise in her throat.

Though she had never been married, she still had this common knowledge—Noble Consort Xiao’s pregnancy had passed the stage of morning sickness.

For Noble Consort Xiao to react this way—was it her special constitution, or was she trying to bring out something else?

Just as this thought occurred to her, she saw Taohong quickly walk to the table, fetch a glass cup, and return. “Your Ladyship, please drink a few sips of plum juice.”

Noble Consort Xiao wiped the corners of her mouth, held the cup and took a few sips. Her complexion eased as she said to Xiu Yue, “Forgive me for that unseemly display.”

Xiu Yue quickly claimed she dared not.

Noble Consort Xiao took a few more sips of plum juice and asked unhurriedly, “Can Xiu Gu make plum juice?”

“I rarely make it.” Xiu Yue answered carefully.

Noble Consort Xiao smiled. “This plum juice from the southern tribute quite suits my taste. Taohong, bestow a cup upon Xiu Gu to taste.”

She looked at Xiu Yue with a faint smile. “Xiu Gu, taste this tribute plum juice and see which has the better flavor compared to what you make.”

Taohong walked step by step toward Xiu Yue carrying the pale red plum juice, smiling broadly. “Xiu Gu is blessed today.”

Fair hands, a clear glass cup, rippling red liquid.

Xiu Yue clenched her fist tightly then released it, reaching out to receive the cup containing the plum juice.