Bright Moon Pavilion

  "Your Majesty, Du Chang is outside asking for an audience," said the palace maid beside Ruan Xiaoyi, bowing her head in greeting.

  Ruan Youning put down the embroidery in her hand and asked, "Do you know where she came from?"

  "Returning to the main room, her little eunuch said that after leaving Zuiyun Pavilion, she came directly to Haoyue Xuan, seemingly...that matter didnt succeed."

  "It didnt work out? Humph, even if it did, she wouldnt come to see me. Let her go back. What does someone who cant even handle such a small matter have to do with me? Tell her that Ive never had any dealings with her, and whatever she does or doesnt do is entirely up to her."

  The palace maid responded and walked out, passing on the original words to the people waiting outside.

  Du Changs face had indeed turned pale, frightening the little palace maid beside her, who hastily supported her. "Did your master really say that?"

  It was Ruan Xiaoyi who came to Yanqing Pavilion to find her, hinting that she could gain something with this child. She thought that this child would not be a healthy person anyway, so its better to use him to help her instead.

  But unexpectedly, things failed. The person who instigated her didnt even come to see her, even though she knew she was trying to shirk responsibility. However, she wouldnt let her have her way.

  "In that case, Ill go back first."

  Back to the Yanqing Pavilion, not even an hour had passed when news came that Du Chang had moved the fetal energy after going to the Hao Yue Pavilion. Three imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital came to diagnose and treat her before they managed to save the only fetus in the palace at present.

  Kunning Palace

  "I didnt think she would be so desperate to die, if it werent for the Emperor, I wouldnt bother with her life or death," the Empress said angrily, sweeping all the teacups off the table.

  Jinmomo hastily beckoned the little palace maid to come in and clean up, the little palace maid trembled with fear, picked up the fragments but accidentally dropped them on the ground again. The empress heard the noise and became even angrier, throwing a stack of pastries along with the plate at her head, immediately causing blood to flow freely. The little palace maid didnt dare cry, only continuously kowtowed.

  "What use is there for you useless slaves in this palace?"

  Jinmumu seemed as if she hadnt seen that scene, made a signal with her eyes, and Huizhu came in to refill the tea cup.

  "Your Ladyship, why bother getting angry over such a person? Shes just a lowly maid. You can do whatever you want to her, shes just a tiny ant in your hands."

  The queen picked up her teacup and took a sip, frowned, and threw it to the ground, "Is this scalding hot tea trying to scald me to death?"

  Huì zhú hastily knelt down, "Slave knows wrong, begs mistress to forgive the crime." Jīn Móu also followed and knelt down.

  After a long while, the empress slightly calmed down her emotions and realized she had been taking out her anger on them. "Alright, get up. You all have been following me since you were young, I know everything about you."

  Jin Momo sighed inwardly, "Your Ladyship, I understand, I only beg of you to take care of your body."

  "Whats the use of keeping me, a phoenix, in the palace? The Emperor doesnt care about me at all. Even my own father only thinks about what benefits I can bring to the Yu family."

  The queens heart was also bitter, as for a big family like Yus, children were used to compete for favor and gain benefits. Because she was the legitimate daughter of the legitimate line, she had the qualifications to marry the emperor. However, even so, her father thought that she hadnt given birth to a male heir in many years, and considered sending her younger half-sister into the palace.

  "Your Majesty, what about the little princess? You should at least consider her well-being," although the little princess was a girl, she was after all the Emperors own flesh and blood, and should be taken care of.

  The queen sneered, "A princess? Whats the use of a princess? If I had known she was going to be a princess, this palace wouldnt have given birth to her."

  She was finally pregnant for the second time, and she wholeheartedly hoped to give birth to a legitimate son for the emperor. She not only spared no effort in protecting that fetus, dodging hidden arrows several times, but also willingly gave up the emperors favor and supported other women in order to nurture the fetus with all her heart. However, unexpectedly, the baby born was a girl.

  Afterwards, he lost the emperors favor and his belly never had any news again.

  Jinmumu was shocked and didnt expect the empress to say such a thing. "Your Majesty, please be careful with your words."

  This remark was overheard by someone with ill intentions, and its a capital offense. The entire family being executed wouldnt be excessive. How could the imperial descendants tolerate others criticism? Moreover, if the little princess were to hear this, it would also cause a rift between mother and child, hurting their relationship.

  The queen coldly snorted, also knowing that her previous sentence had gone too far. She didnt bring up the topic again and instead said, "Wait on me while I dress, Im going to the Zichen Palace."

  Zichen Hall

  "Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress requests an audience."

  Zong Zhengjin looked up and glanced at Su Shunian, then gazed at the Qinglong porcelain nine-turn furnace not far away, which was slowly emitting smoke. "Do you know whats going on?"

  "It is for Your Majestys sake that I am doing this, in order to prevent a constant occurrence."

  Zong Zhengjins face was calm and quiet. He had already heard about this matter a long time ago when he went to Zuiyun Cave with Du Chang, so he didnt think much of it now.

  "Tell her that I dont have time, let her handle it herself. If she feels overwhelmed, I really dont mind helping her find a few helpers."

  Su Shunan responded with a sound and walked out, "Your Majesty the Empress, His Majesty is busy with government affairs and has no time to deal with these trivial matters. Its up to you to make your own decision."

  Seeing the person in front of him, he was first surprised and then delighted. Su Shun secretly shook his head, "The emperor also said that if Your Majesty feels that palace affairs are too complicated and cannot be handled properly, you can find a few people to share some of the burden with the empress."

  This person is now living more and more in the past, such a small matter also comes to ask for instructions from the emperor. On the one hand, it is certainly showing that the emperor is taken seriously, fearing the emperors anger, but on the other hand, it is also showing off ones own incompetence.

  As the queen and mistress of the six palaces, if she cannot handle the internal affairs well for the emperor, let the emperor have no worries, it is also not worthy of being a queen, let alone be a model for the world.

  The queens face was really hard to say is good, "I know, Ill go back first, thank you, eunuch Su."

  "I dare not, I dare not, Your Majesty, please slow down," Su Shun said with a bow, speaking politely.

  "Jin Momo, find an excuse to get rid of the palace maid who is always by Dus side and arrange for our people to go in," Originally thought it was just a regular attendant, wouldnt make too many waves, even if the Emperor had entrusted her with something, she didnt really take it to heart.

  But she still underestimated the determination of these women in the palace to fight for favor.

  "Ruan Xiaoyi doesnt follow palace rules, lets just confine her for three months," the Empress said casually.

  This is actually a very light punishment, Ruan Xiaoyi has not been favored again since giving birth to the child, whether she is forbidden or not makes little difference to her, if she is smart enough, she should understand the feelings of the Empress.

  After all, the queen hated Du Changjin the most.

  "Your Majesty, wont the punishment be too light?" After all, what Ruan Xiaoyi did was tantamount to plotting against the crown prince.

  The empress sat on the phoenix throne, heard the words and lowered her head to glance at Jin Mu Mu with disdain, "This palace is the master of the six palaces, how can others intervene?"

  "The empress said that the slave knows his mistake. Jinmumu knew that it was useless to persuade him, and besides, he might have brought anger upon himself. The empress has been getting harder and harder to advise recently."

  But Im afraid this approach will displease His Majesty, alas, and there will be more trouble later.

  Drunken Cloud Villa

  "Master, try this lotus cake," said Yinger, holding a small plate of exquisite pastries and placing it on the side table.

  Su Jing nodded and picked up a piece from the colorful plate, which was only about two thumbs in size. On it was carved an open peony flower. In this dynasty, there were no molds like those of later generations, but rather they relied entirely on the chefs hand-carving skills to create them.

  Only wealthy families of officials, merchants and traders could afford to hire a pastry chef. Ordinary people, even if they were lucky enough to eat pastries, would only have the simple square-shaped ones.

  Of course, the imperial palace is an exception.

  Su Jing took a light bite, oily but not greasy, melted in her mouth, with a slightly sweet taste, very much to her liking. "Not bad."

  "Master, you said that Ruan Xiaoyi is the real mastermind behind Du Changjins back? Otherwise, why would she go find her after leaving Zuiyun Valley?"

  Su Jing shook her head, "I dont know either, maybe it is, after all Ruan Xiao Yi also lost a child before, but...but perhaps she used some kind of magic to deceive our eyes, we cant be certain."

  Su Jingxiang could probably guess that Du Wanru would only come to Zuixiang Pavilion to find her after hearing someone say something to her, trying to frame and blame her for her own benefit.

  And that person, from todays perspective, is also very likely to be Ruan Xiaoyi.

  But she did not expect her to be so cautious and that she was not interested in her children at all.

  "Never mind, lets just ignore her. Pass the word down, from now on, everyone in Drunken Cloud Pavilion should keep a distance from her. If we cant provoke her, then we can at least avoid her."

  "Yes," Yāo lightly laughed and said, "Master is now even more lazy."

  Su Jing didnt get angry either, she hooked up the corner of her mouth and said, "How can you say that?"

  "The slave servants look at their masters, who spend every day in the Drunken Cloud Pavilion, only discussing eating, drinking and sleeping, while trying to avoid everything else."

  "You could have said less, Su Jingfan was amused by you," You forgot to mention the Emperor, your master doesnt want to hide from the Emperor."

  "Yes, yes, yes, Master said so."

  "Alright, to match what you said that your master has become lazy, tonight I will definitely use an extra bowl of rice, and also let the others in Drunken Cloud Pavilion know how resourceful you are," Su Jing said extremely cooperatively.

  Xiang Yao was helpless and just about to speak when he heard Su Shuns voice outside, "The Emperor has arrived."

  "Concubine wishes the Emperor good health," Su Jing curtsied.

  After helping him up, he smiled and said, "Your Majesty, why have you come at this hour?"

  "Ill see how you can have an extra bowl of rice," Zong Zhengjin raised an eyebrow and teased.

  Su Jing awkwardly walked over to his side and sat down. She had long known that when the two of them were together, he actually didnt want her to pay too much attention to rules, and would even intentionally or unintentionally indulge her, which she was happy about.

  As for later on, even if she is abandoned by him and her irregularities are pursued again, at most it will just be an additional crime.