Chapter 13

On New Year’s Eve, His Majesty carried a beauty out of the Imperial Consort’s palace. The very next day, she was titled a Concubine and granted residence in Qingyun Palace.

Such a promotion was just as irrational as when Xu Jiaojiao first arrived in Dasheng and was immediately named Imperial Consort.

Yet, it was equally sensational.

It signaled that after the Imperial Consort had monopolized the Emperor’s favor for an entire year, someone had finally broken the deadlock. The Concubines of the Imperial Harem seemed to regain their vitality overnight. When I went to pay my respects at the Empress’s palace the following morning, the place was crowded.

Their eyes burned with scrutiny, but when they saw my face clearly, their expressions shifted to disappointment.

“What’s the big deal? She just looks a bit elegant, that’s all.”

Only the Empress smiled at me and said, “You’ve worked hard, Sister.”

I bowed respectfully, careful not to overstep.

Her gaze deepened as she looked at me.

From then on, during her leisure time, she often invited me to sit with her. Occasionally, she would recite poetry with me, a smile always lingering in her eyes.

However, I wasn’t always free. For nearly two months, Pei Qi spent almost all his time in my palace. I didn’t resist, but I didn’t flaunt it either.

Occasionally, news would arrive from outside that the Imperial Consort was ill.

He would hesitate. I wouldn’t hear what he muttered, so I would just offer him a faint, puzzled smile. “What is it?”

His gaze would fix intently on my face before he pulled me into a sudden, urgent embrace.

After two months of this, the Imperial Consort finally reached her breaking point.

That day, I sat in my hall as usual, waiting for Pei Qi’s arrival.

But instead of the Emperor, news came that on his way to my palace, he had encountered the Imperial Consort kneeling on the path, refusing to get up. He had changed his course to go with her.

“How could she! And she calls herself an Imperial Consort!” The maid beside me was furious. She was Fuyin, the same one who had failed to deliver the Imperial Consort’s message to Pei Qi about the Plum Grove on New Year’s Eve.

I cautioned her, “Watch your tongue.”

She bit her lip, disgruntled.

Finding it somewhat amusing, I comforted her. “Isn’t this a good thing? At least you can eat an extra bowl of rice now without feeling so sick.”

She seemed convinced and swallowed hard.

I continued, “For dinner tonight, let’s add a dish of Squirrel Mandarin Fish.”

“But Your Highness, haven’t you grown tired of that?”

“It is my favorite, after all,” I said. “I haven’t touched it in two months, and I’ve truly missed it. However… it’s about time to add some side dishes.”