Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Since it was a chronic illness, the imperial clinic naturally had to report it to Zhou Ningjin.

Fortunately, Imperial Physician Ren had already given me acupuncture in advance. No matter who took my pulse, nothing would be out of place.

When Zhou Ningjin learned that I would be taking Heart-Soothing Pills for the long term, he flew into a rage.

But it was only a rage.

After that, he symbolically sent a few boxes of gold and jewels to my palace, but never another word of comfort. He never slept in my chambers again, either.

Zhou Ningjin began wandering through the harem. I knew he was looking for another woman who suited his taste.

Because his taste was so peculiar, there were not many women in the harem to begin with, and even fewer he could take at will.

Thinking of the hatred in my children’s eyes in my previous life, I had Cuixia invite Consort Zhen over.

In my previous life, she had taken my children away.

This life, I would raise a few of hers.

That was fair enough, wasn’t it?

Not long after, Cuixia came back with her head lowered.

“Consort Zhen says she is unwell and cannot come.”

As she spoke, Cuixia’s eyes reddened and she knelt at my feet. “My lady, if you ask me, it’s because they see that you are no longer favored and are deliberately doing this! But you are still the empress. How can they treat you with such disrespect?”

“Disrespect?” I laughed. That was only the beginning.

A barren empress was not merely being disrespected in their eyes; every one of them was eyeing the empress’s seat.

“Go again. Take some ginseng and other medicinal herbs from the storeroom. Tell her I have something important to discuss. If she still refuses to come, I’ll hand this over to Consort Lin.”

Cuixia bit her lip. “My lady, if you have something important to say, just tell this servant and I’ll do it for you! If I can’t, I’ll go beg the old master. There is no need for you to lower yourself and beg her!”

My heart sank. Cuixia was still young and not used to these things.

“Cuixia, Father has already done everything he can for the nation. How can we make him run himself ragged over such a small matter? Don’t say things like that again.”

Cuixia choked on her words. “My lady, this is far too much grievance.”

“Cuixia, if I can be brought down with a single blow, then the empress’s seat will be someone else’s sooner or later.”

I smiled as calmly as I could, and Cuixia seemed to understand a little. “This servant is too dull.”

This time Cuixia returned very quickly, and Consort Zhen really did come.

I had guessed right. Once Consort Zhen heard me mention Consort Lin, she must have understood why I wanted to see her.

After all, there were not many truly important matters in the harem.

“Your Majesty’s health is poor. How do you still have so much energy?” Consort Zhen wore a dark blue robe that made her look strikingly fresh and lovely. After giving a perfunctory bow, she sat down on her own. “I have also been feeling a little unwell. What important matter did Your Majesty want to tell me?”

“In appearance, I am no match for you. In figure, I can’t compare with Consort Lin. But in some matters, the two of you really are not as good as I am.”

Consort Zhen straightened up on the chair.

“I am unable to bear children now. If you can help me enjoy that kind of family happiness, then with your ability, you will naturally be able to do whatever you want afterward.”

Consort Zhen covered her face and laughed softly. “Your Majesty says that too lightly. How could we possibly guess the emperor’s likes and dislikes?”

“You can try.”

I motioned for her to lean closer and whispered a few words in her ear. “If it doesn’t work, forget it.”

Consort Zhen’s almond eyes lifted slightly. It was obvious she had some doubts about my method.

I looked at her and said quietly, “You needn’t worry. This won’t hurt you. It will only make you more pleasing to the emperor. I am asking you to do this for my sake. If it succeeds, I won’t let your efforts go unrewarded.”

There were many ways to make the emperor unable to put me down.

I could probably fill several picture books with them.

There were some secrets one could not say aloud when bedding the emperor.

Back then, when Zhou Ningjin chose me, it was not just because my father held a high position and doting on me could stabilize him. More importantly, he discovered that I loved saying no.

I had been spoiled by my father and grown up with everything going my way. I was never afraid to say no.

Zhou Ningjin had a nearly distorted desire to conquer.

Every time I said no, he would think of every possible way to make me nod.

Especially in bed.

The more reluctant I was, the more fascinated and crazed he became.

Which ordinary concubine would dare satisfy that kind of taste?

After a few days, Zhou Ningjin summoned Consort Zhen.

From that day on, Consort Zhen was favored almost every night.

Cuixia became furious and started nagging again. “Why is Your Majesty helping Consort Zhen? Before you, when had the emperor ever stayed in the same palace for three nights in a row?”

I held a handkerchief over my mouth and coughed twice. “Cuixia, given the state of my body, if you want to climb to some other high branch, I won’t stop you.”

“This servant has served Your Majesty since childhood and never once had a second thought! I was only angry on Your Majesty’s behalf. I won’t dare again.” Cuixia was so startled by my scare that she knelt on the floor almost in tears.

“Our situation is no longer what it was. If you do not restrain yourself, you will cause trouble, and I will be implicated as well,” I said patiently.

Cuixia had followed me since she was young and had always been straightforward, but now I had paid for this path with my own life. She needed to grow up too.

“Yes, my lady. This servant remembers.”

Seeing that Cuixia seemed to understand her mistake, I said no more.

Once Consort Zhen was favored, the other women in the harem were naturally pushed aside.

The emperor had not stepped into my chambers for two full months.

I was more than happy for him not to come.

I had given away all the vases I had once placed around the palace to flatter Zhou Ningjin, and replaced them with the ancient books my father had sent me.

Before entering the palace, I loved reading old books. Father had searched everywhere for them, but in my last life I had piled them in a storeroom and never had time to open them.

I had the precious blooms in the courtyard picked and turned into floral dew to be sent to the other consorts, and had the space rearranged with grape trellises instead.

I also had the fake rocks and odd stones moved away. Zhou Ningjin sometimes liked a bit of wild amusement. After sending everyone else out of the palace, he would have me play cat and mouse with him among those rocks.

Only after he caught me would he use unspeakable methods to punish me.

I had forced myself to flatter him regardless of my dignity. Looking back now, I had been nothing more than a doll for him to toy with and humiliate.

Now I planned to turn all that empty space into a garden.

When the children I would later bring back from Consort Zhen’s side arrived, they would need somewhere to play.

There were already so few ordinary pleasures in the palace. If they could at least play in my garden, that would be enough.