Chapter 29: The Cousin

Chapter 29: The Cousin

Preoccupied?

Jiang Hui's expression remained calm, showing none of the sadness the maids might have expected. She quietly instructed:

"Qiu Kui, wake me up half an hour later than the usual time for paying respects tomorrow. Wan Song, go find the emperor's snow-green brocade crane cloak with the purple reed pattern that he left here last time and place it on the ironing table in the inner chamber."

"Yes," Qiu Kui and Wan Song responded in unison.

The next morning, Jiang Hui was allowed a good sleep as Qiu Kui had sent word to Feng Yi Palace about her illness early on.

Half an hour later than usual, as instructed, Qiu Kui woke Jiang Hui. After Wan Song and the others finished helping her with her morning routine, they were about to start dressing her when they were stopped.

"No need."

Jiang Hui coughed twice and waved off Shan Zha, who was about to apply her makeup, then instructed Wan Meng to fetch a moon-white, dark-patterned soft silk hairband.

Once her hair was done, Wan Meng and others set up a toothed table on the nanmu curtained bed for her breakfast, just as the Emperor arrived.

"Your concubine greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be blessed with peace and health."

Jiang Hui propped herself up to greet him but was gently supported back onto the bed by Xiao Sheng.

"No need for such formality, Hui'er." He looked tired as if he hadn't slept well, his voice slightly hoarse. "Why did you suddenly fall ill?"

Jiang Hui looked at him steadily, not smiling as she usually did in the Emperor's presence, and asked softly, "Your Majesty looks worn. Did you not rest well?"

Though her tone was gentle, her words conveyed genuine concern.

Emperor Xiao Sheng chuckled, sitting by her bedside, and affectionately took Jiang Hui's hand. "Perhaps Hui'er's maids should fetch a mirror, so we can see who truly looks more worn."

Jiang Hui lowered her head, coughing softly into a handkerchief. "It's just a bit of heatstroke, worsened by the night wind. I'll be fine after resting for a day; it's nothing serious."

The ethereal beauty's flowing hair was gathered in a moon-white hairband. Her skin was creamy, her brows finely arched, and her eyes held a soft autumnal hue. Her delicate demeanor was marred only by her slightly pale lips, hinting at her frailty.

The Emperor carefully tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, glanced at the plain congee and small dishes on the table, and suggested, "I'll join Hui'er for some breakfast."

Jiang Hui seemed hesitant, attempting to rise from the bed.

"Has Your Majesty not had breakfast yet? Let me accompany you to the warm chamber for our meal."

Indeed, it was inconvenient by the step bed, so Xiao Sheng did not object.

Wan Song and others quickly stepped forward, draping a jacket over Jiang Hui and assisting her behind the screen to change and freshen up.

Xiao Sheng sat for a while, then went to check on their son.

It was still early, and their son was deep in sleep, lying in a jade-carved crib wrapped in thick satin. His fair skin and tiny, tender fists clenched near his slightly open mouth made for an adorable sight.

Xiao Sheng was about to pick him up when Sheng An entered, bowing respectfully to whisper, "Your Majesty, Min Jieyu has woken up at Han Zhang Hall."

Xiao Sheng paused briefly, responding softly, "I understand."

He instructed the wet nurse and palace maids to take good care of the Crown Prince and then walked back.

As he passed through the corridor, palace maids were carrying a newly prepared breakfast to the warm chamber. Xiao Sheng glanced at them and entered Jiang Hui’s inner chamber.

Around the embroidered magnolia screen, Jiang Hui was sitting at the dressing table being attended to by Wan Song. Seeing the emperor's sudden entrance, she cast a slightly surprised look at him through the mirror.

"Your Majesty? Are you in a hurry?"

Xiao Sheng approached, resting his hand on Jiang Hui's shoulder, and bent slightly to meet her clear eyes.

"Hui'er, you go ahead and start your breakfast. I will join you later."

"Your Majesty, has something happened outside?" Jiang Hui asked, as if inquiring about matters of state.

Xiao Sheng hesitated before replying, "Last night, the person you had saved was Min Jieyu. Sheng An just reported that she has woken up. I need to go see her."

"Min Jieyu?" Jiang Hui seemed to want to ask something, but eventually turned her head away and said softly, "Your Majesty, please go ahead."

She didn’t offer the gentle and considerate words like "I’m just slightly ill, Min Jieyu's condition is more serious, please go see her," nor did her eyes or gestures display the coyness often seen in other concubines around Xiao Sheng. She simply responded to the emperor in a calm manner.

"Take good care of the Noble Consort," Xiao Sheng instructed the palace maids in the inner chamber, then turned and walked towards the door, pausing briefly as he passed the ironing table near the screen.

As the emperor’s figure disappeared into Qionghua Hall, Jiang Hui lazily tossed the jade hairpin back into the dressing box and instructed Qiu Kui, "Set the breakfast in the warm chamber by the window, and send Bi Yun to the garden to pick some fresh gardenias to dispel the medicinal smell in the room."

"Yes," Qiu Kui responded.

Wan Song came over to untie Jiang Hui's hair, combed it again with a fine-toothed comb, and then simply tied it up. While doing so, she said, "My lady, you don’t need to say anything. His Majesty is concerned about you. Just now, when he saw that cloak, I could tell he wished he could stay and have breakfast with you before leaving."

Wished he could stay?

"It’s a minor issue here, but Min Jieyu is the emperor's cousin who almost lost her life. It wouldn't be a matter of 'wishing he could stay'," Jiang Hui said indifferently. "Moreover, it’s not about not needing to say anything. It’s only when you are in the emperor’s heart that you can afford to be silent."

And if the emperor only sees you as an amusement to pass the time, who would care about your silence?

"But you are also His Majesty's cousin, and you grew up with him like childhood sweethearts," Wan Song said, not fully understanding.

Jiang Hui smiled faintly and murmured to herself, "Min Jieyu, truly a girl with both dreams and ambitions."

"Ah?" Wan Song didn’t catch her words clearly.

Jiang Hui chuckled and said cheerfully, "In a few days, Wan Song, you’ll see Min Jieyu serving in the emperor's chamber."

*

Chang Chun Palace, Han Zhang Hall.

Due to jumping into Tai Ye Pool to save her mistress, Dong Qing was still ill and unable to get up. Now another senior maid, Du Ruo, was attending to Min Jieyu, helping her take her medicine.

The Empress, sitting beside the bed, said gently, "Min Jieyu, you have suffered. What exactly happened yesterday?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness... cough cough..." Min Jieyu, struggling to sit up in bed, gave a slight bow before saying, "I don’t know how I ended up in the water."

"You don't know?" The Empress frowned, "But your maid Dong Qing said she saw Wan Cairen pushing you into the pool."

Min Jieyu was about to reply when the emperor hurriedly entered the hall.

After the formal greetings, Min Jieyu continued, "I... I really don’t know... cough cough... At that time, Sun Cairen said she needed to go back to look for a jade pendant she had dropped, so Wan Cairen and I waited for her by Tai Ye Pool. While we were talking... cough cough... I suddenly felt a pain at my waist and fell into the water."

The Empress frowned, her voice becoming stern, "So, you mean to say you were pushed into the water, but you did not see who did it?"

Though she said this, with Dong Qing’s testimony, it was implicit in the Empress's words who the accused "pusher" was.

"Your Highness... cough cough..." Min Jieyu, pale-faced, said, "Last night the path was slippery, perhaps someone accidentally bumped into me."

"Min Jieyu is indeed good-natured," the Empress commented dryly. "The Empress Dowager was worried all night."

"Auntie..."

Just as Min Jieyu was about to say something, the emperor spoke firmly, "Wan Cairen's behavior is unacceptable. She is demoted to a selected attendant and confined for three months. Empress, deal with the rest as you see fit. You may leave now."

The Empress, slightly taken aback, bowed and exited the inner chamber.