Chapter 74: Washing Flowers

Chapter 74: Washing Flowers

Qiu Kui frowned in thought, then hesitantly said, "My lady, could it be that Consort He simply wanted your jade hairpin?"

She explained, "Although that jade hairpin didn't have any unique markings and wasn't a personal item, Consort He publicly asked for it. If she uses it to play a game of 'thief shouting catch the thief'..."

The concern was that Consort He, skilled in medicine, might poison her and then frame Jiang Hui with the bi jade and pearl hairpin.

"She wouldn't do that, or else I wouldn't have given her the hairpin so easily," Jiang Hui smiled slightly, "First, such a move wouldn't harm me significantly and the Emperor wouldn't believe her; second, her status as a marriage alliance princess doesn’t allow her to engage in such deceitful tactics."

Qiu Kui questioned, "Then, does this ring have any special significance?"

Jiang Hui pondered for a moment, then calmly said, "Knowing her identity doesn’t affect her. As a representation of bilateral relations, being a shaman and a marriage alliance princess actually shows more sincerity."

She continued, "Since entering the palace, Consort He has indeed been overly enthusiastic towards me. Like that time in Yufu Palace when it rained, she intentionally delayed Lady Li, confirming her pregnancy to me..."

"Such goodwill..." Qiu Kui murmured softly.

"Such goodwill is either to confuse me or because she needs something," Jiang Hui said indifferently, handing the dark green copper ring back to Qiu Kui, "Keep it. Regardless of her motives, the truth will reveal itself eventually."

While Jiang Hui and her attendants were discussing Consort He, the Empress in Fengyi Palace was still pondering the matter of the Noble Consort.

Despite once advising Chunyan not to act rashly, the Empress herself couldn't remain calm today.

The title 'Zhao' truly unsettled her.

Furthermore, the Noble Consort had been weak and ill after her difficult childbirth, and the Crown Prince was frail. The Empress was not worried then, but since the Emperor started giving the Noble Consort Tianshan snow lotus, she had recovered. With the Noble Consort’s favor, it wasn’t impossible for her to conceive again.

The Empress might sit on the Phoenix Throne now, but could it be that the Noble Consort doesn’t aspire to sit there herself?

The Empress sat by the window, gently rotating the blood jade bracelet on her left wrist, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

Xia Chan entered with a cup of bitter medicinal soup, gently placing it on the crescent table in front of the Empress.

"My lady, it's time for your medicine."

The Empress showed a hint of impatience but still endured drinking the medicine, then took a jujube from Xia Chan and ate it, rinsed her mouth with a porcelain cup, and said, "I have been taking this prescription for nearly two months now, and there is still no movement in my belly."

Xia Chan cautiously suggested, "Shall we invite the lady doctor to the palace again?"

"No need," the Empress stood up, her long skirt trailing behind as she walked slowly to the curio shelf, "I have already taken so much of the prescription that Mother's divine physician prescribed, to no avail."

She took a dewy purple chrysanthemum from a white-glazed plum vase on the shelf and murmured softly, "Perhaps, this is retribution..."

Spring Swallow and Xia Chan, following behind her, exchanged glances and silently bowed their heads.

After a long silence, the Empress decisively said, "Spring Swallow, there's no need to send the washing herbs to Guangyang Palace anymore."

Spring Swallow's expression turned serious, and she replied, "Yes."

Xia Chan hesitated, "My lady, by doing this..."

"It's not like when I first entered the Prince's estate, worrying about someone else bearing the Emperor's first son before me..." The Empress's tone softened, then she continued, "With more people in the palace but only a few high-ranking consorts, no matter how much I promote them, they cannot rival the Noble Consort."

She reinserted the purple chrysanthemum into the vase and spoke softly, "I don't know if I can conceive again. The child in Changmen Palace's belly is still unknown whether it's a boy or girl. Rather than letting the Noble Consort's child stand alone at the top, it's better if more high-ranking consorts conceive... At least in terms of lineage, they won’t be much different."

Xia Chan bowed her head and said respectfully, "I understand now."

However, Qing Momo, who had been standing quietly, suddenly asked, "My lady, won't you take action?"

Understanding her meaning, the Empress turned to look at Qing Momo and shook her head, "When the Noble Consort and Lady Hu managed to avoid the washing herbs every month, Momo should have realized they are both clever women.

"After the incident at the Mid-Autumn Festival, I was stripped of my authority over the Imperial Kitchen for doing nothing; if I act now, it would only play into the Noble Consort's hands, and she might end up sitting on this Phoenix Throne!"

Qing Momo immediately knelt down and said solemnly, "I spoke out of turn, my lady."

The Empress, without summoning her nurse, instinctively twirled the jade bracelet on her left wrist and said softly, "Let's just wait and see."

Guangyang Palace, Huazhen Hall.

Xu Xiuyuan, not having seen the Emperor for many days and lacking sisters to talk to, was idly passing time playing leaf cards with her fellow palace residents, Shi Meiren and Haitang Shaoyao, two senior maids.

A three-legged copper kettle was placed on a half-moon table against the wall in the warm pavilion, its gentle dripping sound drowned out by Xu Xiuyuan’s laughter.

"What do you think, Shi Meiren, are you going to continue?"

Haitang Shaoyao naturally didn't dare win against their mistress, subtly feeding Xu Xiuyuan cards.

Shi Meiren, as if oblivious, stared blankly at her cards for a moment and then said with a troubled face, "No more."

Naturally, Xu Xiuyuan won the round again.

Shi Meiren lifted her sleeve, noticing her left wrist and fingers were bare, and reached for her gold-plated cloud-shaped hairpin, only to find it missing.

Looking over at Xu Xiuyuan, indeed, her tray was filled with beaded hairpins and jewelry.

A bit embarrassed, Shi Meiren said in a low voice, "Consort Xu, I have nothing left to wager."

Xu Xiuyuan's smile faltered, and she clicked her tongue impatiently, pushing the tray of items toward Shi Meiren, saying quickly, "You're so poor! Here, take these, let's continue!"

Shi Meiren stood up awkwardly, hurriedly saying, "Consort Xu, I really don't need so much..."

"Oh, come on! Stop fussing and sit down. With your skills, you're going to lose to me anyway!" Xu Xiuyuan waved her hand dismissively.

The game of leaf cards resumed in Huazhen Hall, and a palace maid quietly lifted the curtain, bringing in freshly made perilla drink from the kitchen to replace their tea.

Xu Xiuyuan took a sip from her porcelain cup, frowned, and while focusing on her cards, asked, "Why does it taste different today? Isn't Mama He in the kitchen?"

The palace maid Furong hurriedly replied, "My lady, it was indeed personally prepared by Mama He. She said she's trying a new recipe and asked you to taste it."

Shi Meiren, holding her cards, paused at the reply, noticed by Xu Xiuyuan, who asked, "Shi Meiren, you're not playing?"

"I am," replied Shi Meiren dully, placing two cards on the table.

Xu Xiuyuan quickly placed her cards on the table and laughed, "Come on, pay up!"

After a few more pieces of jewelry were placed in the lacquer tray in front of her, she finally addressed Furong, "It's alright... The Double Ninth Festival is coming, and the Grand Princess will surely visit Guangyang Palace. Have Mama He prepare some chrysanthemum drinks."

"Yes," Furong replied, then quietly withdrew.