Chapter 87: Handover

Chapter 87: Handover

Upon leaving Fengyi Palace, Lady Sun encountered Lady Luo, dressed in a moon-white winter jasmine patterned ruqun.

They exchanged greetings, both wearing faint smiles.

Lady Luo's maid Sujin, carrying a carved food box, stood respectfully behind her.

Lady Sun asked, "What's that you're carrying, Sister Luo?"

Lady Luo, her cheeks flushed, replied shyly, "I made some peach blossom cakes since the peach trees are blooming beautifully. I thought to have the Empress Dowager try them."

Living in Changxin Palace without a main occupant and no private kitchen, Lady Luo had specially paid the imperial kitchen to make these peach blossom cakes.

"Sister Luo is truly talented, skilled in writing, poetry, and embroidery, even adept in cooking!" Lady Sun's naïvely coquettish tone carried unmistakable admiration. "Almost like Noble Consort Zhao!"

"How can I compare with Noble Consort Zhao," Lady Luo replied bashfully. "Please, Sister Sun, don't say that!"

The two addressed each other as sisters, exchanged pleasantries for a while, and then parted ways.

A gentle spring breeze blew as Lady Sun turned to look at Lady Luo's fluttering skirt, her smile under the veil tinged with irony.

"My lady?" Huamei spoke up, "Is something amiss?"

"It's nothing," Lady Sun shook her head slightly and continued towards Zhauxia Pavilion, saying softly, "Just thinking, with Noble Consort Zhao pregnant and unable to serve in bed, Lady Luo and Lady Wan might rise rapidly."

"Lady Luo?" Huamei sounded puzzled. She understood Lady Wan's beauty was beyond question, but Lady Luo... Although not unattractive, she was just average in the palace filled with beauties, and her background was quite ordinary. What made her stand out?

Lady Sun did not intend to explain further, simply saying, "Let's hurry along, I haven't finished that fertility painting yet."

Once she reached Zhauxia Pavilion and sent Dujuan to fetch dinner from the imperial kitchen, Lady Sun resumed her seat at the desk.

As Huamei ground ink, she asked in a low voice, "My lady, what did the Empress Dowager discuss with you today in Fengyi Palace?"

Being led to a waiting room in Fengyi Palace by its servants, she was clueless about what the Empress had said to her mistress.

Lady Sun, switching to a finer brush, began to outline meticulously, replying, "Nothing much, just asked me to spread some news."

"Spread news?" Huamei frowned, "Why must you do it? Wouldn't it be better to have palace servants or Lady Luo, who almost visits Fengyi Palace daily, do it? Why trouble yourself?"

"Silly girl, managing the servants is the Empress Dowager’s duty. Such significant news can't be entrusted to mere gossiping servants; it could lead to a mess if not handled properly," Lady Sun whispered, glancing at the darkening sky outside, "Looks like rain. Huamei, light the candles."

"Yes." Huamei set down the ink stick and quietly lit the candles, placing the candleholder beside the desk.

Seeing the wind picking up and closing the window, she returned to brighten the candle flame, picked up the ink stick again, and resumed grinding, continuing the conversation.

"My lady, what is this important news?"

Lady Sun paused her pen and said flatly, "Noble Consort Zhao's pregnancy is fake."

"What?!" Huamei exclaimed in surprise, then quickly clamped her mouth shut, filled with questions she wanted to ask but unsure how to begin.

After a moment, she finally said, "My lord, is this true?"

"How would I know about the conflict between Fengyi Palace and Yaohua Palace?" Sun Guiren replied with a sarcastic laugh, "I just need to take care of my own affairs."

"But..." Huamei voiced her concerns, "You mustn't spread this news!"

"Don't worry," Sun Guiren said, finishing her last stroke and switching to a thicker goat hair brush, speaking softly, "Someone else will take care of these matters for me."

Hearing this, Huamei asked quietly, "Do you mean... Lady Wanmei?"

It seemed only Lady Wanmei would be so thoughtless as to speak of such things.

"Certainly not her, Lady Wanmei still has her uses," Sun Guiren chuckled, her voice playful, "Aside from the brainless who dare to do such things, there are those who act boldly because they have backers, not to mention those who are both brainless and have backers."

Huamei felt somewhat dizzy from Sun Guiren's roundabout words, but she was reassured knowing her master had everything under control.

At the hour of Shen, a light rain had stopped, and the Emperor, having finished reviewing petitions, left the Liangyi Hall and took the imperial carriage to Fengyi Palace.

The Empress, having learned early from Anjing about the Emperor's visit, sent away Luo Cairen and ordered the small kitchen to prepare a lavish meal before returning to her inner chamber to redo her makeup and attire.

She was naturally beautiful and always dressed elegantly and luxuriously, befitting her status as the mother of the nation.

But today, knowing the Emperor's visit to Fengyi Palace was to inquire about Doctor Qiu, she simply tied her hair in a plain bun and chose a simple, everyday dress.

As the Emperor entered the Mingluan Hall, the Empress came out to meet him with her attendants, bowing in greeting.

"I wish peace to Your Majesty, may Your Majesty enjoy boundless prosperity and safety."

"There's no need for such formality, Zitong." The Emperor said, slightly lifting his hand to signal the Empress to rise, and then stepped into the warm pavilion to sit.

Inside the warm pavilion, by the window couch, lay a young girl in a red dress, who was tilting her body to look at him.

"Father!" she exclaimed joyfully upon seeing Xiao Sheng enter, clambering down from the couch and performing a proper curtsy before rushing to hug his legs. "Wu'er missed you so much!"

Xiao Sheng smiled, lifting the princess into the air and gently bouncing her, eliciting a string of bell-like laughter.

"Wu'er is nearly five, what kind of companion would you like for your studies? Your father will find them for you."

It was customary for princes and princesses to enter the Chongwen Academy for studies upon turning five, and selecting a study companion was an essential part of this.

The princess giggled a few times, then hopped down from the Emperor's embrace, looked up at him with twinkling eyes, and crisply said, "Wu'er wants a pretty sister!"

The Emperor laughed, teasing her, "Why not a little sister?"

The princess began counting on her fingers, "Wu'er already has one sister and two brothers, and now I want a big brother or sister!"

Mentioning her two brothers naturally reminded Xiao Sheng of his second son, soon to be born, and his smile faded slightly.

The Empress approached timely, softly suggesting, "I have instructed the small kitchen to prepare dinner. Would Your Majesty care to have some?"

The Emperor's expression remained calm, he nodded slightly, and the Empress gestured for the servants to serve the dishes, standing by the table herself to arrange the meal for Xiao Sheng.

The princess didn't wait for the servants; she grasped a silver spoon and began scooping glutinous rice paste from a bowl. Despite her young age, she already bore a semblance of a princess's demeanor.

Xiao Sheng then said, "Zitong, please sit and eat as well."

After the dinner, the servants took the princess away. The Emperor dismissed the attendants in the room and strolled to the window, speaking indifferently, "Although it's the Empress Dowager's wish for the second prince to be raised in Fengyi Palace, it's better not to register him under Zitong's name."