Ji Yuanning did not notice Qi Daiyu's mood.
She smiled gently and said, "I have long heard that Consort Hui is kind-hearted and gentle in nature. As a newcomer to the palace, I am inevitably apprehensive. If Consort Hui does not find my visits bothersome, might I be permitted to often come to the Changchun Palace to keep you company and converse?"
Ji Yuanning expected Consort Hui would not refuse, but instead, she heard Qi Daiyu say indifferently, "Lady Ji, you may not know this, but I am the person in this palace who least enjoys going out. Not only that, I also do not much care for others coming to my palace to find me. I cherish tranquility. Your kind intentions are appreciated."
Ji Yuanning's smile stiffened.
Consort Hui cherishes tranquility?
How could the Changchun Palace, where the princes and princesses played daily, be tranquil?
Qi Daiyu wasn't finished: "Her Majesty the Empress manages the rear palace excellently, and all the consorts are amiable people. You truly have no need to be apprehensive. If you ever truly suffer any grievance, by all means go to the Kunning Palace. Her Majesty the Empress will surely uphold justice for you."
A flicker of confusion passed through Ji Yuanning's eyes. She couldn't understand why Consort Hui would reject her overtures of friendship. Could it be that Consort Hui was so confident the Emperor's favor would last forever?
Ji Yuanning put on a wronged expression. "This concubine has been presumptuous." After all, she too had her pride. Having been rejected, she felt she had lost face and was now ill at ease. "Then this concubine will not disturb Consort Hui any further. This concubine takes her leave."
Qi Daiyu did not try to detain her, watching coldly as Ji Yuanning departed.
After the person had left, she suddenly slumped dejectedly into her chair. In truth, she couldn't quite explain why either. From the first moment she saw this Lady Ji, she had felt unable to like her, even instinctively resisting contact with her.
Perhaps it was only because of that phrase "resembles Consort Zhuang."
How could they be similar?
There was only one Elder Sister Zhu. What virtue or ability did Ji Yuanning possess to compare to Elder Sister Zhu?
Qi Daiyu knew such thoughts were terribly unfair to Ji Yuanning, yet she still indulged in them willfully.
Friendship also has its order of arrival. Perhaps she and Ji Yuanning were simply incompatible by nature.
"Mother—" Si Yu toddled over, clinging to Qi Daiyu's leg and trying to climb up. Qi Daiyu lifted her leg, scooping the child onto her lap.
Si Yu raised her hand and placed it by Qi Daiyu's mouth. "Smile!"
She could tell Qi Daiyu was unhappy.
Qi Daiyu cooperatively showed a smile, resting her forehead against Si Yu's. "Who taught you such manners, secretly hiding behind the screen to watch guests? That's impolite."
Si Yu giggled and leaned back. "Don't like! Looked around!"
Qi Daiyu was taken aback. Si Yu didn't know many words yet, but she naturally understood the meaning.
"You mean, the guest who just came looked around everywhere after entering, and you didn't like her?"
"Mm!" Si Yu nodded.
The wet nurse chimed in at the right moment: "When Lady Ji arrived, Her Highness the Princess was playing with building blocks in the side hall. This servant originally intended to carry the Princess out to greet her, but who knew that Lady Ji would look around the room upon entering? The Princess saw it and refused to come out."
"No manners." Si Yu mumbled, playing with her own hands.
She was talking about Lady Ji.
Because the Eldest Princess and Second Princess often came to Changchun Palace, sometimes they would play with Si Yu. The two of them, acting like adults in front of their little sister, loved to explain rules and etiquette. Once, they talked about details to pay attention to when receiving or visiting guests, one of which was not to wander or look around randomly in someone else's home.
Si Yu remembered. So, when she saw Lady Ji freely examining the main hall's furnishings, she thought Lady Ji had no manners, didn't like her, and was unwilling to go out to see her.
Eldest Sister had also said that they were princesses, and if they didn't like someone, they simply didn't have to see them—that wasn't against the rules.
Qi Daiyu tapped Si Yu's forehead. "You little clever one."
Then she laughed: "Your Eldest Sister is right. If you don't like someone, you don't have to see them."
That Lady Ji... it was better to keep a distance.
Originally thinking that after the Eldest Princess started attending the Imperial Study, Changchun Palace would become a bit quieter. Who knew it not only didn't quiet down, but instead became even livelier? After school, the Eldest Princess brought her two study companions: County Princess Chu Tong and Jiang Yuelan.
Well, that settled it. The Changchun Palace courtyard was now full of girls, some jumping rope, some playing house. The only boy, the Eldest Prince, was pitiful. After being ignored when seeking out his eldest sister, and ignored again when seeking out his second sister, the Eldest Prince became furious.
He stomped all the way to the Kunning Palace and brought back the Second Prince!
When Qi Daiyu, lying on her recliner, saw the Second Prince's short legs following behind the Eldest Prince, huffing and puffing as he stepped into Changchun Palace, she nearly fell off. "Eldest Prince, how did you bring the Second Prince here? Does Her Majesty the Empress know?"
"Of course Mother knows!" The Eldest Prince planted his hands on his hips. "Now I have company!"
"Too bad Third Brother still can't talk." Otherwise, they'd have even more people!
Then they saw the Second Prince straighten his clothes and, with great respect and solemnity, clasp his hands and bow to Qi Daiyu: "This son pays respects to Consort Hui. Before coming, this son already obtained Mother Empress's permission. For disturbing Consort Hui, please do not blame us."
Such a little person, so dead serious, it made Qi Daiyu want to laugh.
Especially after seeing the awkward expressions on the faces of Chu Tong and Jiang Yuelan on the other side due to the Second Prince's performance, she wanted to laugh even more.
If one thought the Second Prince was the type of child who, though young, was serious, sensible, and strictly adhered to rules, they would be wrong. This child only put on this "act" in front of strangers. In private, he was a clingy, coquettish little thing!
The contrast was enormous!
"I won't blame you at all, Second Prince. Please feel free to play." Qi Daiyu said, stifling her laughter.
The Second Prince again clasped his hands towards County Princess Chu Tong and Jiang Yuelan: "Greetings to my two elder cousin-sisters."
County Princess Chu Tong and Jiang Yuelan immediately put down the dolls in their hands and returned the courtesy: "Your Highness, Second Prince."
The Eldest Princess restrained herself again and again, not exposing her younger brother's true nature. Consort Hui had said to give younger brother face in front of others.
Only Si Yu acted as if she didn't know the Second Prince. "Second Brother is crazy..."
She was promptly muffled by the Second Princess. "Shh..."
If you expose your Second Brother, he'll cling to you and cry later!
After about half a month of this commotion, seeing that Changchun Palace was about to turn into the palace kindergarten, Qi Daiyu couldn't take it anymore. She went to the Kunning Palace to find the Empress.
"This consort believes that the Eldest Prince and Second Princess are gifted and intelligent. Starting at the Imperial Study a year or half a year earlier would be perfectly acceptable. It would also be nice for them to keep the Eldest Princess company." Best to also have the Imperial Study tutors increase the study load a bit more. If the Eldest Princess still had time to go to Changchun Palace, it meant the study load wasn't heavy enough.
The Empress couldn't help but laugh. "This consort was wondering how long you could hold out."
With two children of her own, she often had headaches. Seeing Qi Daiyu surrounded by a crowd of children every day, she wondered how long Qi Daiyu could endure.
Qi Daiyu pouted. "So Her Majesty was watching this consort's amusing struggle."
The Empress: "The children like you. How could this consort bear to stop them?" It truly was astonishing. Probably in the entire palace, only Qi Daiyu was so beloved by the children.
However, it truly wouldn't do to let anyone get overtired. The Empress said, "His Majesty mentioned this matter to me yesterday, intending to have the Crown Prince and the Second Princess begin their studies early. But selecting their study companions will take some time, so you'll have to endure a few more days of hard work."
The Emperor had the same thought? Qi Daiyu blinked. Could it be that he heard the sounds of laughter emanating from Changchun Palace and feared his sons would neglect their studies for frivolous pursuits?
That was highly possible.
"Cough, cough! Cough, cough!"
Just as Qi Daiyu was guiltily wondering if she had taught the two princes anything improper, she heard the Empress suddenly break into a fit of coughing.
"Your Majesty?" Qi Daiyu immediately stood up.
"This consort is fine, cough—" The Empress's coughing grew worse. Mei Yi hurriedly patted her back and called out towards the door, "Go quickly and fetch the medicine!"
Footsteps clattered in the courtyard. The one who entered, however, was not carrying medicine but a eunuch from the Emperor's side. "Empress, His Majesty has sent this servant to relay a message. An epidemic has broken out in the outskirts of the capital. To prevent it from spreading into the inner palace, movement between all palaces is strictly prohibited. All princes and princesses are to suspend their studies. Each palace is ordered to self-inspect for anyone showing signs of the epidemic. If found, they must be promptly transferred to an empty hall for containment."
After the young eunuch finished speaking, silence fell in the hall. Qi Daiyu's heart pounded as she looked at the Empress, who was now suppressing her coughs with visible effort, her face pale and stern. "Go and reply to His Majesty that this consort knows what must be done. Please set His Majesty's mind at ease."
As soon as the eunuch left, the Empress immediately began issuing orders, arranging everything one by one: sealing off areas, checking people, cleaning, spraying medicine...
Only after everything was arranged did the Empress say to Mei Yi, "Find a palace maid who hasn't entered this hall and summon Chief Physician Xia."
Mei Yi's body trembled. "Your Majesty..."
The Empress said, "Go quickly." Then she turned an apologetic gaze to Qi Daiyu. "I'm afraid you must stay here with me."
Her coughing had started a few days ago. If the epidemic had already entered the palace, perhaps she...
After the initial chaos, Qi Daiyu instead calmed down. An epidemic from the outskirts wouldn't enter the palace so easily. The Empress's cough might not be related to the epidemic; it could simply be a spring chill.
The air was still and tense. Qi Daiyu noticed carefully that beneath the Empress's seemingly calm exterior, her clasped hands were trembling slightly.
Was Her Majesty also afraid?
Qi Daiyu instinctively reached out and held those hands. "Your Majesty, everything will be alright," she said earnestly.
The Empress was taken aback, then suddenly smiled.
Chief Physician Xia arrived swiftly. After inquiring about the Empress's recent condition, he began taking her pulse. "Your Majesty seems to have merely caught a chill, resulting in a cough. It is not the epidemic from the outskirts."
Mei Yi looked up and let out a sigh of relief. The Empress's expression visibly relaxed as well. But the next moment, Chief Physician Xia continued, "However, Your Majesty's heart meridian is obstructed, your body is weak and fatigued, and accumulated melancholy has led to illness. Prolonged like this, the prognosis is concerning. This current cough is also partly due to these underlying conditions."
When the body weakens, all manner of ailments find their way in.
Qi Daiyu's heart sank. She knew the Empress had been in poor health for nearly a year, but she hadn't realized it was this severe.
She understood the drawbacks of a weak constitution all too well. Her own body was frail, with low immunity, prone to illness from heat or cold. Over the years, she had been extremely careful, never daring to overindulge in ice even during the hottest summers.
And now, the Empress was not only physically weak but also had problems with her heart meridian.
The Empress seemed dazed. Had her health deteriorated to this extent? Her voice was slightly hoarse. "I ask Chief Physician Xia to treat me."
Chief Physician Xia frowned deeply. He had the skill to treat the illness, but for the Empress, medicine alone was not enough. The obstruction in the heart meridian was caused by excessive worry and deeply entrenched, pent-up emotions. Even if his prescription were perfect, if the Empress could not open her heart and find peace, true recovery would be impossible.
The Empress saw his difficulty. "Chief Physician Xia, please just prescribe the medicine. This consort will cooperate." To strive and scheme so diligently, only to lack the health to enjoy the fruits of one's labor—wouldn't that be toiling in vain for others? The Empress, clear-headed after all, quickly realized this could not continue.
"If Your Majesty understands, then this humble official can be at ease," Chief Physician Xia said.
Ju Yi stepped forward. "Chief Physician, this servant will accompany you to prepare the medicine."
