"Farewell, Consort Ning."
Not long after leaving Qixiang Palace, Suihe saw the eunuch from Qixiang Palace close the palace gates.
Suihe pursed her lips and whispered, "Your Highness specifically sought out Noble Lady Zhuang. Will she keep the secret?"
Although she didn't know what Consort Ning had said to Noble Lady Zhuang inside the hall, her mistress wouldn't have dared to come to Qixiang Palace without being confident.
"What I need is not for her to keep this matter secret forever, but merely to buy some time," Consort Ning said calmly. Although Noble Lady Zhuang was clever, she was not a ruthless person. She already had her own reservations and, pitying Yang Luoniang's plight, would surely agonize over the decision for some days.
Consort Ning's hurried visit so late was precisely for this delay.
"Go immediately and inform Princess Yanping to act swiftly."
Suihe: "Yes."
Inside Qixiang Palace, Qin Saizhu was indeed agonizing.
As a woman, she couldn't help but sympathize with Yang Luoniang. As Consort Ning had said, Zeng Qiming's behavior was utterly despicable; such a man was unworthy of being an official. Removing him could indeed be ridding the world of a scourge. But Qin Saizhu was also troubled by the fact that if the Emperor found out about Consort Ning's private plot to harm a court official, it would definitely be a violation of palace rules and laws...
"She's truly a shrewd calculator," Qin Saizhu said with a bitter smile. "Merely suspecting I overheard her conversation with Princess Yanping, she came to me without hesitation. She must have judged that after learning what Zeng Qiming did, I would be too soft-hearted to expose her."
Xiangchun worriedly said, "Then, Mistress, you mustn't fall into Consort Ning's trap! Should you just tell His Majesty directly?"
"How can I tell him? This also involves Princess Yanping!" Qin Saizhu frowned deeply. "There was news from the Hundred Flavors Tower before, saying Princess Yanping's consort is on very good terms with the Prince of Cheng's heir. That heir holds the position of Assistant Commander of the Capital Guards. Tell me, if Zeng Qiming is ruined, who would have the best chance to take control of the Capital Guards?"
This question was too bold; Xiangchun dared not answer.
Qin Saizhu also dared not think too deeply. Princess Yanping and the Prince of Cheng's heir were both members of the imperial clan. The royal family held the most secrets, and knowing too much was dangerous. She didn't know how the Emperor would treat her if she told him everything truthfully.
Qin Saizhu covered her stomach. She was about to become a mother; she couldn't take risks.
"Let me think, let me think some more..."
As the weather grew hotter, it was time again to go to the Summer Palace to escape the heat.
With last year's procedures to follow, various matters had precedents to rely on, making things much more convenient.
As usual, the Empress sent the list of accompanying concubines to the Qianqing Palace for the Emperor's final decision. After receiving the returned list, the Empress had Juyi go to Yanqing Residence to summon Qi Daiyu.
Qi Daiyu arrived quickly, bringing along the practice calligraphy sheets the First Princess had done over the past ten days for the Empress to inspect.
"Since you've been helping me care for Lingyi, this child's health has improved greatly. From last winter to this spring, she hasn't fallen ill once," the Empress said with a full smile.
Of course, she does radio calisthenics every day and takes zinc and calcium supplements. Regardless of anything else, in the past year or so, the First Princess's immunity has improved tremendously, Qi Daiyu thought to herself.
However, what pleased the Empress most wasn't this, but that Noble Consort Hui had not merely indulged Lingyi in play to keep her happy. On the contrary, Lingyi was more disciplined than when she was in Kunning Palace.
Looking at the neat characters on the paper, the Empress felt immensely comforted. As a mother, nothing brought more happiness than seeing one's child grow up healthy, happy, and excellent. And behind Lingyi's growth was also the care of Noble Consort Hui.
The Empress was truly grateful to Qi Daiyu, and now her gaze towards Qi Daiyu was filled with affection.
"We'll soon be going to the Summer Palace again. The Summer Palace is vast and rich, with beautiful scenery everywhere. You probably haven't seen many places yet. Last year you stayed at 'Over and Under the Sky.' Do you have a preferred residence for this year?"
This meant Qi Daiyu could choose for herself.
To be honest, Qi Daiyu was quite tempted, but she still shook her head. "If possible, may this concubine stay at 'Over and Under the Sky' again this year? The swing and slide I had Xiao Chengzi set up last year are probably still there. No need to move."
"You! What shall we do with you, always so lazy," the Empress chided her with a glance, but still said, "Fine, as long as you're comfortable. And the servants who attended to you at the Summer Palace last year, shall we keep them the same?" This would avoid having new servants who needed to learn her habits again.
Qi Daiyu smiled: "As Your Majesty decides."
"Waaah! Waaah!" Just as they were talking, the sound of a baby crying was heard. A wet nurse entered the room holding the Second Prince.
"Perhaps the Second Prince misses Your Majesty. This servant couldn't calm him down no matter what," the wet nurse said.
The Empress helplessly took him: "This child was restless even in my womb. I thought it would be better after he was born, but who knew he'd still be so fussy."
Qi Daiyu knew about this. After his birth, the Second Prince was very attached to the Empress but didn't like being cared for by the wet nurses. He nursed well enough, but once full, he would seek out the Empress, making one marvel at the mysterious bond between mother and child.
The Second Prince was young and easily startled. He always cried upon waking, usually calming down after a few moments of soothing. But occasionally, nothing would work. Fearing the prince might hurt his voice from crying, the wet nurses could only bring him to the Empress. Although the Empress also had to soothe him for a long time, it at least worked eventually.
But today, for some reason, even after the Empress held and soothed him for a long time, the Second Prince kept crying.
"Is the Second Prince unwell?" Lanyi asked worriedly, then sternly looked at the wet nurses. "How have you been caring for the Second Prince?"
The wet nurses knelt in a row, pleading their case: "The Second Prince's feeding and elimination have been completely normal today!"
Lanyi frowned: "Your Majesty, should we summon a physician?"
The Empress was also worried and was about to agree when she saw Qi Daiyu take the pouch from her waist and wave it in front of the Second Prince's eyes.
"Second Prince, look, what's this?"
The crying suddenly stopped.
The Second Prince even reached out to grab the pouch. Qi Daiyu didn't let him have his way, moving the pouch up, down, left, and right. Unexpectedly, not only did the Second Prince not cry, he started laughing.
Seeing the Empress's surprised expression, Qi Daiyu explained: "Your Majesty, don't worry. This pouch contains melon seeds; this concubine originally carried them for snacking."
The Empress wasn't worried about the pouch's contents; she was surprised the Second Prince had stopped crying and was even laughing.
Qi Daiyu: "... This concubine thought that perhaps the Second Prince often cries because he feels bored."
This wasn't a fabrication. Although an infant of just a few months can't think, that doesn't mean babies don't get bored. Some infants have a higher need for attention and require constant companionship. However, due to their young age and underdeveloped vision and hearing, they can only express their dissatisfaction by crying.
At such times, small toys like hanging ornaments or rattles can be very useful.
It can capture the baby's attention, divert his energy, and also exercise his vision and hearing.
Qi Daiyu thought of this because the Second Prince often cried yet was physically healthy. She had just tried it, and it was indeed effective.
"However, to put Her Majesty's mind at ease, we should still have a physician take a look." In case the Second Prince was genuinely unwell.
The Empress signaled Lan Yi to summon the imperial physician. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she held the Second Prince out. "Would you like to hold him?"
"Ah?"
The Empress said with a smile, "It's alright, you hold him."
He was practically already in Qi Daiyu's arms, so she had no choice but to hand the pouch to Putao, instructing her to continue amusing the Second Prince, while she herself took the child into her arms.
The Second Prince didn't seem to notice the change of person, still staring fixedly at the pouch.
The Empress was astonished: "The Second Prince is shy with strangers. If His Majesty doesn't hold him for a few days, he'll cry. Yet you're holding him, and he's neither fussy nor restless."
Qi Daiyu: "Perhaps this concubine is holding him in the correct position."
The Empress shook her head: "You've always been liked by children." Back then, Princess Lingyi was the same; she felt an immediate fondness for Consort Hui Zhaoyi upon meeting her.
Qi Daiyu: "..." To her, this was not exactly a compliment.
"When you become pregnant in the future, raising a child will surely be very easy for you," the Empress remarked with feeling.
"Your Majesty!" At that moment, Mei Yi hurried into the room. Seeing Qi Daiyu present, she didn't avoid the topic. "Something has happened!"
"Today, the Prince of Sheng's heir and Lord Zeng had an audience. His Majesty kept them for the noon meal. Who would have thought that after drinking wine, Lord Zeng actually offended Beauty Li, who happened to be going to the Qianqing Palace! His Majesty is furious. Lord Zeng is currently kneeling in front of the Qianqing Palace gates."
For a moment, Qi Daiyu couldn't recall which Lord Zeng this was.
Then she saw the Empress frown and say, "Zeng Qiming? And how is Beauty Li?"
Mei Yi: "Beauty Li was frightened and is still inside the Qianqing Palace. Your Majesty, should you go over?"
The Empress pondered for a long while, then shook her head. "An outer court official offending one of His Majesty's consorts is not a good matter. Furthermore, this incident happened right at the Qianqing Palace. His Majesty likely does not wish for more people to know. If this palace also goes over, it would inevitably amplify the affair. You just need to keep an eye on the situation. Do not spread word of it."
Mei Yi nodded: "This servant understands."
The exact details of what happened were still unknown, and the Empress didn't dwell on it further. Turning back, she noticed Qi Daiyu's look of concern. "What's wrong?"
Qi Daiyu: "Empress, if Lord Zeng offended Beauty Li, will it harm Beauty Li?" She was somewhat worried, as a consort's reputation was of utmost importance.
The Empress smiled: "What are you thinking? Lord Zeng merely offended Beauty Li; he didn't do anything. His Majesty will not blame Beauty Li." Besides, Beauty Li was currently in favor.
"However," the Empress paused, "that Lord Zeng is likely to suffer for it."
Being granted a meal by the Emperor was an honor, but for Zeng Qiming to be so bold as to get drunk within the palace and even dare to offend a consort was truly courting death.
The Empress lowered her gaze. The Emperor valued those close ministers, but that did not mean he could tolerate any man harboring improper thoughts about his consorts.
Inside the Qianqing Palace, Beauty Li knelt prostrate on the ground, weeping incessantly. The beauty's tears fell like rain on pear blossoms, full of grievance.
"Your Majesty might as well grant this concubine death! After being insulted in such a manner by that scoundrel, what face does this concubine have to continue living in this world? Although this concubine comes from a dancer's background, I still value my purity and reputation. This concubine can no longer face Your Majesty!"
Facing her, Jiang Yuan found her display rather headache-inducing.
"He didn't actually do anything to you; he was merely crude with his words. How could that damage your purity? Set your mind at ease, I will naturally punish him." Such an incident displeased Jiang Yuan, not only because of Zeng Qiming's improper intentions but also due to his dissatisfaction that Zeng Qiming dared to drink alcohol within the palace. His courage had truly grown too great.
"Punish him? He is a minister Your Majesty relies upon heavily, while this concubine is merely a lowly Beauty. How dare I let Your Majesty punish him for my sake? This concubine only hates... I thought I would never see him again in this life, who knew..." Beauty Li suddenly stopped speaking.
Jiang Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly. "What did you say?"
Beauty Li, realizing her slip of the tongue, dared not speak further.
Jiang Yuan's expression turned cold.
