However, he not only thought of Consort Shu's ghastly appearance but also recalled what Noble Consort Rong had just said about the contagious women's disease.
The Emperor stood up and stepped back a few paces. "If that's the case, Consort Shu, you should rest well and fully recover your health."
With that, he didn't give her a chance to say anything more and returned to the main hall of Jingren Palace with Noble Consort Rong.
Soon, the candlelight in the main hall was extinguished.
Jiang Xinyue had gone to bed early and hadn't stayed up late like Xi Que, insisting on waiting for news and planning to watch Consort Shu's drama unfold.
As a result, she missed the excitement, and early the next morning, yawning with panda eyes, she was lectured by Nanny Li: "You little minx, thinking you can act willfully because the Mistress favors you. Look at you, like a thief with no energy. How can you take good care of the Mistress like this?"
Xi Que shrank her neck and meekly replied, "I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong. Please don't scold me anymore, Nanny Li."
"Mistress, didn't you say Consort Shu and Guard Jin... Why hasn't anything happened to them?"
This was impossible!
The Emperor wasn't one to tolerate such things.
Could it be that he loved Consort Shu too much to punish her?
That didn't make sense either!
"If Consort Shu were to admit guilt so easily, she wouldn't be Consort Shu," Jiang Xinyue replied. "Before acting, she must have prepared a foolproof strategy. Didn't Yan the Imperial Physician send someone last night to say that Consort Shu had gotten medicine from him to treat a gynecological condition? That's her excuse. Yan the Imperial Physician has elderly parents and young children to care for, so naturally, he'll say whatever Consort Shu wants him to say."
"So she's just going to get away with it?"
"If it ended so easily, why would I bother putting in any effort?"
Jiang Xinyue stroked a lock of her hair. "Consort Shu has already fallen deeply in love with the Emperor. What could make her willing to submit to a man who once betrayed her?"
She didn't know what Consort Shu was thinking, but if it were her, she would hate Jin Wuyong to death for the betrayal of the Jin family that led to her family's destruction.
Therefore, Consort Shu must need something from Jin Wuyong, and even if the plan failed, she intended to drag down Guard Jin's family with her.
But what could make her need Guard Jin's help?
This wasn't hard to guess.
At that time, Consort Shu had gone to Changxin Palace to find a token of love when she was knocked down by Concubine Li, causing her miscarriage. She must hate Concubine Li very much.
No matter what purpose she had in going to Changxin Palace originally, with the loss of her child, she needed someone to hate.
Just like how Concubine Li's child couldn't have been saved in the first place, yet she framed Consort Shu. Even though the child was truly lost due to her own scheme, she still ended up hating Consort Shu.
But Concubine Li had already been demoted from Imperial Consort to Concubine, and the Song Family had scattered like monkeys from a fallen tree. The Pei Family was only Concubine Li's maternal family after all, and they wouldn't do anything to offend the Emperor for her sake.
One could see from how quickly the Pei Family distanced themselves when the Song Family fell from grace that Concubine Li no longer had any backing.
The Emperor now kept his distance from Concubine Li, even banishing her to a side hall of Xihuo Palace where someone had died, and she was living with Concubine Jiang, who didn't get along with her. It would be a miracle if she could have a good life there.
So the person Consort Shu hated most now was only Jiang Xinyue herself.
Because it was she who had taken all of the Emperor's favor, causing the Emperor to discard Consort Shu like an old shoe.
When would she make her move?
Jiang Xinyue's spirits lifted at the thought. She called for Xiao Xuanzi and whispered a few words in his ear. Xiao Xuanzi's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly left Hexi Palace.
When Consort Jin came to Hexi Palace, her mood was quite complex.
She had previously joined Concubine Li's... no, not Imperial Consort Li's... Concubine Li's minions in bullying Concubine Zhen, but when it came time to identify the culprit, Concubine Zhen didn't take the opportunity to falsely accuse her brother.
Since then, she hadn't opposed Concubine Zhen anymore. She didn't know why Concubine Zhen had called her here today.
Could it be to settle old scores?
Probably not, right?
She hadn't done anything substantial to harm Concubine Zhen. So far, she had only echoed others in mocking and ridiculing Concubine Zhen.
Her mind was full of chaotic thoughts, but the moment she saw Concubine Zhen again, she was left with only two words: stunning beauty.
The palace ladies hadn't seen Concubine Zhen for nearly half a year.
From the scorching heat of summer to now, when winter was approaching, Concubine Zhen's beauty had grown day by day.
Her face had shed its girlish naivety and gained a touch of mature charm. But she had just turned seventeen, still delicate and lovely, right between the two stages – pure yet alluring, quite captivating.
Her nearly six-month pregnant belly was quite visible, but Concubine Zhen was tall and graceful. The protruding belly didn't make her look bulky; instead, it radiated maternal glow, softening her sharp and beautiful features, making her appear exceptionally beautiful.
"Why has Consort Jin frozen?"
Jiang Xinyue laughed, and Consort Jin came back to her senses, hurriedly explaining, "Forgive me, Concubine Zhen. I haven't seen you for so long, and I was captivated by your beauty. Your charm grows day by day, no wonder the Emperor's favor for you never wanes."
This flattery was so sincere that it was impossible to be angry.
Knowing her unease, Jiang Xinyue didn't beat around the bush. She had Shuang Jiang help her sit down in a chair and said, "I've called you here today to save your life."
"Save... my life?"
It was already late autumn, and all the fruit trees in the palace had borne fruit. Every year, the Internal Affairs Department would gather the fruits and send them to various palaces.
Naturally, the favored concubines' palaces received the best, largest, and sweetest fruits, while those out of favor could get some of what the favored ones had left.
Hexi Palace had received the first batch this year.
The afternoon sun was hidden behind dark clouds, making the sky gloomy. Several eunuchs carrying fruit baskets walked with bowed heads along the palace pathway, following the lead eunuch towards the palace of Concubine Zhen, the Emperor's most favored concubine.
Suddenly, the eunuch walking at the very back had his mouth and nose covered and was dragged into a small alley.
When he emerged, that eunuch had taken on the appearance of Jin Wuyong, hidden under the eunuch's hat. If he didn't raise his head, no one would recognize him.
In fact, with so many people in the palace, even if he took off his hat, those unfamiliar with him wouldn't know if he was a guard or a eunuch.
The inspection at Hexi Palace was very strict. Every piece of fruit had to be examined before it could enter through the small back door.
The fruits sent to Hexi Palace were of many varieties. Originally, Nanny Li wouldn't allow the eunuchs from the Internal Affairs Department to enter, but Xi Que said that the Mistress had taken out many books to air yesterday, and seeing today's weather, she feared it might rain. All the small eunuchs of Hexi Palace had been called away to help.
With not enough hands, they had to let the eunuchs from the Internal Affairs Department help carry things in.
When the dark clouds loomed overhead, it began to pour rain, and the busy palace maids and eunuchs all rushed to take shelter under the corridors.
Jin Wuyong took advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention to push open a small door and slip inside.
The Internal Affairs Department was busy with many tasks, so they didn't wait for the rain to stop. The small manager from the Internal Affairs Department quickly led the group of eunuchs back.
