"His Majesty does not know that this servant has come to Yikun Palace."
Jiang Chuan replied as Jiang Xinyue had instructed: "Concubine Zhen is favored by the Emperor, and many things are beyond her control. She wouldn't dare defy His Majesty's wishes. She knew nothing of the incident in the plum garden that day. But because this matter caused conflict between the Emperor and Empress, Concubine Zhen is truly terrified."
He paused for a moment, carefully observing Empress Zhu's softening expression before continuing: "This robe was commissioned by His Majesty a month ago and only delivered to Hexi Palace two days ago. An official from the Imperial Wardrobe who is close to Concubine Zhen informed us a month ago. At the time, Concubine Zhen felt it was inappropriate, but after much deliberation, she still had them make this robe according to the Empress's measurements. Our lady also said... if His Majesty were to find fault, she would take full responsibility. She begs the Empress to forgive His Majesty's impulsive actions and not to remain angry with him. All faults are our lady's, and she is willing to accept punishment from the Empress at tomorrow's New Year's banquet."
Concubine Zhen was now the Emperor's favorite, yet she still humbled herself to come and apologize, showing she still respected the Empress as the head of the inner palace.
Sometimes what the Emperor couldn't see clearly, Concubine Zhen could discern.
Compared to mutual dislike, being listed as political factions was worse, as both sides would grasp for power illegitimately and try to overthrow each other.
The power struggles in the inner palace would be even more base and dark than those in the imperial court, leaving one unable to guard against them.
Could the Emperor truly guarantee that Empress Zhu's people would never be able to get close to Concubine Zhen?
It was impossible.
Empress Zhu had managed the inner palace for many years, with lackeys and minions as numerous as cow hairs, reaching every corner.
Jiang Xinyue would inevitably have moments alone, times when guards couldn't protect her. That would be Empress Zhu's chance to strike.
Her show of weakness and plea for reconciliation was out of respect for the Empress's authority.
Empress Zhu's face finally showed a hint of a smile: "Concubine Zhen is thoughtful. I will accept the robe. Tell your mistress to rest easy and focus on her pregnancy. I understand her difficulties and won't blame her."
Not blaming her was a lie, merely polite words.
Jiang Chuan had delivered his mistress's message, completing his task. As for what the Empress would do afterwards, his lady had said they would meet soldiers with generals and floods with dykes.
In any case, even if faced with violent storms, their lady was not afraid.
In the year and a half since entering the palace, hadn't their lady already experienced many storms?
Even the Empress Dowager was still unable to return from her southern palace. Thinking of it this way, Empress Zhu didn't seem so frightening.
Jiang Xinyue was taking a stroll in the courtyard when Jiang Chuan returned and relayed Empress Zhu's words.
Xi Que shook her head regretfully: "I heard from the Imperial Tailor that His Majesty had a matching outfit made for himself! If our lady could wear that robe, it would announce her favored status to the whole world."
Shuang Jiang's face bore a smile as she supported the tired Jiang Xinyue to sit down. She glanced at Xi Que: "Our lady's decision was truly wise! It's enough that His Majesty's favor is real; why provoke others' hatred? Empress Zhu has managed the inner palace for many years. If she truly wanted to deal with our lady, even His Majesty might not be able to protect her."
The fear was that Empress Zhu would become reckless, frantically biting down, and even if Jiang Xinyue didn't die, she would be badly hurt.
It wasn't yet time for Empress Zhu to fall, and Jiang Xinyue didn't want to make an enemy of her.
Since the Empress had told her to take care of her pregnancy, she probably didn't intend to make a fatal move against her for now, which was reassuring.
"I know..." Xi Que pouted, "I just feel it's unfair to our lady. When His Majesty gets angry later, our lady will still be the one to suffer."
"That's why..." Shuang Jiang raised an eyebrow, "Our lady had the Imperial Tailor make a new set of clothes, white with a touch of pink, designed by our lady herself. She called it... called it..."
"Couple's outfit."
"Yes, yes, yes..." With Jiang Xinyue's reminder, Shuang Jiang remembered, "It's called a couple's outfit."
She placed another soft cushion behind Jiang Xinyue's lower back to make her comfortable: "Just think about it - couple, couple... it means a pair of loving men and women, like ordinary husband and wife. The meaning is wonderful, His Majesty will like it."
If she wore the robe prepared by the Xuanwu Emperor and appeared with him at the New Year's banquet, rumors that the Emperor would make her Empress would probably be flying by the next day.
She hadn't even been granted the title of Imperial Consort yet and was still pregnant. She didn't want to go up against the Empress at this time.
Moreover, she needed to make her stance clear to Empress Zhu first - that she had no designs on the position of Empress.
All along, her goal had been to become the favored concubine, and now that she was about to achieve it, she couldn't let the Empress ruin it.
The Xuanwu Emperor didn't know that while he was excitedly matching his headpiece and jade pendant for tomorrow's outfit, Jiang Xinyue had already given the robe to Empress Zhu.
In fact, she had never intended to wear this robe from the beginning. Her displays of joy, gratitude, and amazement... were all to humor him.
Golden hairpins, rouge on her lips, eyebrows like distant mountains, her beauty was unparalleled in the world. With her elaborate hairstyle and misty locks, she was like a beauty from a painting - graceful, soft, and ethereal as she took delicate steps.
When Wang Dequan saw Concubine Zhen enter with her swollen belly, his mouth gaped open for a moment before he quickly closed it: "Concubine Zhen arrives—"
No matter what, Concubine Zhen was always the most vibrant beauty in the inner palace, but the vibrant beauty she wore today was not the one the Emperor had painstakingly commissioned from the Imperial Wardrobe!
In the past, the inner palace had Imperial Consort Li, Consort Liang, Noble Lady Shu, Consort De...
Their ranks were all above Concubine Zhen's, so her seat was arranged not close to the Xuanwu Emperor.
But this year was different. Consort Liang had previously offended the Emperor with inappropriate words and her seat was arranged at the back. Noble Lady Shu was dead, Consort De didn't compete for favor, and Imperial Consort Li had been demoted and erased from existence.
In the inner palace, besides Empress Zhu, Concubine Zhen was now the most favored.
Therefore, even though she hadn't been granted the title of Imperial Consort yet, the Internal Affairs Department had followed the Emperor's instructions and arranged Concubine Zhen's position in the closest spot to the Emperor on his right side.
Parallel to the Emperor was Empress Zhu's phoenix throne.
"Has someone upset His Majesty? Why does he look so displeased?"
"I thought so too. Did you see when Minister Pei of the Privy Council offered a toast? His Majesty didn't smile at all."
"Is he looking at Concubine Zhen?"
"Could it be that he's quarreled with Concubine Zhen again?"
"This Concubine Zhen is truly a peculiar woman. She's so temperamental, always upsetting His Majesty, yet His Majesty still dotes on her. Does His Majesty prefer consorts with a rebellious streak?"
How could the Xuanwu Emperor not be displeased?
The Empress beside him wore a robe of the same color as his own. Because they were seated together, the trumpet creeper flowers seemed to connect with the green vines on the Emperor's robe...
He and Empress Zhu appeared intertwined, in an extremely intimate posture.
The surprise intended for Jiang Xinyue had turned into a shock for the Emperor.
The first time he had done such things for a woman, and this was the result.
How could he be happy?
