Jiang Yulin nearly fainted.
She was to enter the palace and become an Imperial Noble Consort, who wanted these broken silk flowers?
Wang Ruolan and Meng Wanru looked utterly dejected as they received the silk flowers sent by Wang Dequan, supported by their maids as they descended.
These two women had set their sights on the Imperial household, offering their skills voluntarily, but they failed to catch the Emperor's eye. After leaving the palace, they could no longer marry into respectable families.
Wives with such lofty ambitions were avoided by ordinary officials' families, for fear they would cause unrest in the household once they entered.
Facing Lady Zhou's stern gaze, Jiang Yulin pinned the silk flowers the Emperor had bestowed upon her into her hair, smiling sweetly: "Your Majesty, this humble servant and my sister have always been very close. May I have a word with her?"
When she smiled, two adorable dimples formed at the corners of her lips, making even her false smile seem utterly charming.
The Xuanwu Emperor had extremely high standards for his consorts. He knew the relationship between Jiang Xinyue and Jiang Yulin better than Jiang Xinyue herself.
He turned to ask, "Would you like to go over, my love?"
Jiang Xinyue shook her head. "This legitimate younger sister of mine has never understood propriety. I am a person of etiquette; how could I be on good terms with her?"
She did not take on the persona of a gentle lady, but the Emperor was already accustomed to her frank nature and did not find her unkind at all. Instead, he believed that her open display of disdain for Jiang Yulin in front of him was because she trusted him.
This reassurance was gratifying to the Xuanwu Emperor.
He smiled, "Vice Minister Jiang's several illegitimate daughters seem to have received decent upbringings. How is it that his legitimate daughter..."
He tilted his head, expressing dissatisfaction, "My love still needs to put in more effort. If only she could be as straightforward and honest as Consort Zhen, that would be ideal."
There were already enough sweet-faced but wicked women in the palace; there was no need for another like Jiang Yulin.
If Wang Ruolan and Meng Wanru's earlier exit could be described as a devastating blow, then Jiang Yulin's expression could only be described as utterly dejected.
What respectable family would be willing to marry a woman whom the Emperor had declared lacked proper upbringing?
Even impoverished scholars would prefer to marry daughters from humble backgrounds.
"Mother..."
Jiang Yulin looked lost and forlorn. Jiang Xinyue would not console this sister who had bullied her previous incarnation in the Jiang household.
As night fell deeper, a few stars hung in the sky, heralding good weather the next day.
"My love, it's getting late. Shall we retire to your palace..."
Suddenly, a rapid drumbeat interrupted the Xuanwu Emperor's words. Six muscular, bare-chested men wearing red headbands carried a large drum, walking in steadily.
Everyone present was drawn to the woman in a red dance costume atop the drum face, revealing a glimpse of her snowy white, soft waist.
If Consort Zhen embodied a graceful fusion of coyness and purity, elegance and beauty, then the woman atop the drum, veiled in sheer fabric, exuded ultimate allure and seductive charm.
"Concubine Li..."
Jiang Xinyue murmured the name, her lips curling into a faint smile as her hand beneath the table silently unclenched.
The Xuanwu Emperor gazed upon Concubine Li with a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. Jiang Xinyue glanced at Consort Jin, their eyes meeting in midair.
Her eyebrows arched slightly: Serving with her body?
Wasn't it Concubine Li who relied on her physical charms to serve?
Consort Jin seemed to understand Jiang Xinyue's gaze, her fair face flushing red as she hurriedly averted her eyes.
Damn it!
She had hoped to see Consort Zhen's embarrassed and flustered expression, but instead, she was the one caught being awkward.
After the seductive belly dance ended, the Emperor had reverted from addressing Concubine Li as "Consort" to "my love". As the banquet drew to a close, the Imperial carriage carried the Emperor and Concubine Li away together.
With the Emperor's departure, the banquet was essentially over. Vice Minister Jiang had to arrange for the foreign envoys and postal inns, so he did not leave with his wife and daughters.
From a distance, he could only see his illegitimate daughter's dejected and forlorn figure seated in the palanquin.
In the past at home, his second daughter was the one who loved to act coy with him the most, clinging to him and treating him as a respected and affectionate father.
After entering the palace, their relationship had grown more distant.
However, he understood the changes in his eldest daughter. After all, only those who had experienced life in the palace could truly comprehend its hardships.
From the Xihuo Palace to the Hexi Palace, from the Hexi Palace to the Palace of Exile, and then back to the Hexi Palace again, she must have endured unimaginable suffering, so how could she not have changed profoundly?
That ignorant woman, Lady Zhou, truly believed the palace was a desirable place, having already lost one legitimate daughter there. Yet she still wanted to send her only remaining legitimate daughter to the palace, just to compete with her elder sister.
Sheer foolishness!
"Consort Zhen."
As the palanquin passed by the Chuxiu Palace where the palace ladies resided, a pleasant voice called out from behind, "Consort Zhen..."
Yet, this voice sounded strangely anguished.
The distance was already quite close. Although Jiang Xinyue wished to avoid getting involved in any conflicts, she could hardly escape now.
She could only turn to look and saw Consort Rong leaning back in her palanquin, her forehead beaded with sweat despite the cold weather.
"Consort Rong!"
She signaled for her palanquin to stop and hurried over to Consort Rong's palanquin. "This servant greets Consort Rong. What seems to be the matter?"
Consort Rong bit her lip tightly, letting out a low groan from the unbearable pain as a warm liquid flowed out of her body.
She clutched Jiang Xinyue's hand in panic, "My child! Consort Zhen, save my child!"
Jiang Xinyue held her hand in return. "To the Imperial Hospital! It's too far from the Changxin Palace, but the Imperial Hospital is nearby. Let's go there now, quickly!"
After giving the order, she ran alongside the palanquin, inquiring to Consort Rong's palace maid, "What happened to your Mistress?"
Mei Xiang wiped away her tears and explained, "Earlier, my Mistress was leaving the Baohe Hall when one of those lowly serving maids spilled oil at the entrance and didn't clean it up properly. My Mistress slipped and fell, but she protected her belly. We thought she was fine, but after walking this short distance, my Mistress started bleeding. Wuuuu..."
Jiang Xinyue did not believe this story.
Wang Dequan was responsible for overseeing all the eunuchs and palace maids during the banquet, and he was always meticulous in his duties. How could he have allowed an oil spill to remain at the entrance of the Baohe Hall?
Not to mention that there were pregnant consorts in the palace; even if it were a foreign envoy who fell due to his negligence, it would not be easily overlooked.
Consort Rong clearly did not believe it either, her expression filled with anguish as she struggled to speak, "Consort Zhen... escort... escort this one to the Imperial Hospital. This one... will owe you a favor."
In the palace, the most difficult thing to repay is human sentiment. She showed her sincerity, hoping that Consort Zhen was a kind and compassionate person.
After all, it was a small life. Jiang Xinyue leaned on the carrying chair, her expression solemn: "Xi Que, Shuang Jiang, go ahead and scout the path. Xiao Xuanzi... go to the Changxin Palace and summon the Emperor."
This plate was too big for her to handle alone. It would be better to let someone capable share the burden.
