"Has Consort Zhen been in the palace for about half a year now?"
After the family banquet dispersed, the Emperor returned to the imperial study to handle state affairs. Empress Zhu kept Consort De, Consort Liang, and Jiang Xinyue behind.
Before they could exchange pleasantries, Consort Liang looked at Jiang Xinyue's belly, her eyebrows slightly raised: "Speaking of which, you're one of the most favored consorts in the harem besides Concubine Li. How is it that Consort Rong is already with child, but you still have no news?"
Although Consort Rong's child wasn't kept, at least she had conceived!
Jiang Xinyue put on a dejected expression: "His Majesty had the imperial physician examine me. The physician said I suffered from cold exposure in my childhood, which damaged my body. I need to recuperate for two or three years before there's a chance."
By then, she would be eighteen when she got pregnant, which was better than conceiving now at sixteen or seventeen. After reaching adulthood, her physical condition would also be much stronger.
She wanted to rise in status, true, but she couldn't risk her own life for it. One needed to be alive to enjoy wealth and glory.
Consort Liang covered her mouth in shock, seemingly not expecting this reason. She gave an awkward laugh and looked towards Consort De: "It's actually not a big deal. Consort Zhen is still young, waiting two more years is fine. I was in the palace for several years before I conceived the eldest princess. What do you think, Consort De?"
Suddenly called upon, Consort De was startled for a moment before saying: "It's nothing to worry about. Sister Consort Zhen still has the Emperor's favor! There's no rush at this moment."
The two women's ability to lie through their teeth was quite impressive, but seeing Consort Zhen's mood improve slightly due to their consolation, both of them breathed a sigh of relief.
The imperial physician said it would take two or three years of treatment, who knew if she would even be able to conceive then? In two or three years, new candidates would enter the palace, and who knew what the situation would be like? By then, would there even still be someone called Consort Zhen in the palace?
Even if she truly maintained the Emperor's favor and was bestowed the title of Consort, she would be yesterday's news, unable to compare with those fresh young buds.
Empress Zhu sat in the main seat, feeling both disappointed and relieved.
She was disappointed that she couldn't use Consort Zhen's womb to bear an imperial son that could be recorded under her own name. She was relieved because if Consort Zhen couldn't bear children, she wouldn't meet the hard requirement to become Empress, at most she would be bestowed the title of Consort.
She would have to find another suitable womb instead.
Actually, if Consort Zhen could bear children, it would be best. After all, she was of superior beauty and favored by the Emperor. In the future, if she gave birth to beautiful and well-behaved children, the Emperor would show them extra favor for their birth mother's sake.
Upon leaving Yikun Palace, Jiang Xinyue's expression remained displeased.
Xi Que and Shuang Jiang exchanged a glance, not daring to speak, following quickly beside the sedan chair.
"Quicken your steps, don't keep the lady waiting."
Jiang Xinyue felt a blur before her eyes as a sedan chair carried by four people flashed past her.
"Who was that?"
Shuang Jiang looked up and replied: "In response to my lady, that was Concubine Li's mother."
Concubine Li's maternal grandfather was the Minister of the Privy Council, head of all civil officials in Great Yan, including Jiang Xinyue's adoptive father.
So the arrogant daughter of the Minister of the Privy Council, now married to the Prime Minister and become the Prime Minister's wife - Concubine Li's mother - didn't even stop her sedan chair when she saw Jiang Xinyue, let alone get down to pay her respects.
In her heart, she probably thought Jiang Xinyue's status was too lowly and should have given way to her!
This was good...
Everyone thought she couldn't make any waves, that she was just a novelty toy for the Emperor's amusement. They all wanted to scheme against her yet looked down on her at the same time.
This way, she could survive in the cracks and gradually win over the Xuanwu Emperor step by step.
With imperial favor, next would come exclusive favor. With exclusive favor, everything she wanted would be within her grasp.
Those who looked down on her would then realize that it was too late to get rid of her.
Empress Zhu coveting her womb was not a good thing.
Before retiring for the night, Jiang Xinyue said to Shuang Jiang: "Have the people from the Weaving Bureau come again tomorrow. I feel like I've gained quite a bit of weight. Have them take my measurements again, so this year's spring clothes won't be made too small for me."
Shuang Jiang was a bit confused. Her mistress was becoming more and more beautiful, seemingly because she was getting older, her features maturing. On top of her youthful delicacy, she now had an added touch of mature charm that made it hard to look away.
She wasn't fat, but she did seem to have grown taller since entering the palace, her figure becoming more graceful.
Thinking this, she nodded: "Yes, I'll go first thing in the morning."
It was just in time for the Weaving Bureau to release new patterns, going earlier meant she could choose prettier ones.
Tonight was Xi Que's turn to keep watch. She pulled out a note from her sleeve: "My lady, Concubine Su bribed a young palace maid who tends to the flowers in the Imperial Garden. She had a 'chance encounter' with the Emperor in the Imperial Garden tonight."
On the night of the New Year's banquet, Concubine Su and Jiang Xinyue had worn the same outfit. The Xuanwu Emperor ordering her to be dragged out had already caused her to lose face, and afterward, she was punished by Empress Zhu with two months' deduction of salary.
Concubine Su tried her best to clear herself, saying the clothes were sent to her by people from the Weaving Bureau, and she didn't know they violated regulations.
But after investigation, no one from the Weaving Bureau admitted to sending clothes to Yanqing Palace, and palace maids from Consort De's palace could testify to this.
In the end, the matter was left unresolved.
No one had imagined that the outfit had been sent by Jiang Xinyue's good friend from the Weaving Bureau, from before she entered the palace.
In the Great Yan Dynasty, noble ladies entered the palace through selection, while daughters of wealthy merchants entered through examinations to become female officials in the inner court.
The latter often had special skills and entered the Palace Domestic Service or the Weaving Bureau, using their talents to serve the imperial consorts and bringing great benefits and conveniences to their family businesses.
The original Jiang Xinyue and the eldest daughter of the biggest fabric shop owner in the capital were close friends. When the original Jiang Xinyue participated in the selection, that girl also passed the Weaving Bureau's examination and became a ninth-rank female official in the Weaving Bureau, the lowest rank.
They hadn't had a chance to meet until just before the New Year's banquet, when the Emperor had people from the Weaving Bureau bring fabric samples to Hexi Palace for Consort Zhen to choose from. Only then did that girl learn that her good friend had already become the Emperor's favored consort.
In their excitement, the two couldn't help but talk about their recent situations, mostly with the girl talking and Jiang Xinyue listening.
It was just asking her for a small favor, to make two almost identical outfits from the palace satin she had chosen. One more elaborate for her to wear at the New Year's banquet, and the other to be falsely claimed as damaged during the tailoring for Consort Zhen.
Fabric damage was not a serious matter in the Weaving Bureau, and with palace maids from Hexi Palace testifying for her, no one suspected anything.
Although Concubine Su was sobbing and weeping, her appearance was still quite alluring. The Xuanwu Emperor was someone who valued looks highly - even when raising snakes, he preferred the most colorful ones, regardless of their venom.
Jiang Xinyue believed that Concubine Su would be able to captivate the Xuanwu Emperor and gain his favor.
"My lady..." Xi Que frowned, half-reclining on the footstool. "Is Concubine Su really the true culprit who killed our Little Ai Jiang?"
She appeared so delicate and fragile, crying at the slightest provocation. Since entering the palace, rumors had spread everywhere that she was as soft as water, extremely timid and weak.
How could such a person commit such a cruel act?
Little Ai Jiang was such an adorable little puppy. Even now, thinking about it made Xi Que's heart ache.
