So he couldn't help but pity her, cherish her, and want to make up for the harm she had suffered.
He had never felt such uncontrollable emotions for a woman before, but Consort Zhen repeatedly broke his rules, making him make exceptions for her.
Could this be what people called "liking" someone?
Did he truly like Consort Zhen?
This thought flashed through his mind, startling the Xuanwu Emperor into sitting up in bed.
Impossible!
He loved his empire, his people, and even the ministers he employed, but it was impossible for him to give his true heart to a consort in the harem.
The person beside him turned over, nestling closer to the Xuanwu Emperor with great affection. Her face, glowing with a pink hue, was turned up without any guard.
In the lamplight, even the fine hairs along her hairline were clearly visible.
His heart, which had just hardened, softened again when faced with Consort Zhen's face.
Never mind, never mind...
She was utterly devoted to him, so what harm was there in showing her some favor?
The Jiang family was ordinary, not a great clan. Consort Zhen's father, Jiang Yankun, was from a branch of the Jiang family in Yizhou. The Jiang ancestors had been the wealthiest merchants in Yizhou, and they were still well-off today.
But Jiang Yankun was not from the main family line, so before he entered officialdom in Yizhou, his life was not comfortable.
The main family line had used all their resources on their legitimate sons, hoping to cultivate several important court officials from among them.
Unfortunately, these expensively trained legitimate sons only managed to secure minor official positions. The most successful turned out to be the collateral relatives they had once neglected.
Jiang Yankun now held the highest official position in the Jiang clan.
But the main family line in Yizhou still clung to their status, refusing to acknowledge Jiang Yankun's excellence. It was precisely because he had no family support that he had set his sights on his illegitimate daughter.
However, the Xuanwu Emperor was unaware of this last point.
Jiang Xinyue secretly opened one eye a slit, observing the emperor's expression at this moment.
Only now did she confirm that she had managed to chip open a crack in the Xuanwu Emperor's heart, and her image had found a place within.
But this was far from enough.
The Xuanwu Emperor's heart was like his harem, a sieve full of holes. One hole housed Concubine Li, another Consort Shu, and it wouldn't be surprising if others lived elsewhere. She had merely occupied one corner.
To become the most favored consort in the harem, she needed the three characters of her name, Jiang Xinyue, to occupy at least half of the Xuanwu Emperor's heart. Others like Concubine Li or Consort Shu should be squeezed into some obscure corner to play in the mud.
Entering the emperor's heart wasn't difficult for Jiang Xinyue; the challenge was to remain there, to become like a bowl of white rice on the emperor's table – indispensable.
Unfortunately, she couldn't serve the emperor in bed today. Otherwise, getting pregnant a bit earlier wouldn't have been impossible.
She wanted to let the Empress know that she wasn't a pushover, and shouldn't be bullied with dirty tricks.
In Shunan Palace—
Consort Liang had just lulled the eldest princess to sleep when a commotion broke out in the side hall, startling the princess awake again.
"Are they trying to get themselves killed? What's all this wailing about in the middle of the night?"
"My Lady..." the maid Chenxin entered from outside. "Ye Baolin has vomited blood, saying she's been poisoned. Her maids are making a fuss, demanding to see the Emperor for justice."
Consort Liang patted the eldest princess a few times before handing her over to the nanny to take away. Once sure the princess was out of earshot, she said, "Isn't Consort Zhen serving the Emperor tonight?"
Though it was said she was serving, Consort Zhen had her monthly period and wasn't in a condition to do so. But the Emperor was so fond of her that after not seeing her for a few days, he missed her terribly. He even disregarded the ancestral rules and risked bad luck to go to Hexi Palace.
With the Emperor so enamored with Consort Zhen, even if Ye Baolin wanted to intercept him, shouldn't she have chosen someone less favored?
Consort Zhen was right indeed – an imitation is just an imitation, not even one ten-thousandth as good as the real thing.
But Ye Baolin had been placed in her palace by the Empress, clearly with the intention of having her protect Ye Baolin to some extent.
Consort Liang sighed, "Tell Ye Baolin's people to rest. Have Xiao Guizi go to Hexi Palace and explain the situation properly, without making a big fuss."
The palace maids of Hexi Palace had always been on good terms with Shunan Palace. As long as they didn't act aggressively, they wouldn't hold a grudge against Consort Liang.
Xiao Guizi stood at the entrance of Hexi Palace and explained the situation carefully to Jiang Chuan. In the end, he added with a reproachful look, "That Ye Baolin is quite a troublemaker. Our Lady really had no choice. With her vomiting blood and fainting, our Lady fears something might happen to her. Even Concubine Li was reprimanded and confined by the Emperor because of her during the day. My Lady asked me to come and inquire if we could inform the Emperor."
As for whether the Emperor would go or not, that was no longer Consort Liang's concern.
Although Jiang Chuan was somewhat troubled, given the different relationship between Consort Liang and his own mistress, he still asked Xiao Guizi to wait outside while he went in to inquire.
Xiao Xuanzi, guarding the door of the bedchamber, heard Jiang Chuan's words and snorted coldly, "It's not like we poisoned her, so why come to Hexi Palace? Is the Emperor some magical elixir that can cure poison just by seeing him?"
Jiang Chuan reluctantly agreed, "Who says otherwise? But someone from Consort Liang's palace has come to ask, and I can't be too blunt in my refusal."
"First, invite Xiao Guizi to the side room for tea. We'll discuss it when our Lady wakes up."
If Ye Baolin still had the energy to make trouble, she probably wasn't in serious condition. Consort Liang was considerate and must have called for an imperial physician for her.
So what difference did it make whether the Emperor went early or late?
They would inform the Emperor of this matter anyway. How and when to inform him was Hexi Palace's business.
"Where is the Emperor?" Ye Baolin's lips were bluish-black as she spat out another mouthful of blood. "Why... why hasn't the Emperor come yet? Did you not inform him?"
Cui Yin rolled her eyes impatiently, "Ye Baolin, the Emperor has already retired to Hexi Palace. Everyone in the palace knows how favored Consort Zhen is, don't you think?"
Why else would she imitate Consort Zhen's dress and sometimes even her small mannerisms when speaking? If not for long-term observation and meticulous imitation, how could she have learned to mimic her so well?
"You..." Ye Baolin was truly exhausted, unable even to muster a fierce expression. Panting, she said, "This mistress's favor is earned through my own abilities. It's not for a mere palace maid like you to criticize. Dare to speak out of turn again, and this mistress will have you slapped."
Cui Yin rolled her eyes once more, this time not even bothering to respond. She simply turned and walked away.
As the sky began to lighten faintly, the Xuanwu Emperor rose from bed. Jiang Xinyue, who had been drunk the night before, was still not awake.
"Wang Dequan," the emperor called, straightening his robes. "Go to the Imperial Hospital and have Yan the Imperial Physician check Consort Zhen's pulse for signs of pregnancy. I want to know if Consort Zhen is capable of conceiving now. If she is with child, can the safety of both mother and child be ensured?"
Could it be that the emperor wanted Consort Zhen to bear him a prince?
Wang Dequan swallowed the words about Ye Baolin's poisoning, fearing that if Consort Zhen overheard, she might make things difficult for him.
The Consort Zhen of today was no longer the young, bullied Noble Lady who had just entered the palace.
