Today was the day the Empress was scheduled to return to the palace. Early in the morning, there was already a flurry of activity in her quarters.
Shuang Ruo had kept tabs on the movements in the Consort Yi's quarters all night. She came now to report back to the Empress, "Your Majesty, the Consort Yi is fine..."
"Oh?" The Empress knitted her brows and asked back, "Isn't she the one who cares most about her relationship with His Majesty? Now that their false affection has been exposed, given her temperament, how could she still cling on wretchedly?"
Shuang Ruo said, "It's Consort Yi. She went to advise the Consort."
The Empress was silent for a moment, gave a hollow laugh, and said, "You can keep someone's body, but not their heart. Let it be. Let her live for now. I've suffered so much from her in the past, it's time now for her to pay me back."
As she spoke, she glanced out the window and asked, "Are all the supplies prepared for the Eldest Princess's journey?"
Shuang Ruo nodded, "Everything is ready."
The Empress asked again, "Has the wet nurse been informed?"
"Her instructions have also been passed down..." Shuang Ruo fell silent for a while, then reluctantly said, "It's just that the Eldest Princess has delicate skin at this young age. If the wet nurse is too heavy-handed..."
"She won't be," the Empress sternly cut her words short. "A daughter always belongs to her mother. To suffer some pain and get Jinghe back by my side, she would be willing too."
Shuang Ruo slowly nodded her head, "Your Majesty speaks true. But...the Eldest Princess was raised by the Empress Dowager, and she has always been reluctant to let mother and daughter meet."
"The Consort already knows it was Your Majesty who told her those things, which made her throw a tantrum. At this moment, when you ask His Majesty to bring the Eldest Princess back to the palace, would he agree?"
"He has to agree, willing or not," the Empress said leisurely.
"Today I'm returning to the palace, with hundreds of Suzhou officials seeing me off. His Majesty cares most about face. With his ministers watching, even if he has to pretend, he has to pretend affection and warmth with me. My request made in front of his officials, he cannot refuse."
After hearing the Empress's scheme, Shuang Ruo smiled, but still had some worries.
"His Majesty hates being shackled the most. If you do this, I'm afraid you'll completely sever your ties..."
"If it severs, then so be it," the Empress fiddled with the smooth, round beeswax balls on the table. Indifferently, she said,
"After so many years of marriage, all that's left is an empty show of propriety. Truly boring. In the end, my maternal family is still useful to him, so he won't depose me. From now on, we'll politely co-exist. Haven't we been doing that all these years, closing one eye and opening the other?"
Though the Empress sounded nonchalant, Shuang Ruo still caught a flash of hurt in her eyes.
Later that day, when the Empress arrived at the city gates, the entourage was already lined up to see her off with utmost respect.
"We humbly ask for the Empress's safety on her journey," Xiao Jingheng stood at the forefront of the ministers, smiling as he said,
"The Empress has been feeling unwell. On this return journey, do not overexert yourself and rest well, lest We worry."
The Empress blessed Xiao Jingheng and gently said, "We thank His Majesty for his care. Unable to accompany you for the full southern tour, We only hope His Majesty will have a joyous time with the consorts."
The royal couple held hands, gazing affectionately at each other.
The ministers who saw this had no doubt as they praised,
"His Majesty and Her Majesty have wonderful harmony, a match made in heaven."
"His Majesty and Her Majesty have deep affections, setting an example for husbands and wives everywhere!"
As the flattering words droned on repetitively, a message from Consort Ning Wanshuang's side finally put an end to it.
"Repoting to Your Majesty, Consort Ning wishes to return to the palace as well, feeling mentally exhausted. She has sent this servant to ask for Your Majesty's decree."
Emperor Xiao's expression was unchanged, as though nothing had happened between him and Ning Wanshuang.
"The Consort's family met with such disaster, naturally she'd grieve. And she has always been a sentimental person. How could I let her return alone in low spirits? Tell Consort Ning to come along the southern tour to relax her heart and mind."
Kang Yubin could only obey, "Yes...Your servant obeys."
Now was an auspicious time. The court etiquette official had finished setting off the firecrackers. It was time for the Empress and Imperial Concubine Hui to set off.
But just then, little Jinghe who had been quietly nestled in her wet nurse's arms suddenly wailed loudly when she saw the Empress's foot step into the carriage.
The Empress hurriedly turned back and went to the wet nurse, gently caressing Jinghe's hair.
"Why is Jinghe crying? Don't cry, don't cry. When the southern tour is over, you can see Mother in the palace."
But the coaxing did nothing to quiet the child's cries.
Tears swirled in the Empress's eyes. She quickly took Jinghe from the wet nurse's arms into her own.
Strangely, after the Empress carried her for a bit, the child immediately ceased her tantrum and obediently stayed in her embrace.
Shuang Ruo said from the side, "The Eldest Princess is reluctant to part from Your Majesty."
The Empress looked at Jinghe with utmost doting, and planted a deep kiss on her forehead. Then she carried the child and knelt before Xiao Jingheng.
"Your Majesty, the southern tour means much traveling and toil, and will take over two months. Might it be better if We bring the Princess back to the palace first?"
The consorts sensed something amiss as soon as she said this.
The outer court officials might not know of harem affairs, but how could they not?
Little Jinghe was usually raised by Grand Empress Dowager. She rarely got intimate with the Empress.
The mother and daughter met only a few times a year. Naturally the child felt closer to her wet nurse and grandmother.
How could she cling to the Empress like this now?
Clearly, something was going on beneath the surface.
The Grand Empress Dowager looked back, glaring fiercely at Chun Niang who had just held Jinghe.
Chun Niang was frightened pale. She immediately lowered her head to avoid the Grand Empress Dowager's gaze.
But with so many officials watching, there was no flaw in the Empress's words for His Majesty to pick on.
Trapped under public scrutiny, Xiao Jingheng had no choice but to smile and nod.
"Jinghe shares deep mother-daughter bonds with the Empress. Naturally she should follow her."
The Grand Empress Dowager also said, "A child about to turn one yearns most for her mother. Let the Empress bring the Princess back to nurture her then."
"But..." Her gaze drifted to the shifty-eyed Chun Niang as she gently said,
"Chun Niang worked hard caring for the Princess these days. You look rather worn out too. Have two other wet nurses attend to the Princess on this trip."
She then told Qingzhu, "Take Chun Niang away to 'rest'."
Qingzhu obeyed and left with Chun Niang.
To others, it seemed the Grand Empress Dowager's kindness even extended to a lowly servant.
But Song Zhao saw the deeper truth - Chun Niang had erred.
Brought away by Qingzhu now, she would probably wind up resting eternally instead.
With the matter settled, the Empress took the Princess onto her carriage.
Imperial Concubine Hui bid farewell to Xiao Jingheng together with Wei Ying and Mrs. Shao.
Xiao Jingheng said, "Minister Wei opened his coffers generously this time. We thank you on behalf of the poor people in the capital."
He looked meaningfully at the Imperial Concubine and said,
"The Empress is ill. When you return to the palace, serve her well. Understand?"
The Imperial Concubine giggled and said, "Hehe~ Your servant knows~ Will take good care of Her Majesty, so His Majesty need not worry~"
