The Empress closed her eyes. A month had passed. After all, they were husband and wife. The Emperor will come, he must come! At this moment, Yu Lan returned. "Your Highness, everything is arranged!" The Empress acknowledged with an "Mhm!" then, suddenly remembering something, she asked, "Go and find out, on his journey here, who was the Emperor’s favorite..." Yu Lan, having already made inquiries, replied immediately, "The favorite is Lady Xia!" Meanwhile, in Xifu Palace, Noble Concubine Shih also asked the same question. Consort Yun nodded. "Yes, Your Highness. Lady Xia monopolized the Emperor the entire journey! She seduced him, not just at night, but even during the day, constantly clinging to him... All she knows is how to lead him on, always insisting he take her out to flaunt herself in public!" Noble Concubine Shih slammed her palm on the table. "How preposterous! That Lady Xia..." Consort Yun and Ying Yue quickly came forward. "Your Highness, please calm your anger!" Consort Yun urged. "Your Highness, the most pressing matter for you now is to give birth to the Little Prince soon! In the future, once you have the Little Prince, even a hundred Lady Xias won’t be able to hold a candle to you!" Now that Consort Yun lacked her family’s backing, she had long since abandoned any petty schemes. She was wholeheartedly devoted to Noble Concubine Shih. She now adhered to a single principle: Only Noble Concubine Shih can bring misfortune to Lady Xia! And only if Noble Concubine Shih is well, can I have a good life! Thinking this, Noble Concubine Shih gave an order. "Ying Yue, tell the Imperial Kitchen to prepare dinner. Tonight, the Emperor will surely come!" When she said this, her eyes were full of confidence. Ying Yue hesitated slightly. "Your Highness, according to the rules, the Emperor should return to the Empress tonight!" Upon hearing this, Noble Concubine Shih let out a cold laugh. "The Empress? Haha, what does the Empress count for! If I tell you to go, then go. What’s all the fuss?" "Yes!" Ying Yue replied, bowing her head before leaving. Consort Yun stayed with Noble Concubine Shih for a while longer, then she too returned to her own quarters. Honored Lady Lan and Honored Lady Xi were exhausted from their journey and already tired. Consort Yun sent someone to check on them twice, but was told both times that they still hadn’t risen. Thus, Consort Yun gave up on the idea and went to rest herself. As the hour of dinner arrived, the palace lanterns began to illuminate the grounds. With the Emperor’s return, the harem had regained its former liveliness and vigor. The women were like desert sands, thirsting for the Emperor’s favor as if it were nourishing rain. Every one of them eagerly awaited the Emperor’s arrival. Although they knew the Emperor surely wouldn’t visit them tonight, unlike before, there was at least now a sense of anticipation! Xia Ruqing had grown accustomed to a variety of foods from outside. Now, suddenly back in the palace, she felt a bit out of sorts and instructed Xiao Xizi, "Prepare more snacks; don’t serve so many heavy dishes! It’s too hot. If there are fresh fruits, serve a plate of them!" "Yes!" Xiao Xizi acknowledged and left. He had not been gone long before he quickly returned. The food basket was laden with all sorts of fruits and other treats! "Why so much?" Zi Yue asked, taking the basket and arranging the meal. Xiao Xizi just laughed. "News travels fastest in the palace. As for why we received so much, Sister Zi Yue, you should understand best!" Zi Yue thought for a moment. Heh... So, the news of Master’s favor outside the palace has probably spread throughout the entire harem by now. Although being favored was a good thing, if news of it spread throughout the harem and attracted the attention of those with ill intentions, that would be quite troublesome. Zi Yue recalled how, before they left the palace, Honored Lady Hu had used Fuzi Powder in an attempt to frame Noble Concubine Shih, intending to shift the blame onto her master. The memory filled Zi Yue with concern. Xia Ruqing pondered for a moment. "Indeed, it is somewhat troublesome!" However... We’ll deal with trouble when it arises. We can’t afford to be unduly anxious! Nothing has even happened yet, and I’m already scaring myself to death. Although my status is low, I’m not someone to be easily bullied! Eat well, drink well, and live comfortably—it’s best if everyone minds their own business. If not... well, if pushed into a corner, I can always fight back with all I have. Since I’m not even afraid of death, what else is there to fear! Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on NoveI[F]ire.net Zi Yue considered this and, agreeing, said no more. After dinner and a bath, Xia Ruqing had someone arrange an ice basin. She lay in bed, planning to sleep. Zi Yue hesitated a bit. "Mistress, if the Emperor..." Xia Ruqing interrupted her before she could finish. "Don’t worry, the Emperor won’t come these few days..." She had barely finished speaking when Xiao Xizi arrived with news. "Mistress, the Emperor has gone to the Empress’s place..." Xia Ruqing simply spread her hands. "See, I told you..." She lay in bed, fanning herself, and let out a long sigh. "That’s more like it!" If he visited her again so soon, she might truly become a thorn in the side of the entire harem. Zi Yue thought it over and agreed. Then she smiled and said, "Then, Mistress, you should sleep early..." With that said, Zi Yue moved the ice basin a little further away and covered her mistress with a light, silk quilt. She then adjusted the gauze lamp and quietly left the room. That night, Noble Concubine Shih couldn’t sleep, Consort Yun couldn’t sleep, and many others didn’t sleep well. Only Xia Ruqing, who had gone to bed shortly after dinner, enjoyed a sound sleep for a full five to six Shi Chen. When she arose the next day, everyone else went to pay their respects to the Empress with dark circles under their eyes. Only Xia Ruqing appeared radiant and refreshed, drawing envious glances. Of course, the Empress hadn’t slept well either, but... this feeling, akin to parched land receiving timely rain, was a kind of exhaustion every woman in the harem yearned for! Noble Concubine Shih didn’t go to pay her respects to the Empress. In fact, even if she could have, she wouldn’t have gone. Now that she was pregnant, the Empress held no significance in her eyes. Hmph! Even if the Emperor doesn’t depose her, she’ll forever be just a Noble Consort. As long as my son is capable, I can still become the Empress Dowager in the future! Thus, after smashing some porcelain in Xifu Palace to vent her fury, Noble Concubine Shih managed to calm down and see things more clearly. Hmph, she’s just a hen that can’t lay eggs! What’s there for her to be smug about! Three more months. In just three more months, my child will be born. By then... Empress, let’s see what you’ll have to be smug about then! The Emperor stayed with the Empress for several consecutive nights. Then, he stayed with Noble Concubine Shih for several consecutive nights. He stayed an equal number of nights with each, showing no partiality. Only after that did he gradually begin to choose concubines from other palaces. He visited Consort Ning, then Consort Hui Pin. Even Consort Yun was chosen once. When Consort Yun learned she had been chosen, she was so excited she wept tears of joy. "The Emperor... The Emperor really..." Cai Die was also very excited. "Your Highness, it’s true, it’s true!" Consort Yun began her preparations that afternoon, selecting food, clothing, and various accessories. "Cai Die, which dress should I wear? The Heavenly Silkworm Silk? The thin gauze? Or would... transparent be better?" Cai Die, still a young maiden, knew little of such matters and was at a loss. Consort Yun, her cheeks flushed, then said, "Let’s... wear the transparent one!" Although I feel a bit embarrassed, the Emperor is a man. Men probably like transparent clothing, don’t they? Perhaps Lady Xia gained favor because of her skills in bed. So, that evening, Zhao Junyao emerged from the bathhouse and witnessed an unbelievable scene.