"It’s no wonder some people are so favored!" Honored Lady Xi was momentarily at a loss for words. Consort Yun sourly grumbled for quite a while. Seeing Honored Lady Xi was somewhat listless, only then did she reluctantly leave. Honored Lady Xi leaned against the bed, handed the bruise-soothing ointment to Dong Cha, then lay on her side and closed her eyes. Dong Cha dared not disturb her and, after drawing the bed curtains, carefully exited. Zhao Junyao sat in the main seat, sullenly sipping half a cup of tea. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel•fire.net The Empress stood carefully to one side, attending to him. When an incident like a Noble Consort striking an Honored Lady occurred in the Harem, she, too, bore responsibility. Therefore, she felt somewhat guilty. Seeing the Emperor put down his teacup, she quickly stepped forward to take it. Zhao Junyao ignored her, instead slamming the teacup back onto the table. The lid of the teacup sprang up, and the clatter of porcelain made the Empress even more alarmed. "Is this the Harem you manage for Us?" Zhao Junyao said coldly. The Empress immediately knelt. "Your Majesty... regarding Sister Shih’s matter, this servant is at fault. Please, Your Majesty, punish me! However... please, Your Majesty, calm your anger. Your dragon health is paramount!" Upon hearing this, Zhao Junyao glanced at the Empress with great dissatisfaction, a slight sneer touching the corners of his lips. "If the Harem were even a little quieter, We would not be so agitated!" The Empress knelt on the ground, her head bowed. "It is all this servant’s fault. It’s just... Sister Shih is, after all, pregnant, and her emotions are quite unstable. This servant often instructs the other sisters in the palace to be more understanding and tolerant... It’s just... this servant never imagined that Sister Shih would actually strike someone!" As she spoke, she continued to admit her fault. "This servant has managed the Harem poorly. Please, Your Majesty, punish me!" The Empress said this, ostensibly taking all the blame upon herself. But in reality... wasn’t she still implicitly accusing Noble Concubine Shih? Pregnant, and already acting lawlessly in the palace. All the many sisters in the Harem had to yield to her; she was even more overbearing than the Empress herself! Zhao Junyao was, of course, perfectly clear about this. He even had a hand in it. Given this, he couldn’t really blame the Empress. Zhao Junyao gave her a few cold looks and finally said, "You may rise." The Empress, though somewhat unwilling, dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief and rose. After leaving Jiaofang Hall, it was almost past noon. Li Shengan was a bit worried. "Your Majesty... the noon meal is ready..." "We have no appetite!" With that, Zhao Junyao walked back to Zhaochen Palace under the scorching sun. Inside the Imperial Study Room, ice basins had been placed, and a refreshing coolness greeted him as soon as he entered. Zhao Junyao’s heart, which had been smoldering with anger, gradually calmed. He lay on a recliner and dozed off for a while. When he awoke in the afternoon, Zhao Junyao felt much more refreshed. Li Shengan brought him chilled tea, which he downed in one gulp. After drinking the tea, his stomach began to growl. "Yes, Your Majesty!" Li Shengan, his face alight with pleasant surprise, hurried out to call the Small Imperial Kitchen to bring in the meal. On the *kang* table in the small side room of the Imperial Study Room, a full spread was quickly laid out. Everything was prepared according to regulation: nothing fancy, but absolutely flawless—all dishes he usually ate. Zhao Junyao glanced at it and felt... a distinct lack of appetite! He looked around; nothing particularly caught his fancy. The plate of watermelon in the center, however, looked good. The seeds had been meticulously removed, and it was sliced thinly, each piece arranged on ice, appearing exceptionally crisp and inviting. Zhao Junyao did not eat much of the other dishes, but he finished every last piece of watermelon. He took a handkerchief to wipe his hands, yet his stomach still felt empty. It was just that... he couldn’t bring himself to eat any more. He felt somewhat... unsatisfied! Li Shengan stepped forward to ask, "Your Majesty, would you like us to bring something else?" Zhao Junyao waved his hand and went into the main Imperial Study Room. When Noble Concubine Shih rose from her afternoon nap, Consort Yun arrived. "Your Highness, everything is prepared. The bottle of medicine has also been delivered!" Noble Concubine Shih, lounging languidly, asked, "She accepted it?" Consort Yun nodded, though she seemed somewhat puzzled. "Your Highness, if you wish to appease Honored Lady Xi, why use such fine medicine? An ordinary one would have sufficed." Noble Concubine Shih waved her hand dismissively, her phoenix eyes narrowing slightly. "It’s merely a bottle of medicine. This Noble Concubine can have as many as she desires! If she can manage to get rid of that Lady Xia, this Noble Concubine would willingly part with even more precious things!" Consort Yun fell silent. What was inconsequential to Noble Concubine Shih was something she herself wasn’t even qualified to obtain. So, what more was there to say? Noble Concubine Shih contentedly stroked her belly, her face imbued with a rare radiance. Consort Yun lowered her head, staring at her own flat abdomen, a sudden pang of bitterness rising in her heart. They were both born into official families, both entered the palace, and both lived lives filled with schemes. Yet, Noble Concubine Shih remained the high and mighty Noble Concubine Shih and even had her own child. But what about herself? Not only had she incurred the Emperor’s utter disgust, but her father had also been demoted, and her own position was barely secure. Even if the Emperor were to demote her now, no one could say a word in protest! Seeing there was nothing more for her there, Consort Yun said, "Your Highness, this concubine has matters to attend to in her own palace. May Your Highness rest well." Noble Concubine Shih, eyes narrowed, fanned herself with a round silk fan, too lazy to even fully open her eyes, and simply waved her hand. "You may leave." Consort Yun curtsied and respectfully withdrew. On the way back to Yaoyue Palace, she walked very slowly, her heart filled with immense resentment. In her current predicament, apart from relying on Noble Concubine Shih, she didn’t know what else she could do. She sighed and quickened her pace. "Cai Die, let’s go." "Yes, Your Highness!" 「The setting sun slowly sank in the west.」 As dinnertime approached, the lamps were just being lit. Palace Attendants throughout had already kindled the palace lanterns. Zhaochen Palace stood brilliantly illuminated against the night sky, majestic and imposing, inspiring a solemn and weighty awe that made one hesitate to even look up. Before Zhao Junyao, the usual, regulation imperial meal was laid out. He merely glanced at it, and his heart seethed with growing agitation. Hungry, yet no appetite. His mood was foul; he didn’t want to eat anything. Zhao Junyao simmered with suppressed frustration. "Take it away!" Li Shengan, seeing that things were amiss, quickly said, "Your Majesty, this servant will immediately order a new meal!" For lunch, he at least ate a plate of watermelon. Now, for dinner, he’s ordering it to be cleared away entirely. How can this be acceptable? Zhao Junyao, annoyed, waved his hand dismissively. "No need. Prepare the carriage for Qingya Residence!" Li Shengan wiped the sweat from his brow and hurriedly complied. Qingya Residence is a good choice! Lady Xia’s place always offers such variety. Never mind anything else, just in terms of food, she can always coax the Emperor into eating an extra bowl of rice. Even he, the Chief Steward of the Imperial Presence, feels he falls short in comparison. What the Emperor likes to eat—he couldn’t possibly guess, nor would he dare to. What does the Emperor *want* to eat? He has even less of an idea! The consorts in the Harem exhaust all their efforts and still often fail to serve His Majesty well; what more could a eunuch like him do? Thinking this, Li Shengan’s admiration for Lady Xia grew. He had initially thought that since the Emperor had been back in the palace for so long without visiting her, she was due for a period of being ignored. Unexpectedly... the Emperor still kept her in mind.