The two started arguing, jolting Xia Ruqing more fully awake. She glanced over and then, as usual, lowered her head. Hmm, recently... the Empress and the Noble Consort have been bickering quite a bit! The Harem seemed tranquil on the surface, but underneath, there were surging undercurrents! As for the person behind all this... Xia Ruqing glanced at Honored Lady Xi next to her, who was pretending to be scared with an innocent look on her face, and sneered inwardly. This person behind the scenes must be reaping the biggest harvest! Upon leaving Jiaofang Hall, Xia Ruqing headed to the Imperial Garden nearby. The plum blossoms were soon to bloom, and since it wasn’t far, she planned to go and have a look. However, she hadn’t walked far when she was caught up by Honored Lady Xi and Honored Lady Lan. "Elder Sister Xia, where are you going?" When Xia Ruqing turned and saw it was them, she smiled. "Oh, it’s you two!" "I’m going to see if the plum blossoms have bloomed..." As she spoke, she continued walking forward. Honored Lady Xi followed along. "Eldest Sister Lan, let’s go too!" Before Honored Lady Lan could say anything, she was pulled forward by Honored Lady Xi. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹•𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖•𝗇𝗲𝘁 The three Honored Ladies walked together, chattering away. The conversation shifted from one topic to another, and somehow ended up on the subject of fragrances. Honored Lady Xi was excited. "Eldest Sister Lan, smell my fragrance. Isn’t it lovely?" With a flick of her sleeve, a muted fragrance wafted through the air. Xia Ruqing subconsciously turned her head away. Honored Lady Lan, on the other hand, was earnestly sniffing the air. Soon she said happily, "It’s lovely!" Honored Lady Xi became even more delighted. "What about you, Elder Sister Xia?" Xia Ruqing pursed her lips and smiled. "It is quite unique!" Honored Lady Xi became proud, saying with a self-satisfied look, "This fragrance was made by my mother; it’s one of a kind in this world!" Continuing to talk about it, she added, "Actually, I can make it too, just not as well as my mother!" When Xia Ruqing heard this, her heart skipped a beat. Could this be... a trap for them? From the look of Honored Lady Lan, she seemed completely oblivious. Sigh... If they were in it together, so be it. But if she’s clueless... Xia Ruqing looked at Honored Lady Lan with sympathy. She was gazing at Honored Lady Xi with admiration, envious of her skillful hands. Well, why should I care so much? I can barely protect myself as it is. With that thought, Xia Ruqing found an excuse to leave. Honored Lady Xi seemed anxious and stopped her. "Elder Sister Xia, aren’t you going to see the plum blossoms anymore?" Xia Ruqing looked somewhat pale. "I suddenly feel a bit dizzy; you go ahead," she said, then turned to leave. Honored Lady Xi stopped her again. "Then later, I’ll collect some plum blossoms and make some plum blossom fragrance for you, Elder Sister Xia, alright? You wouldn’t dislike it, would you..." Xia Ruqing’s expression cooled for a moment, then she smiled again. "Why would I? I’d be most grateful!" After that, Xia Ruqing didn’t say anymore. She walked away with the support of Zi Yue, taking a detour. As soon as they turned a corner, Xia Ruqing’s gaze became suddenly icy. "Heh... is she targeting me now?" Zi Yue too noticed something was amiss and looked disdainful. "Everyone in the palace knows that one mustn’t casually give away fragrances... Yet she acts as if she knows nothing!" Xia Ruqing waved her hand dismissively. "Let it be. In the future, we’ll just accept what she gives... Just make sure not to use it..." Zi Yue nodded, then suddenly sighed. "Alas... it’s just Honored Lady Lan..." That naive and timid Honored Lady probably knows nothing at all! Xia Ruqing helplessly spread her hands. "Still not sure if she’s friend or foe? I’m not the Virgin Mary!" Noble Concubine Shih, who had just had a confrontation with the Empress, was feeling very satisfied at the moment. She was enjoying a bowl of milk stewed with bird’s nest, eating with great pleasure. Ying Yue was attentively serving her by her side. The Noble Concubine said, "How long has it been since cousin visited the Empress?" Ying Yue pondered for a moment before answering, "It must be over two or three months now!" Noble Concubine Shih grew even more pleased, and the milk bird’s nest seemed even sweeter. "Good! Cousin is truly wise! This palace might lack favor and have no children, yet still holds the title of Noble Consort! As for the Empress, without favor or children, I shall see if she can keep her position steady!" Ying Yue thought for a while, then asked, "My lady, if the Empress were to adopt a child... and register the name..." Before she could finish speaking, Noble Concubine Shih’s gaze shot over, sharp as a knife. "Let’s see who dares to give birth!" After speaking, she commanded, "Go! Call Consort Yun here!" Consort Yun soon arrived. Previously in the Empress’s service, with no backers, she had been timid and submissive. Now, Noble Concubine Shih had finally managed to turn things around. It was somewhat a good thing for Consort Yun. She had to serve even more carefully and cautiously. Noble Concubine Shih then issued a strict order. "Keep a firm grip on Honored Lady Xi and Honored Lady Lan! Continue to provoke them! Make them fight with Lady Xia! Do you understand?" Consort Yun hesitated a bit. "My lady, they are not staying with me now. I’ve heard... they are quite close with Lady Xia!" "What?!" Noble Concubine Shih’s eyes widened in anger! Consort Yun continued, "My lady, you have also met those Honored Ladies! They seem... not very ambitious about climbing up the ranks! Sowing discord doesn’t work on them!" Noble Concubine Shih thought it over and realized this was true. "You make a good point... If they were to fight, they would have done so by now... not wait until the present!" Consort Yun immediately nodded in agreement! After pondering for a while, Noble Concubine Shih gave another order, "Forget it! Just... frequent visits will do! If they have the opportunity to attend the sleep chamber, they have the chance to become pregnant! Keep a close watch for me; they must not become pregnant and bear children!" 「As the twelfth lunar month approached, the weather grew colder.」 The Empress wrote a memorial and personally delivered it to the Imperial Study Room. "Next year is the time for the major selection; according to the rules, those of longstanding service in the palace should also be promoted! I have drafted a list for the Emperor’s approval!" Zhao Junyao took the memorial and glanced at the Empress. He said, "Take a seat!" The Empress was overjoyed. "Thank you, Your Majesty!" She felt very smug inside. The Empress is the Empress after all; even without favor, she always has the chance to see the Emperor! As for the Noble Consort, no matter how noble, she is just a consort! Without favor, she becomes nothing... I hear... the Shih Family is sending new faces to the palace; the Noble Consort... without a child, will ultimately find it hard to rise again! Hehe, in the end, the winner in the Harem is still her! Zhao Junyao took the memorial, not giving the Empress a second look. He took the imperial brush and made circles and dots beside several names. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn halfway, he returned the memorial to the Empress. "Proceed with these measures; there is no need to change anything for the others!" The Empress took the memorial and when she opened it, the first thing she saw was the imperial approval in red: Lady Xia... proposed for promotion to Jieyu of the Fourth Rank. All the other promotions were rejected. Additionally, two Ladies were added to be promoted to Honored Lady. "This..." "Your Majesty, might this be a bit improper?" Usually, promotions are done one rank at a time. "This one is barren and childless, without merit or virtue, and ascending two ranks at once might... cause dissatisfaction," the Empress said hesitantly.