The heavy snow had been falling for several days. The roads couldn’t be cleared. No sooner had they been swept than they were covered again, blanketed in thick snow. Going out was inconvenient, and the Empress was busy. So she simply commanded, "There’s no need to come for the morning greetings!" The concubines hurried to flatter her, "The Empress is truly virtuous!" If Xia Ruqing didn’t know about the sordid things the Empress had done, she might have believed that the Empress was truly virtuous. But... not having to attend the morning greetings was always good; at the very least, she could sleep in and wake up naturally. Xia Ruqing cuddled in her blankets, playing with her cat. Xiao Xizi had already brought back breakfast. Zi Yue persuaded, "Master, why not get up and have breakfast before going back to sleep? What if you become ill from hunger if you don’t eat?" Xia Ruqing, thoroughly bored, dawdled for a while longer before reluctantly getting up. After washing her face and eating, Xia Ruqing sat by the brazier, reading a storybook. Suddenly, Xiao Xizi came in from outside. "Master, Honored Lady Lan and Lady Xi request an audience!" Xia Ruqing was taken aback, not even lifting her head. "If you dare let them in, then don’t ever come before me again!" Xiao Xizi jumped in fright; it was the first time he had seen his master act this way. He didn’t dare delay and swiftly left. Zi Yue was somewhat puzzled. "Master, why are you..." "Why have I suddenly become so averse to them?" Xia Ruqing continued. "Yes!" Zi Yue replied. Xia Ruqing lifted her head, her expression composing. "They are undoubtedly involved in the matter of the Noble Consort being poisoned..." "As for Honored Lady Lan, I’m not certain, but that Lady Xi... you all are to stay as far away from her as possible!" Zi Yue suddenly remembered the banquet in the plum grove arranged by the Empress. So she asked, "Master, have you discovered something?" Xia Ruqing resumed her reading and casually replied, "I’m not a detective, what could I discover?" Zi Yue didn’t ask any further. Xiao Xizi returned shortly. "Master, they have already left..." Xia Ruqing looked at him, her gaze suddenly growing colder. "If this happens again, you can switch places with Xiao Zhu Zi!" Too much leniency with palace attendants turns into indulgence. Xiao Xizi was diligent but not shrewd enough. Xiao Zhu Zi, on the other hand... She had been observing him coolly for quite some time. He didn’t talk much but acted prudently! If only she could recruit him to her side... After playing with the cat for a while, Xia Ruqing felt a bit bored. "I intended to see if the plum blossoms have bloomed, but I don’t want to go outside!" Xia Ruqing idly flipped through her book. "Because I don’t want to see certain people!" Under the care of Imperial Doctor Zhang, Noble Concubine Shih’s condition was gradually improving. In a matter of days, she was already able to get out of bed. Ying Yue carefully supported her as she walked slowly around the room. Noble Concubine Shih’s legs were weak; she became unsteady after walking for less than the time it took for two incense sticks to burn. Noble Concubine Shih was so anxious her forehead was beaded with sweat, and she grew frustrated. "Forget it, let’s not walk anymore!" Saying so, she sat down, very agitated. Just then, a Little Eunuch came to report, "The Emperor has arrived!" Noble Concubine Shih’s eyes lit up. She stood up instinctively, but her weak legs failed her, and she collapsed back onto the couch. Zhao Junyao had already entered. Noble Concubine Shih attempted to pay her respects. "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Noble Concubine Shih was extremely careful. She could hardly remember how long it had been since her cousin had come to see her. The last time was...when she lost the child? Having failed to protect the child, she felt a deep sense of guilt and lowered her head, looking as if she dared not say much. Zhao Junyao sat down in a chair, and Ying Yue and the others all withdrew from the room. Noble Concubine Shih couldn’t help feeling delighted. After calling out, she felt self-conscious about her current appearance and lowered her head again. Zhao Junyao looked at her, his face devoid of expression. "Since you’re ill, you should rest properly," he said. Noble Concubine Shih was thrilled to hear this. "Thank you, Cousin. The Imperial Physician said I could get out of bed today, so I..." Her cousin had come to see her, come to show concern. Did this mean... she had a chance to regain favor? Zhao Junyao merely hummed in acknowledgment, without saying anything more. He sat for a short while longer before leaving. Although his patience with her had nearly run out, she was, after all, innocent this time. How dare they scheme while he was still in the palace? And the Empress... does she not intervene? Is she truly unaware, or simply turning a blind eye? He detested these sordid affairs the most. Favored or not, they were his women. How could he tolerate them acting so wantonly! His visit to Xifu Palace this time was also a slap in the Empress’s face. After seeing the Emperor off, Noble Concubine Shih was quite smug. If the Emperor deigned to visit, it meant she still had hope. Thinking this, Noble Concubine Shih felt a surge of strength return to her body. Leaning against the wall, she managed to walk for a short while longer. As she walked, she sneered. The Empress knows how to curry favor with the entire world, yet she alone fails to please the Emperor. It serves her right that His Majesty is dissatisfied with her! If he’s dissatisfied, he should just depose her! Ying Yue didn’t dare to say much. After thinking for a while, Noble Concubine Shih suddenly exclaimed, "Consort Yun—no, that bitch Consort Yun Pin—actually dared to poison me! This Noble Consort truly raised an ungrateful wolf! Once this Noble Consort is feeling a bit better, I will personally go to her and slap her across the face!" Ying Yue said carefully, "Your Highness, I fear that Lady Xi... might not be innocent in this matter either." Ying Yue saw things clearly. Consort Yun Pin had never harbored any ill intentions towards the Noble Consort. It was only after she started associating with that Lady Xi... For some reason, even Ying Yue felt something was amiss. Too naïve, so naïve it seemed almost artificial. "Hmph! Once I’ve recovered, I’ll deal with all these bitches!" The Empress was facing a large stack of account ledgers, tired yet content. Yu Lan came to report. "Your Highness, after court, the Emperor went to Xifu Palace for a visit!" The Empress, who had been resting with her eyes closed, suddenly opened them. She felt a flutter of panic. Yu Lan quickly added, "Don’t panic, Your Highness. He only stayed for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea!" The Empress leaned back in her chair again, rubbing her temples. After a while, she smiled coldly. Ultimately, theirs was a bond forged from growing up together since childhood; how could it be the same as with others! Even though she failed to protect the child and had a brush with death, the Emperor still holds her in his thoughts! Besides, Grand Tutor Shih is a veteran statesman who has served two reigns; his standing in the court is pivotal. The Emperor had to show some deference, if not for her sake, then certainly for Grand Tutor Shih’s. Sister Ji, seeing the Empress looking somewhat dejected, could only try to console her. "Your Highness, don’t overthink it. You’ve been working too hard lately, and you’ve lost weight!" She then instructed Yu Lan, "For lunch, tell the Imperial Kitchen to prepare an extra bowl of restorative soup. Her Majesty the Empress must properly nourish her body!" Yu Lan curtsied and acknowledged the order. 「Yaoyue Palace」 Googlᴇ search 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⟡𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦⟡𝘯𝘦𝘵 Consort Yun Pin simply couldn’t accept such an undeserved catastrophe. She wailed and made a scene several times, and then fell gravely ill. Cai Die had visited the Imperial Medical Bureau several times to request an Imperial Physician. In the end, only an unfamiliar one came. He prescribed a course of medicine and left, clearly not very keen on treating her. Cai Die held the prescription, tears welling in her eyes. "This... So they’re already starting to trample all over us!"