The Empress hurriedly rose and curtsied. "Mother’s teaching is right!" The Empress Dowager stopped speaking and waved her hand to signal the Empress to rise. "It’s not all your fault!" The Empress sat down again. Everyone was seated; only Xia Ruqing was kneeling. This was beyond infuriating! What did the Empress Dowager mean by this? My fault? The Emperor comes to my place, and I have to persuade him, ’You can’t just sleep with me all the time; you should also sleep with other women?’ Just thinking about it felt... so damn absurd! If you’re so capable, Empress Dowager, why don’t you keep your son away! Xia Ruqing rolled her eyes countless times internally. On the surface, though, she maintained the appearance of a docile, obedient lamb. The Empress Dowager feigned a lecture for a while. Timing it precisely, she calculated that the Emperor should be arriving soon and thus allowed Xia Ruqing to rise. "It’s cold outside, and I am tired. You may all leave!" The Empress curtsied. "Mother, please rest well. Your child takes her leave!" The Empress Dowager nodded. All the concubines bowed their heads and exited in an orderly fashion. Xia Ruqing followed the main group, her head bowed as she walked. Upon exiting the palace gates, they saw the Emperor approaching. The crowd stepped aside, and there was another round of obeisances. From a distance, Zhao Junyao saw Xia Ruqing kneeling on the snowy ground and frowned. "Thank you, Your Majesty!" New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⚑𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⚑𝙣𝙚𝙩 Zhao Junyao left without saying much more. Xia Ruqing dared not spare another glance and continued walking back with the Empress. After a long detour, they finally returned to the Qingya Residence. Xia Ruqing was nearly collapsing from exhaustion. "Zi Yue, quickly, bring some medicated oil! My knees are about to give out!" "Yes, yes, yes! My Lady, please wait a moment!" Zi Yue replied, then called out to Zi Su, "You two, go wring out a hot towel and apply it to Her Ladyship first!" Kneeling on the frozen ground for so long, they couldn’t afford to be careless. Zi Su and the other maid hurried to do as bidden. Xia Ruqing reclined on the couch and removed her outer robe. Lifting the trouser leg of her undergarments, she saw her knees were already bruised. When Zi Yue returned with the medicated oil, she gasped. "How did it get so severe?!" Xia Ruqing frowned. "The floor in the Empress Dowager’s palace is cold and hard, without even a cushion!" Zi Yue’s brow furrowed. "That shouldn’t be the case!" What ’shouldn’t be the case’? Xia Ruqing sneered internally. The Empress Dowager has plenty of ways to torment people. She orders you to kneel, and what can you do? Isn’t this obviously intentional? "My Lady, please stay still!" Zi Yue poured the medicated oil into her hand and gently massaged it into Xia Ruqing’s knees, bit by bit. Just then, Little Zhuzi suddenly arrived, holding a small box. "Greetings to Xia Jieyu!" Xia Ruqing was somewhat surprised. "My master asked me to deliver medicine to Xia Jieyu!" "Delivering medicine?" Little Zhuzi leaned in conspiratorially. "This is medicated oil, a tribute from the south; it’s much more effective than the usual kinds!" She paused, taken aback. Could it be... the Emperor made me kneel in the bitter cold, and now he sends someone with medicine? A warmth spread through Xia Ruqing’s heart. "Please convey my thanks to the Emperor, and also thank your master for me when you return." She then instructed Zi Yue to fetch a money pouch for him. "Thank you, Xia Jieyu!" Little Zhuzi departed cheerfully. Xia Ruqing was also pleased. "Come, Zi Yue, let’s try this..." 「By the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month.」 All the monthly stipends from the Ministry of Internal Affairs had been distributed. The Emperor’s rewards had also been delivered. Red lanterns had been hung early throughout the palace. Things were busy at Xia Ruqing’s place as well. Window paper-cuts, new peach wood charms, and auspicious "Fortune" characters—everything was brand new. Since I’m the only one living here, I must decorate it beautifully! It’s my own private courtyard, after all. Since she wished to decorate, the Ministry of Internal Affairs was happy to oblige. After all, who could deny the favored one? Xia Ruqing lived her days in peace and contentment. The days for Consort Zheng Pin and Consort Yun Pin, however, were not so pleasant. Consort Zheng Pin fared slightly better; being out of favor, she had little presence. As for Consort Yun Pin, she had been beaten by the Noble Consort. The Empress had issued a token punishment and then paid the matter no further attention. The Emperor hadn’t uttered a single word. Their attitude was unmistakably clear. Although the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Imperial Kitchen dared not go too far, the neglect was palpable. After the beating, Consort Yun Pin suffered a high fever for two full days before it subsided. The broken skin on her cheeks also began to heal gradually. One afternoon, Qiaoqiao, a Second Class palace maid serving the Noble Consort, suddenly arrived, carrying a food container. "The Noble Consort has ordered me to present Consort Yun Pin with two dishes..." As she spoke, she opened the container and set out the food. It was difficult to discern what the dishes were; the plates were filled with a vibrant red. The pungent, spicy aroma assailed their nostrils. Cai Die’s face paled. "Miss Qiaoqiao, my mistress’s wounds have only just begun to heal. How can she possibly eat such things..." Qiaoqiao immediately scowled, her demeanor arrogant. "What... you dare to show disdain for dishes bestowed by the Noble Consort?" "These are two of the Noble Consort’s favorite dishes. Don’t be ungrateful!" she continued, her words firing off like a string of firecrackers. "Her Ladyship also said that I am to personally watch Consort Yun Pin consume them!" With that, she smirked. "Cai Die, aren’t you going to serve your mistress?" Lying on the bed, Consort Yun Pin watched the malicious palace maid with cold eyes. Her heart felt as if it were being sliced by knives. After all, I served her for so long. She already beat me. Does she have to be so ruthless? Can’t she leave me a way to live? Cai Die continued to plead, "It’s too spicy! Our mistress cannot eat it!" "Is your mistress more precious than the Noble Consort?" she retorted, showing no sign of backing down. Consort Yun Pin felt utterly disheartened. Forget it! If I must eat, I’ll eat... "Cai Die, stop begging her. Bring the dishes here. I will eat!" Consort Yun Pin glared. "I told you to bring them here!" Cai Die was terrified. Biting her lip, she had no choice but to bring over the two fiery dishes. Consort Yun Pin coughed repeatedly from the intense spice. "My Lady, perhaps you shouldn’t eat it!" Consort Yun Pin said nothing. She took a deep breath, picked up her chopsticks, and forced herself to eat. The red, oily sauce dripped from her collar, puddling on the floor. She ate little, but spilled a great deal. Consort Yun Pin wasn’t entirely foolish. Qiaoqiao shot her a cold glance but said nothing more. She collected the dishes, snorted, and then took her leave. Consort Yun Pin knelt on the floor, her gaze vacant. Cai Die was horrified. "Your Highness, what’s wrong? I’ll call the Imperial Physician at once!" Consort Yun Pin scoffed. "Don’t bother inviting their disdain!" With that, she staggered to her feet. "For now, our only option is to endure! As long as we are alive, there is always a chance!" Cai Die dared not speak. She helped Consort Yun Pin sit down and gently wiped the sauce from her face with a handkerchief. Only then did she see that Consort Yun Pin’s lips were already swollen. "Get some ice to apply to them!" Finding ice in the dead of winter was hardly a difficult task. Cai Die went out in search of some. In the Harem, some prospered while others suffered; this was a common occurrence. In any case, on the surface, everyone was busily preparing for the New Year with lively festivities and colorful lanterns. 「In the Imperial Study Room, however, the atmosphere was somewhat tense.」 Zhao Junyao stared at a memorial, his expression icy. Li Shengan scurried in.