Everyone thought this was the Empress Dowager’s silent retaliation. By rights, such a grand occasion, it would be surprising for the Empress Dowager not to return to the palace to celebrate. Yet, the second day after the message arrived, not only did the Empress Dowager not issue an edict to return to the palace to visit, but she grew even more gravely ill. All the Imperial Physicians in the traveling palace were confined to the courtyard, diagnosing her day and night. But after all the diagnoses, no conclusions were reached. Including Princess Consort Yi, everyone thought that Lin Wanyi had truly run into a gunshot." "So what if she gave birth to a dragon and phoenix? The Empress Dowager dislikes her to this extent; she won’t have a good future." It was Lady Chu who said this, sitting at Princess Consort Yi’s place, complaining full of grievances. Regarding this news, she hated it so much that she gritted her teeth. Gave birth to a son and a daughter, and was promoted to consort. Truly very fortunate indeed. It’s just a pity, the Emperor currently likes her, but the Empress Dowager is not satisfied. Thinking of this, Lady Chu felt a burst of happiness. Sitting beside her is Lady Jinxiu. She initially hoped to return once more to the traveling palace for another promotion in rank. Now it’s all for naught, fetching water with a basket. Lin Wanyi has already climbed to the rank of consort, but she’s still an ordinary lady. What’s the use even with a title? Still can’t even see the Emperor’s face. If a year ago she had the ambition to climb up, now she feels it’s meaningless. As long as she can hold onto this big tree of Princess Consort Yi, and live steadily in the harem, that will do. Therefore, she did not participate in Lady Chu’s topic. Silently sitting, listening, without saying a word. Regarding Lady Chu’s words, Princess Consort Yi was obviously skeptical. Twin births, and they turned out to be twins. And Doctor Dou didn’t discover this earlier? How could they wait until after the birth to announce it to the world? This way, she seemed somewhat passive. Princess Consort Yi Ning, in terms of title, Lin Wanyi is half a rank higher than her, which is simply a joke. In the palace for only a year and a half, she climbed above her, quite remarkable. Previously, she underestimated the luck of Princess Consort Yi Ning, how could it be so good. Smoothly climbed all the way up. Princess Consort Yi had much confusion in her heart, and Lady Chu was still blathering away. Eventually, Princess Consort Yi impatiently drove her out, leaving her with a loss of face. Having been thwarted at Princess Consort Yi’s place, Lady Chu had nowhere to vent, so she turned to Lady Jinxiu. Leaving the courtyard, she arrogantly said. "Lady Jinxiu, you really let down your title. Both have double-character titles, look at her, already consort, but you, still a little lady, not even considered a minor concubine, truly disgraceful." Lady Jinxiu, being reproached this way, felt uncomfortable in her heart. But had no words to retort. After all, considering their family backgrounds and status, she could only silently endure Lady Chu’s insults. People are like that, a fist hitting cotton doesn’t feel much. Having spoken a good while without seeing any reaction from He Shi, she couldn’t be bothered to continue speaking. "Forget it, rather than wasting words here with you, it’s better to go back and enjoy a bowl of cold berry ice, let’s go, Yingshuang." Yingshuang, originally a palace maid bestowed by Princess Consort Yi to Lady Chu, was known for her stability, reliability, and non-aggressive temperament. Hearing Lady Chu shouting at Lady Jinxiu, she initially intended to offer some comfort. But hearing that the Marquis of Northwest had returned, she reckoned the situation in the palace was about to change significantly. At such times, it’s not wise to offend the concubines from the Northwest faction. So she didn’t say much. Yet Lady Jinxiu was not someone who could be easily molded, naturally keeping the resentment in her heart. "Just wait and see, when the time comes for your fall, don’t blame me for stepping on you!" With that, she snorted coldly and walked away in the opposite direction. In Princess Consort Ying’s courtyard now, it’s no better than the courtyard where the Empress Dowager resided. Boiling medicine morning and evening, Doctor Dou frequently coming and going. Since her illness, it’s been over two months. Fluctuating, on and off. Still as before, when madness strikes, no one can stop her, but when she returns to normal, she is gentle and kind. Those serving her, Rong Le and Rong Jia, grow increasingly distressed by the day. In private, they’ve discussed. "Her Ladyship’s illness came on fiercely, yet how did it drag on for two or three years with the Eldest Young Master Pei? Her condition seems much worse." "What should we do? Outside the palace, Master’s leg injury hasn’t healed, and in the palace, the Fourth Prince is in such a state, we dare not inform Her Ladyship here, truly putting us in a difficult position." They grew up with Princess Consort Ying, never having experienced significant upheavals in their lives. Content orıginally comes from 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚•𝙣𝙚𝙩 Sailing smoothly for over twenty years, yet now faced with internal and external trouble, they found themselves at a loss. The two were talking when Doctor Dou arrived. They went up to him and said. "Doctor Dou, Her Ladyship takes medicine daily; why isn’t she getting better? She just went mad again, smashing quite a few teacups. At this rate, don’t mention serving the Emperor; even if she isn’t banished to the Cold Palace, it would be thanks to the Bodhisattva’s blessing. Please, be charitable, and take a good look at our Lady." Doctor Dou, upon hearing this, was also in a difficult position. He had investigated thoroughly and found that before the deaths of Mrs. Pei’s parents, they too had experienced similar madness. However, the elder couple died in an accident, so not many outside knew of it. And the Eldest Young Master Pei had once injured his head, and it was only afterward that fragmented symptoms appeared. To the outside, it was claimed to be an attack of a head illness. Additionally, Mrs. Pei and other members of the Ling Family didn’t show anything unusual, so over time, no one paid attention. Until now, after Princess Consort Ying fell ill due to the family’s problem, everyone only realized. Having learned this news, Mrs. Pei was devastated beyond belief. If not for the bedridden husband needing attentive care, she might have been crushed by this blow. Just last year at this time, it was the glory of the Pei Family. Daughter bearing a child, promoted to consort, it seemed the Pei and Ling families were about to rise to great heights together. Who knew the good days didn’t last long, everything changed. "Before the Eldest Young Master Pei went mad, he had once banged his forehead, so I speculate Her Ladyship had her ailment triggered post-delivery, coinciding with the Fourth Prince’s incident. Recently, too many things have happened concerning the Pei Family, causing significant emotional fluctuations in Her Ladyship, which has harmed her heart meridian, aggravating the condition." "So it’s not that I won’t save, but that I’m powerless. What we can do now is to control Princess Consort Ying’s condition, reducing the number of her episodes, but to cure completely, I’m sorry, it’s beyond my ability." Listening to this, Rong Le could only think how unfortunate the people of the Pei Family are. It’s as if they were cursed. Clearly refined and elegant people, how did they end up in such dire straits?