Princess Nuying whose eyes were covered in mist started sobbing, her shoulders shaking miserably. She was way too spoiled to be crying due to a little scolding.
The Empress Dowager wasn't surprised instead she inched closer and patted her daughter's shoulder.
"Ma... Ma..." Her sobs got in the way of her speech as she started stammering.
Hic. Hic. Hic. She started hiccuping.
"Bring water for the princess!" The Empress dowager had to raise her voice so those outside could hear her crystal clear.
A maid came in with a cup of water, passed it to the Empress dowager as the princess continued sobbing.
The maid over-lapped her right hand on the left, bowed and walked out.
It took about fifteen minutes more before the princess could gather her thoughts and herself. "Ma, I'm sorry... I'm really sorry."
"Hmm." Ruolan smiled at her daughter Nuying and Nuying returned the smile to her.
"Ma?" This time she called her in a way that said she wanted to ask for something.
"Hmm?" Ruolan answered.
"What did the Emperor do to deserve such cold treatment from you? You have never been so cold before... I was really scared."
"Cold? What did he do? You are asking the obvious. He placed a ban on your sister-in-law refusing to let anyone visit her. He doesn't want to visit her and doesn't want others to visit her too! Don't tell me you are not aware on the things going on here in the palace?" She narrowed her eyes, "The news of her waking up is spreading around like wild fire but he chose to ignore it! I wonder if they were sworn enemies in their past life. And you don't have to be so scared, my child."
Nuying was nodding as her mother spoke. "Brother Ju-Long is been petty! He surely has something against sister Xiuying that he isn't telling us!" 'Ju-Long was against Xiuying being the Empress but he still married her...' She herself was still young when the marriage happened but still they haven't been any progress in her brother's relationship with the Empress. He treated Xiuying with more respect when the late Emperor was around but now? Nuying sighed.
The Empress Dowager didn't reply merely looking lost in her own world.
Nuying dabbed at her nose which was running water by now and stood up, "I will go along with you Ma, it's only you that can visit her and go against the Emperor's orders so I will tag along. I will leave now and go prepare some fruits for her!"
"Good! Go prepare her fruits and maybe some dried tea leaves."
The princess left smiling.
***
At the Northern palace, Consort Shan was throwing a fit and demanded to have an audience with the Emperor.
She was pacing around her chamber awaiting for the Emperor to grant her request.
Consort Liqiu sat unwavering as she didn't bother the latter. Speaking to her would only agitate her more.
Maid Hong rushed in, "The Emperor doesn't wish to see you my lady." Her maid announced.
Consort Shan was flabbergasted, how could he reject her outright without asking her for what reasons she wanted to see him.
She darted a glance at Liqiu and felt like slapping her. She clenched her fists tightly that her knuckles turned white. "Consort Liqiu..." She called through clenched teeth.
Consort Liqiu stopped her knitting and looked up, her gaze directly shot at Consort Shan.
"Don't give me that look! Let's use this opportunity to our benefit! We need to go seek an audience with the Emperor."
"For what reason? On what ground?" Consort Liqiu asked.
Consort Shan: "You sound preposterous! What do you mean for what reason? Of course, to punish Meiwei... We could say she had the cheek to talk down on us last night and no one can say anything!"
Consort Liqiu: "You have gone mad. Don't include me in your stupid games! You want to make baseless allegations and include me? What if the Emperor finds out? Do you want to be hanged to death? We should be looking for a way to make space for ourselves in the Emperor's heart! Not plotting against that little wench. Be careful or she might be the death of us! I still want to live!"
Consort Shan turned to maid Hong, "Get out!" She was in every way displeased. This was the best opportunity to trap Meiwei but the Emperor rejected her without asking her reasons... It was ridiculously funny how the Emperor didn't agree as if he knew she was plotting something. She bit her lower lip in anger.
She had a well cooked plan to get Meiwei into trouble but now everything dissipated. How annoying.
Liqiu watched her all this while, yes it would be good to get Meiwei into trouble but it would be much better if they could get a spot in the Emperor's heart. 'And now? The Empress has recovered... It's no longer one against six but two against six and the two had much higher chances of having a place in the Emperor's heart... She felt her fears creeping up on her.
***
Xiaofan who had just finished her bathe and breakfast burped in satisfaction.
The maid watched her closely, 'Her manners are dissipating daily' She thought.
Xiaofan felt the maid's eyes on her but decided to ignore her as she stared ahead but she was beginning to get bored in here. "Can we go out? Like take a stroll?"
Maid Yue's soft facial expression changed instantly, "I'm sorry to say that you can't..."
"Hung? I can't? Why can't I?" She asked several questions at once.
The maid ignored her and poured her tea, with a light smile on her face she passed the teacup to Xiaofan but she didn't accept it, instead eyed it dangerously.
Xiaofan looked in-between Maid Yue and the tea multiple times but still didn't accept it.
Maid Yue naturally got tired and put the teacup down. "You can't go out because you are still recuperating!"
"Recovering? From what? Perhaps, a deadly disease?" Xiaofan had gotten closer now looking straight into the maid's eyeballs.