Lanqi was rather afraid that Aunt Wang might wrest the umbrella away from her and ruin in it the process. Thankfully, First-Class Female Attendant Bu followed her out and said by the door, "Lanqi, change your clothes and come sit beside me by the fire." Aunt Wang had no choice but to go and help their mistress back into the house. However, she continued to complain and said, "Mistress, be careful not to stand out in the cold. You might get ill again."
Lanqi ran back into the house to keep the umbrella away. As she was changing her clothes, Panxia came into the room and said angrily, "A few moments after you left, Head Eunuch Li's men came, saying that the Emperor is thinking of our mistress and tells her to recuperate well. That old hag was so delighted that she refused to let me serve our mistress the whole day. She refuses to touch so much as a teacup usually, but she and Jingyan were practically licking our mistress's boots the whole day!"
"Isn't it good that you had a chance to rest today?" Lanqi was feeling rather tired. The entire journey back and forth had taken a great deal out of her.
Perhaps the Emperor had suddenly thought of First-Class Female Attendant Bu when Lanqi told him just now that she was from the Palace of Accumulated Purity.
However, she didn't think it would be wise to mention it to Aunt Wang. She might kick up a fuss over nothing again.
Like that precious umbrella, she would keep that secret to herself.
After the chance meeting with Lanqi, Xuanye had made his way to the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility. He heard that the Grand Empress Dowager had called the princes and princesses over to celebrate the Lunar New Year with them. Thus, he decided to join the happy crowd as well, and make his grandmother happy in the process.
The Eldest Prince had just turned three years old. His cute manner of speaking made the Empress Dowager extremely delighted. Xuanye found his oldest son adorable as well, and took his hand to teach him to write a few characters. The little boy looked on patiently and tried to copy his father's brushstrokes.
After that, the wet nurses led the children back to the Princes' Palace for their afternoon nap. The Grand Empress Dowager took her grandson's hand and said, "I don't need you around now. Since the snow seems to have let up a little, why don't you visit the others in their palaces instead?" She continued in a lecturing tone, "I know you're still sad about Empress Xiaochengren, but you must get a hold of yourself. I want more great-grandchildren. If the palace is livelier and filled with more youthful energy, your grandmother might live to a longer age."
Xuanye smiled and said, "I'll keep your words in mind, Grandmother."
He had only said that to put a stop to her nagging—the Grand Empress Dowager understood that.
She often closed one eye as the Empress Dowager quietly helped Consort Zhao out. After all, it was a small matter in the grand scheme of things. She had survived and triumphed in the past, and the natural that the younger girls had to follow in her footsteps if they wanted to do so, too.
When the Emperor left, Aunt Sumala helped the Grand Empress Dowager return to her bedchamber for an afternoon nap. When the Grand Empress Dowager asked about Consort Zhao, Aunt Sumala replied, "The Empress Dowager has put in a great deal of effort, but the Emperor continues to regard Consort Zhao very coldly. If this continues, it will only embarrass Consort Zhao, and the Empress Dowager might decide to give up on her."
"That daughter-in-law of mine is rather pitiful, too," the Grand Empress Dowager mused, referring to the Empress Dowager. "She finally decided to give Consort Zhao a leg up, but it only drove a deeper wedge between the Emperor and Consort Zhao."
As she leaned against her pillow, the Grand Empress Dowager continued, "However, it's good that Consort Zhao knows not to be too impatient. Otherwise, it would be useless for her to go to anyone for help. The Emperor is even more stubborn than his father, but he's still young, and is keeping a good hold on his temper."
Aunt Sumala knew what her mistress was worried about—she would probably that her grandson would go down the same slippery slope Shunzhi Emperor had when he lost his Empress Xiaoxian. That was why the Grand Empress Dowager had carefully selected Noble Lady Rong and First-Class Female Attendant Dong and placed them by the Emperor's side.
"Head Eunuch Li is keeping a look-out as always." Aunt Sumala tucked the covers securely around the Grand Empress Dowager. "I'll be keeping an eye on the palace maids, too—if there's a suitable one among them, I'll bring her to you right-away. Your humble servant knows the conditions you have for the new concubines—they don't have to be too smart, but they have to be able to share His Majesty's burden and know how to toe the line."
The Grand Empress Dowager lay on her bed and mumbled, "The ones who are too smart tend to have the wildest ambitions, and those who have the wildest ambitions often lead the shortest lives..."