Head Eunuch Li smiled and replied, "Unfortunately, First-Class Female Attendant Wu injured her foot a few days ago. Otherwise, she would have made a great riding companion for you, Your Majesty."
Xuanye shook his head, looking rather disapproving. However, his eyes were dancing with delight. "So she has finally learnt how to stay out of trouble! Well, she's still young and learns fast, I suppose."
Hearing Xuanye's comment on Lanqi's age, Head Eunuch Li understood Xuanye's future plans for her immediately. He probably wanted to see how far this girl could progress in the harem, and how high up the ranks she could get. However, Xuanye was a cautious man—Lanqi was born into a low-class family, and her background as a palace maid was something that he couldn't exactly ignore.
The noisy procession filled the entire palace with loud commotion. As they continued out of the palace to the hunting grounds in the Peking suburb, the afternoon sun shone brightly above. The Grand Empress Dowager sent word to say that she wanted to stay the night in a tent before heading back to the palace tomorrow.
Accompanied by Prince Yu of the First Rank and Prince Gong of the First Rank, Xuanye set off hastily for the Grand Empress Dowager's quarters. Almost immediately, another one of her servants arrived with a message from her. "First-Class Attendant Wu is already there to attend to me, so you lot don't have to come. Make sure to send over some of your fresh catch later!"
Prince Yu of the First Rank smiled at the Emperor. "I heard that the new First-Class Female Attendant is bright and capable. Even the Grand Empress Dowager treats her like a biological grand-daughter!"
Xuanye snorted with a prideful smile on his face. "She just knows how to cajole our grandmother, that's all. How dare I compare her to your wife, who is the paragon of virtue herself?"
At that moment, Head Eunuch Li came in and told Xuanye that Consort Zhao had arrived and was seeking an audience with him. Xuanye disliked her, but in front of his siblings and relatives, he had no choice but to show her some respect. He sent for her immediately. A while later, Consort Zhao entered the tent with Dongyun by her side. Today, she had shed her palace attire for her horse-riding gear, which made her look very striking indeed.
Everyone exchanged bows with her. Prince Yu of the First Rank whispered loudly to Xuanye, "I took a glance at my sisters-in-law earlier. I dare not stare openly at the ladies in your harem of course, but I must say that compared to the rest of our wives, Consort Zhao is a woman of unparalleled beauty!"
Consort Zhao had entered the palace ten years ago, and she was familiar with Princes Yu and Gong of the First Rank. Since they were beyond the palace walls now, some of the strict palace rules could be relaxed a little. She laughed and replied, "Your wife just came over to greet me with your new concubine, and the new girl is simply exquisite! Prince Yu, aren't you mocking me by praising me so when you have acquired such a lovely concubine for yourself?"
After chatting for a bit, Consort Zhao finally told Xuanye why she was here. Truthfully, there wasn't an urgent matter—she had only come to greet the extended relatives of the royal family since she knew they were there.
Besides, some of the concubines were itching to go horse-riding. Consort Zhao asked Xuanye to grant them permission to go select their horses.
Prince Gong of the First Rank chuckled. "Consort Zhao, I've heard that you're a good rider. I must see it for myself today."
Consort Zhao snuck a look at Xuanye. Seeing that his expression looked rather neutral, she promised with a smile, "Then you must make sure to open your eyes wide later!"
Xuanye kept quiet by the side. He had no opinion regarding Consort Zhao's conversation with his brothers. After all, one of his wives had to take on the task of bringing the family together, and Consort Zhao was the most senior concubine with the most powerful family background. Although she would never measure up to Empress Xiaochengren, there was no way Xuanye could disregard her even if he wanted to.
After chatting for a while more, Consort Zhao left the tent. Some moments later, Prince Gong of the First Rank and the other princes took their leave, leaving Xuanye and Prince Yu of the First Rank by themselves. Seeing that no one else was around, Prince Yu of the First Rank turned to Xuanye and said, "Alingga has been kicking up a huge fuss of late. If you don't appoint Consort Zhao as your next empress soon, he won't stop pushing the matter."
Xuanye cracked his whip irritably. The loud snap reverberated through the tent, sounding cold and cruel. He shot a look at Prince Yu of the First Rank and scoffed. "Well, let him, I say! Let's see which of us has more patience!"
The Emperor remained in a rather gloomy mood for the rest of the day. Seeing this, Prince Yu of the First Rank was too afraid to bring up the matter anymore. During lunch, the Grand Empress Dowager sent them a pot of soup, saying that it tasted pretty good and that she wanted her grandsons to taste it too.
When Xuanye asked who cooked it, Head Eunuch Li knew he liked it and smiled. "First-Class Female Attendant Wu spent the whole of yesterday night boiling this. Knowing that the hunting grounds are dusty and parched, and that we're probably going to be eating meat for the next few days, she decided to make some soup for the Grand Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager. However, the Grand Empress Dowager thought of all of you and sent some over, too."
As expected, the tension disappeared from Xuanye's face immediately. His face sparkling with joy, he turned to Head Eunuch Li and said in front of his brothers, "Tell her to be careful, too. This place is full of pebbles and stones—she'd better not fall down again."