First-Class Female Attendant Dong hung her head miserably. Shooting a glance at Noble Lady Rong, she mumbled, "With all the new faces popping up, you must be having a pretty rough time yourself."
Noble Lady Rong chuckled loudly. "A rough time? Not likely! New girls are always needed to replenish His Majesty's harem, and even the new girls of today will become old and forgotten in the future. Let's just enjoy the pleasures of this palace instead of playing calculating tricks on others. It won't do us any good. Besides, First-Class Female Attendant Wu was a palace maid—she won't be able to rise up in the ranks that much. If she tries too hard to rise above her station, I can't say what might become of her. Back then, the Grand Empress Dowager and Aunt Sumala instructed us to keep our heads down, too. If we lose sight of their teachings, our days on this earth will be numbered."
"I understand that, of course. But—but my poor child..." Here, First-Class Female Attendant Dong started sobbing again, and Noble Lady Rong had to spend the rest of the day comforting her.
Because they pretended to be bitter enemies in front of others, everyone, including Jixin, were in the dark about their true friendship. They discussed how best to keep up the pretense. Just as First-Class Female Attendant Dong stood up to leave, Noble Lady Rong picked up the teacup on the table and flung it onto the floor, where it shattered into pieces. The loud crash sent the palace maids running into the hall in alarm. Noble Lady Rong put on an aloof expression on her face and said coldly, "I knocked it onto the floor by accident. Don't worry your heads about it."
Beside her, First-Class Female Attendant Dong assumed a wronged expression and curtseyed to her. "I'll get going then, Noble Lady Rong."
As soon as she disappeared out of sight, the palace maids quickly swept up the broken porcelain pieces on the ground. Jixin handed a handwarmer to her mistress and said in a low voice, "Did First-Class Female Attendant Dong say those horrible words to you again? Even if she's having a hard time, why should she blame it on you?"
Noble Lady Rong merely sighed darkly. "She is blinded by her grief. Besides, is there a single person in this palace who isn't having a hard time?"
Quietly, Jixin replied, "If there's anyone who isn't, I'm sure Consort Zhao has her eyes fixed on them. Mistress, I feel very worried for First-Class Female Attendant Wu."
Even a palace maid who wasn't involved in the power struggle in the harem was concerned for Lanqi—this was testament to how favored she was. And although Prince Yu of the First Rank and the others teased Xuanye for how much he doted on Lanqi, their words carried a slight warning as well.
Prince Yu of the First Rank and the other had free reign to walk about the palace, which meant they often heard things that Xuanye didn't. The Niohuru clan's desire to have their daughter installed as the new empress was growing stronger than ever. Although a small palace maid like Lanqi didn't pose a threat, Xuanye's indulgence in her was like a slap to the Niohuru clan's face. They pushed for Consort Zhao to become the new empress even more.
The Grand Empress Dowager had proved to be of no help, because she refused to be biased towards a single political family. The Niohuru clan was locked in a stalemate, and after a while, they finally let up on their efforts a little. Now, all they could do was wait for the right timing to come along.
However, even the best timing couldn't triumph over the miracle of Consort Zhao's pregnancy. She had been by the Emperor's side for years, but she had never managed to get pregnant. If she got pregnant now, that would give the Niohuru clan even more leverage.
To get pregnant, Consort Zhao would have to sleep with the Emperor first. However, the Uya girl had appeared out of nowhere and monopolized His Majesty's favor first. Although Lanqi wasn't important enough to be a serious threat, she hindered Consort Zhao from becoming the empress sooner, and for that, the Niohuru clan hated her.
Most of the concubines had accompanied Xuanye to the hunting grounds today. Back when Empress Xiaochengren was around, a cot had been set up for her in Xuanye's tent. Now that she was gone, Consort Zhao was the most senior concubine, and thus most fit to serve Xuanye in his tent. However, Xuanye had been so reluctant to bring her to hunt with him just now, and afterwards, he had abandoned her and returned straight to his tent to rest. It was Prince Gong of the First Rank who had spotted her on their way back and escorted her out of the woods. This was more than Consort Zhao could endure, and a look of displeasure now hung on her face.
Seeing this, the Grand Empress Dowager decided not to bring up the idea of her sharing Xuanye's tent that night.
At night, Xuanye and his brothers started a bonfire that rose almost to the skies, barbequing their catch from earlier that morning.
The Grand Empress Dowager sat with the concubines in a big tent, chatting merrily as they ate. After dinner, everyone left, and only Lanqi and Aunt Sumala remained behind to attend to the older woman.
As they were helping the Grand Empress Dowager to change out of her clothes, a palace maid moved a charcoal briquette into the tent and said, smiling, "Head Eunuch Li is outside. I told him to come in, but he seemed rather hesitant."
Aunt Sumala put up a changing screen for the Grand Empress Dowager before calling for Head Eunuch Li to come in. He bowed deeply and said sheepishly to the Grand Empress Dowager, "His Majesty sends his regards. I heard that you were going to sleep, and I was going to wait till you were asleep before I returned to his side."
The Grand Empress Dowager knew the meaning behind his words. Smiling, she said, "Is he asleep yet?"
"Not yet, Your Highness. Um, the thing is..."
"Oh, that's enough from you. He wanted to know if I was asleep so he could prise First-Class Female Attendant Wu away from me, right?"
Hearing this, Lanqi was so frightened that she made to kneel down immediately. The Grand Empress Dowager stopped her quickly. Grinning, she ordered, "Go on, go on. If you don't go, I doubt he'll be able to sleep tonight. It's rare that we're able to come out for a trip, and even rarer that he isn't burying his head in memorials or books. Serve him well! Be joyful."
"Yes, Your Highness." Lanqi felt exhilarated. As she went out, she spotted Aunt Sumala giggling by the side and flushed violently red. She curtseyed to the Grand Empress Dowager (who was behind the screen), and left with Head Eunuch Li.
As they walked, Head Eunuch Li rubbed his hands together. Lanqi asked in concern, "Were you very cold outside? Go and take a rest, Head Eunuch Li. I'll be with His Majesty."
Head Eunuch Li grinned and replied, "With you around, there would be no place for me anyway."
Lanqi flushed again and kept silent until she stepped into Xuanye's tent. Hearing the rustle, Xuanye thought it was one of Head Eunuch Li's disciples. Annoyed, he snapped, "He's been gone for a long time now. When the hell is he coming back?"
"Your Majesty," Lanqi greeted him tremulously. Xuanye swung around immediately. When he saw that it was his Lanqi, his scowl turned into a smile. He took her head and walked further into the tent. When he felt how cold her hands were, he scolded, "Why didn't you put on a cape before walking all the way here. If you get sick from the cold, you're going to make me worried again."