Lanqi merely laughed and didn't say anything. Xuanye turned around and gazed at her. Finding her expression adorable, he wrapped his arms around her and gushed, "What about a hug? You won't feel cold anymore?"
Quietly, Lanqi asked, "Then won't you be cold, Your Majesty?"
Xuanye pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "With you by my side, how could I ever be cold?"
The two of them sat around and chatted for a while. Xuanye passed Lanqi a handwarmer so her hands wouldn't freeze in the cold weather. Afterwards, Lanqi helped him to wash up and change into his bedclothes. Xuanye asked her if she ate well for dinner. Lanqi replied in slightly proud tone that the Grand Empress Dowager had taken a dislike to the deer meat Xuanye sent over, and gifted it all to Lanqi.
"I shot and killed that deer personally," Xuanye replied, sounding very proud. He had been wondering if Lanqi got to try a bite of it at all. The girl looked small and skinny, but she had an almost ghoulish love for meat. Every time they had a meal together, Xuanye had to practically force a few pieces of vegetable onto her plate.
Because he was so happy tonight, Xuanye had ordered a flask of deer blood wine for himself. He was feeling a little buzzed, and with the cute girl next to him, he couldn't keep his hands off her at all.
The tent wasn't as soundproof as the palace halls in the Forbidden City. Every small gust of wind outside could be heard inside the tent. Lanqi couldn't help but feel a little ashamed, and she showed it in bed. Xuanye thought this adorable. The night was long, and he was young and hot-blooded—Lanqi suffered a great deal that night.
In the past, only the empress was allowed to share Xuanye's tent during hunting trips. Even if Noble Lady Hui and Noble Lady Rong was the most favored concubine of the season, they dared not break that rule. Now that Empress Xiaochengren was gone, Xuanye was slowly recovering from his grief. Consort Zhao was in charge of managing the harem, but Xuanye seemed determined to keep her out of his tent. This made her the laughing stock of the harem.
The next morning, Consort Zhao woke up early and got dressed as quickly as she could in order to attend to the Grand Empress Dowager when she woke up. Just as she was combing her hair, however, a palace maid came over and said, "Mistress, Aunt Sumala asks you not to go over. The Grand Empress Dowager will see you on the journey back to the palace."
Seeing the frown on Consort Zhao's face, Dongyun asked coldly, "Then who's attending to the Grand Empress Dowager?"
"First-Class Female Attendant Wu," the palace maid replied. "She went over early in the morning." With that, she curtseyed and left the hall hurriedly.
Consort Zhao had been holding an ivory comb in her hand. Now, as she clenched her fist around it, its teeth dug into her palm, creating a row of angry red marks. Dongyun snatched it away from her in alarm—thankfully, no blood had been drawn. Dongyun knelt down and pleaded, "Please think more optimistically, Mistress."
"He's fond of the new and neglectful of the old—that I know very well. It's been so many years, and I can't be bothered anymore," Consort Zhao hissed, her eyes flashing with rage. "But why does the Grand Empress Dowager humiliate me so? Back when Empress Xiaochengren was around, she treated me very nicely. Now that she's gone, the Grand Empress Dowager is choosing to take the side of a puny maid instead of mine! What have I done wrong? I've managed the harem better than anyone who came before me. How much more do I have to tolerate? Can I only grit my teeth and watch as those wretched women laugh at me behind my back?"
Dongyun felt a little panicked. This time, Consort Zhao might not be able to tolerate it anymore.
Lanqi had left Xuanye at the crack of dawn and made her way to the Grand Empress Dowager's tent. The older woman sighed, praising her for being so diligent even after attending to the Emperor yesterday night. She insisted that Lanqi accompanied her for breakfast, and share her carriage when they returned to the palace. Lanqi had no choice but to agree.
When everyone was preparing to embark on the journey home, Xuanye came to help his grandmother onto the carriage. With all the concubines around, Lanqi didn't dare to make herself conspicuous. Xuanye turned around and chastised, "What are you doing? Didn't Grandmother ask you to accompany her?"
Consort Zhao suddenly stepped forward. Smiling gently at Xuanye, she volunteered, "Your Majesty, I'm willing to accompany the Grand Empress Dowager in her carriage too."
Everyone turned to look at Consort Zhao. Xuanye glanced at her and said blandly, "Grandmother doesn't like people crowding around her. Just First-Class Female Attendant Wu will be enough."