The eunuch looked rather shocked. Immediately, he asked after Lanqi's health, and wondered aloud if he should send for the imperial doctor. However, Huanchun secretly stuffed a silver ingot into his hands and said, "My mistress is not sick, but tired out from the journey. She suffered from motion-sickness the entire way back. If you send for the imperial doctors, Consort Zhao will be notified, and I dare not disturb her rest at this hour. Sir, please pass on my words to Head Eunuch Li. He'll know what to do."
The eunuch left immediately and told Head Eunuch Li what Huanchun had said. Head Eunuch Li sighed morosely before making his way to Xuanye. When Xuanye saw that he had come without Lanqi, he frowned slightly. Upon knowing that Lanqi wasn't feeling well, he decided to go to the Palace of Accumulated Purity immediately.
However, Head Eunuch Li quickly dissuaded him. "Your Majesty, don't you understand First-Class Female Attendant Wu's intentions? After what happened at the hunting grounds today, Consort Zhao must regard her as a thorn in her side. The harem has its own rules—if you insist on going to the Palace of Accumulated Purity, something bad might happen to First-Class Female Attendant Wu before long."
Xuanye had been rather annoyed to begin with. Hearing this, he flared up immediately. "Since when did that Niohuru woman have a say in who I'm allowed to favor? Back then, she never said a word when the late Empress and I spent time in each other's company. These days, however, she's abusing her position in the harem to get what she wants! In this case, I don't think it's wise to make her the new Empress. Why don't I confer the title on Lanqi instead? I'm the emperor and I'll choose my own wife, so there!"
Head Eunuch Li looked stricken. "Your Majesty, please be careful with your words..."
Xuanye gazed at him, fuming, but he knew Head Eunuch Li was right. Besides, his grandmother's warnings were ringing in his mind. He couldn't afford to hurt Lanqi because of a rash decision. Eventually, he calmed down and ordered darkly, "Send someone to inquire after her health. If she's actually ill, get the imperial doctor to have a look at her immediately."
Head Eunuch Li sighed, relieved that Xuanye had kept his cool. He quickly walked out and told his disciple to run along to the Palace of Accumulated Purity. Still feeling rather worried, he sent his most trusted disciple to the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility to inform the Grand Empress Dowager.
In the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, the Grand Empress Dowager was going to sleep after enduring a whole day of being on the road. She called for Aunt Sumala, but nobody responded. After a while, Aunt Sumala finally came rushing back into the room. The Grand Empress Dowager asked, "Were you suffering from motion-sickness too? I suppose we're both getting on in age."
Aunt Sumala laughed. "I'm perfectly fine, Mistress. Head Eunuch Li's disciple just dropped by with a message. I was going to tell you about it, but I was afraid it might upset you."
The Grand Empress Dowager leaned back against her pillow and chuckled helplessly. "Is the Emperor being foolish again?"
"He only said a few foolish words, but he didn't act on them. He managed to keep his head this time," Aunt Sumala replied blithely, neglecting to mention what the words were. "His Majesty also asks if you are having a good rest."
The Grand Empress Dowager sighed quietly. "You don't have to help cover for him. I raised him personally, and I know exactly what's going on in that mind of his. He adores First-Class Female Attendant Wu, but he still doesn't understand how an emperor ought to protect the woman he loves. He'll just have to suffer the consequences and learn his lesson."
Aunt Sumala nodded and helped her to lie down. Tugging the sheets up to the Grand Empress Dowager's chest, she said, "Are you going to send a few dishes from dinner over to the Palace of Earthly Honor? Even if Consort Zhao has no appetite for them, it would be a gesture of acknowledgement."
"Send it over, then. I can't be bothered to eat them. If I get hungry in the middle of the night, I'll just have porridge from my private kitchen." Here, the Grand Empress Dowager rolled around and fell asleep.
Aunt Sumala sent one of the maids to inform the Imperial Kitchen that the Grand Empress Dowager had gifted Consort Zhao some dishes for dinner. Presently, Dongyun came over and thanked her, saying that Consort Zhao was feeling dizzy from horse-riding. Aunt Sumala told her to take good care of Consort Zhao before sending word to Noble Lady Hui to get her to assist the Grand Empress Dowager's dressing tomorrow morning.
The next morning, Noble Lady Hui turned up at the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility. Aunt Sumala smiled and informed her that the Grand Empress Dowager was still asleep, before serving her tea in a side chamber.
Noble Lady Hui knew why Aunt Sumala had called her there, and began narrating the events in her carriage yesterday. "Aside from Empress Xiaochengren's funeral, yesterday was the first time I ever saw Consort Zhao cry, and it was so heart-wrenching. To put it baldly, I couldn't help but wonder if I'll be in the same position as her one day. However, I managed to make my peace with the whole situation, and she still hasn't."