First-Class Female Attendant Bu was a rather clueless person, so she couldn't understand that Noble Lady Hui had only invited her out of politeness. Quickly, she replied, "That's just as well. I'd like to pay my respects to the Grand Empress Dowager and thank her for her kindness too." She took the Eldest Prince's hand and said, smiling, "Come on, Eldest Prince."
Xuanye arrived in the Palace of Accumulated Purity as quietly and stealthily as a cat prowling in the dark. Because First-Class Female Attendant Bu was out, Aunt Wang was lazing around in her room instead of attending to her duties. When she heard that the Emperor had arrived and she wasn't there to receive him, she was so frightened that she refused to come out of her room at all. She shivered with fear as she heard Head Eunuch Li say coldly, "Why isn't there anyone to receive His Majesty?"
However, Xuanye headed straight for Lanqi's bedchambers. Thinking that Xuanye would only come later on in the day, she had laid out some paper to practice writing. To her horror, the imperial court had dispersed early that morning, and Xuanye had chosen to come straight to her quarters afterwards.
When he came in and felt how cold her hands were, he scowled at her fiercely without saying a word. Seeing the paper on the table, he ordered Lanqi to write a few characters. Nervous and shivering with cold, Lanqi's words, which she had practiced so hard to write, turned out shaky and illegible.
Xuanye grabbed her hand and tried to hit it as punishment, but Lanqi pouted and looked at him with a wronged expression. He asked, "Why did you pretend to be sick in order to avoid me? Have you learnt to be as pretentious as the rest too?"
Lanqi had been feeling very wronged since just now. Xuanye's words made her feel even more upset—since when had she put on pretenses before him? Tears flowed down her cheeks, startling Xuanye greatly. Trying to comfort her, he said, "Can't stand a bit of criticism from me, can you? What should I do with you..."
Seeing this, Head Eunuch Li let out a deep sigh of relief and left the room. Huanchun, Yukui (Jade Chrysanthemum) and Xiangyue (Fragrant Moon) were standing guard outside. Seeing them, he demanded, "Where's the Aunt who's supposed to be in charge around here? Why was nobody around to receive His Majesty when he arrived just now?"
Quietly, Huanchun replied, "Sir, it'd be better not to ask. For the sake of keeping the peace around here, our mistresses know not to stir up trouble with her."
Head Eunuch Li chortled coldly. "The mistresses might do that, but don't forget the rules of this palace. A servant who forgets their place is bound to invite trouble for themselves. I'll remember this matter."
Aunt Wang, who was still hiding in her room, shivered in fear as she heard this. Grabbing her chest to still her heart, she whispered, "I can't stay in the Palace of Accumulated Purity any longer!"
In the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, the Grand Empress Dowager heard about how Xuanye had raced to the Palace of Accumulated Purity as soon as the morning court ended. In her shock, she turned to Aunt Sumala and said haplessly, "This is the first time he hasn't dropped by here first. What are people going to think when they hear about this? You defended his foolishness yesterday, but what are you going to say about his behavior now?"
Noble Lady Hui and First-Class Female Attendant Bu didn't hear any of this. After paying their greetings to the Grand Empress Dowager with the Eldest Prince and sending the boy back to the Princes' Palace, the two of them returned to their palaces. Hearing that Xuanye was going to have lunch at the Palace of Accumulated Purity, however, First-Class Female Attendant Bu looked very awkward indeed.
Left without a choice, Noble Lady Hui could only invite her back to her own palace. In the late evening, when Xuanye finally left, First-Class Female Attendant Bu finally thanked Noble Lady Hui's generosity and returned.
When she left, Noble Lady Hui's maid smiled and said, "Thank goodness First-Class Female Attendant Bu has a pretty good temper. If it was Noble Lady An, she would've went there and caused a huge scene, and the Emperor would only dislike her more."
Noble Lady Hui didn't reply. She picked up the inner shirt she had been embroidering for the Eldest Prince, mulling over Aunt Sumala's words to her earlier on.
She was not a favored concubine, but her son could gain Xuanye's favor and rise above his station one day. It would take years before she could surpass Consort Zhao in ranking—as long as the Eldest Prince wasn't under her care, he could be adopted easily by a higher ranking-concubine. Hence, Noble Lady Hui was determined to live on and protect her son, if only for the sake of her own future.
Severing the needle thread with her teeth, a look of determination flashed in her eyes. The will to protect one's offspring could inspire courage into the weakest person. Noble Lady Hui called her maid over and said, "Where are the donkey-hide gelatin candied dates sent over by the Imperial Household Department yesterday? Wrap them in red paper immediately. I'm paying a visit to the Palace of Accumulated Purity."