In the main hall of the palace, the Empress Dowager prepared a cup of honey tea by herself and told her son to drink up. "I heard you've only slept for a few hours these past few nights. Both the Grand Empress Dowager and I feel very worried about you. Just because you're young doesn't mean you should neglect your health like that." She continued, "The Grand Empress Dowager worries about you everyday. She can't sleep well when she sees that the lanterns in your palace are still lit."
Xuanye got down on his knees to beg forgiveness immediately. The Grand Empress Dowager pulled him up immediately. Taking her grandson's hand, she said, "You aren't in the wrong. I worry about my grandson, just like you worry about your country and your subjects."
After that, they chatted about household affairs for a while longer. At that moment, Consort Zhao showed up to pay respects to the two older women, and Xuanye decided to take his leave. Although she felt rather dejected at his departure, she was too afraid to show her true feelings in front of the old ladies, and kept a smile on her face.
When Consort Zhao finally left, the Empress Dowager turned to the Grand Empress Dowager and said, "Mother, from what I've observed, the Emperor seems rather cold towards Consort Zhao. What a pity—she's been so busy managing the Six Palaces recently."
The Grand Empress Dowager clicked the Buddha Beads in her hands and replied blandly, "The Emperor's affections will come when they do."
Because it was the Emperor's men who had sent her back, and because Second-Class Female Attendant Bu had arrived to save her in the nick of time, Aunt Wang didn't manage to torture Lanqi as much as she would've liked. However, Aunt Wang wouldn't give up so easily. Lanqi became even more careful in her work so Aunt Wang didn't have an excuse to bully her. Three days later, she got better and got back to working at full capacity again. Thankfully, with Second-Class Female Attendant Bu around to protect her, she didn't suffer much.
However, there were a few facts she decided to keep hidden from Second-Class Female Attendant Bu—the fact that the eunuchs came from the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and that it was the Emperor who had ordered them to go to her rescue.
"The Emperor is such a kind person..." Every time she remembered that matter, Lanqi couldn't help but sigh. She still couldn't forget that heart-wrenching image of the Emperor as he stood in the rain. These two incidents rose up to the front of her mind often, arresting her senses with delight.
Soon enough, it was the twelfth day of the Lunar New Year again. Snow fell upon the Forbidden City, enveloping it in blankets of white and silver. Winter in the palaces was always much more beautiful than the summer, when sweltering heat threatened to drown them in sweat. In winter, the white snow piled onto tiled rooftops and crystallized in icicles that hung from the beams.
That day, there was an important announcement in the imperial court. The Emperor had decided to take a personal trip down to Yangtze to calm the Revolt of the Three Feudatories. The officials at the court begged him not to go, and even submitted a memorial to the Grand Dowager Empress to plead with her to counsel him. She summoned him to her quarters and advised him for half a day before he finally relented. The officials let out a sigh of relief.
A little past noon, the Imperial Academy of Medicine suddenly announced that Noble Lady Rong was pregnant again. The mood in the harem changed instantly.
At the Palace of Accumulated Purity, Second-Class Female Attendant Bu oversaw Lanqi as she prepared gifts for Noble Lady Rong. It was a fine line to tread between giving too little and giving too much, and Second-Class Female Attendant Bu felt a headache coming on.
When Aunt Wang came in and saw this, she said sulkily, "I must advise you not to head there today, Second-Class Female Attendant Bu. Why should you go there and watch another person bask in their own glory?"
Second-Class Female Attendant Bu was infuriated. She started arguing with Aunt Wang, which was very unusual for her. "Noble Lady Rong has been nothing but kind to me. No matter how much glory she gets, I must make sure to go over and congratulate her. Since it makes you so displeased, Aunt Wang, you can stay behind while I go."
Aunt Wang was someone who bullied the weak and feared the strong. Seeing that Second-Class Female Attendant Bu was really angry this time, she stopped sprouting nonsense. Putting on a serious expression, she said hastily, "I don't mean that, Mistress. Noble Lady Rong's place must be so crowded now—I daresay even the emperor is there too. It would have been alright if you went earlier, but now is simply not a convenient time. If you happen to bump into the emperor, some people might say it's a coincidence, but others might start a rumor that you're only going there to suck up to the emperor. Why risk your reputation like this? It won't do you any good."
Her words made some sense. Second-Class Female Attendant froze when she heard this. Muttering slightly to herself, she said, "Yes, I should go there in a few days. If I really bump into the emperor, Noble Lady Rong might think I have other intentions..."
Aunt Wang approached the gifts and took a good look at all the items. None of them were particularly interesting, but all of them seemed fine. Thinking that she should go over to Noble Lady Rong's place and claim some credit herself, Aunt Wang decided to volunteer to make this trip.
Before she could speak, however, Second-Class Female Attendant Bu called out to Lanqi. "Hurry up and go hand these gifts to Noble Lady Rong now. Tell her I'll be there in two days. Noble Lady Rong knows you, so there's a good chance she'll let you in and listen to your explanation. If not, it's alright. Go now and return early."
"Got it." Lanqi obeyed her instantly. Without stopping to look at Aunt Wang's expression, she took the basket of gifts and left. However, Second-Class Female Attendant Bu saw the way Aunt Wang's face clouded over and felt a little happy about it, although she quickly pretended as though she didn't see it.
After leaving the Palace of Accumulated Purity, Lanqi arrived at Noble Lady Rong's palace with the basket of gifts. She had made her way down these alleyways in the dark before, so she was no longer afraid of getting lost in them in the middle of the day.
Aunt Wang was right. The moment Noble Lady Rong's palace came into view, Lanqi spotted the Emperor making his way out of her lodgings. She quickly went to kneel by the side of the alleyway with her head bowed, only looking up when his entourage had walked by her.
Lanqi suddenly recalled the beautiful memory of the day when she had lugged that bag of charcoal around the castle. She couldn't stop herself from watching as the Emperor went further and further away from her. Although she couldn't see him at all, it didn't stop her from staring at his entourage dazedly. She finally snapped out of her reverie and hurried on with her business when Jixin called out to her. "Lanqi, come on over!"
Meanwhile, Xuanye had returned to the Palace of Heavenly Purity. As he was putting on his clothes in a side chamber, Head Eunuch Li came towards him with a cup of tea in his hands. "The imperial astronomers have selected the nineteenth day of this month as the most auspicious day."
Xuanye nodded. He took a sip from the teacup and handed it back to Head Eunuch Li. He seemed to recall something suddenly, and turned to Head Eunuch Li again. "There was a maid standing by the roadside when we left Noble Lady Rong's palace. I think I've seen her somewhere before. Did you see her, too?"