"If I manage to recover by then, I'll definitely come along with you. Otherwise, with my twisted ankle, I'll only be creating trouble for everyone—the Grand Empress Dowager will be the one fussing over me instead of the other way around!" Lanqi put on a serious expression as she looked at Xuanye. "Don't you agree, Your Majesty?"
Xuanye looked very displeased, but there was nothing he could do about it. Calling Huanchun and the other palace maids over, he ordered them to take good care of Lanqi. Seeing that the Emperor hadn't said a word about Noble Lady An, everyone guessed that he was either in the dark about the altercation this morning, or too reluctant to bring it up. Breathing a sigh of relief, everyone decided unanimously to keep quiet about the matter.
Xuanye stayed for another hour to coax Lanqi to sleep before he finally left. Throughout his entire time in the Palace of Accumulated Purity, he never so much as glanced towards the eastern hall of the palace. To him, First-Class Female Attendant Bu was practically non-existent.
First-Class Female Attendant Bu didn't seem to mind. On the other hand, there were those around her who were slightly more daring with their words. Aunt Wang complained that her Mistress was useless. "Remember how she used to cajole you into listening to her every word? I knew then that she wasn't a simple person. I was right, wasn't I? Look how she flirts and prances around in front of the Emperor to make him happy. She didn't mention you to him even once."
Next to her, Jingyan added haughtily, "Because she used to be your palace maid, she tries to act all chummy with you. We all live under the same roof, but she's the one who enjoys all the goodies, and we're left to pick at her leftovers! So much for the both of you being sisters."
Panxia was itching to yell back at her, but First-Class Female Attendant Bu shot her a look to shut her up. After Aunt Wang and Jingyan left, she finally said, "Don't start a fight with them. If you cause a commotion, Lanqi will be worried again, and don't you think she has worried enough for me as it is? Don't worry, I know my place within this palace—do you think I need an old fogey like Aunt Wang to remind me? She can shoot her mouth off for all she likes. You should learn from Lanqi—sometimes, retreating means victory."
Panxia smiled brightly at her. Admiringly, she said, "You've changed so much from your weak, gentle ways! Listen to yourself and your huge maxims. I can barely recognize you nowadays, Mistress."
First-Class Female Attendant Bu smiled, too. "Yes, I think I have been more cheerful of late. Maybe it's because I've finally found a pillar of strength within these palace walls."
In the Palace of Earthly Honor, Dongyun was telling Consort Zhao about the Emperor's visit to the Palace of Accumulated Purity. Consort Zhao laughed coldly when she heard about it. "See? Didn't I tell you that we can't afford to ruffle the feathers of that little hussy? She's quite something, I must say. Noble Lady An went and caused trouble for her, and she found a way to get the Emperor's attention immediately! Gosh, is being fake and pretentious the only thing she knows how to do?"
Dongyun continued, "What about the horse-riding expedition two days after tomorrow? How should we make arrangements?"
"Arrangements?" Consort Zhao's eyes flickered with amusement as a sinister grin appeared on her face. "Noble Lady Rong is pregnant, so she won't be able to go, of course. First-Class Female Attendant Dong has always been sickly, so she'll be staying in the palace too. The others are all bouncing with health, so they should all go, I suppose."
"Mistress, about Noble Lady Rong and First-Class Female Attendant Dong..." Here, Dongyun paused delicately.
Consort Zhao put away the account books that the Imperial Household Department had sent over. Laughing darkly, she replied, "Yes, I think it's about time the two of them fought it out." She shot a gaze at Dongyun. "Send someone to tell First-Class Female Attendant Dong that her late daughter's death anniversary coincides with Noble Lady Rong's birthday this year. Since Noble Lady Rong is pregnant, we will only be celebrating her birthday. We'll do away with the death anniversary commemoration this year."
Dongyun's eyes danced with malice. "Got it, Mistress."
The next two days flew by in a rush. Lanqi's foot had recovered somewhat, and she was able to walk again. The Grand Empress Dowager insisted on making her come along on the expedition trip, which lifted Xuanye's mood tremendously.
The day of the expedition finally came. The procession was so large that it took them nearly half a day to make it out of the Forbidden City. Lanqi and Aunt Sumala walked next to the Grand Empress Dowager, helping her make her way down the road slowly. The Grand Empress Dowager took Lanqi's hand and said fondly, "I'm keeping you by my side in case the Emperor starts fussing over you again. That would be alright usually, but since everyone is here today, that won't do. You must understand that."
Lanqi knew exactly what she meant. Smiling, she replied, "I'm happy to be here with you, Your Highness."
Aunt Sumala joined in the fun. "Well, in my opinion, the Emperor doesn't look happy at all!"
Lanqi's face flushed scarlet as she bowed her head in silence. The Grand Empress Dowager saw this and threw her head back in laughter.
At the front, Head Eunuch Li heard about this and reported it to the Emperor. In a slightly proud voice, Xuanye replied, "Who said she's well-loved by Grandmother because I'm biased towards her? Everyone in the palace likes her precisely because she's likeable."