"She's merely relying on her family's power!"
Empress Fan was descended from a family of meritorious service. Her father, General Fan, was a first-rank general personally appointed by the late emperor, commanding substantial troops to defend the borders. The Fan family's power and prestige in the imperial court could be said to be second to none.
With his daughter in the palace as Empress, would General Fan dare to rebel? The late emperor's move was truly ingenious!
As for Noble Concubine Shih…
In the imperial court, it was most taboo for one family to become too dominant. Naturally, the Emperor needed to cultivate another family to rival them.
Only through mutual checks and balances could he, the Emperor, reap the rewards while they contended.
Noble Concubine Shih's father, Grand Tutor Shih, was the Empress Dowager's own younger brother. Moreover, Noble Concubine Shih and the Emperor had shared a close childhood bond. Her ascension to Empress had been considered a certainty. However, the late emperor decreed a marriage, making the Fan family's daughter the Crown Princess Consort.
Even a duck served on a platter could fly away, leaving the entire Shih family simmering with indignation.
With a grand gesture, Zhao Junyao conferred the title of Noble Consort upon the Shih family's daughter. He lavished her with countless graces and favors, which greatly reassured the Shih family and reignited their ambition.
One led the military officials, the other, the civil officials. They constantly glowered at each other, unable to see eye to eye—a perfect system of mutual checks and balances! This was precisely what the Emperor desired.
Such maneuvering, such profound calculation! Xia Ruqing was genuinely impressed.
"Zi Yue, tomorrow, have the Respectful Affairs Office remove my name tablet. Say I'm ill; we'll hang it back up in half a month."
After giving her instructions, Xia Ruqing picked up an exquisite pastry and put it in her mouth.
Whether it's the Empress or Noble Concubine Shih, the Emperor won't make a move against them for now. She couldn't afford to provoke them, but she could certainly avoid them!
"My Lady?" Zi Yue and Xiao Xizi stared at each other, wide-eyed. "My Lady, are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
"I'm not feeling unwell," Xia Ruqing stated calmly.
The two were startled for a moment, then wisely refrained from asking further.
「Xifu Palace」
Early in the morning, Noble Concubine Shih was in a terrible mood.
The Emperor refused to touch her. There had to be a reason. It wasn't until a young eunuch under Li Shengan delivered a stack of calligraphy practice sheets that she finally understood.
So it was Lady Xia who has been secretly undermining me! That damned wretch!
Noble Concubine Shih was seething with uncontrollable anger, feeling utterly humiliated.
"Your Highness, please drink some tea to calm your nerves," Ying Yue hurriedly offered.
Noble Concubine Shih snatched the teacup angrily, and the next second, it crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.
"I punished her, yet she dared to tattle to the Emperor! Such audacity!" Noble Concubine Shih fumed, her chest heaving.
Her gaze then fell upon the top few sheets, filled with calligraphy that possessed strong, elegant strokes—the Emperor's handwriting. They had studied together since childhood; of course, she recognized it.
Noble Concubine Shih instantly pictured the Emperor and Lady Xia leaning intimately together as they practiced calligraphy, and a dull ache spread through her heart.
She has no virtue, no talent! How dare she present such wretched scrawl alongside the Emperor's calligraphy! Utterly shameless!
I punished her only once, yet she feigned illness and complained to the Emperor, making me lose face twice! Noble Concubine Shih gritted her teeth.
If I don't deal with her this time, won't I become a laughingstock to a mere Honored Lady?!
"Your Highness, please calm down!" Ying Yue urged anxiously. "You mustn't!"
"What? Can I, a Noble Consort, not even handle a mere Honored Lady?" Noble Concubine Shih narrowed her eyes.
"Your Highness, why should we risk the Emperor's displeasure over a mere Honored Lady?"
Ying Yue's words made Noble Concubine Shih pause.
Seeing her mistress waver, Ying Yue pressed on. "The Emperor is still intrigued by her for now, so let's not act rashly. Once he casts her aside, arranging her death would be simple enough!"
Noble Concubine Shih narrowed her eyes. After a long moment, she bit out coldly, "I may not kill her, but this humiliation—I cannot swallow it!"
"Rest assured... I won't do it myself!"
"Your Highness is wise!" Ying Yue breathed a small sigh of relief.
「The next morning」
Xia Ruqing was "bedridden with illness."
The Empress, ever magnanimous, excused her from paying respects and even sent medicinal herbs, instructing her to recuperate well.
Zhao Junyao only found out in the afternoon when he was preparing to choose a consort for the night by flipping the name tablets.
"Where is Lady Xia's tablet?"
He was starting to miss that little imp. When other women attended him in bed, they were invariably submissive! Submissive! And more submissiveness! That little imp wasn't like that. If he hurt her, she would bite him, her large, watery eyes fixed on him. When aroused, she would squint her almond-shaped eyes, her face a picture of pleasure, soft moans escaping her lips. She responded to him with an inexperienced yet bold eagerness, entirely free of artifice. For the first time, he felt his efforts weren't unreciprocated.
"Your Majesty, Lady Xia is ill! The Respectful Affairs Office has withdrawn her tablet in accordance with the rules."
"Ill?" Zhao Junyao frowned. "Send an Imperial Physician to examine her."
"Yes! This servant will see to it immediately!"
After finishing her evening meal, Xia Ruqing was engrossed in a book titled "Records of the Chu Dynasty's Territories," struggling to get through it.
Zi Yue suddenly hurried in from outside. "My Lady, Eunuch Little Zhuzi has arrived with an Imperial Physician! He's here to take your pulse."
Little Zhuzi was Li Shengan's apprentice, mainly responsible for running daily errands.
"Show them in," Xia Ruqing said, putting down her book.
Zi Yue hesitated. "My Lady? Should you... perhaps... pretend..."
This Imperial Physician was sent by the Emperor. Her Ladyship's complexion is quite good; she doesn't look sick at all. If this is discovered, it's deceiving the sovereign!
"No need!" Xia Ruqing was decisive.
Play games with the Emperor? Isn't that courting death? It's better to let him know frankly that I'm feigning illness, that I can't yet bear such intense favor! The Emperor is the Son of Heaven, his magnanimity vast enough to encompass the world. He wouldn't stoop to arguing with a mere woman, especially one who is... appealing to him for help by showing weakness! If he's willing to offer me even a sliver of protection, how could I worry about my future prospects? Only a risky gambit can lead to an unexpected victory!
Xia Ruqing gave Zi Yue a reassuring glance.
The Imperial Physician who arrived was a young man surnamed Qin.
"This humble servant pays his respects to the Honored Lady."
"Doctor Qin, you are too kind." Xia Ruqing, with a rosy complexion and neatly dressed, was all smiles and grace.
Doctor Qin took her pulse with great care. After a quarter of an hour, he finally withdrew his hand.
"The Honored Lady has caught a slight chill, but it's nothing serious. This humble servant will write a prescription. The Honored Lady may take two doses if she wishes, or not, if she prefers. Simply pay attention to staying warm and to your diet," Doctor Qin said very politely.
"Thank you for your trouble, Doctor Qin," Xia Ruqing replied with a smile.
"The Honored Lady is too kind. If there is nothing else, this humble servant shall take his leave."
"Zi Yue, please see Doctor Qin and Eunuch Little Zhuzi out," Xia Ruqing instructed with a smile.
Zi Yue acknowledged, taking out two hefty purses, and graciously saw both men out.
Little Zhuzi, feeling the weighty purse in his hand, was somewhat perplexed. "Miss Zi Yue, isn't the Honored Lady ill? How should this servant report back?"
Zi Yue pursed her lips into a smile. "Naturally, you report what you saw."
Zhao Junyao listened to the reports from Li Shengan and Doctor Qin, his expression calm and unreadable.
Li Shengan was terrified and dared not breathe too loudly. This Lady Xia is far too audacious! Feigning illness to have her tablet removed and avoid serving in the bedchamber is unheard of! I initially thought she was blessed with good fortune, but it turns out she's this muddle-headed!
Unexpectedly, after a moment, the Emperor suddenly commanded, "Send these calligraphy copybooks to her. Also, award her some nourishing tonics and instruct the Imperial Kitchen to attend to her well."
"Ah... Huh?" Li Shengan was too astonished to react immediately.
Zhao Junyao tossed his brush aside impatiently. "What 'huh'? Get going!"