In Jing Ci Palace, Fang Yi had brought a cup of tea to the Empress. The contents of the cup could be considered medicine, but it also was not medicine. To say that it was not medicine, it did indeed have some health benefits and could prevent illness. This was something that Feng Yuheng had given her. When she left the capital, the Hundred Herb Hall in the capital had also been closed for a period of time. The Empress had been reluctant to drink it that entire time and would occasionally take some of the bitter medical soups that came from the imperial physicians. Now that Feng Yuheng had finally returned, also sending some a few days earlier, the Empress was finally able to let out a sigh of relief and resume taking the medicine on schedule.

  Now, looking at the drink that was both medicine and not medicine, the Empress felt a wave of emotion come from an unknown place, as she said in a daze: “I just hope that I can continue drinking the medicine that girl gives me for a few more years.”


  Fang Yi wanted to advise her not to think about what was and was not there; however, a eunuch in Jing Ci Palace entered while bowed. Arriving before the Empress, he saluted and said: “Your Highness, Noble Lady Yuan has requested an audience.”


  “Noble Lady Yuan?” Fang Yi furrowed her brow, as a feeling of repulsion appeared in her mind, “What has she come for? Your Highness, it’s about time for you to get some rest. Don’t see her. Just have someone send her away.”


  Just as the Empress was about to nod, they heard Noble Lady Yuan’s voice come from the door, and it was getting closer and closer. It was clear that this person did not care whether she agreed or not, as she had already barged in on her own. “This concubine knows that Your Highness the Empress is about to rest, but isn’t it that she still hasn’t laid down! Then speaking with this concubine for a bit will probably be fine.” As she spoke, she had already come closer, bending at the knees and saluting: “This concubine pays respects to Your Highness the Empress.”


  Behind her, Yue Xiu kneeled, but she was feeling quite nervous on the inside. The previous time she had accompanied Noble Lady Yuan to Jing Ci Palace, she had suffered a beating. Although she did not do anything wrong this time, her master had entered without being invited in. If this offended the Empress, the one to be punished and beaten would be her.

  Fortunately, the Empress did not get too angry with their arrival. She just put the cup that she held on the table, but she used a bit too much force, which caused a “clink” sound. But when she spoke up, her tone was even, saying: “You may rise! Since you came to pay respects, sit for a while.” After saying this, she waved her hand, dismissing the eunuch that had come to report.

  Fang Yi brought out a chair for Noble Lady Yuan to sit on and felt a bit awkward. After all, it was clear that she had been heard saying to just dismiss Noble Lady Yuan. To not say anything would not be good, thus she said: “Her Highness the Empress is currently taking her medicine. The doctors all said that she should rest after taking her medicine. Noble lady, please do not get mad.”


  Noble Lady Yuan smiled and said to Fang Yi: “It’s fine. I am just a lowly noble lady and can be dismissed quite easily. Just like with my personal maid, her manners were not up to par and she was given a beating. How could she compare to the people from Her Highness’ side, as they are all precious and cannot be punished.”


  Once these words came out, Fang Yi felt helpless. Noble Lady Yuan was clearly refusing to ease off. Who knew what sort of anger she had come with. Hearing her speak like this, she was currently trying to regain face for her maid! Forget it, looking at the bearing of the two, it would be good if today’s matter was unrelated to the previous matter. It was also difficult for Her Highness the Empress to do. Thus she directly kneeled on the ground and said: “It was this servant that misspoke. Would Your Highness the Empress please hand down punishment.”


  The Empress frowned: “What are you doing?”


  Noble Lady Yuan covered up a smile, “Look! Sure enough, Your Highness the Empress is protecting a shortcoming. It really makes me feel pity for my servant. Last time we came to Jing Ci Palace, she suffered a beating for no reason.”


  “Noble lady, there’s no need to feel grieved.” Fang Yi kowtowed toward the Empress, “This servant will admit this servant’s mistakes and will go out to accept my punishment.” After saying this, she stood up and walked out. Glancing sideways, she saw Yue Xiu faintly smiling from behind Noble Lady Yuan, her expression radiant.

  The Empress had a belly full of anger, which caused her to begin coughing; however, there was nobody to take care of her at her side. Noble Lady Yuan gestured for Yue Xiu to go and help her; however, the Empress waved her hand and said: “I won’t trouble you. This One can’t afford to use your people.”


  Yue Xiu had already taken a couple steps forward and could not help but freeze in the middle upon hearing this. Noble Lady Yuan just shrugged and casually said: “Then Yue Xiu, come back. This is also true. We must not do anything to harm Her Highness the Empress’ important body.” After saying this, she saw the Empress pick her cup up once more. Sniffing the air, she noticed that it did not smell like medicine and could not help but add: “It was just said that you were drinking medicine, but why does it smell sweet? When did the imperial physicians in the palace learn to make sweet medicine?”


  The Empress did not like listening to her speak, but she had already come over. She could not just ignore her, thus she could only say: “This was given by Princess Yu. It did not come from the imperial physicians.”


  “Oh.” Noble Lady Yuan nodded pensively, “No wonder.” Looking after the Empress once more, she pondered for a bit then said: “It seems like Your Highness’ complexion is quite good. Thinking about it, you must be quite carefree, right? It looks like you’ve gotten fatter. The saying that of being contented and letting yourself go, it should be describing people like you.”


  The Empress just could not understand it, “Which eyes are seeing this One as having gotten fatter?” It was clear that she had gotten quite a bit thinner during the past few days. After thinking a bit, it was clear that Noble Lady Yuan had just come to look for trouble, thus she could not be bothered to argue over such a thing. Instead, she directly asked: “To have come to Jing Ci Palace, what exactly are you wanting to say?”


  She then saw Noble Lady Yuan place a hand on her chest and sigh: “Your Highness the Empress is carefree, but this concubine has been feeling more and more troubled, and it’s getting worse with each passing day. Without the former pomp and glamor, nobody wishes to go out and speak with a lowly noble lady. It’s such that I feel so unhappy and have no place to speak about it. Thinking long and hard, I could only shamelessly come and vent my hardship to Your Highness the Empress.”


  “What hardships are you suffering?” The Empress drank the medicinal tea while speaking with her, “Since you’ve already come, even if I don’t want to listen to you, I have no choice. Just stop beating around the bush and speak!”


  Noble Lady Yuan nodded, “Alright, then this concubine will say it. The main reason that this concubine is feeling troubled is a result of my family’s matters. This concubine has a younger sister born of a concubine, and she married into a sixth rank official’s family in Peng Zhou as a secondary wife. Originally, this concubine and second sister were in the palace as imperial concubines, and we could strive to provide our sister with some face, such that she would not be bullied in that manor. But ever since we were demoted, our younger sister in Peng Zhou has been living in worsening conditions, suffering from bullying every day. A while back, this concubine’s niece came into the imperial palace to visit this concubine and spoke of this matter. This concubine agonized over it for many days, unable to eat well nor fall asleep. With this happening, I have become thinner over time.”


  The Empress was completely lost. Were Noble Lady Yuan’s eyes blind or was her heart blind? Could she really not tell the difference between skinny and fat? Looking at this woman, she had become so fat that her face was completely round. It could be seen just how comfortably she had been living, yet she insisted on saying that she had become thinner. Really…… she was helpless and could not bother with arguing, thus she went along with it and said: “No matter what the case, she is the aunt of a prince. How bold is that family to dare to mistreat her?”


  “Hah!” Noble Lady Yuan sighed and said: “Your Highness has truly been in the palace for too long and very rarely have people tell you about the situation outside. You don’t know it, but the large residences are not as peaceful as you would imagine. There are plenty of underhanded tactics.”


  The Empress was really feeling quite unpleasant! There was very rarely anyone to tell her about the situation on the outside? Was this not just mocking her for not having a prince? But what could she say? That was just the truth, and it was because she did not have a prince that she could take the position of empress and remain in this position so steadily for so many years. Once she had a child, the Emperor could not possibly allow her to continue being the empress.

  While she was thinking about this, Noble Lady Yuan’s voice could be heard once more: “This concubine has remained in the position of noble lady for so long and have been obedient this entire time. His Highness the eighth prince was formerly stationed at the border and made great contributions to Da Shun. Even now, he is devoting himself fully to working for His Majesty and sharing his burdens. Your Highness, might I ask, aren’t the people in the capital praising His Highness the eighth prince for thinking of the people?! This concubine was thinking that since His Highness the eighth prince has been thinking so thoroughly on His Majesty’s behalf, could Your Highness think a bit about this concubine?”


  The Empress frowned upon hearing this: “What do you want this One to think about?”


  “Your Highness asks despite clearly knowing.”


  “If you are speaking about your demotion to noble lady, this One is powerless.” She put down the cup and stared at Noble Lady Yuan, saying: “At that time, It was His Majesty who decreed that you be demoted to noble lady. How much ability does this One have to go against His Majesty’s intentions?”


  “I never asked you to go against it.” Noble Lady Yuan tilted her head back: “But you are the Empress. No matter what, His Majesty should listen to what you have to say. Unlike us sisters in the inner palace, where it’s difficult for us to even see His Majesty. Your Highness, you have been in this position for many years and should speak up for us sisters at least a bit. Not to speak of having His Majesty spread his favor equally, but at the very least, we shouldn’t be treated coldly. He doesn’t think of us when anything good happens, but he does not hesitate in the slightest to demote people. This concubine will overstep my boundary and say that you, as the Empress, must not remain lofty and aloof when we sisters are suffering. Your status was originally higher than us. It would not do to give off a feeling of going in separate directions, one south and one north.” When she said this, she emphasized the word north. At this time, the punishment outside began, as a scream came from Fang Yi.

  The Empress felt irritated and coldly said: “Are you implying something?”


  “Yes.” Noble Lady Yuan very seriously nodded, “Indeed, I am implying something, but if Empress does not mind that matter, it’s fine. But this concubine will remind you that you must not feel as if you can be completely at ease without a child. Think a bit more for the sake of the Cheng family. The Cheng family is innocent. No matter how carefree Empress might be, you must not completely ignore your family.”


  “Enough!” The Empress slammed the table, “You actually dare to threaten this One. You really are bold!”


  This slamming of the table caused Yue Xiu to tremble with fear; however, Noble Lady Yuan was not afraid in the slightest. She continued to speak with confidence: “If you’re saying it’s a threat then it’s a threat! Either way, it’s not the first time.”


  The Empress took a few deep breaths and thought for a bit. Each time she thought about it, she hated that she could not happily get rid of Noble Lady Yuan, but she also forcefully suppressed those sorts of thoughts. Getting rid of one noble lady was easy, but she was the eighth prince’s birth mother. To say nothing of the incessant pestering that would come from the eighth prince resulting from his birth mother’s death, but just the way in which the information would spread would be enough to make her heart tremble. She let out a heavy sigh. When she spoke once more, she weakly said: “This One really is unable to help you with your matter!”


  Noble Lady Yuan shook her head and said: “You can’t speak so firmly. As long as Your Highness the Empress wishes to help, it can definitely happen. Right now, His Highness the eighth prince’s reputation is really good. His Majesty will be able to hand down a bit of a reward to give some face. As long as you bring it up to him, I trust that His Majesty will not refuse your intentions.”


  “Hmph!” The Empress snorted, “Back when you did what you did, why didn’t you make some considerations for you and your son?”


  “How did this concubine not make any considerations?” Noble Lady Yuan smiled and said: “There are many things that we don’t have a say in. The mood at that time decided on that matter, and it has already been done. Bringing it up after the fact is rather pointless. Just like Your Highness, aren’t there many things that were done involuntarily?”