Hong Xiu's Grand Wedding (Part 2)

  The next day

  Yunzhu arrived at Chengqian Palace early to visit Xi Fei, who was "ill", and expressed her filial piety by offering to feed her soup and medicine. However, Xi Fei insisted on not accepting, saying "I have a terrible headache and am too annoyed to talk, I need to conserve my energy for now, let's see the young couple later."

  Yunzhu saw that she was somewhat ill at ease and a little afraid of her own appearance, secretly laughing in her heart, but speaking extremely warmly and kindly on the surface: "That daughter-in-law has left, Mother, you should rest well."

  "Qin Ayi, please see the Fourth Imperial Concubine off for me." Xi Fei said weakly, still reeling from Yunzhu's spiritual attack yesterday that not only left her with a splitting headache but also made her entire spirit wilt and lose energy, unable to focus for too long even now.

  "Yes."

  Out of the temple gate, Yunzhu stopped in her tracks and asked: "Qin Ayi, just now I was too noisy in the house to disturb E'ma, you are one of E'ma's trusted servants, I also trust you, tell me, what illness has E'ma contracted? How could she suddenly faint at Fifth Brother's wedding banquet?! I've been worried all night, if anything happens to E'ma, how can I explain it to Beile Ye?!

  Madam Qin had a good impression of Yunzhu and smiled wryly: "The master's body has always been good, rarely getting sick. This headache came suddenly, even the imperial physician couldn't diagnose the cause."

  "Chengqian Palace, is there any problem?" Yunzhu paused for a moment and asked in a soft voice, "Has the nanny checked carefully?"

  "I've also investigated with Gao Ayi, but we really can't find anything wrong... " Qin Ayi shook her head, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. In this situation, what's feared is that the internal enemy is hiding too deeply and their methods are too high-level.

  "Could it be, Mother's body—"

  Qin Mama shook her head again. She herself had a basic understanding of medicine and had been serving Xi Fei for decades, usually emphasizing the importance of nourishment. If someone said that Xi Fei's health was problematic, she absolutely wouldn't believe it.

  Yunzhu sighed, "It's not going to work, I'll go tell the Emperor and ask him to invite a few more imperial physicians to take a look together. As for other things... it's not convenient for me to intervene in the affairs of Chengqian Palace."

  Qin's nanny also knew the knot in Xi Fei's heart. The four ladies were all good, but to her, it was even more frightening that her son would forget his mother after getting a wife. To the four ladies, it was just a matter of courtesy, and they couldn't get close to each other. Although the four ladies had a kind heart and wanted to be filial, their actions had to follow the rules and etiquette.

  Although she felt some sympathy in her heart, isn't it always the case that mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law have been like this since ancient times? Moreover, the imperial family is involved in even more aspects. "First, we invited Dr. Lu, and after the master woke up and said he had a headache, we invited Old Doctor Huang again." Although the person has woken up, they cannot diagnose the cause of the illness, how can it be possible not to invite another doctor? Seeing Yunzhu's worried expression, she couldn't help but say: "Fourth Lady, please rest assured, we servants will take good care of him."

  Yunzhu smiled slightly, her eyes sparkling like ripples on a spring morning under the warm sunlight, shining brightly and refreshingly, opening people's hearts. "I just reminded you once, how could I not know that everyone around E'niang is capable?"

  These four consorts were gentle and elegant, yet not weak or timid. Their demeanor was even more refined and noble. Only a woman with such an upbringing and temperament would be worthy of the Fourth Prince... As she gazed at Yunzhu's departing figure, Qin Mama's lips curled up into a faint smile.

  Entering Jingren Palace, Yongzheng's consorts had already paid their respects and were seated in the main hall waiting.

  "Pay respects to Empress Dowager and wish her longevity."

  "Get up," said the queen, and she couldn't help but cough. Ula Nara immediately helped her pat her back, and then carefully fed her a bowl of guiyuan red bean soup brought by Haitang, and afterwards placed a soft, padded silk pillow embroidered with longevity characters behind her back.

  Her movements were quick and gentle, considerate to the point that even her own niece might not have been treated with such care. The Empress's lips curled up into a satisfied smile, and after the Chongyue Festival, she had Niemann clothes enter the palace for a short stay, but did not allow her to come into close contact with Qi Xi'er and the two princesses, and also considered that Nian's cheap kind was of similar age to hers, and restrained them from meeting. Although she knew in her heart that the Emperor would not betroth the noble lady of the Wulana household to Eighth Brother, even if they were of different clans.

  He is now guarding against her very strictly.

  "Please sit down." She said softly to Nian Yu. It's hard for him, Ta La Shi, to have a daughter who is so well-behaved and cautious in her words and actions, which has a bit of the style of his own heyday. Unfortunately, she is far away from her own clan, but it's just as well, so as not to arouse the Emperor's and Xi Fei's suspicion.

  She wasn't worried about Hong Li, after all, he could keep his affection for the Di Princess for three to five years at most. Men are always fond of new things, and he was one who liked novelty... After all, she had raised him for several years, so she knew his nature well. Ni Ma's clothes were eye-catching, but her character was more restrained. With her own connections and her family being a prominent clan with considerable influence in the imperial court, even if she didn't gain favor, it wouldn't be difficult to get a son or daughter. As long as she could take care of the Ula Nara clan, speak up for the Ula Nara family in the harem and by the emperor's side, and pass on messages at critical moments... that would be enough.

  "Yes." Ni Mengyi thanked her and sat down. A hint of worry flashed in her lowered eyes, this time entering the palace, she found that the Empress's body had deteriorated even more severely, not only did she not drink tea, but also only drank nourishing soups every day, and even eating food was all about nourishing and easy-to-digest. The Empress's face showed no signs of aging at all, but this superficial radiance and inner decay made her tremble with fear, not daring to take half a step or speak half a sentence more.

  The queen then asked Yunzhu: "I heard that Xi Fei fainted yesterday, is she better today?"

  "Right when I was about to follow Empress Dowager back to report, Empress Xi is still not feeling well today and can't get out of bed, so she won't be able to come pay her respects to Empress Dowager."

  The queen pinched her handkerchief to cover her mouth and coughed slightly, pulling the corner of her mouth, it was unknown whether she was smiling or mocking, saying: "Xi Fei is the most disciplined, how many years have passed and I still don't know what's wrong with her. But please ask the imperial physician to take a look, what kind of illness is this?"

  "First, we invited Dr. Lu to come and take a look, and later we especially invited Old Dr. Huang, but neither of them found anything wrong, they just said that you're lacking in energy and need to rest well, nurture your spirit to make your body comfortable." Yunzhu furrowed her brow, looking worried, "Could it be the same as with Empress Dowager, overexertion from exhaustion?"

  Like me? The queen felt a pang of discomfort in her heart when she heard this. Her illness was half due to overwork in her early years, and the other half was caused by long-term depression and emotional turmoil after Honghui left. Would Xi Fei be like her?! However, thinking that Xi Fei, who was in charge of palace affairs, also "overworked", she felt a pang of pleasure in her heart. If the emperor found out, what would happen? Torn with anxiety, she coughed violently twice again.

  At this time, Chen's mother walked in and whispered something in the queen's ear. The queen's expression turned slightly pale after hearing it. Suddenly, a eunuch outside shouted: "Princess Duan Ruo, Princess He Hui, and Eighth Prince have arrived."

  The empress nodded slightly, and slowly sat up straight, her face expressionless as she watched them enter the palace to pay their respects. Finally, she spoke: "Let Ke'er and the Eighth Prince take a seat."

  They often hang out with Yunzhu, learning to ignore people they don't like as if they were radishes and Chinese cabbage. The three of them nodded to the rest of the consorts (Qifei was also absent due to illness), and the consorts below them immediately stood up to pay their respects to the two princesses.

  "Have met Fourth Sister." The three of them bowed to Yunzhu again, and Yunzhu slightly nodded her head, "Please sit down quickly."

  Just as they sat down, a loud shout was heard outside the door: "The Fifth Prince and Madame Wu have arrived."

  "Let them in." The queen glanced at Yu Bin, who looked a bit tense, and smiled: "Sister Yu Bin can't wait any longer."

  Yu Guifei said: "Your Majesty the Empress mustn't tease me."

  The queen was speechless and smiled as she looked at Hong Yu and his wife Wu Zaku entering the palace together.

  Yunzhu secretly praised her in his heart, Yu Pin's words were well-received. The ritual of the son and daughter-in-law offering tea, it wouldn't be good if any more accidents happened. It was just unknown whether she was naturally so humble and honest or only yielding for the sake of her son.

  Empress Hejing had raised him for a few years, but Hongxiao was raised by Consort Xi and his birth mother, Imperial Noble Consort Yu. Even without considering the issue of bloodline, she would not have wanted Hongxiao to ascend to the throne.

  "The son (daughter-in-law) pays respects to the empress dowager." Hongxu, Wu Zaku Shi, dressed in formal attire as the imperial son and imperial daughter-in-law, performed the rituals of three kneels and nine knocks, six bows and three kneels and three obeisances, and then offered tea.

  The empress said a few auspicious words and let the female official give her the red envelope. Wu Zaku took it over and presented to the empress the shoes and socks she had made with her own hands.

  Then, they performed the ritual of two kneels and six knocks, four bows and two kneels to Hong Xiu's birth mother, Yu Pin Geng. They also offered her tea. Yu Pinterest smiled with tears in her eyes, and after drinking the tea, she also gave a red envelope to the wet nurse beside her. Wu Zaku gave her a handkerchief that she had made herself.

  The rest of the concubines also met one by one under the introduction of the female official.

  The meeting gift of the two princesses was a purse embroidered with plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum. Fu Heng gave a pair of exquisite double-sided embroidery cranes and deer in spring scenery on silk fans with sandalwood handles. Yunzhu gave a sandalwood fan plus a piece of silk handkerchief embroidered with delicate jade orchids using extremely fine silk thread, the fan was for Hongli to hold.

  Although the gifts were small, they were all made with care by the host. The gifts also returned to Qian Xi's newly received ones, avoiding the awkwardness of the palace ladies who came to pay their respects in Jingren Palace. The newly baked Wu Fu Jin was indeed a meticulous and delicate person. After putting away the things, Yunzhu remembered that when Chen Xiaojie whispered to the Empress Dowager halfway through, the Empress Dowager's face had an awkward expression, and she said to Ling Shuo: "Go and find out if something has happened in the palace or outside."

  It was "inquiry" rather than "investigation". Ling Shuo nodded and left, returning half a time later with an extremely strange expression: "Master, the first wife of Third Rank Imperial Guard Hong Ding is having a difficult labor."

  It wasn't until a while later that Yunzhu reacted, and Hongding's legitimate wife was actually Helan?!

  Human life is really fragile. Last October, when I saw her, she was still full of energy and proudly showing off her pregnant belly at Xi Yun Temple. Difficult labor, in this era, giving birth for women is like taking a step into the gates of hell. "What about the child?"

  "I heard that since she returned from Xiuyun Temple last October, her health has been declining due to excessive thinking and worrying. If it weren't for the nourishing soup being constantly provided, I'm afraid she wouldn't have made it this far. The child was too weak and only lived for half a day after birth."

  Another acquaintance disappeared from her life.

  Yunzhu sat alone in the house for a while before putting this matter aside. Destiny is something that one walks out of on their own, perhaps Balinurmukh Hulan's fate was like that in history, but Yunzhu wasn't.

  After a month of marriage, Wu Zaku Hai and Jin Yuexiang lived in harmony and love, while the two concubines and one gege before Hongdiao's marriage were all pushed aside.

  The people in the harem were both envious and jealous, and they brought up how the four consorts had been favored when they first entered the palace... It was really a case of being shot while lying down. Yunzhu ordered Guo Mama and others to take charge of Qianxi's second house, not allowing any slaves to follow and gossip, and if anyone was found discussing their master's right and wrong, they would be driven out immediately.