Chapter 12

The very first words His Majesty uttered were about punishing the servants of Yaohua Palace. The noble consort’s heart suddenly tightened, and she instinctively widened her eyes.

“Your Majesty…”

The initial surprise and grievance were instantly replaced by panic, and Noble Consort Yuan was terribly flustered.

Having known His Majesty since childhood, she was well aware that his tone was not out of genuine concern for her, but rather born of anger.

Sure enough—

His Majesty was truly upset with her.

Was it because she had disregarded the Empress’s dignity to summon him here today? Or was it due to her overstepping boundaries in her haste at the Star-Picking Tower the other day? Or perhaps both?

He had tolerated many of her past indiscretions, saying only that Ayu liked it. Yet today, he addressed her as Noble Consort.

Noble Consort... they had never before addressed each other thus.

Why now?

Tears involuntarily fell from Noble Consort Yuan’s eyes as she remained kneeling on the cold floor, looking up at him with a mixture of shock and humiliation. “It was I who came out to greet Your Majesty. If Your Majesty is truly angry, there is no need to punish the palace staff. Please spare them and instead deduct from my monthly allowance.”

Seeing her delicate body trembling slightly yet unwilling to bow her head, the courtyard grew chilly with the wind, and Xie Yanheng could not bear it any longer.

He raised his hand to help her up, softening his tone, “Stand up, the floor is cold.”

Only then did the noble consort find release for her pent-up grievances. Rising with His Majesty’s assistance, she disregarded the presence of others and leaned into his embrace, her voice choked with sobs, “Why have You Majesty not come for so long? Is it only when Ayu is ill that You come to see us?”

At this, Sang Qingyun immediately lowered her head, as did the other palace maids.

The noble consort continued softly, “What have I done wrong? Will Your Majesty tell me?”

In such a public setting, it was hardly the time to speak of these things. Xie Yanheng frowned slightly, “It’s cold outside. Let us speak indoors.”

Upon hearing this, Noble Consort Yuan’s tear-stained face broke into a faint smile as she walked beside him into the bedchamber.

Once inside, Xie Yanheng immediately noticed the white sandalwood fan lying on the table.

It was not the season for heat, so she did not need a fan. Leaving it on the table instead of storing it away meant she often toyed with it. If she often toyed with it, it suggested she did not understand the true significance of the gift.

There were many women in the palace—some clever, some less so, each with their own charms and traits.

Xie Yanheng had long known that the noble consort was not among the cleverest. Yet over these years in the palace, he had held some hope for her. Now, it seemed he had overestimated.

For Noble Consort Yuan, she was gentle and delicate, beautiful in appearance, of close status, childhood companions with him, and with a heart wholly devoted to him.

Such a woman would appear perfect to many.

Xie Yanheng was willing to spoil her, treat her well, and grant her endless honor and wealth.

But all of this was predicated on balance.

Balance in the court, balance in the harem, and balance among kin.

Yet in the matter of the refugees on the city outskirts, her uncle had clearly failed to maintain proper boundaries. Likewise, in the matter of the palace maids entering the palace, the noble consort had also failed.

As a young emperor who had ascended the throne barely of age, if he wished for the realm to be secure and unshakable, he had to be cautious and sometimes ruthless.

That was also what his uncle had taught him.

Xie Yanheng put aside the white sandalwood fan, his tone unreadable: “You say you are unwell, yet to me you appear quite well.”

“Your Majesty…”

Being openly exposed, Noble Consort Yuan knew she had used means to summon him and felt even more aggrieved.

But if she had not done so, who knew when he would have come to Yaohua Palace?

She lowered her head slightly, biting her red lips softly, “I did indeed feel a chill a few days ago.”

“But then Your Majesty did not come, nor did you enter the harem. I knew that you were busy with state affairs and dared not summon you until I learned you had gone to Fengyi Palace. Only then did I dare to ask you to come to Yaohua Palace.”

After speaking, she lowered her gaze and remained silent for a long moment.

Had His Majesty gone to the eldest prince’s or eldest princess’s residence today, she would not have been so jealous, nor insisted on summoning him when the prince was ill just to spite the Empress. But because it was the Empress, she felt compelled to do so.

Thinking of His Majesty’s concerned expression when visiting the Empress and the second prince, Noble Consort Yuan could not help but tremble and feel resentment.

Why?

Whenever she recalled the past, she could not help but blame the Empress. Though years had passed and she never found concrete proof, she was certain it was the Empress’s doing.

No one else dared to intimidate her like that.

So today, upon hearing that His Majesty had gone to Fengyi Palace to see the second prince, she immediately resolved to summon him again to Yaohua Palace.

Her illness these past days was real, and her longing for His Majesty was genuine. Yet more than anything, she wished to make the Empress suffer. Only when the Empress was troubled by her could she feel at ease.

Silence fell heavily in the chamber as the two sat wordlessly.

The noble consort had never been so coldly treated before, and Xie Yanheng knew it, yet he deliberately withheld his presence.

After a long gaze, he finally spoke lightly, “The Empress is the Empress after all, and the second prince is my child.”

“Next time, if you are unwell, summon me earlier. I will come.”

The implication was clear: he was still displeased with her caprice today. Noble Consort Yuan raised her eyes toward him, but her slender shoulders trembled uncontrollably, “Yes, I am a consort. The Empress is always the Empress.”

“Even if only a step apart, I must understand my place.”

Xie Yanheng frowned unexpectedly and gently reminded, “Ayu.”

Knowing she had spoken too harshly, she turned her soft head away, refusing to look at him, yet tears still fell, “I spoke out of turn. Please punish me, Your Majesty.”

Unwilling to face her in this moment, Xie Yanheng swept his sleeve and rose, striding toward the door, “I have spoiled you.”

“Since you’re unwell, take good care of yourself. Do not summon me again until you have recovered.”

With a creak, the door opened and closed, and the glaring sunlight appeared briefly before being shut out once more.

Noble Consort Yuan, shrouded in shadow, watched the door tearfully—His Majesty had truly left, abandoning her in her illness.

In all these years, this was the first time.

Unable to hold back any longer, she sat alone in the empty chamber, burying her face in her hands, weeping bitterly.

—

After returning with His Majesty to the Qinzhen Hall, Sang Qingyun had intended to quietly return to her quarters according to her duty rotation. But seeing His Majesty’s cold expression, she dared not provoke his anger further and remained to serve alongside Dai Zheng.

Moreover, since leaving Yaohua Palace, His Majesty’s demeanor had never softened. At times like these, they had to be especially cautious to avoid incurring His Majesty’s wrath.

Dai Zheng mentioned that Prince Yi had also visited today, but only briefly, speaking a few words before leaving, apparently displeased.

Among the late emperor’s sons, His Majesty shared a particularly close brotherly bond with Prince Yi, who often came to the palace to drink tea and play chess with him. In Sang Qingyun’s memory, she had never seen Prince Yi displease His Majesty before. What could have happened today?

Zhao Yuyan, who should have been serving in the hall at this time, was nowhere to be seen upon her return. Where had she gone?

So much had happened in just half a day away from Qinzhen Hall, and for some reason, Sang Qingyun felt a sense of crisis, as if something major had occurred which she was completely unaware of.

She resolved to inquire when she had a moment.

First about Prince Yi and Zhao Yuyan, then about the undercurrents between the Empress and the noble consort. Amid such turbulent currents, there was never a moment to relax.

Today, the noble consort’s loss of composure had displeased His Majesty; the news would likely spread throughout the harem by afternoon. With the Empress and noble consort at odds, and the newcomers quietly vying for position, if the noble consort now weakened, the Empress’s faction would surely rise.

Fortunately, Eunuch Tan was favored by the Empress. Should the Empress maintain her position in the central palace, his status would be secure, and in the future, he could hope for her grace to retire peacefully.

The sun was setting in the west, melting gold into the sky.

As evening approached and the Qinzhen Hall prepared to serve the evening meal, His Majesty finally spoke for the first time all afternoon: “Change the tea.”

Sang Qingyun quickly brought out freshly brewed tea from the warm pavilion, stepping lightly to take the previous cup, carefully glancing at His Majesty’s expression.

His face remained as usual—cold and indifferent—making it impossible to tell if he had cooled off or still harbored displeasure.

If he had calmed, he had not spoken all afternoon; if not, his anger had already dissipated.

Being with such an inscrutable person day after day was never easy.

She quietly stepped forward to offer the new tea. His Majesty’s peripheral vision caught the retraction of a corner of her cyan sleeve.

Seeing her wrist, Xie Yanheng thought of the bracelet he had gifted her today and let out a faint snort.

Hearing the sound, Sang Qingyun paused, fearing she had angered the emperor and should not have approached to change the tea at this time. She immediately knelt, “It was my clumsy movement, please punish me, Your Majesty.”

Xie Yanheng raised an eyebrow and looked at her.

At this moment, he was unusually perceptive, but when had he ever been displeased for this reason?

Yet Xie Yanheng would not make it explicit. He leaned back lazily and said, “I punish you.”

He leisurely added, “I’ll grant you a favor. What punishment do you want?”

Sang Qingyun was momentarily speechless but secretly relieved—this demeanor meant His Majesty had calmed down.

Clearly, Xie Yanheng was unaware of her inner thoughts and simply lowered his gaze, patiently watching her.

When she said she would forgo half a month’s allowance, he chuckled softly, his eyes thawing, “Half a month?”

“Since you admit your fault, it shows your heart is not sincere.”

Having said this, he suddenly recalled her frugality over the years and realized that although she was indifferent to jewels and gifts, she cared deeply about her own money.

There were many lucrative palace positions; serving as an imperial attendant was among them.

But she was self-disciplined and proper, never overindulgent, thus not growing fat as others did.

In that case, he need not shower her with jewels next time.

Sang Qingyun bowed her head in silence, unwilling to mention punishment further. Xie Yanheng no longer pressed her, straightened up, and picked up his brush again, “Enough, you may leave.”

“I was just teasing you earlier.”