Chapter 54: Consort Shun Intercepts Favor

Early morning, Qianxin Palace.

Ning Wanyin had just finished painting a small landscape and asked Helian Qi for his opinion.

Helian Qi’s eyes inevitably ached. He silently recited a few calming techniques he had taught himself, then patiently explained the painting to Ning Wanyin.

The Emperor and his favored concubine were speaking when—

Wang Degui rushed in to report, “Beauty Wei says she’s created a new and unique snack and requests Your Majesty to try it.”

Helian Qi’s eyes flickered slightly. “Let her in.”

Soon after…

Wei Ying Shu entered with a tray of pastries.

The food had already been inspected by the imperial physician and poison tester.

Although she was unhappy to see Ning Wanyin present, Wei Ying Shu knew now wasn’t the time to fuss. She respectfully bowed. “This concubine greets Your Majesty. This egg tart was made personally by me, and I offer it to Your Majesty.”

Wei Yingya had once called it an “egg tart.”
But what about it looked like a tower?

Wei Ying Shu named it egg tart instead.

Her reasoning was simple: since Wei Yingya had previously won the Emperor’s favor using this snack, she figured she could just copy it…

Helian Qi glanced at her expressionlessly and said, “Wang Degui, present the snack to Jieyu Ning. She’s fond of sweets…”

Ning Wanyin instantly understood—just as she had guessed, the Emperor knew exactly where this snack had come from.

The Emperor was always cold and detached, but he wouldn’t go so far as to outright reject someone’s gift if he disliked them.

Giving a concubine’s gift to another concubine?

This was unprecedented.

Clearly, the Emperor knew the dish wasn’t her creation—and he wasn’t interested in entertaining her lies.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Ning Wanyin played along and accepted the dish.

Wei Ying Shu’s face instantly twisted in frustration as she glared at Ning Wanyin.

That was her gift to the Emperor! Now someone else was eating it? What was that supposed to mean?

“These lovely pastries remind me of something… When the Emperor once gifted Flaky Snow Pastry and ice cakes to Lingsxue Pavilion, they were just like this egg tart —unique and unfamiliar to Dayan cuisine,” Ning Wanyin said as she eyed the egg tart. She then turned to Wei Ying Shu, “Did you really create this recipe?”

Wei Ying Shu nearly lunged to snatch the snack back. She quickly snapped, “Of course. My cousin and I grew up together—we learned to cook together. Our skills are similar. That’s not so strange!”

“I see,” Ning Wanyin responded indifferently, neither confirming nor denying anything.

Helian Qi gave Wei Ying Shu a look of clear annoyance. “You may leave.”

Wei Ying Shu had been hoping for praise or a reward—yet all she got was dismissal. She bowed with great reluctance. “This concubine takes her leave.”

Then Helian Qi said to Wang Degui, “From now on, she doesn’t need to report when she comes to pay respects.”

Wang Degui’s scalp tingled. “Yes!”

Just how had this Beauty Wei managed to offend His Majesty?

Ning Wanyin understood, but didn’t speak up.

Of course the Emperor could tell where the snack originated. He just didn’t care to investigate. That didn’t mean he could be fooled.

She had clearly tried to deceive him. Naturally, he wouldn’t like that.

“Would Your Majesty like to try it? This snack really is delicious,” Ning Wanyin said, taking a small bite as she looked at Helian Qi.

Helian Qi shook his head. “No need. If you enjoy it, have her write down the recipe for you.”

Had the Emperor tasted it, he might have had someone go to the Cold Palace and see the real creator.

But he didn’t…

Such restraint.

Ning Wanyin said nothing more.

---

In the Cold Palace—

Wei Ying Shu stormed in and ordered her servants to brutally punish Wei Yingya.

“You said the Emperor would love it! What kind of recipe did you give me? He didn’t even taste it!”

Wei Yingya was stunned. Could it be… the Emperor had seen through it?

No, he must have known!

The snack had been handed to him by another concubine. How could he not guess what had happened?

But he still didn’t send anyone to see her in the Cold Palace.

He used to seem like he favored her so much—yet now, he was completely indifferent.

Did that dog Emperor ever really like her?

At that moment, Wei Yingya felt an overwhelming sense of defeat.

She realized she had oversimplified everything.

Novels are just novels, TV dramas are just fiction—reality is entirely different.

She had felt it even when she first handed over the recipe. In the Emperor’s eyes, she was probably just a cook who could cook, a singer who could sing, a poet who could write.

Without her, he’d just replace her with another.

She was disposable.

It was the brief illusion of favor that had blinded her, making her believe she was special…

“You must be hiding something. Hongxing, beat her harder…” Wei Ying Shu was full of resentment and took it out on Wei Yingya.

The Cold Palace echoed with cries of pain.

---

Changchun Palace.

“That Lady Ying, who was briefly favored, has now been sent to the Cold Palace…” Chun Que casually shared the gossip to amuse her mistress.

Consort Shun listened with great interest and smiled, “Didn’t I tell you? Favor never lasts. Only with a child in your belly can you live without fear.”

“You’re absolutely right, Your Majesty. But how many in this palace are blessed like you?” Chun Que fawned.

Consort Shun gently stroked her belly, pleased with herself.

At that moment, the maid Chun Liu rushed in. “Mistress, the Emperor has chosen Consort Zhuang tonight. He’s already at Linlang Palace.”

Consort Shun immediately exchanged glances with Chun Que.

She had long held a grudge against Consort Zhuang for stealing her favor back then…

She had waited for this moment for a long time—waiting for the Emperor to visit Linlang Palace again.

“Her Majesty isn’t feeling well—quick, call the imperial physician! Hurry and fetch His Majesty! If something happens, none of us can bear the consequences!” Chun Que deliberately shouted in alarm.

The palace maids rushed out to summon the Emperor.

Far away in Lingsxue Pavilion, Ning Wanyin heard the news and came uninvited.

She had been paying close attention to Consort Shun’s pregnancy. Something might have gone wrong.

She and Helian Qi arrived at nearly the same time.

The four imperial physicians who regularly monitored Consort Shun’s pregnancy had already arrived.

Consort Shun lay on the couch, pale-faced. “I feel pain in my stomach…”

“But Her Majesty’s pulse seems perfectly normal…” said Doctor Zhao, furrowing his brow.

“What did Consort Shun eat today? What did she use? Who did she meet?” Ning Wanyin asked Chun Que.

Chun Que nervously replied, “The same as usual…”

“Everything Her Majesty ate and used has already been examined—nothing unusual was found,” another physician reported.

Helian Qi frowned. “Then why does she feel pain in her stomach?”

“This… it could be due to anxiety. There’s likely no physical issue, but she’s overly nervous and assumes there is…” Doctor Zhao cautiously explained.

There was also a possibility she was faking it—but he didn’t dare say that aloud.

Both Ning Wanyin and Helian Qi turned their eyes on Consort Shun.

Consort Shun felt nervous and flustered under their gaze. “I… I suppose I was just too anxious…”

“Changchun Palace has been peaceful ever since Jieyu Ning took charge. You don’t need to be so tense,” Helian Qi frowned, but didn’t scold her.

After all, she had been attacked twice. Some anxiety was understandable.

Chun Que immediately added, “If Your Majesty visited more often, the Mistress would surely feel more at ease.”

“It’s thanks to Jieyu Ning that you can now rest easy and nourish the fetus. What’s the point of me coming? Why not let her visit more often instead?” Helian Qi said with a raised brow.

Consort Shun and her maid were both left speechless.

That may have been true—but still…

Since he was already there, Helian Qi stayed to dine with her.

He didn’t leave that night either. Although Consort Shun couldn’t share a bed with him, he occasionally kept her company.