Chapter 27 – Riding the Wave of Popularity

He instinctively felt she was truly delicate and loved to act spoiled. Although she was a bit pampered, at least she knew how to behave properly in front of others. Even when she broke the rules, she still had the sense to post someone at the door to keep watch. Thinking about it, the little girl was actually quite adorable. What was rare was that she was sensible—she knew what could and couldn’t be done.

So adorable, so sensible—no wonder he couldn’t resist kissing her just now, nor could he resist patting her head. With looks like that and such a sweet temperament, wasn’t she naturally meant to be pampered and adored?

Sitting in his imperial carriage, Xuanyuan Ling couldn’t help but curl his lips into a faint smile.

Then his thoughts drifted to her delicate wrists. That little girl loved being pretty. Honestly, where had she even gotten tanned? She just cared about it too much herself.

Since she cared about her looks, Xuanyuan Ling didn’t understand rouge and powder, but he certainly understood other things.

He turned to Zhao Hai and said, “I remember there’s a pair of red jade bracelets in the storeroom. Send them over to her later.”

He didn’t specify to whom they should be sent, but he had just come out of Zhaohua Palace.

Zhao Hai clicked his tongue and was momentarily startled.

This couldn’t have been something Lady Shen requested herself, could it?

Lady Shen was sensible and wouldn’t ask for such things. That meant the Emperor himself wanted to gift her.

When had the Emperor ever privately ordered a gift to someone?

Rewarding consorts was always the Empress’s duty. For the Emperor to personally think of this—Lady Shen was the first.

Zhao Hai reminded carefully, “With her current status, Lady Shen cannot wear red jade.” The Emperor hadn’t considered this detail, so Zhao Hai felt it appropriate to offer a gentle reminder—at least for minor matters like this.

Xuanyuan Ling had been thinking of how the pinkish-red of her camisole had contrasted against her snow-white skin, and how the vivid color of the red jade would complement her even more. The jade in the storeroom had excellent clarity and hue—she’d look dazzling in it. Besides, wasn’t she afraid of the heat? Jade bracelets were naturally cool; she would surely love it. In his distraction, he hadn’t realized that red jade was reserved only for the Empress.

As the legitimate wife, the Empress was entitled to wear bright red.

Shen Qing was only a “Liangren” (a minor consort). She wasn’t allowed to wear such things.

Xuanyuan Ling frowned. “Forget it.”

He had imagined how lovely she’d look wearing it—how her fair skin could carry the bold color—but now, reminded of the Empress and the rules, he gave up the idea.

Although Xuanyuan Ling dropped the matter, Zhao Hai remembered it clearly. At this point, it wasn’t merely a passing fancy for a newly favored beauty—this showed genuine interest.

Back then, when Consort Yu first gained favor, the Emperor had doted on her for years.

Of course, no matter who received the Emperor’s affection, it was good for the servants. A happy Emperor meant their work was easier.

Zhao Hai only hoped that Lady Shen wouldn’t become increasingly arrogant and willful like Consort Yu.

If Zhao Hai was envisioning a new court dynamic in the years to come, Shen Qing was about to face a new situation very soon.

Shen Qing didn’t like going out much, but paying respects to the Empress was not optional. So, on this particular day, she went to pay her respects.

She was still the earliest to arrive. This time, it wasn’t just to appear obedient and win favor in the Empress’s eyes, but also because she brought an umbrella—she didn’t want to run into anyone else and risk being seen.

The greeting itself was uneventful—no drama occurred.

She thought she could return afterward, but unexpectedly, out of nowhere, a consort actually greeted her.

It was Noble Lady Lin—one of the three newly entered consorts.

Noble Lady Lin said, “The weather is lovely today, and I was thinking of strolling through the Imperial Garden. Since I happened to run into Lady Shen, would you care to accompany me? You live in Zhaohua Palace, which is quite close to the garden—do you visit it often?”

As she spoke, she turned to study Shen Qing. She hadn’t examined her closely before, but now that she did, she understood why the Emperor had taken a liking to her.

With looks like that, what man could resist?

Previously, Noble Lady Lin hadn’t bothered to approach Shen Qing, but now… Well, Noble Lady Fang was pregnant.

And it wasn’t just Consort Yu who was affected by this pregnancy—many others were too.

Having seen how Noble Lady Fang was now the center of attention, which of them didn’t wish to be in her shoes?