Chapter 86 – Time to Coax Someone

Shen Qing was thinking about these matters, her expression far from pleasant. Chunhua brought over some pastries. Ever since the incident with the Second Prince, she had noticed Shen Qing hadn’t looked well. Now, she spoke softly, “The Imperial Kitchen prepared some pearl cakes. Would Your Ladyship like to try some?”

“Mm.” Shen Qing wasn’t so upset that she’d lost her appetite.

She ate the pearl cake. In the past, such delicate snacks weren’t available to her, but now the food she received far exceeded what someone of her rank as a Noble Lady should have been given.

It was clear someone had given special orders.

Now she had more than enough to eat and drink, and all the best was sent straight to Zhaohua Palace.

After a bit of sweetness, Shen Qing felt her previously taut nerves start to ease.

Eating always lifted the mood—but something else also brought her a touch of joy.

The Empress might have planned and schemed all she wanted, but she likely overlooked one thing.

After this incident, Consort Yu was likely to regain favor.

Xuan Yuanling would never let things go on like this. Without favor, her position was unstable. It hadn’t been long since he’d distanced himself from Consort Yu, and now with the Second Prince’s death, someone clearly thought her fall from grace gave them license to target her behind the scenes. Xuan Yuanling would definitely make it known to all that Consort Yu was still favored. After all, Consort Yu still had the Third Princess.

Let her regain favor, then.

There was nothing bad about that. Shen Qing was now sincerely hoping Consort Yu would be favored again.

Hopefully Consort Yu wouldn’t be so devastated by the blow that she collapsed completely. Shen Qing did hate her—after all, she had nearly been beaten to death by her—but now that the story had changed, Shen Qing understood her place in it.

The Empress was ruthless, but Consort Yu still had her uses. At least she still held the rank of Consort. Though she had lost the Second Prince, she still had the Third Princess. With so few children in the palace, daughters were also precious. If Consort Yu could rival the Empress in influence, then perhaps the harem would be quieter. The Empress might even shift her focus elsewhere.

The Empress had originally intended to use Shen Qing as a weapon against Consort Yu. But if Consort Yu were ruined, who knew whether the Empress, seeing Shen Qing’s growing favor, might start plotting against her next?

Even though Shen Qing could no longer have children, with a woman as venomous as the Empress, who could say for sure?

Keeping each other in check was the best outcome.

As Shen Qing mulled over Consort Yu’s potential resurgence, sure enough, not long after the mourning period for the Second Prince ended, Xuan Yuanling resumed his visits to Zhongyu Palace as he had in the past.

Consort Yu had indeed regained favor.

Even though the Empress gritted her teeth when she heard the news, she couldn’t change the outcome.

Others in the harem, watching from the sidelines, also had their thoughts. They couldn’t deny that losing a child made Consort Yu pitiable. But as long as the Emperor continued visiting her, another child would come sooner or later.

As for the Empress, Xuan Yuanling had ordered her to reflect on her actions. Now, he didn’t even visit her on the first or fifteenth of the month. Officially, it was because he blamed her for poor management of the inner palace, which led to the Second Prince’s death. But what the truth really was, only a few people knew.

A month or so after the Second Prince’s passing, the gossip gradually died down.

After staying with Consort Yu for more than ten days, Xuan Yuanling hesitated for quite a while when it came time to select a bed companion and he saw Shen Qing’s name tag.

He’d stayed with Consort Yu for so long—given her temperament, she was surely upset.

Though Shen Qing was always well-behaved, she might not sympathize with Consort Yu’s pain over losing her son. And that was perfectly normal. After all, Xuan Yuanling himself hadn’t forgotten how Consort Yu had nearly killed Shen Qing. So even if Shen Qing was displeased at Consort Yu’s return to favor and couldn’t feel sorry for her grief, that was only natural.

Why should she be understanding? They had deep enmity. It was already generous of her not to plot against Consort Yu.

Xuan Yuanling thought for a while and turned to look at Zhao Hai. “What’s the situation in Zhaohua Palace these days?”

Zhao Hai replied, “Zhaohua Palace has kept its doors tightly shut lately.”

“Mm.” This little girl had locked herself away again to live her own life. Because of the Second Prince’s death, Xuan Yuanling had been feeling unsettled these days. But hearing this now, he felt a rare sense of peace. “Then let’s go see her.”

Zhao Hai exhaled in relief. He thought to himself, after all this tension, His Majesty was finally ready to relax. Noble Lady Xi really was wonderful. In this palace, who else didn’t cause His Majesty headaches? Only Noble Lady Xi always made him feel at ease. If she wasn’t favored, who should be?

And so, the imperial entourage made its way toward Zhaohua Palace.

Shen Qing hadn’t gone to bed yet. She’d been playing mahjong all day and was completely engrossed. When she heard that Xuan Yuanling had come, she found it a bit odd.

Wasn’t Consort Yu regaining favor? Why didn’t he stay with her a few more days?

“Greetings to Your Majesty,” Shen Qing said. It had been some time since she’d seen Xuan Yuanling, and now that he was in front of her again, just one glance stirred up all sorts of emotions.

That one look from her left Xuan Yuanling somewhat defenseless.

“Let’s go inside first.”

They always talked in the inner chamber—this had become their custom.

Xuan Yuanling casually glanced at her, and just happened to catch her looking at him. She seemed embarrassed, as if she’d been caught doing something wrong, and quickly looked away, as if throwing a silent tantrum.

She looked so adorable—clearly she had missed him, was annoyed he hadn’t come, and now that he had, she was putting on a little pout.

Seeing her like this, his heart melted. As soon as they stepped into the inner chamber, he pulled her straight into his arms. The door had barely even closed.

Shen Qing gave a soft gasp, quickly covering her mouth with her hand, afraid the people outside might hear.

That made Xuan Yuanling even more amused. He lowered his head and gently brushed his nose against hers. “Did you miss me?”

Shen Qing stiffened and refused to admit it.

But Xuan Yuanling wasn’t angry. He knew she was upset he hadn’t come sooner. To prevent her from overthinking, he actually spoke honestly: “I can’t allow Consort Yu to lose favor again. She’s always been domineering—unlike you. Without imperial favor, she becomes an easy target.”

As for who might target her, he didn’t say. But with Shen Qing’s cleverness, he knew she’d understand. After all, if she didn’t, how would she have had the presence of mind to visit the Empress after spending the night with him?

Xuan Yuanling knew she was intelligent, but he still liked to say certain things aloud.

Shen Qing was surprised. He’d actually shared something like that with her?

After thinking it over, she decided to be direct. “This concubine does not like Consort Yu.”

Xuan Yuanling thought, This little thing really is straightforward. He kissed her gently between the brows. “Just live your days peacefully.”

“Mm.” That one word was filled with delight.

Was she happy just because of his statement? She wasn’t angry anymore, right?

“Did you miss me?”

Now that he’d explained, he wanted some sweet words in return.

Shen Qing almost laughed aloud. Unbelievable, she thought. A dignified emperor, explaining himself to his concubine, and then expecting her to coax him afterward? Wasn’t he clearly asking to be pampered?

Of course, she would oblige—but not too obviously. She lowered her head and murmured softly, “I did.”

Xuan Yuanling felt completely satisfied. “Then stay with me tonight.”

Shen Qing gave him a bit of side-eye, not entirely pleased. “So Your Majesty only came here to have me serve in bed?”

This wasn’t something she would have said in the past, since back then, her relationship with Xuan Yuanling had been purely physical.

But this was different now. He had come in person to explain things. Naturally, she intended to push the boundary a bit further.