Chapter 89: Consort Fang

An encounter in the Imperial Garden wasn’t anything anyone would find out about. After it happened, both of them found it strangely funny. Xuanyuan Ling felt somewhat uneasy—he couldn’t quite put it into words. Honestly, he was tempted to drag that little girl back to Zhaohua Palace right in broad daylight, but he restrained himself.

Shen Qing, for her part, found a fitting word to describe it: it felt like an affair.

Wasn’t it though? Secretly sending messages, showing up without a prior appointment, kissing in the fake mountain cave—didn’t it all seem like an affair?

The more she thought about it, the funnier it seemed.

Xuanyuan Ling was puzzled with himself. Speaking of bedroom matters—no matter how attractive someone is, there’s only so much novelty. After a few rounds, things tend to normalize. He certainly wasn’t lacking women in his harem. But with Shen Qing, it really was different. Just a chance encounter in the Imperial Garden had left a deep impression.

He didn’t think there was anything wrong with being so taken with Shen Qing. In fact, he found himself thinking of her even more.

He kept telling himself that it would be fine to indulge whenever he wanted. But now, he found he couldn’t bear to let her go. Although Shen Qing was now a favored consort and stood out, she hadn’t yet become overbearing. If she attracted too much attention in the harem, others might start targeting her. Just imagining that delicate little figure, Xuanyuan Ling felt reluctant to let her face such a situation.

So, he had to restrain how often he saw her.

And the more he restrained himself, the more he thought of her.

Then came the night at the end of the month. Just after dinner, Xuanyuan Ling received news that Noble Lady Fang had gone into labor.

According to the rules, the Emperor didn’t need to be present; the Empress was the one who needed to oversee it. Xuanyuan Ling ordered Zhao Hai to have someone stand by for updates, since it was Noble Lady Fang’s first child and likely to take longer.

Xuanyuan Ling had already fathered children before. He went to sleep as usual—he still had to attend court in the morning.

Shen Qing also heard the news. But with her current status, she wasn’t required to attend the birth. Still, she couldn’t help but feel a little wistful.

If Consort Yu hadn’t lost her pregnancy… and then hadn’t been found out for using birth-control medicine… and if not for the matter of the Second Prince—these three things combined would’ve made Noble Lady Fang’s child extremely uncertain.

After all, the Empress wanted a child of her own.

But now, the Empress was probably hoping in her heart that Noble Lady Fang could deliver safely, and that both mother and child would be well.

In the inner palace, luck often played a critical role.

Noble Lady Shen’s luck had been poor, but this Noble Lady Fang? She was obviously quite lucky.

That night turned into dawn, and it wasn’t until sunrise that the labor officially began.

Another hour and more passed before the child finally let out its first cry.

The news was immediately reported:

“Noble Lady Fang has given birth to a prince.”

By the time Xuanyuan Ling received the news, he had just finished morning court. It was the perfect time to go check in.

As soon as he arrived, the Empress greeted him with joy: “Congratulations, Your Majesty. Bring the child over.”

Xuanyuan Ling went to take a look at the Third Prince.

The Empress said, “Look at how blessed the Third Prince looks—he’s the spitting image of Your Majesty.”

Xuanyuan Ling knew this was just auspicious flattery, but inwardly he was speechless at the Empress’s ability to lie so easily. A newborn is a red, wrinkled little thing, like a hairless monkey—how could it possibly resemble him? Still, he was pleased. With the Second Prince gone so recently, a bit of good news in the palace was welcome.

“Promote her to Consort Fang,” he ordered.

It was a double blessing.

Consort Fang couldn’t come out to greet the Emperor—delivery rooms were considered unclean, and he wasn’t allowed to enter. But her heart was full.

She had spent the entire night giving birth and was exhausted, yet her heart was pounding with excitement.

She had given birth to a prince. From now on, she didn’t have to worry about favor. Just look at Consort Yu: after giving birth to a child, she had secured her position.

Let alone the fact that Consort Yu had miscarried again, and the Second Prince was now gone—her own Third Prince was now undoubtedly the most precious child in the entire palace.

Consort Fang was overjoyed.

But while she was elated, someone else was not. As the palace buzzed with joy, the servants at Zhongyu Palace dared not even breathe loudly for an entire day.

Consort Yu didn’t throw a tantrum, which actually worried her head maid, Wanzhao. She thought it might’ve been better if her mistress had vented somehow. Since the moment the news came that Noble Lady Fang had given birth to the Third Prince, Consort Yu had sat in silence, expressionless. Wanzhao feared she would bottle up her emotions and fall ill.

He didn’t dare to speak up, so he quietly sent for the Third Princess to be brought over. If nothing else, Consort Yu now valued the Third Princess even more.

Sure enough, when she saw the Third Princess arrive, Consort Yu’s expression changed. She shot a glance at Wanzhao—clearly guessing the child hadn’t come without a reason—but when she saw the princess, her heart softened.

“Have you eaten breakfast?” she asked gently.

The Third Princess replied, “Not yet. I’ll have it with you, Mother.”

Consort Yu’s heart ached—how could a child so young be the one to comfort her? She didn’t want to scare the girl, so she ordered breakfast and ate it with her.

Afterward, Consort Yu had the Third Princess taken away, then gave Wanzhao another glare. Wanzhao knelt at once.

“Forgive me, Your Ladyship.”

“It’s fine. Rise,” Consort Yu said. “I’m fine.” The worst part was already behind her. So what if she’d just become Consort Fang? So what if she’d given birth to a child? Could that pain compare to losing the Second Prince?

Consort Yu pondered for a moment, and a subtle thought surfaced. She said, “Go tell the kitchen to prepare. His Majesty might come tonight.”

Wanzhao acknowledged the order.

Sure enough, Xuanyuan Ling came that night.

When he arrived, Consort Yu took great care in serving him. The small kitchen had prepared all of his favorite dishes. She didn’t say the usual congratulations for the newborn prince, and her silence carried some weight.

Xuanyuan Ling looked at her and said, “There’s no need to worry. Just take good care of the Third Princess. I’ll visit more often from now on.”

Hearing this, Consort Yu’s heart stung. “I understand. I will certainly take good care of the Third Princess.”

“Good.”

Seeing how devastated she had been when the Second Prince died—almost wishing to die with him—he couldn’t help but feel soft-hearted.

During dinner, Consort Yu served him attentively. Whether or not the meal tasted good, Xuanyuan Ling always had good food. After dinner, he said, “I still have memorials to read. You should rest early.”

At his words, Consort Yu could only bow and see him off. In the past, she might have tried to coax him to stay. Now she was afraid that one word would cause her tears to fall. Only after he left did she lower her head.

Wanzhao, seeing her like this, tried to comfort her. “Your Ladyship, what’s wrong? His Majesty’s visit tonight lets the whole palace know— even if Consort Fang gave birth to the Third Prince, she still can’t compare to you. It shows how important you are to His Majesty.”

In the past, such words might’ve cheered her up a little. But now that Xuanyuan Ling had really come, it only confirmed her worst fears.

As Wanzhao said, he had made sure the whole palace saw it—so everyone would know she was favored and protected, along with the Third Princess.

Yet the more Wanzhao talked, the more he realized something wasn’t right. Others might not know, but he did. Ever since the Second Prince’s death, although the Emperor often came to visit, he had never once stayed the night with Consort Yu. Now looking at her expression, Wanzhao suddenly realized—

Could it be? Could the Emperor truly be tired of Consort Yu and was only coming to put on a show for the Third Princess’s sake?

Wanzhao found it hard to believe even as he thought it.

Could it really be this cruel?

If it was… then that would truly break Consort Yu’s heart.