Chapter 35: First-Class Female Attendant Wu Falls Sick

Upon hearing Xuanye's words, everyone fell silent immediately. Consort Zhao's face was red with embarrassment. She shot Lanqi a scathing look that was filled with both hatred and jealousy. However, Xuanye seemed rather unperturbed—instead, he shifted slightly to block Lanqi from view. With a rather mocking expression, he suggested, "Why don't you join me in my carriage instead? We can have a whale of a time."

Everyone knew that it was a grave sin for a concubine to share the emperor's carriage. Even when Empress Xiaochengren was around, she had never been permitted to do so. Xuanye's invitation to Consort Zhao only highlighted how annoying he found her. Although his words sounded kind, the true meaning behind them made a laughing stock of Consort Zhao.

The tension was palpable—nobody knew how Consort Zhao would react. At that moment, however, the Grand Empress Dowager tugged open the curtains of her carriage. As though she hadn't heard a single word of the confrontation, she smiled and said, "Why are all of you still standing around? Get into your carriages immediately. If we start off any later, we won't get back to the palace on time, and I don't fancy the idea of having lunch on the road."

Aunt Sumala and Head Eunuch Li quickly tried to ease the awkward atmosphere. Aunt Sumala took Consort Zhao's arm and walked her back to her carriage. When she spotted Noble Lady Hui, Aunt Sumala said, "Noble Lady Hui, Consort Zhao gets motion-sick easily. Please take good care of her on the way back."

Noble Lady Hui was one of the more easy-going concubines, and knew that her help was needed to resolve the situation. Smiling, she agreed and took Consort Zhao's arm. "Aunt Sumala, go back quickly to the Grand Empress Dowager. Consort Zhao has me."

Aunt Sumala returned hastily to the Grand Empress Dowager. Xuanye had already left earlier. She got into the carriage quietly, where she heard the Grand Empress Dowager say to Lanqi, "Although the Emperor is older than you, he's still a young man. Sometimes, he lets his emotions get the better of him, which tends to lead to unpleasant situations. Since you're by his side most of the time now, you need to learn to observe his expressions and know what not to say. Although you're low in rank, you must know when to step up too. Even if it means throwing yourself under the wheel, you must do everything you can to protect the Emperor's reputation."

Lanqi listened quietly and committed the Grand Empress Dowager's advice to heart. She nodded and promised the older woman that she would do her best. Aunt Sumala felt a little sorry for her, and changed the subject to a less serious one. After a short while, the royal procession started on its journey back to the palace. The Grand Empress Dowager napped throughout the entire journey—when she finally woke up, they had arrived.

Xuanye politely asked if he could escort his grandmother back to her palace, but the Grand Empress turned him down. He thus returned to the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and the other concubines went back to their own palaces.

This time, Lanqi didn't accompany Xuanye back to his palace. Instead, she went with the rest of the concubines back to her palace. After Consort Zhao took her leave, Noble Lady An, who was chatting with the others, raised her voice so Lanqi could hear her, "What a shameless wench! No wonder the Emperor didn't ask her to accompany him today. We're all sisters in serving His Majesty, of course, but how could we forget about ranking? Everyone says that the ignorant are innocent, but in my opinion, the ignorant are shameless! She's just a First-Class Female Attendant, but she wants to overtake Consort Zhao? Fat chance!"

Noble Lady An had been put under house arrest by Consort Zhao, and wasn't supposed to go with the rest to the hunting grounds. However, the Emperor would question her absence, and Consort Zhao didn't want him to find out about the incident. Besides, Consort Zhao had been looking forward to a fight between Noble Lady Rong and First-Class Female Attendant Dong—thus, she had brought Noble Lady An along in the end.

Noble Lady An had behaved herself well for the past two days instead of stirring up trouble like she always did. Today, however, she might've suddenly felt like spiting Lanqi or speaking up for Consort Zhao. Anyway, she started mocking Lanqi in front of everyone, sparing no mercy in her insults. Everyone bowed their heads awkwardly as they listened to her, but no one dared to say anything.

No matter how insipid Noble Lady An was, she was still a rank above Lanqi and First-Class Female Attendant Bu. The two of them had no choice but to swallow their anger. When they finally got back to the Palace of Accumulated Purity, First-Class Female Attendant Bu complained, "She's such a bully!"

Lanqi felt rather tired—her mind was occupied with the day's events and the words of the Grand Empress Dowager. Too tired to say anything, she bid farewell to First-Class Female Attendant Bu and returned to her bedchambers to rest. In the evening, Xuanye sent someone to call her over to his palace. Huanchun came out and said, "My mistress is ill. Please tell His Majesty that she won't be able to serve him tonight."