Chapter 53:

Layue changed the imperial physician, and within just three or five days, she recovered, though as a result, her chin had become more pointed.

As for Physician Zhu, the Emperor remarked that his medical skills were poor, mistaking poison for medicine meant to heal, harming Chunpin’s health. Fortunately, Chunpin was young and the issue was detected early; otherwise, her health would have suffered greatly, potentially affecting her chances of future pregnancies.

Upon this incident, the court was thrown into an uproar, and Physician Zhu was already executed. Layue silently listened to Jin Xin’s report while sipping tea.

Besides this official explanation, people in the palace generally believed that Physician Zhu must have been instructed by someone to harm Chunpin, and upon being discovered, met his fate.

Some who preferred to stay out of trouble secretly speculated that they should treat Chunpin with more respect from now on.

Besides this matter involving Chunpin, there was another event that made these beauties gnash their teeth in frustration.

No one quite understood why, but for five consecutive days, the Emperor had summoned Consort Qi to his chamber. As it became evident that Consort Qi was regaining favor, everyone grew anxious.

Everyone could receive favor, but not herself. How would that feel?

Regardless of others’ thoughts, Layue had her own considerations. Wasn’t Consort Qi’s resurgence in favor precisely the day before Layue had changed physicians?

If the mastermind behind the scenes was indeed Consort Qi, the situation wouldn’t have developed in this direction. Therefore, there was only one possibility.

The person who had tried to harm her wasn’t Consort Qi. However, the person must have held a high rank. Consort Qi was already a secondary rank two consort. The Emperor… Layue smiled slightly. Was it exactly as she suspected?

Indeed, currently among the four consorts ranked at primary rank one, only Virtue Consort remained. Looking further down, there were no other consorts or noble consorts.

The Emperor must have been tired of Virtue Consort’s dominance.

Besides Virtue Consort, the only other candidates were Consort Qi and Consort Wu.

Consort Wu had a somewhat arrogant personality, not as pleasing as the gentle beauty from Jiangnan, Consort Qi.

It looked like Consort Qi was about to be promoted?

Yet Layue had caused a few scenes that only benefited others. She wondered what the Emperor was thinking.

Although Layue had not been promoted, she maintained a calm attitude. Nothing should be rushed; after all, moving too quickly might lead to stumbling. Accumulating small achievements and progressing steadily would be more prudent.

Now that her health had improved, she couldn’t possibly stay cooped up in her quarters every day. Layue understood this well. First, she should go to Huici Palace to pay her respects. During her illness, the Empress Dowager had bestowed many gifts upon her. No matter the circumstances, she owed the Empress Dowager a visit.

She had her maids dress her up nicely. Layue never liked appearing weak. She always presented herself beautifully and radiantly.

Seeing that Layue had just recovered but insisted on going out, Jin Xin insisted on having her bundled up warmly, with the other maids supporting her. Unable to resist, Layue finally left wearing many layers.

It had been a while since she last felt the sunshine, and she felt very happy inside.

When the eunuch Gui reported Consort Chun’s arrival to the Empress Dowager, it wasn’t long before Layue was seated inside Huici Palace.

Seeing her, the Empress Dowager was genuinely pleased: “Has your health fully recovered? I’ve missed you, dear.”

Regardless of whether these were just kind words, Layue smiled happily. The Empress Dowager didn’t need to flatter someone of her low rank, so Layue naturally believed her.

Pouting slightly, she replied, “I’ve missed you too, Your Majesty. These past days, being confined indoors was so stifling.”

“You little girl! I think you missed being cooped up even less than you missed me,” the Empress Dowager teased.

“How could that be? Your Majesty shouldn’t mock me,” Layue playfully protested, her manner endearing and pitiable.

Seeing her like this, the Empress Dowager smiled.

“Look at this cute little face! No wonder the Emperor was so upset about your prolonged illness that he punished the physician,” the Empress Dowager remarked casually, smiling warmly.

Layue, however, sensed the probing in her words. Indeed, changing the physician would naturally inform the Emperor or Empress Dowager of her condition. Since she had been taking medicine daily yet showed no signs of serious illness, people would naturally have suspicions.

Layue smiled gently: “Your Majesty, you’re mistaken. I think the Emperor punished Physician Zhu not because of me.”

“Oh?” The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow.

“Physician Zhu’s poor medical skills warranted punishment. After all, if even a minor cold took ten days or half a month to recover from, imagine the consequences if a more severe illness occurred. If he continued like this, someone could be seriously harmed. If he lacks ability, how could he remain in the Imperial Medical Bureau? Therefore, punishing him was not solely for my sake.”

The Empress Dowager smiled faintly and picked up her teacup.

“You’re such a clever girl, with such a sweet tongue.”

Layue smiled softly, lips slightly pursed.

It was rare for her to smile so gently.

The Empress Dowager remarked, “In the past, I often saw you laughing freely and openly, but now, after recovering from a serious illness, you seem much more gentle and graceful.”

As they chatted and laughed, a palace maid hurried in, bowed, and whispered something into Eunuch Gui’s ear. Layue pretended not to hear anything.

After Eunuch Gui’s initial surprise, she quickly approached the Empress Dowager, whispering something. Immediately, Layue picked up her teacup, pretending to sip tea.

She indeed saw the Empress Dowager frown: “Chunpin, you may take your leave now. I have something to attend to.”

Layue immediately stood up: “Your humble servant takes her leave.”

She quickly withdrew.

Although she didn’t know what had happened, Layue wasn’t particularly curious. She had no need to pry into the Empress Dowager’s private affairs.

After Layue left, the Empress Dowager’s expression turned cold: “How is Yuer? How did you take care of him?” The maid who had entered earlier immediately knelt down.

“Mercy, Your Majesty, mercy…” She offered no defense, only repeatedly kowtowing.

This situation was likely not the first of its kind. The Empress Dowager rose, supported by Eunuch Gui.

“Take me to see him.”

As the Empress Dowager hurried to the residence of the eldest prince, Layue on the other hand remained quite relaxed.

After being confined indoors for so long, even though it was still very cold, her mood was good. She strolled slowly back. It hadn’t snowed in the past few days. The bare branches and the bleak palace walls were covered with a thick layer of frost.

“Chunpin seems to be in a good mood,” a somewhat abrupt voice said, but Layue turned around with a slight smile.

It was Consort Li, Zhu Yuning.

Compared to Layue, she seemed to be genuinely out for a walk.

They exchanged greetings.

“You’re the one with the good mood, I think,” Layue said affectionately, linking arms with Consort Li. Regarding Shen Layue, she was usually quite cold toward others.

This unexpected gesture surprised Zhu Yuning slightly, but she soon smiled brightly. Seeing her radiant smile, Layue thought to herself that no wonder she was known as the most beautiful woman in the capital—her beauty was indeed stunning.

“I like to walk around the palace grounds. Sister, are you free? Would you like to walk around with me?”

Layue readily agreed.

Actually, she had always wanted to figure out why, in her previous life, Consort Li had helped her.

“You were ill these past days and couldn’t go out, so I imagine you must have been bored. I rarely see you walking around outside; who in the palace doesn’t know that Chunpin dislikes the cold the most?”

Layue nodded naturally: “Exactly. Although I don’t like the weather outside, I can’t stay cooped up in my quarters all the time. If I don’t go out for too long, I’ll start to grow mold. Today, even though it’s still cold, I feel excited just stepping outside.”

Looking at the scenery, Consort Li smiled and shook her head: “You grew up in the capital, so you wouldn’t know. Compared to other places, the capital isn’t that cold, in my opinion.”

Layue looked surprised: “Oh? There are colder places? The winters in the capital already feel unbearable to me. Every year I catch a chill or two. Sister, you didn’t grow up in the capital?”

Seeing her frown at the mention of the cold, Zhu Yuning laughed: “I spent three years at my maternal grandparents’ home in a border town. I only returned to the capital two years ago to learn court etiquette for the selection. That’s where the real cold is.”

Layue thought for a moment. It seemed that Zhu Yuning indeed only became well-known in the past couple of years.

“Colder in the border town?”

Zhu Yuning nodded: “Of course! In winter, if you pour a basin of water outside, it turns into ice in an instant. That’s real cold.”

Although she said this, her expression showed a sense of longing.

Layue could tell she missed that period of time.

The border town—Prince Six had once been exiled there by the late Emperor. Layue’s eyes dimmed slightly. Could that be where they met? That was why Zhu Yuning had been surprised upon meeting Prince Six?

What… Layue speculated secretly, could there have been something between them?

And did this have anything to do with her family’s affairs?

Layue smiled at Zhu Yuning: “Sister, you’re so lucky. I’ve barely ever left the capital. If I had to count the only time, it would be when I went with my elder and younger siblings to visit a temple. But even that was just a single time. We didn’t even stay overnight, rushing back immediately.”

“You’re a flower nurtured in a greenhouse, naturally different from me,” Zhu Yuning still smiled, though with a hint of different emotion in her eyes.

“But if I were to send you to that border town, I suppose you wouldn’t want to. If you can’t even handle the capital’s weather, how could you endure the even colder conditions there?”

Layue didn’t pretend otherwise and nodded: “Sister, you’re right. If I had to go somewhere, I’d prefer somewhere in the south. I can’t handle cold places. Look, I was even sick for quite a while recently.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuning smiled warmly: “You’re still so young, after all.”