Ye Qiu was busy with state affairs, and with both Consort Hui and Consort Wang pregnant, the Emperor increasingly frequented Xianyue Pavilion. Sotis Lady and Fang Pin needed to use visits to the princes as an excuse to see him, not to ntion the lower-ranked concubines. There were rumors in the palace that the Imperial Concubine had fallen out of favor and that Yue Zhaoyi now exclusively enjoyed the Emperor’s favor.
In truth, this was sowhat unfair to Qiao Qingyue. Ji Fei’s recent visits to her Xianyue Pavilion were indeed two more than before, but no more than that; moreover, Ji Fei lately seed less energetic than before, not as attentive and tender when facing her.
Who changed, her or him?
Qiao Qingyue felt a tinge of sourness in her heart. Before entering the palace, her grandfather had told her not to face the Emperor with her past temperant. She thought she had been magnanimous already, not minding even when he favored other concubines or when other concubines bore his children. The promised wait, of only half a year, already filled her with doubt.
And is it really good for the Emperor to ask her not to conceive for now?
He said it was for fear she would be persecuted by other concubines if she were pregnant. But weren’t Lady and Fang Pin safely delivered of two princes? And Consort Hui and Consort Wang are now securely expecting, so why not her? Can she and the Emperor not protect their own child?
"My Lady, His Majesty has arrived," palace maid Ying Chun cautiously inford her. Recently, their lady’s mood had not been good; even though she still appeared aloof and detached, Ying Chun and the others were unconsciously more reserved and respectful in their duties.
Upon hearing this, Qiao Qingyue’s rigid body imdiately relaxed, and an appropriately serene smile appeared on her face.
"I humbly greet Your Majesty."
"My beloved, please rise," said Ji Fei as he walked briskly, his breath slightly heavier, but his eyes shone with joy upon seeing Qiao Qingyue.
Qiao Qingyue’s brow barely perceptibly furrowed; she couldn’t tell if it was just her imagination, but the Emperor seed to be growing weaker.
"Your Majesty, have you seen the Imperial Physician this month? I notice so darkness under your eyes. Has state affairs been too burdenso recently?" After hesitating for a mont, Qiao Qingyue still brought it up.
Ji Fei felt a bit testy inside. A man cannot be said to be inadequate, and although Qiao Qingyue did not say it out loud, her aning was clear.
However, she was his beloved woman, and her concern was for his welfare. With slight internal resistance but quickly relenting, Ji Fei assured her, "You need not worry, my love. I’ve been examined this month by the Imperial Physician for a peace pulse, and he said there’s nothing wrong. It’s just the state affairs have been weighty. I’ll be fine with so calming herbal soup."
Relieved, Qiao Qingyue responded, "Your Majesty, you must take care of your health. With such an expansive realm, nurous matters arise daily. When could Your Majesty ever finish dealing with them all? Perhaps it’s better to entrust so responsibilities to the ministers."
"You speak sensibly, my love." Persuaded by Qiao Qingyue, Ji Fei also felt that he had indeed exhausted himself lately. But the thought of entrusting state matters to the ministers left him uneasy; who knew if there were remnants of the sches of the Eldest Prince and the Third Prince among them? And the Wang family, they have always coveted the titles of Empress and Crown Prince, so could there be factions forming within the court already?
I’m not dead yet, and they’re already plotting for the next Emperor, thought Ji Fei impatiently.
At that mont, he thought of a suitable candidate: the Imperial Concubine. Usually, she had helped him review petitions on trivial matters; assigning her more would be fine. As long as he did not grant the Heir to the Imperial Concubine, the Ye Family, with their base on the border, posed no imdiate threat. When the day ca that he no longer needed her, he could prosecute her for interfering with state affairs of the previous dynasty.
Ji Fei felt this plan to be excellent, as it not only alleviated his burdens but also piled another cri onto the Ye Family.
Qiao Qingyue had never imagined that a casual word of advice to the Emperor would grant Ye Qiu such significant power; she wondered if she would regret it once she knew what Ji Fei had planned in his heart.
As the sudden rain stopped, while the palace attendants were delivering water, they also brought a bowl of dark soup for Qiao Qingyue to drink.
Gazing at the bowl of soup, Qiao Qingyue was lost in thought, holding the bowl yet never bringing it to her lips.
"Why aren’t you drinking?" Ji Fei asked, puzzled.
"Your Majesty, can we have a child together? I don’t want to drink this anymore." Qiao Qingyue mustered her courage to look at him, feeling a sense of relief wash over her after she spoke those words.
"What’s wrong? We had an agreent, rember? This is for our future’s sake as well. Rest assured, there’s nothing harmful in this dicinal soup; it’s not the sa as what’s given to the Imperial Concubine and Consort Wang," Ji Fei said earnestly.
"But if Consort Hui and Consort Wang can carry Your Majesty’s child, why can’t I?" Qiao Qingyue couldn’t help asking.
Ji Fei also felt suspicious, "There indeed seems to be an issue with Consort Wang."
He had carefully planned everything. The substances used on the Imperial Concubine and Consort Wang were the sa, so how co Consort Wang could still conceive? Or could it be that the Wang family had already seen through his plans?
At this thought, Ji Fei’s gaze beca dangerous. If Consort Wang safely delivered an heir, Empress Dowager Wang would have an excuse to elevate Consort Wang’s rank. By then, even the Imperial Concubine would struggle against them. Would he, the Emperor, still be of any use? Could the Wang family be eyeing the throne...?
Ji Fei felt that this idea was perilous yet not impossible. If sothing happened to him, the harem would be under the control of Empress Dowager Wang, wouldn’t it? It would be entirely up to her whom she wished to appoint as the Crown Prince.
With these thoughts, Ji Fei not only saw the child in Consort Wang’s womb as a threat but even the Second Prince posed a great danger to him.
At such monts, Ji Fei detested the late Emperor imnsely—why hadn’t he been granted more power? To have to endure being an Emperor while still under the control of the harem and the courtiers.
"Your Majesty, what did you an by there was a problem with Consort Wang just now?" Qiao Qingyue cautiously asked, feeling a mix of fear and joy as she thought she might have guessed the truth.
If that was indeed the case, then what would it hurt to endure a little while longer? After all, the Emperor had already done so much for her.
"Oh, it’s nothing," Ji Fei returned from his thoughts, "It’s late; drink the dicinal soup and go to sleep. Don’t go wandering outside Xianyue Pavilion any ti soon, there might be so unrest in the harem."
"I understand," Qiao Qingyue’s lips curved up slightly, and she drank the dicine without the reluctance she had shown before.
"Qiuqiu, that Emperor told Qiao Qingyue not to wander outside Xianyue Pavilion lately because there might be unrest, what kind of unrest is he talking about?" Little Golden Crow asked, puzzled.
"Are you eavesdropping around corners again?" Ye Qiu gently flicked its forehead, "I’m aware of the situation. In the future, refrain from running into other people’s chambers; don’t you know such places are not for children?"
"I’m not little anymore," Little Golden Crow retorted stubbornly, and with a whoosh, flew away again.
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