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  “Let’s take the worst-case scenario—even if she’s lucky enough to keep the child, after what she’s been through, could she really give birth to a healthy baby? Either way, I’ve done all I can.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty. This maidservant understands.”

  Min Fei and Wumian held fundamentally different views.

  Wumian believed that the older the Emperor became, the more cautious he would grow toward his elder sons. The more a prince matured, the more likely he was to provoke His Majesty’s wariness and suspicion.

  Min Fei, on the other hand, believed that once the Third Prince grew older and left his younger brothers far behind, he would stand out naturally and be entrusted with real responsibility.

  In truth, neither perspective could be called wrong—they simply reflected different limitations.

  Wumian’s reasoning wasn’t necessarily fwless, either. Her views were shaped by tales from history, whereas Min Fei and her circle had actually lived through the premature death of the former Emperor.

  When the te Emperor passed, His Majesty had been only nineteen.

  Even if he had survived smallpox, who’s to say there wouldn’t have been other dangers?

  In such situations, older princes would actually hold the advantage.

  After all, no one in the harem could guarantee she’d give birth to several sons and raise them all to adulthood.

  As for Li Fei, the Emperor’s favor toward her was simply too much. The fact that she could give birth to a prince made her a threat to everyone. In that sense, Min Fei’s actions were understandable.

  Women in the inner pace might not fight to the death over favor alone, but when it came to their children, each one could become a demon in disguise.

  There was no need for Li Fei to move, either. It was only the side pace that caught fire—her main quarters remained intact. And now that she was pregnant and already rattled, moving would do more harm than good.

  That night, the Emperor still stayed at Hanliang Pace, which brought some comfort to those there—after all, their pace had suffered the brunt of the incident.

  By the afternoon, the rain had stopped completely. Come evening, the sky was filled with stars.

  Today was the eighteenth, and the moon was still quite bright.

  “Quickly, get the fumigation started—along the base of the walls. Be careful. Don’t let any sparks fall,” Feixu ordered the young pace maids outside.

  After the rain, mosquitoes were everywhere. Burning bundles of mugwort along the base of the pace walls was a standard method to drive them away.

  Inside, Wumian caught a whiff of the smoke drifting in. “The scent’s actually rather nice when it’s not too close.”

  “Then it won’t trouble Your Majesty,” Linshui replied with a smile.

  “Your Majesty, Dukang has returned,” Feixu called in from outside.

  “Let her in.”

  After bowing, Dukang said, “This maid visited the Empress Dowager. Upon hearing what happened, Her Majesty was furious. She said she would return tomorrow.”

  Wumian gave a faint “Oh?” and asked, “Truly furious?”

  “Yes. Her Majesty said Li Fei was cking in virtue.”

  A rather harsh verdict.

  “Very well. Go and rest. Send Jinbo to notify Guifei to prepare for the Empress Dowager’s arrival. Spread word to every pace—no need for morning greetings. Once the Empress Dowager arrives, everyone from Meiren rank and above is to accompany me to pay respects.”

  “If the Empress Dowager is speaking this sternly, Li Fei will truly have to keep a low profile from now on,” Linshui remarked.

  “As long as she delivers a healthy prince, everything can be managed. But if she can’t… then things won’t be easy for her,” Wumian replied.

  “Well, no use thinking about it now. Time to rest. No greetings tomorrow—finally, a morning to sleep in.”

  But in the end, she didn’t get to sleep in after all. It was already mid-morning when Zhaohua and the others came to wake her.

  “The Empress Dowager has already set out. She should arrive before lunch.”

  Wumian gave a nod. With breakfast out of the way, there was nothing left to do but wait.

  At noon sharp, the Empress Dowager’s procession returned to the pace. Accompanying her were Fu Meiren and the Eldest Prince.

  It was clear she had hurried back—her belongings likely hadn’t even been properly packed.

  Wumian led the consorts to Yining Pace to greet her. When the entourage arrived, everyone stepped forward to pay their respects.

  The Emperor had returned alongside the Empress Dowager, and Wumian noticed the child following behind him—her first time seeing the Eldest Prince.

  He was tall but thin.

  He didn’t resemble His Majesty—most likely took after his mother, Shen Shi. His complexion was darker, perhaps from sun exposure.

  He stood quietly, composed, showing no signs of fear or hesitation.

  After Wumian had greeted the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, Fu Meiren stepped forward to offer her own greetings.

  Then came the Eldest Prince. Though he had never met the current Empress before, it wasn’t difficult to tell who she was.

  He stepped forward. “Your son greets the Empress Mother.”

  “Quick, get up—get up. So this is the Eldest Prince? Why are you so thin? Were the attendants at the temporary pace not caring for you properly?” Wumian frowned.

  “Replying to the Empress Mother: this son is still growing taller, so I haven’t put on weight. The attendants cared for me well,” the Eldest Prince answered properly and respectfully.

  The way he spoke reminded her somewhat of Ying Qionglou.

  Then again… perhaps not.

  Perhaps he just resembled any quiet man not prone to smiling.

  “That’s good. You were originally meant to stay in Rongkang Pace after your vaccination. Now that you’ve returned, you’ll stay in the Southern Garden for now. Your uncles have moved there as well—you’ll have company,” Wumian said.

  “Thank you for Your Majesty’s care,” the Eldest Prince replied.

  “I wouldn’t dare take credit—it was your father’s decision. Rongkang Pace was arranged by Guifei.”

  “This son thanks His Majesty and thanks Guifei.”

  “No need to be so formal,” Guifei responded with a polite smile. She couldn’t possibly feel happy seeing this child, but she answered as courteously as she could. She didn’t care to say anything more.

  After the pleasantries, the Empress Dowager said, “You’ve all worked hard. Those with the rank of fei may stay. Everyone else may leave. The Eldest Prince will rest here with me for now. We’ll speak about moving him in a day or two. You all go rest as well.”

  Everyone took their leave.

  The Empress Dowager didn’t even change clothes. She sat down with a grim expression. “What is going on with Li Fei? I heard of her misbehavior twice, even while I was away. Pregnant, yet still stirring up trouble.”

  Hearing this, Ying Qionglou suspected that the Empress might have reported her. It wouldn’t be the first time.

  “She can’t be entirely bmed for yesterday’s incident,” Wumian said calmly. “The thunderstorm truly was frightening, and lightning strikes are beyond human control.”

  Though Wumian spoke up in defense, Guifei, Xian Fei, Min Fei, and Rong Fei all remained silent.

  Which said enough.

  “Hmph! That only proves Li Fei was reckless. There are so many buildings in the pace—why didn’t lightning strike elsewhere?” The Empress Dowager’s expression remained cold.

  “What kind of pregnant woman behaves so carelessly?” she scoffed. “Li Fei cks sense—and the Empress shares the bme.”

  Wumian stood and bowed. “You are right, Mother. The fault lies with your daughter-in-w.”

  She didn’t find it embarrassing—after all, the Empress Dowager was truly angry with the Emperor but couldn’t scold him directly in front of all the consorts. She, the Empress, had merely become the scapegoat.

  “Please don’t be angry, Your Majesty. The Empress has done nothing wrong,” Ying Qionglou spoke up.

  “If the Empress isn’t at fault, then Li Fei is. Send someone to properly remind her of pace rules,” the Empress Dowager said sharply.

  “Please don’t be angry, Mother. Perhaps it would be best to wait until after she gives birth. She was frightened yesterday and started bleeding—it took a lot to stabilize her,” Wumian quickly interjected.

  At this point, if the other consorts remained silent, even the Emperor might begin to hold it against them.