Chapter 208: Entering the Phoenix Palace
The Empress was slightly unwell, and Princess Consort Zhao learned of it, so she hurried to the palace to visit.
Despite the summer heat, the Empress’s palace was cool.
On the steps in front of the bedchamber, a row of painted porcelain urns was placed, filled with spring water containing ice.
Before even getting close, a sweet fragrance of melons and fruits could be smelled.
This was because fresh melons and fruits were also placed inside, not for eating, but solely for their aroma.
The Empress disliked the scent of incense, so no incense was burned in her palace; regardless of the season, only the aroma of melons and fruits was used.
The head palace maid saw Princess Consort Zhao arrive and quickly stepped forward with a smile, saying softly, “I thought you would surely come to the palace these past two days. Her Ladyship’s headache has slightly improved, and she is about to have some tea! Please come in, Princess Consort.”
As soon as Princess Consort Zhao entered the bedchamber, she couldn’t help but shiver. In such a hot summer, the Empress’s bedchamber was filled with a chilling coolness.
“I heard Her Ladyship’s imperial body was unwell, how is it now?” Princess Consort Zhao saw the Empress sitting on a soft couch, with a palace maid massaging her temples.
The Empress closed her eyes and said, “It’s an old ailment; it gets worse the hotter the weather.”
“Didn’t Imperial Physician Wu’s acupuncture treatments used to be effective in previous years?” Princess Consort Zhao stepped forward and said, “Or perhaps combined with some herbal decoction.”
“You are just like me, you fear bitter medicine the most. Last month I did take it for a few days, and although my headache lessened, it made my internal organs uncomfortable. As for the needles, this empress is already afraid of them; I dream of being covered in needles. How can I get well like this?” The Empress shook her head. “Now I am only eating some nourishing medicinal cuisine; I don’t want to touch needles or medicine anymore.”
“In my opinion, Her Ladyship’s bedchamber is perhaps too cold. Even though the weather is hot now, if you don’t sweat all summer, it is actually detrimental to your imperial body,” Princess Consort Zhao earnestly advised.
“I cannot stand any heat!” the Empress said. “Rather than enduring it every day to live to a hundred, it’s better to live as I please.”
She also said, “I haven’t seen you for almost a month. I see your complexion is much better than usual!”
Princess Consort Zhao smiled upon hearing this and said, “They all say that, and it’s all thanks to one person.”
Then she mentioned Wen Mingqian, and also said, “Has Your Ladyship not heard of her? She is the Grand Princess’s newly recognized adopted daughter.”
“This empress has indeed heard some things.” The Empress sat up slightly, and the palace maid quickly placed a large cushion behind her.
“I must say, this Wen Mingqian truly has skillful hands and a wise heart. I originally heard that once you use the things she concocts, you can’t do without them. I didn’t believe it at first! Now that I’ve tried it myself, I know it’s true,” Princess Consort Zhao said, gently touching her cheek.
“She certainly has ability, otherwise, she wouldn’t have gained the Grand Princess’s favor,” the Empress said. “The Grand Princess and I have known each other for decades. Although we are both of the royal family, we have never spoken any intimate words. She is always rather indifferent.”
“Speaking of which, the Grand Princess is also to be pitied. She chose Zhu Qingshen as her imperial son-in-law back then, but who would have thought General Zhu would die in battle? After that, she no longer lived in the palace and moved to Bowang Mountain to practice pure cultivation,” Princess Consort Zhao sighed. “Once a person lives in seclusion, it’s inevitable they become solitary and indifferent.”
“Tong’er has been studying diligently these days. After his studies are finished, I will have someone bring him over,” the Empress waved her hand, signaling the palace maid who was massaging her to step back.
Ying Tong is Princess Consort Zhao’s eldest son, now adopted by the Empress.
“This is all due to Your Ladyship’s excellent guidance,” Princess Consort Zhao said with a smile. “If he were raised by my side, I don’t know how mischievous he would be!”
“What child isn’t mischievous? As long as they don’t go too far,” the Empress also smiled.
“Your Ladyship, I brought some face cream made by Wen Mingqian. Why don’t you try it on your hands?” Princess Consort Zhao said. “I know you dislike strong scents, so I specifically brought a bottle with the mildest fragrance.”
The palace maid took the bottle of face cream. Seeing that the Empress did not refuse, she used a jade hairpin to gently scoop out some and apply it to the back of the Empress’s hand, then carefully spread it evenly.
“It’s a bit like our palace’s Moist Jade Sheep Fat Cream,” some palace servants said, “but this one has a faint floral scent.”
The Empress merely glanced at the back of her hand and said to Princess Consort Zhao, “You seem very concerned about this Wen Mingqian. It can’t be just because of these things, can it?”
“Nothing can be hidden from Your Ladyship,” Princess Consort Zhao said, knowing that the palace maids serving by the Empress’s side were all confidantes and did not need to be avoided. “Wen Mingqian not only has such skill in making face cream, but she also has a child prodigy son, who is Gong Changan, chosen by Tutor Zhuge of San Jing Academy as his closed-door disciple last winter.”
“Indeed, that child can truly be called one in ten thousand.” The Empress nodded upon hearing this. “You mean…”
“San Jing Academy is highly sought after by the world, but unfortunately, the people there are too arrogant and self-important. Even the royal family’s attempts to recruit them often fail.
This Gong Changan is young and likely hasn’t learned those eccentricities of famous scholars yet. If we can get close to him early, he might be of use to Your Ladyship in the future!” Princess Consort Zhao explained her plan.
“Gong Changan is, after all, a descendant of the Gong Family. Didn’t this Wen Mingqian already divorce Gong Xu?” the Empress said.
“Even so, Gong Changan has been with his mother since birth. He only returned to the Capital City at the age of seven. He has spent less than a year with the Gong Family; his feelings for his mother are naturally deeper.
Moreover, Gong Xu has already remarried. How can father and son be close?” Princess Consort Zhao analyzed logically.
“What you say makes sense, but that child is far away at San Jing Academy, so we can’t rely on him for now,” the Empress said, touching her forehead.
“Is Your Ladyship’s headache acting up again?” Princess Consort Zhao asked with concern. “It can’t go on like this; we must find a way to alleviate it.”
“Please invite Musician Fan to play a piece of Xiao for me,” the Empress frowned, finding it difficult to bear. “I slept particularly poorly last night. I don’t know where so many insects have come from this summer; they chirp incessantly every night.”
The Musician Fan the Empress mentioned was Fan Wenzhao. When the Empress had a headache or insomnia, she often had him come to play music, which could provide some relief.
Seeing the Empress’s discomfort, Princess Consort Zhao stopped talking and did not continue.
Afterward, Fan Wenzhao arrived and played a piece of Cloud Dream through the window.
The Empress slowly closed her eyes, and her breathing gradually became even.
Seeing this, everyone stood up and quietly withdrew, leaving only one palace maid to serve by her side.
Everyone knew that even a moment of peaceful sleep for the Empress was extremely precious, so no one dared to disturb her.
After coming out, Princess Consort Zhao headed east to see her son.
Ying Tong is already twelve years old this year and resembles Prince Zhao more. Although not tall, he is very sturdy.
The Empress also valued his strong physique since childhood, believing he would be able to grow up safely.
2025, wishing everyone all the best! May you reach new heights!
