# Chapter Thirty
The next day, in the Fenghua Palace, Lady Fang, second-rank noble consort from the Feng household, submitted a morning greeting petition to Empress Feng bright and early.
The Empress's trusted female official watched Empress Feng's expression carefully and softly asked, "Does Your Majesty wish to see the lady?"
The trusted official still remembered how Empress Feng had flown into a rage alone in her bedchamber after Lady Fang's last visit. She hadn't been in attendance that day and didn't know whether Lady Fang had said something indiscreet to offend the Empress, which was why she asked. Empress Feng forced a bitter smile—Lady Fang certainly didn't have that kind of courage. She was merely a messenger, after all. The words of Old Master Feng and Feng Guozhong still had to be heard.
Empress Feng nodded wearily. "Send her in."
Although Lady Fang was Empress Feng's sister-in-law, she was five years younger than the Empress. Years of comfortable living and proper care had kept her looking only about thirty. Empress Feng gazed at Lady Fang's exquisite and appropriate makeup, feeling both pleased and envious, and smiled as she nodded. "Sister-in-law is in excellent spirits."
"All thanks to Your Majesty's great fortune." Lady Fang properly performed her courtesies. After being offered a seat and tea, she sat down and asked with concern, "Is His Highness the Second Prince still staying in Your Majesty's palace? I brought a medicinal salve from my family—it works wonderfully for caning injuries and flogging wounds."
Empress Feng smiled. "How thoughtful of you. Unfortunately, he isn't here today. His wounds haven't healed, and I generally don't allow him to move around much. He's still recuperating in Zhaoyang Hall."
Lady Fang nodded. Empress Feng then, as usual, inquired about the household and so on. Finally, taking a sip of tea, she said, "This time you've come... does Father or Brother have something to say?"
Lady Fang glanced at the people in the hall. Empress Feng waved her hand, dismissing all the palace attendants. Only then did Lady Fang speak unhurriedly. "Your Majesty, Old Master asked me to inquire—since that day... has the Emperor not visited Your Majesty's palace at all? Is the Emperor so occupied with state affairs that he hasn't time for the inner court, or... Please don't be angry, Your Majesty. Has the Emperor gone to other places, but specifically not to Your Majesty's palace?"
Empress Feng paused. Slowly, she set down her teacup and smiled sarcastically. "He went to Consort Xue's palace once in the middle, and to Noble Consort Jiang's palace once."
Lady Fang nodded silently, calculating the dates in her mind before speaking softly. "Your Majesty... for years His Majesty and Your Majesty have been devoted companions. It's rare for him to stay away from Your Majesty's palace for this long."
"It's simply because of what happened last time—the Emperor is still angry with me." A flicker of resentment crossed the Empress's eyes. "That much I can endure. But lately the Emperor keeps giving Consort Xue face. He clearly knows how much I despise that wicked woman..."
Lady Fang's heart sank. She quickly counseled, "Your Majesty, please choose your words carefully..."
Consort Xue, mother of His Highness the Third Prince Qi Qi, had powerful family connections at court. Moreover, she was young and had been deeply favored over these years.
Lady Fang sighed inwardly. She knew all of this already, which was why her father-in-law had grown anxious. Everyone could see that the Emperor was showing signs of cultivating other princes. At such a time, Consort Xue suddenly receiving such favor... the entire Feng household couldn't sit still.
Over the years, Lady Fang had come to understand Empress Feng's temperament. She did her best to speak gently. "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. No matter how Consort Xue carries on, she cannot surpass you. Does Your Majesty recall? The year before last, when Your Majesty suffered a sudden wind-stroke attack, the Emperor cast Consort Xue aside in her own chambers in the middle of the night and came to see Your Majesty despite the bitter cold. The Emperor and Your Majesty have been devoted for years. Your Majesty is so accustomed to it that you may not realize how things are, but when news of this spread beyond the palace, how many ladies and madams envied you!"
Indeed, after hearing this, Empress Feng's expression improved considerably. Lady Fang smiled and continued, "This is something I dare only say to Your Majesty. Even if Consort Xue's rank is higher, she is merely a concubine. She can never surpass Your Majesty. If she occasionally gains favor, Your Majesty needn't take it to heart. Concubines... sometimes they suddenly rise in favor, sometimes they suddenly fall from it. The only one who can truly share genuine affection with the Emperor as equals is Your Majesty alone."
Empress Feng felt much better. Her gaze toward Lady Fang warmed, and she smiled. "It's a good thing there's always Sister-in-law to comfort me..."
"If Your Majesty can understand this, that's well and good. But the current situation between the Emperor and Your Majesty..." Lady Fang paused,苦笑 appearing on her face. "Not just us—others will notice too. If the Emperor doesn't come to Your Majesty's palace for several more days, that might still be manageable. But if this continues for a while longer, the imperial clan elders will come to counsel. Your Majesty, please don't wait until then. Once whispers start from both above and below, what was merely a small matter between husband and wife will become something tremendous in the mouths of those with ulterior motives. Small matters become big ones. What could have been forgotten with a laugh might end up becoming a thorn in Your Majesty's and the Emperor's hearts. Why put yourself through that?"
A flash of anger appeared in Empress Feng's eyes. She said through gritted teeth, "It wasn't my fault to begin with..."
Lady Fang sighed deeply in her heart. Old Lady Feng had passed away early. Her sisters-in-law had all envied her for not having to serve a mother-in-law. But who could know her own difficulties? She would have preferred having three layers of parents-in-law to serve—at least then this task of delivering messages and persuading people wouldn't have fallen on her shoulders.
The Emperor was clearly giving the Empress a lesson. But this sister-in-law of hers simply refused to bow her head. Her father-in-law and husband were anxious and sweating, yet the Empress was still holding her neck high, believing she was in the right.
Lady Fang paused, then softly said with a placating smile, "Of course it wasn't Your Majesty's fault. Last time, didn't I convey Old Master's words to Your Majesty? This matter just happened to have everything align so unfortunately—there's nothing to be done about it. Your Majesty can't very well say it was the Emperor's fault, can you? I understand Your Majesty was wronged this time. But if you don't humble yourself now, it will only get worse once things escalate."
Seeing that the Empress was still sulking, Lady Fang knew her persuasion wasn't working. She took her handkerchief and dabbed at her lips. "Old Master said... Father-in-law's意思是，如今那几位都不大安分，皇后若是觉得力不从心，倒不如提拔几个相貌好，人也乖巧的姑娘上来，也拢一拢皇帝的心。
"Upon hearing this, Empress Feng nearly dropped her teacup. She frowned and exclaimed, "You want me to use someone else to compete for the Emperor's affection?!"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me." Lady Fang hastily rose to apologize. "Your Majesty, don't misunderstand. This isn't anything new... Not only do the various palace consorts often select pretty girls without noble families to place in their own palaces, but even outside in ordinary households... wives often keep attractive maidservants in their own quarters. Since Your Majesty can command the inner palace, naturally you can be magnanimous enough to encompass this."
Empress Feng took a deep breath. After a long moment, she shook her head. "The Emperor and I... we are beyond this."
Lady Fang spoke softly. "Father-in-law's meaning... is merely to prevent problems before they arise. Your Majesty, Father-in-law and Old Master are men—they don't understand a woman's heart, but I do. When a legitimate wife takes in concubines for her husband, others praise her for being virtuous and magnanimous. But what woman doesn't know the truth? Unless it's absolutely necessary, unless it's for the sake of that troublesome reputation, who would willingly take small wives for their own husband? I tried to persuade Old Master, but he said... he's afraid that one day the Emperor might suddenly favor someone. As long as they're capable of entering the inner palace, don't they all have some family backing? Rather than having that happen, why not have Your Majesty select someone yourself? You'd gain the reputation for virtue, make the Emperor happy, and keep the person right under your watchful eye where you can control them. And furthermore..."
Lady Fang glanced at the Empress, choosing her words carefully as she continued slowly. "The Emperor is in the prime of life. In the future, there will be more and more princes. Your Majesty simply cannot guard against everyone."
Empress Feng closed her eyes. Yes, the Emperor was in the prime of life, while she herself was no longer young.
Seeing that Empress Feng had finally taken her words to heart, Lady Fang quickly added, "But this matter doesn't need to be rushed. Your Majesty can observe and take your time. The urgent priority... is to win back the Emperor's heart first. Your Majesty, everyone from top to bottom is watching you."
Empress Feng suppressed the resentment in her heart with all her strength and nodded through gritted teeth. "Tomorrow... I will personally cook, and have someone invite the Emperor to dinner."
Lady Fang breathed a long sigh of relief in her heart. She smiled and nodded. "That's the way to go. As long as Your Majesty and the Emperor are harmonious together, those with devious hearts will quiet down."
A fierce light flashed in Empress Feng's eyes. She lowered her voice and said viciously, "It's all... it's all that Bairei... He first caused Hua'er to suffer that humiliation and lose his place in the Emperor's heart. Then he caused that incident at Cat Alley without any sense or reason, humiliating me so thoroughly! As soon as I get my chance... just wait and see how I repay him for today's gift!"
Lady Fang was greatly alarmed. She quickly counseled, "Your Majesty must not speak rashly! Bairei is not like others. After what happened, even the Emperor has been showing him extra favor and comfort. Father-in-law even searched the treasury for rare treasures and medicinal tonics to send to him as apology. You can see how important he is in the imperial city. Your Majesty absolutely must not do anything foolish."
Lady Fang's heart was uneasy. She actually knew that the incident at Cat Alley was clearly Qi Xiao's doing. But before she came, Feng Guozhong had repeatedly instructed her not to say anything inappropriate to Empress Feng. The Empress's temper had grown increasingly volatile these past years, and she lacked sense. If she learned the full truth, she would surely cause another uncontrollable scene. At this critical juncture, the Feng household could not afford any trouble.
Lady Fang weighed her options. Compared to Bairei, Qi Xiao was still the more formidable one to offend. Therefore, she held her tongue and didn't dare speak further. She only counseled Empress Feng for a while longer before departing from the palace.