Auntie O's face was full of kindness and goodness, looking at the Empress, she said lightly: "The capital city is not small or big, Mei Niang's family has long been watched by our people. Her father went around asking about the divine doctor, so we sent him to her doorstep... It's laughable that these people are just pawns in the hands of the Dowager Empress, and they still think they're superior."

  The empress was surprised, and then a burst of complacency: "That little girl Mei Gui is really pitiful... If she knew that there might be a boy in her belly, I'm afraid she would hate to death."

  Auntie O did not smile, she said solemnly: "Your Majesty, you also need to work harder. From now on, there will be new people entering the palace constantly, and simply eliminating them is not a solution. If you can have an heir, why worry about other concubines giving birth to a few more?"

  The queen's face floated with a hint of resentment, her gentle and weak temperament making anyone who saw her heart skip a beat: "What's the use of my efforts? The emperor doesn't care about me at all. The empress dowager wants me to capture his heart, but that's impossible... Fine, anyway, the other three uncles' families also have beautiful princesses. If I can't do it, they'll just replace me with one of them!"

  Finally, with a hint of resentment and slight regret, her eyes misted over as she thought of what Aunt O had said earlier about being a "chess piece". At this moment, she felt a pang of sympathy for herself - in the Empress Dowager's heart, even as her own niece, she was nothing more than another slightly more valuable chess piece.

  Auntie's face sank: "Your Highness must not belittle yourself! The Empress Dowager has four brothers, and if we talk about noble status, only the second prince - that is your father, Jing'an Gong - I'm old and can't change my mouth - and the eldest son who inherited the Lin family business. The eldest son is now a noble king, his princess must be spoiled and unbearable, how can she compare to Your Highness's virtue, kindness and gentleness!"

  The queen nodded in agreement, but was still resentful at heart: the eldest uncle, as a vassal king, had a fief of a thousand miles, and countless brave warriors and fierce generals; although the empress dowager supported him on the surface, she secretly feared his great power, and only wanted to find a weak and indecisive brother to be her right-hand man, so she had promoted herself to the position of queen.

  Recalling the past, her father had smiled and sent her to the palace with great fanfare, but the Empress's cold demeanor made her secretly sigh: "Why did he send me to this place where I can't even see a human face..."

  ****

  The palace was in an uproar, with everyone rushing about. After the imperial physician had written out a prescription, the eunuchs and palace maids all scattered to their various tasks: some were brewing medicine, others changing and washing bedding, while still others were giving Consort Mei a massage or welcoming the consorts from the rear palace who had come to offer their condolences; meanwhile, others were keeping track of gifts received. It was such a flurry of activity that it seemed as though the heavens themselves were boiling over.

  The palace maids and serving girls were busy with their hands and didn't have a moment to spare with their mouths, but the most they talked about was this big event in the palace.

  Dew drops on the door, listening to the palace maids chatting and laughing while sweeping the courtyard.

  Her internal strength was shallow, but at such a distance, it wasn't particularly difficult either.

  The palace maids would look around before speaking of this matter, making sure the strict aunties were not present, and then they would speak in hushed tones.

  Three women can make a play, let alone these dozen little girls?

  Chenlu listened for a while, and it was all nonsense about ghosts and conspiracies. Just as she was about to turn around and leave, a small palace maid spoke with disdain: "What you're saying doesn't make any sense... In my opinion, it's the queen and someone else who are at odds, causing this great disaster!

  Her companion repeatedly refuted, and Xiaoyao's temper was also provoked, slightly raising her voice: "Have you forgotten? Last time the princess went to the empress dowager's banquet, she came back crying and trembling with fear as if she had been possessed by an evil spirit."

  Some people agreed, while others were dissatisfied. Xia Gong Nü ignored them and continued: "There's another thing you probably don't know about. Yesterday afternoon, after the rain started, the steward actually told me to sweep away the fallen leaves and moss. With so much accumulated water, wasn't he trying to make things difficult for me? Alright, alright, no need to rush, I'm getting to the point now... On that day, I swept for a while before seeing a group of people arriving at the gate. Do you know who was in that sedan chair?"

  She had whetted everyone's appetite, and then said with a smile: "It was the Empress Dowager! Although I didn't know her, that golden thread embroidered nine phoenix dress was recognizable. This scared me to death, and I quickly avoided her. The Empress Dowager entered Princess Mei's palace, and it wasn't until more than an hour later that she came out——Today, Princess Mei encountered such a disaster, wasn't it because her eight characters were in conflict with the Empress Dowager's, and they would be unlucky as soon as they met?

  She concluded with a straight face, speaking happily, only to hear a clear and cold voice behind her: "Are you not doing your job properly, slandering the master here?"

  The palace maids turned around and were shocked to see that it was none other than the noble Lady Shang Yi, instantly turning pale with fear, stuttering and unable to speak.

  "Disperse, all of you! If I hear such absurd and ridiculous nonsense again next time, there will be severe punishment - you, stay behind." Chenlu pointed at the little palace maid who had just spoken out of turn.

  That little palace maid was trembling like a leaf, although she didn't know what was going on, but the crime of slandering her master was very serious and she understood that. She said timidly: "Shang Yi, please don't tell the empress and the managers, I beg of you!"

  Chenlu took her aside, comforted her with a few words, and waited until she stopped trembling before asking in detail about the situation when the empress came yesterday.

  The little palace maid was busy dodging at the time, how could she know what's important, she just repeated what she said earlier. After a while, she thought for a moment and said uncertainly: "When the empress left, I saw from afar that the corner of her mouth was raised, as if she was very happy."

  ****

  What does the queen want to do after all?

  Chenlu had been thinking about it all along, until the time of the evening lamp, she entered the kitchen, still thinking about this question.

  The aroma of cooking wafts from the kitchen, making one's fingers twitch with hunger. This is Mei Fu's own private dining room; she can't get used to the warm dishes served in the palace, so like other consorts, she invites famous chefs to cook for her in the kitchen. She has always been approachable and kind, every day letting the chef make an extra portion for her mother-in-law and a few elderly attendants, and Chen Lu, as the emperor's trusted advisor, also gets a share.

  After that nightmare in her past life, Chen Lu personally came to fetch the dew every day and would only eat it after carefully inspecting it upon returning to the courtyard. Today was no exception.

  She picked up her lunchbox and was about to leave when she suddenly seemed to have caught a scent.

  In this place where the aroma of dishes is confusing, she was a little suspicious and sniffed again, still unable to determine.

  In the depths of darkness, that faint scent of medicine wafted in and out of perception, as if it were an illusion, yet it truly existed.

  She bent down and searched carefully under the stove.

  Nothing.

  The stove seemed to have gone through a fierce combustion, burning everything into charcoal.

  She didn't give up and continued to carefully examine the ashes.

  A tiny glimmer of light flickers in the grayness.

  She brushed it open and found a small exquisite jade pendant.

  It is only the size of a pigeon's egg, with a jade-like snow-white and flawless interior, divided into nine layers, each layer inlaid with various patterns, adorned with pure gold and rubies, and with just a slight movement, it produces a pleasant sound.

  Looking at this familiar ornament, Chenluo was a little distracted. She thought of that innocent and pure young girl, with an indifferent smile, playing with it.

  The fog in my mind suddenly cleared up at this moment.

  She looked at the delicate thing in her hand and thought of a sentence: All things are impermanent.

  ****

  When Chenlu arrived at Qianqing Palace, Yuanqi was practicing calligraphy.

  Every stroke of his is unrestrained and free-spirited, yet that upright momentum is almost pouring out from the tip of his brush.

  "How is Princess Mei?"

  He saw Chenlu, looked deeply into her eyes and asked.

  Qī and Zhōu's consorts must be punished, but the culprit is unclear. Whoever is punished will cry injustice. He was hesitant in his heart, so he felt guilty towards Mei Pin.

  Even if he is usually decisive and bold, even if he has always treated his concubines like pawns, at this moment, he still feels guilty.

  The response was not the clear and cold voice of morning dew, but the sound of a pearl being tossed out and landing on the desk.

  He picked it up and took a look, it was a jade pendant.

  "The sound of morning dew continued: 'Your Majesty, are you familiar with this object?'"

  "This is what you bestowed upon me at that time, Princess Mei has been carrying it with her and treasuring it greatly."

  "In such a small object, it finally appeared in the furnace under the stove."

  "The dew was cold and clear in her eyes, making them look even more desolate: 'I have already understood the truth of the whole thing.'"