Zhao Jiaqi followed the palace maids, not heading towards a secluded area, but instead towards the exit of the Imperial Garden.
At a glance, Zhao Jiaqi recognized Mei Guifei's fiery red attire. When Mei Guifei turned around, her face was still displeased.
"The Empress is too deep in her schemes. Don't foolishly work for her; you won't even know how you died."
Before Zhao Jiaqi could speak, Mei Guifei turned and led her palace maids away with great elegance, leaving Zhao Jiaqi somewhat bewildered.
However, she accepted the kind warning. But she also misjudged this Mei Guifei; seeing her as somewhat simple, she was actually quite cunning.
Then again, it made sense. Could someone without brains possibly attain the positions of Guifei and Empress?
Stepping out of the palace, Pingting and the others saw that she had emerged unscathed, and they were so happy they could have jumped.
Fortunately, they managed to control themselves.
They had arrived in separate carriages, but upon their departure, they were assigned only one, much to everyone's dissatisfaction.
Zhao Jiaqi remarked, "This is clearly treating people differently based on status. Usually, only those without brains would act this way."
Pingting heartily agreed, "If they handle such open matters so poorly, how petty must their hearts be!"
Thus, the Empress, though seemingly clever, was in reality a dullard.
Su Ya felt little about these matters. In her understanding, as long as one was alive, everything else was secondary.
She patted her chest and declared, "Fighting for temporary vanity is not as good as earning respect for a lifetime. If she doesn't take us seriously, neither do I. Frankly, if she hadn't invited us, and out of consideration for appearances, I would never have come to this palace."
It was said that the palace was a place that devoured people whole. Su Ya, having lived in the princely manor before, hadn't found it terrifying.
But here in the palace, danger permeated every corner. Therefore, she still believed her former manor in the inner city was the best.
The group returned to the manor and recounted the day's events to the men. Prince Xian, eager to protect his wife, was the first to react.
"Outrageous! A dignified Empress of the realm acting in such a manner! I shall go find Huangfu Xi immediately and ask him what he means. If they don't welcome us as a couple, then we shall leave. Why be an eyesore?"
Prince Xiaoyao had no objections to this matter. The two brothers, aside from their wives, were always in sync.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go! Do you intend to wait until after he's eaten?"
Going after he'd eaten wouldn't stir up much of anything. It was better to go before the meal, so he could be thoroughly angered.
The two brothers left without asking Fan Zehao or Xiao Ce's opinion, their departure unhindered by the efforts of the adoptive sisters to stop them.
Seeing this, Fan Zehao stroked his chin and instructed Xiao Ce, "You go to the palace as well. Inform the Emperor that I am ill and require three months of recuperation. During this period, I will see no one."
Xiao Ce heard this and thought, "Ah, he's giving the Emperor a 'soft knife.'"
He said with amusement, "I'll go after the mealtime."
Fan Zehao paused, then a smile spread across his face like a child's. He patted Xiao Ce's shoulder, "This is the first time I've seen eldest brother use his cleverness in such a manner."
Xiao Ce awkwardly scratched his head, his dark face revealing no blush. He replied, "I do not have a princely title, so I cannot openly seek justice for my wife. All I can do is provoke anger, which is indirectly avenging my wife."
Zhao Jiaqi's face twitched several times. She didn't know what to say to these men.
The Empress throws a tantrum, and in the end, the Emperor bears the brunt of it. Where could one find justice for this?
To welcome the flower appreciation assembly, the Emperor had been so worried his hair was falling out. Upon hearing that his cousin had arrived, his joy was so immense that his mouth seemed to stretch to his ears.
He even lifted himself from his chair and waved enthusiastically for him to be admitted.
The initial meeting was full of brotherly affection, but the mood took a sharp turn shortly after.
No one knew what transpired in the imperial study. The eunuchs guarding the hall, hearing intermittent sounds of objects being smashed from within the room, trembled in fear.
They covered their ears tightly, determined not to reveal a single word of what they heard, for fear of losing their lives.
Not long after they left, just as the Emperor was about to have a meal, General Xiao arrived. After relaying Fan Zehao's words verbatim, Huangfu Xi was finally consumed by rage.
He stormed out, cursing, "Day in and day out, there's never a moment's peace! They have good lives but insist on causing trouble."
Wang Shan watched the Emperor stride away hastily and quickly followed, asking, "Your Majesty, where are you going?"
His tone was filled with anger: "To Kunning Palace!"
Wang Shan's heart sank. The Emperor was going to confront the Empress. His godson was currently serving in Kunning Palace.
He jogged a few steps, his eyes darting about. Upon recalling something, he blocked the Emperor's path, bowed, and said obsequiously, "Your Majesty, the Empress is over five months pregnant. According to the imperial physicians, the Empress is carrying a direct imperial heir. Any disturbance to her qi could be detrimental and she cannot be frightened."
The thought of his unborn heir gradually calmed Huangfu Xi's anger. However, while his anger subsided, the anger of those few elders remained.
Glancing in the direction of Kunning Palace, Huangfu Xi decided to wait until she safely gave birth. Other matters could be discussed later.
"Issue an imperial decree: The Empress is feeling unwell. All matters of the harem shall be managed by Consort Liang." As Huangfu Xi turned to leave, he added, "Tell the Empress to rest assured and take care of her pregnancy. If she fails to carry this child to term, the palace will not harbor a useless person."
It was clear that Huangfu Xi was truly angered this time.
Normally, he paid little attention to the squabbles between the Empress and the Guifei. Their family backgrounds and status provided a balance, so he often turned a blind eye. But who knew Leng Shuang would dare to be so presumptuous?
He turned back, his voice laced with fury, "Investigate. Find out everything that happened this morning, without missing a single detail."
Wang Shan replied, "This servant will investigate immediately. Your Majesty, please calm down and do not harm your health."
Huangfu Xi let out a cold snort. Prince Xian, Prince Xiaoyao, and Xiao Ce were all staying at the Regent's manor. They chose to confront him at this specific time instead of coming all at once, clearly intending to provoke him.
However, he was powerless to vent his anger.
He had no choice but to swallow his pride.
Now, he finally understood: the more women there were in the inner court, the more trouble there was.
When Xiao Ce returned to the manor with a smile, he was informed that he needed to pack simple luggage for a collective outing.
It was said that Lover's Lake was a fun place. His wife hadn't had the chance to enjoy it last time. Now, it was the perfect opportunity to take his wife and children for a trip while he was 'recuperating'.
Upon hearing this, the other two who enjoyed joining in the fun also expressed their willingness to go. Since everyone else was going, Xiao Ce couldn't be left out.
And so, in the afternoon, carriages began to depart from the manor.