Sure enough, the rumors didn't spread for two days before the Emperor found out.
Enraged, he ordered Eunuch Qian to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Matters within the harem were all under the watchful eye of the Chief Steward. For Eunuch Qian, finding the instigator was as simple as drinking water or eating.
Within half a day, the gossips were identified.
"Noble Lady Qin, out of jealousy for Consort Shu's unwavering favor, resorted to a scheme. She had her people hide in a secluded spot and pretend to be engaged in a private conversation, allowing these words to be overheard and spread."
"Scoundrels." Emperor Chenghua slammed the table. "Mindless individuals, used by the mindless." It was unclear whether he was referring to Noble Lady Qin or someone else.
Eunuch Qian was also startled. He had intended to say something, but seeing the Emperor's genuine anger, he dared not utter a word, even his breathing grew lighter.
"Qian Yunlai, draft an imperial decree. Noble Lady Qin's conduct and speech are unruly, she has offended superiors and shown disrespect to Consort Shu. Demote her to Beauty."
Eunuch Qian quickly complied. In a short while, he was on his way to Noble Lady Qin's palace with the imperial decree.
Well, she was now a Beauty.
Upon hearing this, Li Qingshu said nothing. She knew this was merely the Emperor's appeasement tactic. Publicly, it seemed like he was comforting her, but in reality, he was using this to placate the Li family.
Only when a daughter of the Li family was favored could the Li family loyally serve him. However, fate had it that she could no longer bear children, which inadvertently resolved the Emperor's concerns.
Li Shuqing closed her eyes and leaned back against the bolster, pretending to doze.
The autumn heat was more venomous than the summer sun.
The Emperor was no longer young, but an elderly and suspicious emperor was even more chilling.
"Your Ladyship, the medicine is ready."
Nanny Wenxiu brought the brewed medicine over and placed it gently on the table.
Li Qingshu gazed at the steaming bowl of medicine and sighed, "When will this ever end?"
"If you ask me, Your Ladyship absolutely must not stop taking this medicine." Nanny Wenxiu's face was alight with joy. "Your Ladyship, just think, how long has it been since your menstrual cycle?"
Li Qingshu was taken aback. "What does that have to do with anything?" Her periods had always been irregular, and after giving birth to the Fourth Princess, she hadn't had one for half a year.
Later, as her health declined further, she had no opportunity to conceive again and no longer paid attention to such matters.
"I've been keeping track, Your Ladyship. Before drinking this medicine, it had been over three months. After drinking the medicine from the elder daughter, your menstruation arrived immediately, which shows its effectiveness."
Li Qingshu smiled. "It's not as magical as you say." If it were true, the effect would have been too rapid.
"I'll say something Your Ladyship might not want to hear. Previously, we invited imperial physicians to examine you, and you took a lot of medicine, but did any of them restore your health? It's not that they were not diligent, perhaps Your Ladyship's physical condition is special, and the methods were incorrect!" Regardless, she had immense confidence in Li Man'er.
"Perhaps I should go and invite the elder daughter later to have her examine Your Ladyship's pulse again?"
Li Qingshu drained the bowl, rinsed her mouth, and after sucking on a plum and spitting out the pit, said, "We've only been taking it for a few days. Even if there are changes, they shouldn't be this rapid."
Hearing this, Wenxiu felt it made sense, and her mood shifted. "It is I who was too anxious." She desperately wanted her mistress to recover.
Li Qingshu asked, "What is Man'er doing?"
"Reading," Wenxiu replied. "I heard she's been reading all morning. If her maid hadn't worried about her straining her eyes, she would probably still be holding a book even during meals."
"Is it medical texts?"
"It should be." Wenxiu continued, "Your Ladyship, the sun won't be as strong in the afternoon. Why don't you ask the elder daughter to take a walk in the garden with you? It's not good to stay indoors like this all the time."
Li Qingshu was no longer as difficult to persuade as before. She thought for a moment and said, "You go and ask Man'er first, see if she wants to go. I'm bored anyway, it doesn't really matter if I go or not."
Wenxiu was overjoyed upon hearing this. "Yes, I'll go now." The elder daughter would surely go.
Li Qingshu shook her head, feeling that ever since Li Man'er entered the palace, even Wenxiu had become less composed. Had she been corrupted by that girl?
Soon, Wenxiu returned, saying, "The elder daughter said she also wants to see what the palace gardens look like. Mistress, the elder daughter has already tidied herself up. Let's get dressed quickly too!" As long as her mistress was willing to go out for a walk, she would be grateful.
"Alright! But don't be too flashy, try to be low-key."
"Yes." Wenxiu understood her intentions and quickly chose a plain, elegant dress, and selected two pieces of jewelry that were of fine material and exquisite craftsmanship, yet not ostentatious.
By the time Li Qingshu was ready, Li Man'er had also arrived.
"Greetings to my aunt."
"Get up quickly." Li Qingshu turned. "Did I interrupt your reading?"
"No!" Li Man'er said, "Your niece took a short nap at noon. Upon learning that my aunt was going to stroll in the garden, I hurried over, afraid you wouldn't take me with you."
Li Qingshu pursed her lips and smiled, glancing at Wenxiu before saying, "The gardens in the palace are no different from those at home. They are simply larger, with more scenery."
"That's even better!" Li Man'er said. "Whether large or small, I haven't seen them before. No matter how beautiful the scenery, looking at it every day becomes tiresome."
Upon further thought, her words held some truth.
"You..."
Li Man'er smiled. "Aunt, are you ready? Let's go quickly."
The servants dared not laugh, lowering their heads and suppressing their mirth. They thought to themselves that outside, it was rumored the elder daughter was a man-eater, and they wished to portray her as a ghoul. Could this sweet and innocent young girl be a fake Li Man'er?
The two, accompanied by a group of servants, emerged from Xiaoxiang Hall and headed towards the Imperial Garden.
The journey was a bit long, but there were sights to behold along the way, making it not entirely boring.
The palace was the wealthiest and most beautiful place in the world. Although the flowers in the garden were not as vibrant as they were in spring and summer, due to their meticulous care, they did not appear withered.
The plants here were thriving, full of vitality and life.
"These flowers are truly beautiful," Li Man'er exclaimed. "I used to grow this type of flower in my courtyard, but they died within a few days. Later, I realized I couldn't take care of these plants, so I had them moved outside, and surprisingly, they lived."
Li Qingshu felt her words were directed at her and was about to probe further when she heard someone nearby say, "Oh, isn't this Consort Shu?"
A woman around thirty years old, wearing a peacock-blue brocade silk dress, walked over.
Her attire and accessories were ostentatious and vulgar. Six or seven golden hairpins were stuck in her hair, as if the words "rich" were carved onto her face.
"My heavens," Li Man'er thought, "this person's neck must be truly strong to bear so many ornaments. Can her cervical spine handle it?"