Chapter 155: Loss

Chapter 155: Loss

The Empress's eldest brother, Xie Zhilin, is not yet thirty years old this year.

He is the legitimate eldest son of the Xie family branch.

The Empress is the legitimate eldest daughter.

Feng Shi is the legitimate wife, having given birth to the legitimate eldest son, eldest daughter, second son, third son, and second daughter.

Below them, all are children born out of wedlock.

Although the Xie family has many children, the most accomplished are the eldest son, Xie Zhilin, and the eldest daughter. The daughter became the Empress, and the son was a young general.

Who would have thought that the eldest son, only twenty-nine this year, not yet reaching the age of thirty, would be passing away?

Once the news reached the Empress, stating that the situation was dire, it meant there was no hope for recovery.

Indeed, just as the Empress sent people to Lin Nan, before they could arrive, news met them halfway that the Empress's elder brother had passed away.

Although Xie Zhilin left behind a son and a daughter, what use was that now?

The Empress was devastated and fell ill.

In the Yu Qu Palace, a recovered Zhu Que reported, "It's said that Young General Xie fell ill in his concubine's quarters, actually due to angina. However, rumors outside are somewhat unflattering."

Yun Li lightly raised an eyebrow: "The Xie family is indeed facing a run of bad luck."

"Indeed, it's said the Empress is so grief-stricken that she can't get out of bed."

Consequently, everyone was excused from paying their respects.

Yun Li shook her head: "The sibling bond must have been deep."

The Xie family's eldest son wasn't as renowned as the Noble Consort's brother, partly because he wasn't based in the capital.

But he was genuinely capable, a pity that fate was not kind.

The main concern is whether the Xie family's influence has waned after losing their most promising son.

After all, the Empress's brothers are not particularly remarkable.

Now, while the old General Xie still commands respect and power, what will happen without a successor?

The Empress's brothers do not pursue military careers.

Now, can only the Empress and Consort Qin support everything?

And the fourth prince is still...

The Empress's position, despite the Emperor's efforts to stabilize it once more, unfortunately remains unstable.

If Yun Li could think of it, how could the people of the harem not?

Because of the fourth prince, the Empress had many people dealt with, and then her maternal family faced issues.

Even if no one dares to speak openly, everyone's minds are shadowed by suspicion.

It was also at this time that the Emperor granted favors to the Empress's family, arranging the funeral for the Empress's brother.

This quelled some of the rumors; regardless, the Emperor still highly values the Empress.

October passed in a daze, and on the last night, thick snow fell.

In the morning, everyone went to pay their respects, trudging through the snow, which hadn't stopped despite intensified efforts to clear it.

In August, with the Emperor away, the Empress Dowager and the Empress oversaw the selection of palace maids, and now the palace was bustling with activity from many new maids.

The Internal Affairs Department also introduced a batch of trained eunuchs.

This group of newcomers, having been specially instructed, greeted Yun Li with great respect.

Yun Li ignored them, and afterward, they simply got up on their own.

The Empress had been ill for a long time, looking pale, but managed to say, "Please sit, my sisters."

Once everyone was seated, the Empress began to inquire about everyone, starting with the children from the eldest prince to the fifth, and then the pregnant women, though none were present, so she only asked those she was familiar with.

"The weather today is not good; are you all dressed warmly? Don't catch a cold."

Everyone said they were dressed warmly.

"This winter, according to the Imperial Astronomical Observatory, will be particularly cold. I've increased your coal allocation by ten percent, which should be sufficient," said the Empress.

Indeed, the Imperial Astronomical Observatory's role isn't just about mystical predictions; their primary function is to forecast the weather and calendar.

Everyone thanked the Empress.

Consort Jin inquired, "Empress, is the Fourth Prince feeling better?"

"Thank you for your concern. He has recovered," the Empress smiled. "But as you all know, the Fourth Prince is frail and will need ongoing care."

Three of the Fourth Prince's wet nurses were replaced, adding three new ones.

During this time, the Fourth Prince's health indeed improved significantly.

The Empress felt much relieved.

Everyone smiled along, though it's hard to say how many were sincerely happy.

It seems that Lady Wu genuinely cared.

After dispersing, Yun Li, looking at the heavy snow, said cheerfully, "Let's go enjoy the snow."

The Empress still had to take the royal family to pay respects to the Dowager Empress, as it was the first day of the month.

The people below were more at liberty.

However, the Empress and the consorts didn't stay too long.

After the Emperor left, only the Empress remained, as the consorts had left earlier.

In the Imperial Garden, Yun Li watched the relentless snowfall on the frozen lake, covering everything in white.

Zhu Ding held an umbrella, with Zhi Fu supporting her.

"Beauty, look, isn't that... Consort Wu Zhao?"

Zhi Fu said.

Yun Li looked over and indeed, under a pavilion not far away, were Consort Wu Zhao and... Li Baolin?

Was Li Baolin kneeling?

"Quite bold to show up here," Yun Li said with a smile, then turned to walk away.

Consort Wu Zhao stood there, looking at the person kneeling before her: "Do you feel like a dog now? How did you mock me back then?"

Li Baolin shivered in the snow: "Why must you treat me this way? It was the Noble Consort who caused your miscarriage... Consort Lan was the one who kicked you when you were down, I... I just made some sarcastic remarks... You don’t dare confront the real culprits, yet you refuse to let me go, is... is torturing me to death going to bring your child back?"

These words struck Consort Wu Zhao deeply: "Bitch!"

While cursing, she slapped Li Baolin: "Yes, your words were cold, but how favored were you then? Because of your sarcastic remark, people in the Eastern Palace dared to humiliate me."

Fortunately, after entering the palace, the Emperor remembered her and Consort Ye's contributions to childbirth, granting them significant status.

Li Baolin dared not speak anymore.

She had grown accustomed to her current plight.

Consort Wu Zhao didn’t actually want her dead, so after tormenting her for a while, she left, only ordering her to kneel for an hour.

An hour, which is two hours long.

In the end, Li Baolin nearly fainted from kneeling, unable to control her legs when she tried to stand.

Coincidentally, unable to walk, she sought to rest in the pavilion and saw someone there—it was Yun Li.

At this point, how could Li Bao Lin dare to leave directly?

She could only grit her teeth and proceed: "Greetings to Consort Yun, may you be forever peaceful."

Yun Li observed her: "Tsk tsk, such a pitiful sight."

The last thing Li Bao Lin wanted was to appear like this before her, but she couldn't avoid it: "I dare not disturb the consort..."

"Did I ask you to speak? Did I ask you to leave?" Yun Li said indifferently.

Li Bao Lin hurriedly said she dared not and just stood there, which was incredibly awkward for her.

This pavilion had doors and windows, with a fire burning inside. Although the windows were open, it was much warmer than outside.

Li Bao Lin took the opportunity to warm herself.

As she was warming up, she saw someone else arriving.

Despite the continuing snow, just by looking at the clothing, one could tell who it was.

Zhu Ding knelt down to greet: "May Your Majesty be forever peaceful."

"Is your mistress here?"

Emperor He Jing asked just as Yun Li came out to greet: "May Your Majesty be forever peaceful."