Chapter 661 Mistreating the Princess

Chapter 661 The Prince’s Birthday

On Wei Shiyu’s birthday, an intimate banquet was held in Zhaoyang Palace.

The imperial concubines were all astute; aware that Empress Nie only wished to entertain those close to Wei Shiyu, they politely delivered gifts, offered blessings, and left without lingering.

Empress Nie had the imperial kitchen send extra dishes to these concubines as a modest gesture of thanks.

Xingxing came bearing a gift, too.

Though Wei Shiyu had said that an invitation to the Yu family would suffice as a gift, Xingxing couldn’t treat that as the real present.

She had prepared a brocade hair ribbon adorned with an emerald, ideal for an energetic young man like Wei Shiyu.

Wei Shiyu was delighted and immediately swapped out his usual hair ribbon for the one Xingxing gave him.

Wei Shiqing, watching nearby, frowned with concern.

Wei Shiyu looked up and spotted his elder brother.

He ran over and glanced behind Wei Shiqing: "Why isn’t sister-in-law here?"

Wei Shiqing patted Wei Shiyu’s hair: "It snowed again last night, and your sister-in-law is late in her pregnancy. I didn’t want her to come out."

Wei Shiyu eagerly nodded, grinning: "Right, right! Sister-in-law must take care now and safely deliver my little nephew or niece. I’m ready to be an uncle!"

Wei Shiqing smiled faintly: "A-Yu’s maturing."

As the brothers chatted, Consort Bai arrived with her maids to present her gift.

The gift was placed in an embroidered box. Consort Bai looked sorrowful, pressing a hand to her abdomen: "This concubine is unlucky. Otherwise, perhaps next year, I could have given the Third Prince a younger sibling."

Wei Shiyu replied: "Consort Bai, there’s no need for sorrow. Besides, I’ve got plenty of siblings—I’ve heard two more noble ladies in the palace are with child. No need to fret."

Consort Bai’s mournful expression stiffened for a moment before she stormed off, visibly annoyed.

Wei Shiqing scoffed and immediately had Consort Bai’s gift thrown out.

He made no effort to hide this from Xingxing, openly instructing Wei Shiyu in her presence: "Don’t accept anything from Consort Bai in the future. Outsiders can’t be trusted."

Wei Shiyu didn’t seem too concerned: "Got it. I’ll follow your lead."

Then he turned to Xingxing: "Today, my mother gifted me a prized Ferghana stallion. Want to see it?"

Wei Shiqing sighed.

His younger brother was already fourteen—why was he still so childish?

As soon as Xingxing left with Wei Shiyu to see the stallion behind Zhaoyang Palace, Nie Yuke and Nie Lvming arrived together.

Nie Yuke’s eyes lit up upon seeing Wei Shiqing alone, then dimmed again.

How could she not resent it?

Why couldn’t such an excellent cousin be hers?

Nie Lvming, oblivious to his sister’s feelings, stepped forward and bowed: "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Nie Yuke hid her secret crush and curtsied: "Greetings, Cousin Crown Prince."

Wei Shiqing nodded with an indifferent expression, then suddenly asked Nie Lvming, "Lvming, you're not young anymore. Has your maternal family begun arranging marriages for you?"

Nie Lvming started, his face showing a touch of emotion. "Elder Cousin, with your endless responsibilities, you still trouble yourself with my affairs. It's just that I'm truly a disappointment—neither accomplished in letters nor martial arts. What respectable family would wed their daughter to me?"

By the end, Nie Lvming let out a long sigh.

Wei Shiqing smiled faintly. "Spare me the modesty. Do you think I don’t know? Many houses seek alliance with the Nie family."

Nie Lvming sighed again. "They're perfectly respectable, but I know in my heart—I care for none of them. Marriage would only do them a disservice. Why force it?"

Wei Shiqing frowned slightly but before he could speak, Nie Yuke interjected playfully, "Ah, I see. Fifth Brother seeks a kindred spirit to be my fifth sister-in-law. Isn’t there someone readily available?"

Nie Lvming's cheeks colored faintly as he immediately chided, "Yuke, don’t speak nonsense."

Nie Yuke laughed softly. "Fifth Brother grows shy. Cousin is no stranger—why this reticence?"

Nie Lvming, who bore the countenance of a rakish and romantic young master, now flushed crimson, as if truly moved by genuine affection.

"Enough! Hold your tongue!" Nie Lvming glared at Nie Yuke, rebuking, "This concerns you not! You'll needlessly tarnish a lady's reputation."

Nie Yuke opened her mouth to continue, but Wei Shiqing anticipated her words. He said coolly, "Cousin, mind your tongue."

At this admonition, Nie Yuke stiffened.

Her lashes fluttered slightly as her expression softened into demure obedience. "As you say, Elder Cousin."

Yet beneath those lowered lashes, the embers of jealousy burned anew.

---

The garden lay buried under snow. With the banquet still some hours away, Xingxing accompanied Empress Nie in the heated pavilion for tea.

Since shielding Emperor Jiazheng during the Imperial Longevity Day celebrations, Empress Nie had occasionally suffered labored breathing. Though both Xingxing and the imperial physicians had examined her, no perfect remedy existed—only gentle exercise and careful convalescence.

Now in winter's heart, Emperor Jiazheng had ordered the Ministry of Works to convert numerous pavilions into heated retreats for his consort's comfort.

Heavy curtains blocked most wind and snow, leaving only the scenic vista exposed.

The pavilion was provisioned with tea and delicacies, warmed by gilded charcoal—an undeniably luxurious refuge.

As Xingxing discussed winter health regimens with Empress Nie, a palace maid came rushing forth, prostrating herself outside. "Empress Dowager, I beg you to save our princess!"

Her forehead struck the ground repeatedly.

Empress Nie frowned and bade the maid enter.

The servant's brow was smeared with mud and melted snow, her appearance wretched.

Empress Nie's brows drew together. "You serve Princess Mingyi, do you not? Explain yourself."

Kneeling before the Empress, the maid wept with renewed fervor at being recognized. "Your Majesty, since our princess's confinement, social-climbing vermin have tormented her—withholding her due allocations. I wished to petition you, but our princess said her ill-considered actions caused your injury... Now in winter's depths, those wretches have reduced her charcoal ration to foul-smelling dregs!"

"Our princess's constitution was ever delicate. After this cruelty, she was seized by burning fever last night. Yet those villains barred the gates, claiming she feigns illness as always, refusing us a physician. I had no choice—I crawled through a drainage tunnel, risking death to find you here."

She kowtowed again, her forehead livid with bruises. "Your Majesty, I implore you—save our princess!"

Empress Nie struck the armrest. "Outrageous! The princess atones through confinement—by what right do they abuse her so?"

The maid daubed at her eyes ceaselessly.

Empress Nie stood up. "I'm going to check on Ming Yi!"

The attendant at Empress Nie’s side hurriedly helped her put on her cloak.

Xingxing also rose to her feet. "Your Majesty, I will accompany you."

Empress Nie gave Xingxing an approving nod. "Good child."

As Empress Nie led Xingxing toward Wan'er Palace, where Princess Ming Yi was confined, she sent someone to fetch the imperial physician.

Wan'er Palace was quite far from the imperial garden, and it took Empress Nie and Xingxing some time to reach it. A heavy brass lock hung on the palace gates.

The key was in the possession of a certain attendant, who had gone off to drink. Getting a spare key would mean a trip to the Imperial Household Department.

Her face icy, Empress Nie ordered the lock to be chopped off immediately.

Wan'er Palace had been sealed for some time, and the whole place reeked of neglect and decay.

A palace maid pushed open the doors to the main hall, and a blast of cold air hit them.

Empress Nie’s attendant paled and snapped, "Quickly prepare a brazier!"

Empress Nie frowned as she stepped into the freezing hall. She passed dust-covered screens and spotted a small bed draped with curtains.

Empress Nie rushed forward, pulling aside the curtains to reveal little Ming Yi lying inside, her cheeks burning with fever, unconscious.

Empress Nie exploded in anger!

The hall was freezing—so cold it hurt to move. Ming Yi was already delicate—no surprise she got sick in this place!

The imperial physician hadn’t arrived yet, so Xingxing checked Ming Yi’s pulse and determined the little princess was suffering from febrile convulsions caused by a cold.

She had medicine for childhood illnesses and retrieved a pill from the sachet at her waist, placing it in Ming Yi's mouth.

The little princess’s face was flushed red, her eyes tightly shut, and she twitched now and then—a bad sign.

Fortunately, the medicine Xingxing carried was highly effective. Ming Yi hadn’t woken up, but at least the convulsions stopped.

By the time the physician arrived, Ming Yi's fever had mostly subsided.

The doctor quickly prescribed herbal remedies for the cold.

Empress Nie, stone-faced, summoned Beauty Li—Ming Yi's birth mother.

When Empress Nie's attendants fetched Beauty Li, she had been playing cards with Zhao Yi Zhou, the senior consort in her palace.

Hearing that Ming Yi was gravely ill and that Empress Nie was summoning her, Beauty Li went white and stumbled to Wan'er Palace in a panic.

Zhao Yi Zhou and the other two consorts exchanged glances, dropping their card game to follow.

Empress Nie sat in the main hall of Wan'er Palace, where eight golden braziers now burned, making the room as warm as spring.

Beauty Li hastily kowtowed. "Your Majesty, Ming Yi—Ming Yi is ill? May this humble consort see her?"

Empress Nie rubbed her temples. "Where were you earlier?"

Though Ming Yi had been confined, Beauty Li, as her mother, had not been under any such restriction.

Empress Nie had thought that at the very least, Ming Yi would be cared for by her own mother. The six-month house arrest was supposed to teach her a lesson, so she wouldn’t be so quick to trust others in the future.

But clearly, that wasn’t happening?

When questioned by Empress Nie, Beauty Li actually had the nerve to act wronged.

"Your Majesty, since Ming Yi was confined for her mistake, I could only try to maneuver outside, hoping His Majesty would lift her confinement soon," Beauty Li said tearfully, wiping her eyes. "I’m just a low-ranking concubine with no pull—all I could do was spend my days sucking up to my superior, Zhao Yi Zhou..."

Zhao Yi Zhou, who’d just walked in, almost swore out loud when she heard this.

How was this her problem?!

She’d just been playing cards!

Zhao Yi Zhou quickly knelt beside Beauty Li, her face pained, and said nothing more than, "Your Majesty, please see the truth."

Empress Nie was only getting more annoyed and sighed. "Enough! Both of you, rise... Beauty Li, Ming Yi hasn’t woken yet inside, but the maids have already given her medicine. Go check on her. Zhao Yi Zhou, you have no business here. Return to your palace."

Beauty Li scrambled to her feet and rushed into the inner chamber.

Zhao Yi Zhou bowed and scurried off.

Empress Nie’s famously beautiful face looked tired.

Xingxing’s heart ached for her.

When Empress Nie went to the rear hall to check on Ming Yi, Beauty Li dropped to her knees again, sobbing dramatically. "Your Majesty, you must stand up for me and Ming Yi! Ming Yi has never suffered like this before! Now that Virtuous Consort’s running things, such negligence has occurred—someone must be deliberately targeting our Ming Yi! Your Majesty, you must uphold justice for us!"

Empress Nie lowered her gaze at Beauty Li but said nothing.

Instead, the matron beside Empress Nie snapped, "You’ve got some nerve! Beauty Li, do you not know that Virtuous Consort returned the responsibility of managing the six palaces to Her Majesty days ago?!"

Beauty Li went pale, gaping at Empress Nie.

She’d been too busy brown-nosing Zhao Yi Zhou to realize that authority over the six palaces had long been returned to Empress Nie.

Had she just accused Empress Nie of screwing up palace management?

Beauty Li immediately stammered, "Th-this concubine didn’t mean—didn’t mean that..."

Empress Nie’s face stayed icy.

She’d taken a hit for Emperor Jiazheng and nearly died from poison, requiring a long recovery. During that time, palace affairs had been entrusted to Virtuous Consort, who had borne the Fifth Prince.

Virtuous Consort had kept things running smoothly.

Now that Empress Nie had mostly recovered, Emperor Jiazheng had instructed Virtuous Consort to return the responsibility of the six palaces to her.

However, Empress Nie had been preoccupied with planning her youngest son’s birthday banquet and often missed her second son, who was secluded in the mountains for spiritual cultivation. Who had time for anything else?

—And now this mess drops in her lap?

Empress Nie let out a barely-there sigh.

By the time Emperor Jiazheng hurried over, Empress Nie had already retired to rest in the rear hall of Zhaoyang Palace.

Beauty Li put on a tearful show for him, claiming that even in her delirium, Ming Yi had called out for her father.

But after a quick glance at Ming Yi, Emperor Jiazheng made a beeline for Zhaoyang Palace.