Chapter 31: Seeking Favor

Chapter 31: Seeking Favor

The moon is roundest on the sixteenth day.

Seeing Consort Shu slightly stunned, Su Jiaojiao smiled and said, "Shu, which means beauty. Your beauty is why the Emperor favors you."

Consort Shu curled her lips in a mocking smile, not showing any joy: "Which favored consort in the palace does not have beauty? My title was probably just the Emperor’s whim."

Su Jiaojiao neither agreed nor disagreed, setting down her chopsticks: "In any case, the Emperor has his reasons for bringing you to the summer retreat. Now that you’re here, he won’t just forget about you."

"Among the ten consorts who came to the summer retreat, Consort Mi and Zhu Shaoshi are pregnant, the Empress and Noble Consort Wang hold high positions but receive little favor, Yun Baolin was beaten half to death, and I have displeased the Emperor. That leaves only four who can attend to the Emperor. Tell me, among these four, who is the newest and most intriguing to the Emperor now?"

As she spoke, Su Jiaojiao's expression remained calm, her eyes steady on Consort Shu, her calm demeanor suggesting she had everything under control.

Consort Shu had long known that Su Jiaojiao was no ordinary person, yet she was repeatedly left speechless by her words. She sighed: "What do you need me to do?"

Su Jiaojiao smiled brightly: "I heard that the hot springs in the summer retreat are uniquely beautiful. When the moon is full, the springs shimmer with silver light, with mist rising like a fairyland. Seeing it would make this trip worth it."

In the Golden Smile Pavilion.

Noble Consort Wang, her eyes brimming with affection, held a bowl of mung bean and lily soup, playing the role of a doting mother as she blew on a spoonful to cool it before feeding it to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince was obedient, swallowing spoonful after spoonful, his round, fair face as soft as a snowball, evoking affection in anyone who saw him.

After drinking about half the bowl, the Crown Prince refused to open his mouth any longer, stretching his arms out to Noble Consort Wang, his childish voice calling: "Mommy, hold me."

Noble Consort Wang’s heart softened instantly. Afraid the soup would spill on the Crown Prince, she quickly set it aside and then held her son in her arms, nuzzling his face: "Zhou'er is so good, isn't he?"

The chief maid, Zhi Tong, standing in the room, smiled: "I see the Crown Prince is doing much better than in the palace. It must be the warm weather."

Noble Consort Wang raised her delicate eyebrows, holding the Crown Prince: "The summer retreat is rich in natural beauty, surely more nurturing than the palace. I’ve noticed Zhou'er’s been eating better lately, and he fusses less during the day. It's a good thing Zhou'er is better, otherwise how could I sleep?"

As she played with the child, a maid came in to report that Yun Baolin had been locked in Yu Linglong and beaten by Consort Mi.

Noble Consort Wang's expression did not change. Instead, she smiled at Shen Nanzhou in her arms and then said indifferently: "I know. You may leave."

Zhi Tong frowned slightly: "Consort Mi is completely disrespecting you! Knowing that Yun Baolin is now under your care, this is clearly intentional..."

"Intentional what?" Noble Consort Wang interrupted with a cold laugh, her tone slightly raised, exuding authority without anger: "If I can back one Yun, I’m not worried about finding another. Besides, Yun was a traitor to her master. Even though she’s out of options, I’m still wary of using her."

Zhi Tong awkwardly fell silent, curtsying: "Your lesson is well taken."

Noble Consort Wang glanced at her lightly, speaking softly: "You have been by my side for so many years, my most trusted confidante. You need to think long-term, to stay ahead in all matters. A few days ago, Consort Mi had a pregnancy scare, and Physician Lin used moxibustion and acupuncture. Don't you understand what this means? At this point, even if it were not Yun but someone else, the Emperor might not blame Consort Mi."

"Yun was merely a pawn in my hands. As long as the pawn is useful, I’ll make the most of her. When she returns to her residence, go and see her personally, bring the best ointments, and see if she still has a breath left. As long as she has a breath, she can still be of use in the future."

After speaking, Zhi Tong curtsied even deeper, nodding: "I have learned my lesson. I’ll handle this perfectly, so you won’t be disappointed."

Noble Consort Wang did not look at her again, giving a faint "Hmm" before lowering her head to play with the Crown Prince, a scene of perfect harmony.

But with Consort Mi’s pregnancy nearing its end, it’s time to close the net...

As the moon rose above the willow trees, Yun Baolin, beaten to the brink of death, was carried back to her residence, covered in blood.

Upon learning of this, the Emperor not only did not punish Consort Mi but also demoted Yun Baolin to Yun Liangshi for offending the royal heir, and gave Consort Mi many rewards. And just like that, the matter was quietly buried.

In recent days, the Emperor has once again favored Consort Shu, sending soup and accompanying her, adding a touch of romance, which has drawn attention.

Inside Lingbo Sends Coolness.

Shen Huai finished reviewing the last memorial with his brush, leaned back, exhausted, and massaged his temples.

Though he was not in the imperial palace, memorials were delivered daily from Chang'an to the summer resort by fast horses.

Though it was called a retreat from the heat, there was not a moment of rest.

Regarding the imperial examination for commoners, Su Chang had maneuvered skillfully within it, handling the situation adeptly.

Not only had he successfully disrupted the alliance of the four great families in secret, causing them to act independently and leading to a stalemate, but he also pioneered the trend of accepting commoners as retainers.

The aristocratic families, with their intricate networks of power and mutual interests, were all unwilling to fall behind. Seeing the Su residence bustling with activity, they all became restless and secretly began to inquire about his intentions.

Su Chang's move was executed brilliantly.

Thinking of Su Chang, Shen Huai couldn't help but recall the day Su Chang knelt before the throne, expressing his deep paternal love.

His words were filled with concern and regret for his daughter.

Su Jiaojiao—

Shen Huai closed his eyes and thought of her for a moment, then couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

If she truly knew she was wrong, why had she done nothing? She appeared delicate and obedient, but wasn't she just taking advantage of his favor to act recklessly!

Just as he was feeling somewhat annoyed, Cai Shan entered, bowing and saying in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Consort Shu requests an audience."

Shen Huai was silent for a moment, then said coldly, "Summon her."

In a short while, Consort Shu arrived gracefully, curtsying before him and saying, "Your servant greets Your Majesty."

Shen Huai lazily opened his eyes to look at her and said indifferently, "Why have you come on your own today?"

Consort Shu was dressed in a light purple palace gown, her beauty solitary and striking, like frost-covered plum branches in the scorching summer, particularly refreshing to the eye. Her smile was faint as she spoke slowly, "Today is the sixteenth day of the month, and I selfishly wish to ask for a favor from Your Majesty."

What favor could there be on the sixteenth day? Shen Huai tapped the armrest a few times and said, "Speak."

Consort Shu said, "As the saying goes, the moon is rounder on the sixteenth than on the fifteenth. Yesterday was the fifteenth, and I dared not speak. If Your Majesty is free today, why not accompany me to the hot springs to admire the moon."

"I have heard from the palace servants that the hot springs at the resort are outdoors, with a uniquely beautiful scenery. The hot stones and white steam, the clear water, and during a full moon, the moonlight is as if washed, the ripples shimmering, like a fairyland. This is my first time at the summer resort, thanks to Your Majesty's grace, and I long to go there with Your Majesty. May I ask if Your Majesty would agree?"

To Shen Huai, the hot springs at the summer resort were not a novelty. He came here every year and enjoyed them every year. As the supreme ruler, he did not hold this mere hot spring in high regard.

But Consort Shu had rarely asked for favors from him, and this talk of the full moon was the first he had heard of it, which piqued his interest slightly. After a moment's thought, he said indifferently, "If you like it, I will accompany you."