Chapter 97: Quelling Anger

Chapter 97: Quelling Anger

It harms one's health.

Open belittlement is not as frightening as covert praise laced with hidden disdain. Su Jiaojiao deliberately elevated Talent Lady Yu to the same level as Noble Lady Xiang, making her too hesitant to even respond.

She not only understood Noble Lady Xiang's importance to Talent Lady Yu but also made Talent Lady Yu declare she didn't want further promotion.

Since Talent Lady Yu herself did not want to be promoted further, even if the Emperor had the intention to elevate her, it was no longer necessary.

Su Jiaojiao smiled gently and said, "Talent Lady Yu is indeed as gentle and sensible as Your Majesty mentioned. It seems Jiaojiao was thoughtless and gave Your Majesty poor advice. Talent Lady Yu is so thoughtful, always considering Your Majesty in everything. When she gives birth to the Imperial Heir, Your Majesty must reward her properly."

Her voice was soft and warm, clearly teasing him. Shen Huai chuckled lightly, "Giving birth to an Imperial Heir is a great achievement. When Talent Lady Yu delivers the child, I will naturally reward her appropriately."

After speaking for a while, Shen Huai also felt it was time to leave. He said to Talent Lady Yu, "You are carrying the Imperial Heir and should rest more. Later, I will send a palanquin to escort you back to your palace. Just rest peacefully and concentrate on your pregnancy. If there is anything you lack, feel free to inform the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and I will also send someone to arrange it."

With the Emperor's concern, Talent Lady Yu naturally had no objections. She nodded delicately and said, "Your servant thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness. Farewell, Your Majesty."

"The hundred-day celebration is still in progress. I cannot leave so many Imperial Consorts unattended. It is time for me to return."

He rose and said, "Cai Shan."

"Your servant is here."

Shen Huai held Su Jiaojiao's hand as they walked and said, "Go and attend to your duties properly. There is no need to follow me."

The Grand Eunuch nodded and left. Su Jiaojiao walked beside the Emperor, with attendants trailing at a distance. They strolled along a cobblestone path lined with blooming spring flowers, heading towards the Spring Banquet.

Glancing up, the sky was a clear, expansive blue.

Neither spoke along the way, but Su Jiaojiao sensed the Emperor was in a good mood. Though his expression was calm, there was a subtle tenderness in his eyes.

Was it because of the child in Talent Lady Yu's womb, or something else?

Su Jiaojiao couldn't fathom the Emperor's thoughts and quickly dismissed the trivial matter.

When the Emperor and Su Jiaojiao returned to the banquet, the atmosphere grew lively once more. The Imperial Consorts were visibly more animated, chatting and laughing, and time flew by.

Noble Lady Xiang and the Second Prince received numerous gifts that day, with everyone being very polite to her.

With few high-ranking positions in the palace, Noble Lady Xiang's status was already elevated. Now that she was raising the Second Prince, her status had risen even higher.

In the following days, the lower-ranking Imperial Consorts either visited Noble Lady Xiang or Talent Lady Yu, showing the fickleness of human relationships and the tendency to curry favor with the powerful.

A few days later, at the South Fragrance Hall of Yong'an Palace.

Cui Mei came in from outside and approached Noble Lady Xiang, saying, "Mistress, Talent Lady Yu is here."

Noble Lady Xiang glanced outside and said indifferently, "Hasn't she been resting in her palace due to her delicate condition? Why would she come all this way? If the Emperor finds out, he might blame me for not being considerate."

Her mistress and Talent Lady Yu had always been close, and Talent Lady Yu had always been grateful and respectful towards her mistress, never causing any trouble. Cui Mei thought her mistress would be happy for Talent Lady Yu's pregnancy, as Talent Lady Yu had always been kind to her mistress and often encouraged the Emperor to visit the Second Prince. They were like two peas in a pod.

Talent Lady Yu's pregnancy should have strengthened their position, which was a good thing. But now her mistress was clearly unhappy to hear Talent Lady Yu's name.

Cui Mei could not understand Noble Lady Xiang's thoughts and could only lower her head and ask, "Mistress, do you not wish to see Talent Lady Yu? If you do not want to see her, I can send her away."

Noble Lady Xiang put down her teacup and remained silent for a while before finally curling her lips coldly and saying, "She is, after all, sensible. Besides, since she has come all this way, it would be unkind to make a pregnant woman leave empty-handed."

"Let her in."

"Yes," Cui Mei nodded and exited the hall, smiling upon seeing Talent Lady Yu and saluting. "Talent Lady Yu has arrived. The mistress asks you to come in quickly."

Talent Lady Yu, who had been anxious about whether Noble Lady Xiang would be willing to see her, felt a bit relieved upon seeing Cui Mei's attitude.

Nervous, she instinctively touched her belly and nodded, saying, "Cui Mei, I came to see my sister. How has she been these past few days?"

Cui Mei guided Talent Lady Yu to the side, tactfully saying, "The mistress has been preoccupied with the second prince all day, nothing more. Please, go in and speak with her."

Talent Lady Yu hummed in agreement, stepped over the threshold, turned right, and saw Noble Lady Xiang drinking tea on the soft couch.

She hurried over, knelt beside Noble Lady Xiang, and bowed deeply, saying, "Your humble servant greets Noble Lady Xiang, wishing you good health."

Actually, Talent Lady Yu did not need to perform such a grand salute to Noble Lady Xiang on ordinary occasions, but her pregnancy was something she had deliberately kept from Noble Lady Xiang, planning to reveal it at a more opportune moment to the rest of the harem.

Only because she knew this child was destined not to be born, and so, she had to do something beneficial for herself, to not have carried this child in vain...

Although Noble Lady Xiang had been kind to her and helped her greatly, and now was the person she should most befriend, she also knew what kind of person Noble Lady Xiang was.

Noble Lady Xiang was adept at scheming and had a petty nature; even though she knew she could not carry the child to term, she would still worry about the possibility.

If she knew of the pregnancy, she would inevitably be displeased.

That's why Talent Lady Yu wanted to use Beauty Xiao's matter to vent Noble Lady Xiang's anger, firstly to show her stance, and secondly hoping that Noble Lady Xiang would not hold it against her because of her intentions.

Unexpectedly, Noble Lady Xiang was still somewhat displeased.

Talent Lady Yu knelt for a while before Noble Lady Xiang looked up and said, "Talent Lady Yu, you are with child, why have you come such a long way? If something were to happen, how could I bear the responsibility?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Noble Lady Xiang looked at Cui Mei, "You all go out and attend to your duties."

"Sister, I never intended to hide it from you. I only found out recently and hadn't found the right opportunity to tell you," Talent Lady Yu hurriedly explained, "I planned to reveal it at an opportune moment, so that you could feel more at ease, not intentionally hiding it."

Talent Lady Yu lowered her voice, her eyes nervous, "Sister knows I can no longer..."

Noble Lady Xiang glanced at her, placed her cup on the table, and smiled insincerely, "Why so fearful, sister? I don't bite."

"It's just that I didn't expect you to hide such a significant matter as your pregnancy from me, and only today, along with everyone else, did I find out, which is a bit disheartening."

Talent Lady Yu was immediately flustered, tears in her eyes, "I never intended to hide it from you, sister. You've been so kind to me, helping me when I was half-dead, giving me the good life and future I have now. Even if I were to make anyone's heart cold, I would not make you feel uncomfortable because of me."

"Today, clearly you are the most important, yet Beauty Xiao was so arrogant and rude, publicly mocking you, and speaking disrespectfully, how could I tolerate it? Moreover, you've been bullied by Beauty Xiao before, and now she still does not repent, naturally I cannot stand by and do nothing."

Talent Lady Yu paused, then continued, "Today, His Majesty brought Beauty Xiao along, how arrogant she was. If nothing unexpected happens, Beauty Xiao will likely gain favor soon. When that time comes, there will be another person sharing favor, what then? In all fairness, my intervention to teach Beauty Xiao a lesson was also to vent your anger, please, sister, do not let this create a rift between us."

Noble Lady Xiang looked at Talent Lady Yu, and after a while, smiled, reaching out her hands to help her up, "I remember you were once so bright and lively. Why are you now so timid and cautious in front of me? It must be my fault."

She lowered her voice, softly saying, "You risked offending Beauty Xiao for my sake. How could I not know? Besides, you took such medicine to recover your health, this child, it cannot be born. A child that cannot be born, I feel only pity. Where is the anger?"

"Sister, please rise and sit. Now, you must take good care of yourself."

The weight in Talent Lady Yu's heart lifted, and she rose with her help, offering a respectful smile, "Back then, naive and fearless, I believed entering the palace would bring a good life, but after experiencing hardships, I realized, not knowing the height of the sky and the depth of the earth, I was naive and foolish."

She turned to look at Noble Lady Xiang, "If not for your guidance and help, I would not have the chance to turn things around today."

Noble Lady Xiang smiled contentedly, but said, "What's past is past. Why bring it up?"

Then, she glanced at Talent Lady Yu's flat belly, casually asking, "About how many months are left? Have you thought about how to handle this child?"

Speaking of the child in her belly, Talent Lady Yu lowered her eyes to look at her stomach, not daring to let Noble Lady Xiang see the reluctance in her eyes.

But there is no way to keep the child, as her body is too damaged to sustain the pregnancy.

At this thought, Talent Lady Yu's expression turned resolute.

What does it matter if she has no child? Just like Noble Consort Zhen, as long as she is sufficiently favored and stands high enough, she can still enjoy endless wealth and luxury.

If all else fails, she can always take another's child to raise in the future.

For now, maintaining a good relationship with Noble Lady Xiang and earning the Empress's trust to secure her position is the most important thing.

She knows full well that the Empress is using her, but as long as she has value, there will be chances to rise. What she fears is not even having the value to be used.

Like those noble ladies who have been in the palace for a year without even seeing the Emperor, they are only slightly better off than the palace maids and still endure endless torment!

She must gain favor, wealth, and live with dignity.

The humiliation that Noble Consort Mi inflicted on her will be repaid tenfold in due time.

Without looking up, Talent Lady Yu gently stroked her abdomen and murmured, "Sister, this child will surely leave with great value..."