Chapter 29: Sending Sweet Dumplings

Chapter 29: Delivering Tangyuan

In such a small area, they searched back and forth twice but still couldn't find Noble Consort Tong's earring. The bluestone pavement had been swept clean by the palace servants, so if the earring had fallen, it should have been clearly visible.

Fang Yu realized that Noble Consort Tong was deliberately making things difficult for her. She hadn't seen the earring fall, and whether it had truly dropped or was still clutched in Noble Consort Tong's hand, only the consort herself knew. On such a cold day, she had no intention of continuing the search indefinitely.

She addressed Noble Consort Tong respectfully: "Noble Consort, I suspect the earring may have been lost further up the path. May I ask where Your Highness was coming from? I will search ahead."

"I naturally came from the direction of the Palace of Heavenly Purity. You will search along the path from the Palace of Heavenly Purity to the Palace of Great Benevolence. If you find the earring, bring it to me at the Palace of Great Benevolence. You must find it, or I will hold you responsible," Noble Consort Tong coldly warned.

Fang Yu nodded in assent, maintaining a deferential attitude.

In the bitter winter cold, with the wind cutting to the bone, Noble Consort Tong had no desire to linger either. After issuing her orders, she signaled her servants to move on and return to the Palace of Great Benevolence.

"We bid farewell to Noble Consort."

Fang Yu watched as the noble consort and her retinue departed.

"My lady, should we continue searching?"

"Search for what? We've already looked. Come, let's go to the Palace of Eternal Spring."

Pan Liu hesitated. "My lady, what if Noble Consort Tong holds us accountable later?"

Fang Yu gently tapped Pan Liu's forehead. "We didn't lose her earring. In my opinion, it was never lost to begin with—Noble Consort Tong was simply trying to trouble me. If she wants to make an issue of it and escalate the matter, she'll be the one without reason. Let's go visit Constant Attendant Zhang."

Seeing her mistress so unconcerned, Pan Liu relaxed, thinking that since her mistress was a favored noble lady, Noble Consort Tong, despite her higher rank, probably couldn't do much to her.

After Noble Consort Tong left, the two didn't bother searching further and went straight to the Palace of Eternal Spring.

"Sister Zhang..."

Constant Attendant Zhang rose to greet her, but Fang Yu quickly stopped her. "No need for formalities, sister. I heard the Little Princess was ill and came to see her."

Constant Attendant Zhang's room was warmed by a charcoal fire, making it quite cozy. Fang Yu first warmed herself by the cloisonné sunflower-shaped brazier, heating her icy hands before approaching the Little Princess and gently touching her cheek.

The Little Princess was fast asleep, but her small face was flushed with an unnatural redness. Constant Attendant Zhang explained that the child had been feverish for several days, especially at night when the fever spiked, causing her to cry incessantly. She had only just managed to fall asleep.

"Has the imperial physician been to see her?"

Constant Attendant Zhang nodded, saying the physician had already visited. In the severe winter cold, children were prone to illness, and a six-month-old couldn't be given strong medicinal decoctions. She could only be carefully nursed.

"She will recover, sister. Don't worry too much—she will definitely get better," Fang Yu comforted.

Constant Attendant Zhang sighed, leading her to sit by the heated kang in the outer room. Her tone was heavy: "Little sister, you may not know this, but too many children in the palace die young. Consort Rong lost three children. I fear my daughter may suffer the same fate."

Since entering the palace, Consort Rong had given birth four times, bearing four children, but three of her princes had died young. Only one Little Princess had survived, now two years old. Perhaps because of this, Consort Rong had become disheartened and withdrawn, rarely involving herself in palace affairs.

"Don't speak such inauspicious words, sister. The Little Princess is blessed and will surely be fine. Once the fever breaks, she'll recover."

Constant Attendant Zhang squeezed her hand and forced a smile. "I'm grateful that you remember us, little sister, and came specifically to see us."

Fang Yu said, "If there's anything you need help with, sister, just ask."

Constant Attendant Zhang smiled and nodded. "Yes, I won't stand on ceremony with you."

Fang Yu asked if the Little Princess had been given a name yet. Constant Attendant Zhang shook her head, saying not yet.

"Usually, princesses aren't named until after their first birthday, but I've given her a nickname—June, since she was born in June."

Fang Yu complimented the name as lovely.

The two shared a smile, then conversed indoors for a while longer before Fang Yu left. Upon returning to the Palace of Eternal Harmony, she didn't forget to send Xiao Fangzi to the Palace of Great Benevolence to inform Noble Consort Tong that the earring hadn't been found. She didn't care whether Noble Consort Tong was angry or how she reacted—after all, Noble Consort Tong wouldn't cause trouble over an earring that was never truly lost.

Another New Year arrived. The kitchen servants came to offer their auspicious greetings to their mistress, and Fang Yu gave them their New Year's silver rewards. She didn't forget to give Xiao Fangzi and the other two their New Year's silver as well—ten taels each.

She understood that to ensure servants' loyalty and diligent service, silver was essential—much like an employer paying employees. Only with good benefits would workers be willing to work diligently.

Fortunately, she had previously asked the emperor for two hundred taels, so she now had ample funds.

On the fifteenth day of the first month, the Lantern Festival, it was also a day for paying respects.

Noble Consort Tong once again claimed illness and did not come to pay respects. Consort Rong was also absent, said to be ill. After multiple childbirths, Consort Rong's health had severely deteriorated. The empress expressed concern for her condition and urged everyone to visit Consort Rong when possible. As for Noble Consort Tong, the empress said nothing.

"The winter is cold; everyone must take care of their health. Many in the palace have fallen ill recently. Sister Zhang, I heard your Little Princess is also unwell. How is she? Have you had the imperial physician examine her?"

Constant Attendant Zhang rose to reply: "Your Majesty, the imperial physician has already been to see her. Her fever has subsided."

"That's good. The Little Princess is not yet a year old, so you must take extra care to protect her from the cold. If your winter charcoal supply is insufficient, remember to inform me. I will have the Imperial Household Department send more to you."

"Yes, your servant understands."

The empress glanced around at those present and said, "Today is the Lantern Festival. Sisters, have a bowl of sweet tangyuan before you leave."

Everyone stayed to eat a bowl of sweet tangyuan at the empress's palace before departing.

Fang Yu returned to the Palace of Eternal Harmony and summoned Xiao Fangzi, instructing him to go to the kitchen and have a portion of tangyuan delivered to the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

With the numerous affairs before and during the New Year, she hadn't seen the emperor for a month, nor had he summoned her. Previously, the emperor had seemed not to mind her sending things to the main hall. Since it was the Lantern Festival, sending tangyuan to the Palace of Heavenly Purity was perfectly reasonable.

Suddenly remembering something, Fang Yu called out to Xiao Fangzi as he was about to leave. She picked up a brush, wrote two lines on a piece of paper, folded it, and handed it to him.

"Take this as well and present it to the emperor."

"Yes, my lady. I'll go right away."

Xiao Fangzi went to the kitchen and instructed the staff to prepare a portion of tangyuan. After a short wait, he carried a food box from the kitchen toward the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the note from his mistress tucked in his pocket.

Upon arriving at the Palace of Heavenly Purity, he encountered Eunuch Hai, who was also carrying a food box.

Eunuch Hai was a servant of Noble Consort Tong. Xiao Fangzi bowed respectfully and greeted him politely.

"If it isn't Xiao Fangzi. What, has your mistress also sent you to deliver something to the main hall?"

Wasn't it obvious? Xiao Fangzi thought to himself. Because Eunuch Hai served Noble Consort Tong, he often looked down on other palace servants, considering them beneath him. Not wanting to provoke him or cause trouble for his mistress, Xiao Fangzi remained cautious.

"Yes, you are correct, Eunuch. My mistress sent me. Please, Eunuch Hai, after you." Xiao Fangzi gestured politely for Eunuch Hai to go first.

Eunuch Hai snorted coldly and walked ahead with an arrogant air.