Such trials would be difficult even for a man to endure, yet they had befallen a woman. Even if the Emperor disliked Hua Zhi, he could not bring himself to speak of punishment now. Had she used her injuries to scheme for her own benefit, it might have been different—but she never had. If not for Shaoyao’s reminder, the Emperor would have forgotten the incident at Yinshan Pass.
Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, Haoyue immediately prepared to apologize—in the palace, admitting fault did not necessarily mean defeat.
But just as the word "Your Majesty" was about to leave her lips, Hua Zhi emerged, leaning against the doorframe. She seemed unaware of the tense atmosphere in the courtyard and gave no indication of having heard Shaoyao’s earlier words. With a calm expression, she knelt and bowed to the ground, her trembling voice clearly weak and breathless. "Hua Zhi pays respects to Your Majesty and to Her Highness."
"Hua Hua!" Shaoyao stamped her foot in frustration and hurried back to her side.
The Empress Dowager, who stood nearby, personally helped Hua Zhi to her feet but directed her words at the Emperor. "Your Majesty, please do not blame this old woman for overstepping. This young lady of the Hua family has only just awakened. We must not risk her collapsing again from exhaustion. She entered the palace in good health and ought to leave the same way. Our imperial palace is not a place that devours people."
"Your words are wise, Mother." The Emperor approached and, for the first time, studied Hua Zhi carefully. Her face was deathly pale, without even a trace of color on her lips. Her frame seemed so frail that a strong gust of wind might carry her away. Yet she did not appear weak—instead, she stood as straight and resilient as bamboo, making it easy to forget that her health was far from robust.
Without a strong constitution or a pleasant temperament, the Emperor wondered what Yan Xi saw in her. She would likely struggle to bear children in the future. A faint glimmer crossed the Emperor’s eyes—perhaps that wasn’t such a bad thing.
Pointing casually at Shaoyao, who supported Hua Zhi, the Emperor chuckled and scolded, "I merely came to ask about the progress of the medicine Miraculous Doctor Yu prepared for you. Yet you’ve already shifted the blame to me."
Knowing his disciple’s temperament well, Miraculous Doctor Yu promptly stepped in to provide an update.
Hua Zhi lowered her gaze to conceal the mockery in her eyes. Had it not been for Shaoyao’s preemptive move, the Emperor would have indeed pressed charges—merely to torment her, both to appease his favored consort and to demonstrate the authority of the royal family. A win-win situation—why would he hesitate?
With the matter smoothed over, the Emperor asked a few more questions and prepared to leave. But then the Empress Dowager spoke again. "The rules of the palace need to be firmly established, Your Majesty. Don’t you agree?"
The Emperor replied cautiously, "You have always upheld the rules impeccably."
"Impeccably?" The Empress Dowager cast a half-smiling, half-skeptical glance at Haoyue. "I have been sitting here for quite some time, yet I have not seen Consort Yue come to pay her respects. Is this what you call impeccably upheld?"
Haoyue’s face paled. She had been careless! So focused on how to coax the Emperor later, she had neglected this duty.
She immediately moved to kneel and apologize, but the Empress Dowager stopped her. "I have no need for courtesies offered under duress. As the Emperor’s favored consort, there is little I can do to you. However, I can choose not to see you. From now on, do not appear before me. The palace may not be vast, but it is spacious enough to avoid one another."
Haoyue knelt and bowed repeatedly, pleading, "It is this concubine’s fault, this concubine—"
The Empress Dowager rose, supported by Yu Xiang’s hand, and acted as if Haoyue were not there. "I am weary and shall take my leave now. You, of the Hua family, should depart the palace early and focus on recuperating."
"Yes, thank you for your concern. I respectfully see off the Empress Dowager."
"Mother, Consort Yue meant no disrespect…"The Empress Dowager turned back, her smile not reaching her eyes. "Does the Emperor mean that I must also dote on those you favor? If this is a royal decree, I shall comply."
The Emperor repeatedly cupped his hands in deference. "Your son would not dare."
"Consider this matter your filial piety toward me."
The Empress Dowager's procession slowly departed. The palace maid helped Haoyue to her feet. She looked at the Emperor with a mix of grievance and stubbornness, biting her lip without saying a word.
Though the Emperor was usually most susceptible to such displays, today it proved less effective. Haoyue had indeed handled the situation poorly, causing him to lose face before the Empress Dowager.
Turning to Hua Zhi, the Emperor spoke in a neutral tone, "Since your health is poor, rest and recuperate properly. Lai Fu, go to the treasury and select some suitable medicinal herbs for her to take."
"Yes."
Hua Zhi curtsied. "Thank you for Your Majesty's grace."
The Emperor then looked at Shaoyao, who snorted and turned her head away. "Why such great temper? I'm not blaming you for your insolence, yet you're still angry with me. Is that reasonable?"
"It's not like my unreasonableness only started today." Not pushing her luck too far, Shaoyao rolled her eyes and ran off. The moment she entered the medicine room, she broke into a wide grin—she needed to send a message to Yan Ge; she had completed her mission of protecting Hua Hua perfectly!
The Emperor could only shake his head at Shaoyao's behavior. Punish her? He truly couldn't bring himself to do it.
Leaving the side hall, the Emperor declared without looking back, "The rear palace has no shortage of scheming individuals. I do not wish to see another added."
"It is my fault. I don't know if it's due to the pregnancy, but these past few days I've been extremely agitated and my temper has worsened. I request to confine myself for reflection. Please grant your permission."
The Emperor turned around, a hint of a smile in his eyes, and nodded. "Quite self-aware. I understand that as a first-time mother, you're inevitably somewhat unaccustomed, but you must adjust soon."
Haoyue bit her lip and nodded, her eyes moist as if speaking volumes, silently coaxing him. "I will certainly not disappoint you."
Satisfied, the Emperor smiled and stroked her cheek. "I will visit you tonight."
"Your Majesty, I am confining myself for reflection!"
"What door in this world can keep me out? Tell me, and I'll have it dismantled immediately."
Haoyue glanced at him sidelong, a mix of reproach and anger in her eyes, then curtsied and turned to leave.
The Emperor's smile deepened, feeling reinvigorated.
Inside the Like Orchid Palace, all trace of ease vanished from Haoyue's face. This wasn't right. Not only had events unfolded differently from her previous life, but the people were different too. The Hua family in her past life had no such formidable figure. The Sixth Prince should have died long ago, and others who were supposed to perish had survived. The leader of the Seven Constellation Bureau had never removed his mask. And all of this could be linked to Hua Zhi.
Who exactly was this Hua Zhi?
Haoyue stood up. She didn't have much time to make arrangements. The Sixth Prince, with Gu Yanxi's support, was the greatest obstacle and must be eliminated. And that Hua Zhi—since all these changes were connected to her, if she were removed, would everything return to its proper course?
The thought of Hua Zhi filled Haoyue with hatred. Admired by the leader of the Seven Constellation Bureau, protected by Shaoyao who had gained the Emperor's special regard, and even the Empress Dowager stood on her side. If she weren't eliminated, what room would there be for herself?
"Attend me."
A female official appeared silently by her side.
"Send word: I want all the details on Hua Zhi, as quickly as possible."
"Yes."
"Also, tell him we need more people."The palace maid trembled almost imperceptibly and immediately responded in affirmation.
Haoyue glanced at her, "All those who serve me wholeheartedly shall receive my generous treatment."
The maid dropped to her knees with a thud. "This humble servant would never dare to harbor disloyalty."
"Very well, you may go."
"Yes." Haoyue lowered her gaze, picking up the teacup lid to gently skim the tea foam. She would indeed not treat them poorly—she would ensure they received a grand funeral. Surely that couldn't be considered breaking her promise, could it?
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