“So by that logic, wouldn’t the general be failing the poor commoner girl?” Ying Qionglou asked.

  “In this world, aren’t most ‘deeply affectionate betrayals’ exactly like that?” Wumian replied softly. “Time passes, and the childhood sweetheart he once swore to cherish grows old and weary. Or perhaps she dies early, swallowed by infighting in the inner residence. Meanwhile, the general, thanks to his father-in-w’s support, rises to a high rank. New love repces old. There’s always someone younger and prettier.”

  “Or,” she continued, “perhaps the prime minister eventually falls out of favor and the entire family is dragged down with him.”

  “Then what—you’re saying there’s no such thing as love stronger than gold?” Ying Qionglou frowned.

  “I think we’ve got our roles reversed,” Wumian ughed. “Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that?”

  She smiled again. “Of course, there’s love stronger than gold. In that version, the general refuses the prime minister’s daughter, offends her powerful family, and ends up with a bleak, stagnant career. Over the years, looking at the aging woman beside him… would he come to resent her?”

  “Or,” she added, “maybe he wouldn’t. Maybe he would quietly grow old with her.”

  Ying Qionglou fell silent.

  As a man, of course, he believed career advancement was more important.

  “In truth,” Wumian said gently, “Your Majesty simply can’t imagine being in that kind of situation. Only those who are never forced to choose can’t understand the pain of having to choose. And for those who must choose… any choice might be the wrong one.”

  By the time they reached the gates of Fengyi Pace, pace attendants were already waiting with nterns.

  In the warm glow, Ying Qionglou looked at Wumian’s face for a long moment, then took her hand and walked inside with her.

  That night, he didn’t ask her again what she thought about the py.

  He simply couldn’t understand her thoughts.

  Or rather, he couldn’t understand how she could think so deeply about so many things.

  Even when they were intimate ter, the image that lingered in his mind was that moment in the ntern light—her red lips curved into a pyful smile, her eyes glowing beneath the soft light.

  He couldn’t see her clearly in the dimness, but somehow, she looked even more beautiful that way.

  Now again, under the even softer glow outside the bed curtains, her face, flushed and breathless, looked even more alluring.

  —

  The next morning, the pace was once again lively. The concubines all dressed up, each one more radiant than the st, because everyone knew the Emperor had stayed overnight at Fengyi Pace.

  Some even came very early, just to catch a glimpse or exchange a few words with His Majesty.

  But Ying Qionglou wasn’t in the mood to entertain them. There was no early court that day, so he slept in a bit and chatted with Wumian leisurely.

  Even with half the concubines already assembled outside, neither he nor Wumian rushed to go out.

  Coming early didn’t help—it still wouldn’t begin until everyone was present.

  Once enough people had gathered, the Emperor and Empress made their way to the outer hall.

  After everyone gave their greetings and sat down, Wumian scanned the room. “Where’s Yang Jieyu?”

  “Your Majesty,” Feixu reported, “a notice has already been delivered—Yang Jieyu caught a chill st night and couldn’t get up this morning.”

  She hadn’t dared interrupt while the Emperor and Empress were speaking earlier.

  “Has the imperial physician seen her yet?” Wumian asked. Yang Jieyu was always falling ill.

  “Yes, Your Majesty. Please rest assured.”

  “Yang Jieyu’s health is truly fragile. Someone should go check on her ter,” Guifei added.

  Wumian nodded and asked again, “Who else is missing? It looks like someone else isn’t here.”

  Everyone looked around. “It seems Fang Baolin isn’t here either.”

  “Probably got held up by something,” someone offered. She hadn’t submitted a formal request for leave.

  It was improper for a Baolin not to show up without notice, but it wasn’t a major offense. Wumian didn’t pursue it.

  The conversation moved on to lighter topics.

  With the Emperor present, everyone spoke with extra charm. Their voices were sweet, their words more harmonious than usual.

  Wumian thought to herself: His Majesty really shouldn’t be here every morning. It ruins my fun—no one dares snipe at each other properly in front of him. Everyone’s so restrained.

  They were halfway through the conversation when Fang Baolin finally arrived, te.

  The moment she entered, she knelt and offered her apology. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, please forgive me. This concubine is te.”

  “Pay your respects to the Empress,” Ying Qionglou said coldly. “Coming this te is a sign of disrespect. You’re fined a month’s sary.”

  “Thank you, Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress. I know I was wrong and won’t dare repeat it,” Fang Baolin said crisply, not bothering with excuses. She simply kowtowed and accepted the punishment.

  That, at least, earned her some respect. Whatever her reason for being te, she was te. Better to admit fault than make excuses.

  “Stand up. If there’s a particur reason next time, just let me know in advance,” Wumian said.

  “Yes, thank you, Your Majesty. It was my fault. I’ll be more careful from now on,” Fang Baolin replied.

  “But we left at the same time this morning. How did you still end up te?” Zhang Yunu, who lived in the same quarters, asked.

  Fang Baolin gnced at Zhang Yunu several times before replying, “I wore the wrong outfit.”

  She had walked a good distance before realizing the hem of her dress had come unstitched and had to rush back to change.

  The outfit had already been checked the night before, so how did it still go wrong?

  She hadn’t figured it out yet, but since she shared a residence with Zhang Yunu… was she suspicious?

  Fang Baolin couldn’t bring herself to fully trust her.

  —

  After the gathering ended and the Emperor had left, Linshui reported, “This maid has asked around—Fang Baolin’s skirt had ripped, and she rushed back to change. The walk was long, and that’s what caused the dey.”

  As a Baolin, she wasn’t entitled to a panquin—she had to walk, and naturally, that took more time.

  “Was it her maid’s mistake, or was someone trying to sabotage her?” Wumian asked, sounding more curious than concerned.

  “Most likely sabotage,” Linshui replied. “Fang Baolin has attended to His Majesty a few times. Someone’s probably jealous.”

  “Tch. No matter what stage it is, the scheming never stops,” Wumian said, shaking her head. She didn’t ask further—this sort of petty drama wasn’t worth her attention.

  “By the way, Xu Liangyi seems to be doing quite well. What about Li Liangyi?” she asked.

  “She was reportedly in good health a few days ago. Guifei still sends her gifts every few days. But this maid hasn’t heard of Li Liangyi saying much about it,” Linshui said.

  “Why…” Wumian frowned, “Why hasn’t there been a fourth pregnancy yet?”

  “Huh? Your Majesty means...?” Linshui was puzzled. Hadn’t the Empress said before that she didn’t want others having children?

  “Xu Liangyi is on my side now. Since she’s loyal to me, I’ll do everything to ensure she gives birth safely and raises the child herself. She’ll remember this kindness. Jiang Zhaorong is the only one among the Nine Consorts aligned with me, and since she supports me, I have to give her a chance at something good in return.”

  “You’re worried that if Li Liangyi gives birth, Guifei will try to take the child, and Jiang Zhaorong won’t be able to compete?” Feixu asked.

  Wumian shook her head. “No—I’m worried that Li Fei might not deliver her child safely. Or that the baby won’t survive. If that happens, Jiang Zhaorong won’t be able to compete with Li Fei either.”

  Linshui and Feixu exchanged gnces. They hadn’t thought of that.

  But now that it was said aloud… it made perfect sense.

  “So tely, which newer concubines has His Majesty visited the most?” Wumian asked.

  “Well… Xin Liangyi, Fang Baolin, and Qu Baolin have been summoned more often,” Linshui replied. “But even then, it’s only occasional. His Majesty hasn’t been frequenting the harem much these days.”