Surely, he couldn’t follow in the te Emperor’s footsteps and die young as well?

  If the Emperor lived a long life, the younger princes would always be favored over the eldest prince.

  "Yes, Your Majesty. We understand," Linshui and Feixu replied in unison.

  "Li Fei is His Majesty’s most favored consort. In the future, when you encounter people from her pace, be polite," Wumian instructed her attendants. "But remember, you serve the Empress. Be courteous if you must—but there’s no need to swallow grievances. Keep your distance, don’t let anyone seize upon your mistakes."

  "Rest assured, Your Majesty," the pace maids replied. "We will be careful."

  Nothing much happened that day. Now that her confinement had been lifted, Li Fei came early the next morning to pay her respects. She had clearly dressed with great care.

  Though not overly vish, it was obvious she had put effort into her appearance—her face alone had been carefully adorned, delicate and refined.

  Wumian couldn’t help but admire her. Just how early had she risen to prepare herself like this? Was she truly not tired, being pregnant?

  Everyone knew that achieving the appearance of effortless beauty was far more troublesome than painting on heavy makeup.

  "This concubine greets Your Majesty," Li Fei greeted her with a bright smile.

  "Sit. You’re pregnant—didn’t I say you needn’t attend morning greetings?" Wumian smiled gently at her.

  "I should’ve heeded Your Majesty’s words, but I’ve been confined these past days and haven’t had the chance. I thought I ought to come pay my respects," Li Fei replied sweetly.

  "Very well. But from tomorrow onward, you should focus on resting. I’ve yet to properly congratute you on your pregnancy. You must take care. If you give birth to a prince, that will be a great joy," Wumian said with warm concern.

  "Thank you for Your Majesty’s kind words. But even if it’s a princess, I’ll still be delighted." Li Fei smiled happily as she caressed her belly.

  The others in attendance couldn’t help but find her insufferable. Jiang Zhaorong, in particur, was itching to say something, but she instinctively gnced at the Empress.

  The Empress remained as composed as ever, smiling as she always did. When Jiang Zhaorong looked over, Wumian gave no signal or indication.

  Whether they quarreled or competed was none of her concern.

  But surprisingly, Jiang Zhaorong suppressed the words on her tongue. It wasn’t that she no longer cared—but at that moment, a thousand thoughts crossed her mind. She had already lost; there was little hope of turning the tide. But she couldn’t afford to fade into obscurity. What use was fighting for a fleeting advantage?

  Better to learn from the Empress.

  Hadn’t everyone looked down on the Empress before? Even if His Majesty maintained her position, it was clear to all that she had been neglected.

  The likes of Guifei and the others had never taken her seriously.

  But look at her now. How calm and poised she had become these past few months. She never competed for favor, yet she used other means—and hadn’t His Majesty been visiting her often?

  Who’s to say there wouldn’t be a day when she turned the tables?

  Jiang Zhaorong knew she could never compare to the Empress. She was, after all, a concubine. But if she could improve her days, why waste energy on petty rivalries?

  With that thought, she slowly exhaled. When she looked again at Li Fei, proudly showing off, she began to see something she had never noticed before.

  Was Li Fei truly so remarkable?

  Jiang Zhaorong might have let it go, but others could not.

  Rong Fei smiled as she looked at Li Fei. "You’ve finally gotten your wish, sister. If you bear a prince, and His Majesty raises your rank, your status will surpass mine. Even Min Fei won’t be your equal then. Your prince will be the most esteemed."

  As she spoke, Rong Fei gnced meaningfully at the Empress.

  "Sister speaks too soon. His Majesty has never said such a thing. I dare not imagine it," Li Fei replied sweetly. "There’s the esteemed Eldest Prince, Second Prince, and Third Prince—I may well be carrying a princess."

  She deliberately mentioned the Eldest Prince. She knew well what these women fretted over.

  "Li Fei is with child. She must focus on her pregnancy and prioritize the imperial bloodline," Guifei said gently, but her words were barbed. She couldn’t suppress her own bitterness. "Fortunately, there are so many beautiful new concubines in the pace this year. His Majesty won’t be cking for company."

  Wumian leaned zily against the back of her chair, quietly watching them bicker.

  Li Fei’s sharpness wasn’t cking either. "We concubines exist to serve His Majesty. Naturally, the new sisters are favored—that’s only right. Guifei and I are the same."

  She knew Guifei couldn’t stand to hear such things. Guifei prided herself on her noble status and despised these remarks the most.

  Wumian, however, didn’t intervene. She simply watched, not offering a single word to ease the tension.

  Someone else couldn’t help themselves, though. Hu Meiren, always quick-tongued, chimed in, "Li Fei is all the more honored now that she’s pregnant, but Guifei is a First-Rank Imperial Consort, the highest among us concubines."

  Li Fei gave a light ugh. "Ah, the highest among concubines—but still a concubine all the same, isn’t she?"

  "You’re quite right, sister. We are all concubines," Guifei replied with a smile, but her teeth were clenched.

  "Li Fei has always had this temperament. Guifei, you mustn’t take it to heart," Xian Fei offered mildly.

  Guifei smiled thinly. "How could I? What is there to mind? I’m older now, naturally I can’t compare to Li Fei’s favor."

  That jab wasn’t aimed at Li Fei—it was aimed at Xian Fei. Xian Fei was a year older than the Emperor.

  It was only a year, but it was a thorn in her heart.

  Another beauty, Zhang Meiren, was also older than the Emperor—and had never been favored.

  No one knew whether it was because His Majesty disliked women older than himself, but it was something Xian Fei had always minded.

  "Yes, when we get older, we can only watch and see how the younger sisters shine," Xian Fei smiled faintly.

  "Everyone grows old, after all. The women of the harem are no exception. Even the young ones will age one day—what’s there to say about it?" Min Fei spoke lightly.

  Xian Fei smiled. "You’re right, sister."

  "Min Fei is right," Wumian finally spoke, shaking her head. "When we’re young, we think we’ll never age. But it happens in the blink of an eye."

  She straightened. "If there’s nothing else, let’s disperse. We can chat again tomorrow."

  The concubines rose to take their leave.

  But several of them couldn’t help but think: Her Majesty said ‘we’ll chat again,’ but she hasn’t exchanged a word with us the whole time…

  That morning, the highest-ranking concubines had quarreled openly. Among the lower-ranked dies, only Hu Meiren, who cked tact, had dared to speak. The others kept their heads down.

  That night, the Emperor dined at Hanliang Pace with Li Fei. Everyone assumed he would leave after supper.

  But when it was time to retire, the Emperor remained.

  The other paces could only abandon their hopes for the night.

  It was clear Li Fei held a special pce in His Majesty’s heart.

  "A real seductress, that one," Rong Fei scoffed. "She can’t even serve His Majesty properly yet still clings to him."

  "Your Highness," Liuyun softly called out.

  Rong Fei fell silent—after all, the Second Princess was still present.

  "Mother Consort, isn’t Father Emperor coming?" The Second Princess blinked up at her. She was still young, and since the Emperor had few children, he treated each one well.

  So whenever her father was mentioned, she always lit up with affection.

  Rong Fei sighed. "He will come. In a few days, Mother Consort will invite your father to visit you."

  "Mm! I’ll show Father Emperor the characters I’ve written," the little princess said happily.

  Rong Fei hugged her and gently patted her back. "It’s getting te. Have your nanny carry you to bed now."