After having his way in Changle Palace, the Emperor beat a hasty retreat.
Although he missed the two of them, his Mother Empress would have been even more displeased if he had summoned either of them for the night right after leaving Changle Palace. Thus, he complied with her wishes and paid a visit to Hui Pin's palace. He didn't stay the night, however; the Emperor sat for a bit before returning to Qiankun Palace to resume his work.
As long as he was diligently handling state affairs, his Mother Empress could find no fault.
The next day, when paying her respects at Jianzhang Palace, Noble Princess Consort Rong couldn't hide her impatience.
Hui Pin subtly tried to steer the conversation toward her, but she refused to take the bait.
"Lu Ronghua's beaded bracelet is simply radiant. It reminds me, though, of the Five-Colored Gemstone Golden Step Shaking I once saw with the Lady. With every step she took, it would flash and dazzle the eyes."
