The news that Hui Pin, while attending the sick, had managed to get herself demoted from a concubine to a Noble Lady spread through the harem like wildfire.
Everyone sighed with trepidation, terrified they would be the next to be called in to fill the spot.
Although Weiyang Palace was sealed off, it wasn't completely cut off from the outside world. However, the flow of information was firmly controlled by the Empress Dowager and the Empress. Once the Empress Dowager learned that Jiang Xian had everything in Weiyang Palace running in perfect order, she decided against sending anyone else in.
Sending in another of the Concubines would risk a repeat of the scramble for credit, only adding to the chaos.
...
Xie Che's bout of unconsciousness lasted another two days.
