Watching Spring Xiu's retreating figure, Zheng Qingling's mind spun rapidly as she continued analyzing her current situation: given her present condition, the top priority was to nurse her body back to health before plotting anything else.
The emperor's favor—she would fight for it. After all, in the harem, not competing was akin to slow suicide. But his love? That she could do without. To speak of love with the ruler of the world was sheer foolishness.
As she mulled over her thoughts, her stomach suddenly growled loudly. Thankfully, it hadn't happened when someone else was around, or she would've been utterly embarrassed.
For the sake of her "temple of five organs," she retrieved two pieces of pastry she had made herself from her storage space and filled her stomach a little.
In this treacherous harem, no matter how capable Zheng Qingling was, she would tread carefully. After all, the emperor had secret guards under his command.
Indeed—upon arriving in this world, she had used her ability to scan her surroundings and discovered that secret guards were stationed throughout parts of the palace, silently monitoring everything.
Her own little residence, however, wasn't deemed worthy of such surveillance—at least not yet.
At this moment, Emperor Xiao Qianming was in his Qingyu Hall reviewing memorials. The eunuch Yuan Gonggong, serving at his side, glanced at the time of day and cautiously inquired:
"Your Majesty, what are your plans for tonight? This servant may make the proper arrangements."
Yuan Gonggong dared not speculate on the emperor's intentions—His Majesty was no weak-willed man. The last eunuch who had overstepped had been executed by five horses tearing him apart.
"Mm. Tonight I'll go to the Noble Consort's Two Rites Palace. Make the preparations."
Receiving the reply, Yuan Gonggong withdrew with careful steps, not daring to make the slightest sound.
Once outside, he straightened his robes, putting on the full air of the head eunuch, and softly instructed a young eunuch standing nearby:
"Xiao Anzi, quickly go to the Two Rites Palace and inform the Noble Consort that His Majesty will be visiting her tonight."
"Yes, Gonggong, this servant will not fail you."
At the Two Rites Palace, upon hearing the report, Zhao Ying's face lit up with delight. A palace maid at her side promptly rewarded the eunuch with silver and politely sent him off.
"My Lady, it seems His Majesty still favors you. He only visited the newcomers three times before returning to you."
Zhao Ying's good mood instantly vanished, her expression darkening. Yes—only after visiting the newcomers did her cousin think of her, his cousin.
The maid, realizing she had misspoken, dropped to her knees with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly:
"Forgive me, My Lady! This foolish servant has a clumsy tongue… I spoke thoughtlessly…"
She even slapped her own face as she begged for mercy. Seeing her mistress's anger soften slightly, Nanny Feng interjected at the right moment:
"Enough. Her Ladyship is merciful. This time, since it is your first offense, you are forgiven. But if you err again, you'll be sent to the Office of Scrutiny to reflect on your behavior. Now leave—make sure His Majesty doesn't see you later."
Still feeling stifled, Zhao Ying dismissed the attendants and collapsed into Nanny Feng's arms, unwillingly asking:
"Nanny, why is it that others can conceive, but though I've been married to Cousin for six years, I've never once received good news?"
"My Lady, your blessings are profound. It will happen sooner or later."
Nanny Feng kept her face neutral, though in her heart she had already begun to suspect the worst. Still, seeing how sincerely her mistress loved the emperor, as a servant she dared not voice her fears.
By the third quarter of the You hour (around 6:45 p.m.), Xiao Qianming arrived at the Noble Consort's palace. Looking into the woman's eyes, brimming with affection, he felt no stir of emotion within himself.
In bed that night, he still gave his cousin some respect and did not act excessively.
Zhao Ying, however, felt deeply cherished. Softly, she whispered:
"Your Majesty, you treat me so well. It's only that my blessings are too thin—I've not been able to give you a child."
Xiao Qianming's gaze flickered as he looked at the bracelet always on her wrist. In a deep voice, he said:
"Perhaps the timing has not yet come. Beloved consort, don't overthink it."
When the woman beside him finally breathed evenly in sleep, Xiao Qianming slowly closed his eyes. The Zhao family's ambitions were too great. He had not wanted to marry his mother's niece, but his uncle had pushed for kinship to be strengthened.
But who didn't know? The Zhao family had cast their net wide—half the princes' households contained Zhao family women.
Hmph. Fence-sitters were the kind of people he despised most.
Meanwhile, when Zheng Qingling saw the food box in Chunxiu's hands, her suspicions were confirmed—money truly was the key to everything.
"My Lady, after I gave them the gold bean, the stewardess immediately gave me a plate of pea cakes, a bowl of chicken noodle soup, and a small dish of pickles…"
Zheng Qingling ate half and then passed the rest to Chunxiu, who accepted gratefully.
In this era, a servant eating her mistress's food was a form of reward. They would only feel gratitude, never insult.
Since she had entered this feudal dynasty, Zheng Qingling naturally followed its rules. She would not act according to modern notions.
That night, the temperature dropped further. She dismissed Chunxiu, telling her to return in the morning.
The real reason was that Zheng Qingling intended to cultivate her powers in the night, restoring her frail body.
In her mind, she could look outwardly delicate and harmless, but her health must be strong. She still needed to bear the future heir to the throne—without that, her position as Empress Dowager would never be secure.
Look at the current Empress Dowager Ci Ning: she wasn't the emperor's birth mother, only the late emperor's empress. After the new emperor ascended, she became a mere figurehead, wheeled out only at grand banquets, with no real power.
If she wanted to complete her mission, the future emperor had to be born from her womb. She would never make clothes for someone else to wear.
Still, it wasn't yet time to bear children. First she needed to nurse this bean-sprout of a body—otherwise, the emperor might not even allow her to serve him in bed.
The next morning, Zheng Qingling woke early, sitting on the edge of her bed and cultivating again. With the boost from Forging the Spirit, she felt her progress was faster than before.
Upon hearing movement outside, she lay back down. She would never allow anyone to discover her differences.
With Chunxiu's help, Zheng Qingling sat at the table, waiting for breakfast.
The meal was modest, given according to her rank as a "Constant Companion." From her memories, only upon first entering the palace had she received such treatment. Clearly, yesterday's gold bean had left its mark.
Over the next few days, since she hadn't been summoned to serve the emperor, she didn't need to pay her respects at the Noble Consort's Two Rites Palace either. She used the time to restore her health.
Every morning and evening she secretly drank milk from her storage space, at night she used face masks and body cream, and during her cultivation she ate papaya and bird's nest soup.
Half a month passed in this way, and it was time to act.
Through observation, she learned that every few days, the emperor would go alone to Tingyu Pavilion to enjoy the scenery. That was her chance.
So recently, Zheng Qingling went there daily to practice the zither, playing for a full hour each time—waiting like a hunter by the rabbit's hole.
That day, as usual, Xiao Qianming, weighed down by court affairs, went alone to Tingyu Pavilion.
When he heard the soft, lingering notes of a zither nearby, his brows furrowed. He muttered into the empty air:
"Dark Two, go check whose playing this music, and since when."
"Your Majesty, it is Zheng Constant Companion of Apricot Blossom Pavilion. She has been playing here for seven days, always at this hour."
Xiao Qianming relaxed slightly. Since he had always come here alone, it seemed Zheng Constant Companion's presence was coincidence. Still, a trace of suspicion remained.
Since fate had placed her there, he decided to see for himself—to confirm whether he was being overly paranoid.