The Changchun Palace team travels back in time to Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace

Ruyi entered Xianfu Palace, and Hailan followed behind her with a limp, sighing, "Why is there not a single person here? It's so empty."

Shuangxi said irritably, "Were you deaf when the imperial decree was delivered? Someone in Xianfu Palace had contracted scabies, so it had to be sealed off, which is why there was no one there. Normally, this place is much more lively than Cuiyun Pavilion."

The palace doors opened, and Gao Xiyue and Moxin were somewhat surprised to see who had arrived. Ruyi, however, squatted down lightly and said, "Greetings to the Noble Consort. His Majesty has sent me to visit the Noble Consort."

She glanced up and saw Consort Gao leaning against a gold-and-blue velvet brocade cushion, seemingly filled with flower buds, exuding a delicate jasmine fragrance. She wore a light cherry-red silk nightgown embroidered with begonia flowers, over which she wore a sable-collared black fox fur cloak. She held a blue enamel hand warmer with intertwined floral patterns; the charcoal inside glowed a frosty white in the firelight, producing no smoke—it was the finest silver-thread charcoal. Due to her illness, her dry hair was held back only by a deep purple otter fur headband inlaid with pearls. A gold and jade bracelet loosely adorned her thin wrists, and her long fingernails were painted with water-red nail polish, concealing their unnatural paleness. She was utterly emaciated, yet even in this attire, her former wealth and privilege remained undiminished.

Meanwhile, Mo Xin was feeding Gao Xiyue a bowl of ginseng and bird's nest porridge. The bowl contained more than half a bowl of ginseng slices and bird's nest.

Ruyi's eyes darted up and down, her expression growing colder.

Gao Xiyue didn't bother to give her another glance and went straight to the point: "Say what you want to say."

Ruyi patiently said, "Xiyue, we've lived in the palace for almost half our lives, yet we've always lived under the schemes of others."

Before she could finish speaking, Gao Xiyue coldly said, "You, a mere concubine, dare to address me by my given name. Moxin, slap me!"

Ruyi received a heavy slap to the face.

Hailan rushed forward to protect Ruyi, but Xiyue lay back down and said lazily, "This slap is to tell you that even though I am seriously ill, you cannot ride on my head. What do you know? Continue to report."

Ruyi swallowed her anger and said, "Do you know why you're like this now?"

Xi Yue sneered: "Are you talking about the thing Hai Lan made up about Qi Ru making me sicker the more she treated me? I already know the truth about that matter, and I have avenged myself. Palace secrets should be kept hidden, not revealed in the slightest. You inquired about it without permission and dared to speak recklessly several times. I have no choice but to punish you. Mo Xin, slap yourself again."

Shuangxi stepped forward and firmly restrained Hailan. Ruyi was slapped in the face again, and both cheeks became red and swollen. She had a metallic taste in her mouth.

Whether it was an accident or she had been hit, Ruyi was stunned for a moment, pouted, and then said, "Your Highness, please give me that bracelet."

Xi Yue took off the bracelet and gave it to her.

Ruyi opened the lock, shook it, but nothing came out.

Seeing her movements, Gao Xiyue said, "You know there used to be something in here?"

Ruyi asked in surprise, "Your Highness knew all along?"

Mo Xin said, "The fragrance hidden in this bracelet was originally the Emperor's ingenious idea. However, when the Empress was pregnant, the Consort once presented this bracelet to the Empress for her enjoyment. Unexpectedly, the Empress felt nauseous and vomited when she smelled the fragrance, and accidentally dropped the bracelet, causing the contents to come out. Therefore, for the sake of the Empress's health, and because the contents had little fragrance, they were all removed."

Upon hearing this, Ruyi smiled smugly, but when she touched her wound, she grimaced again.

But she still spoke up: "You have served the Emperor for many years without having any children, all thanks to this bracelet. Those incense sticks are Lingling incense, which harms people's blood and makes women infertile."

Xi Yue was shaken, and the doubts that had lingered in her mind for many years were suddenly confirmed.

No wonder the Empress felt nauseous and vomited when she got too close to the incense. No wonder Xingxuan's family gave a vague reply after she delivered the incense to her mother's house, but instead sent Madam Ma to persuade her to give up on having a child.

She wasn't without suspicion, but she kept hypnotizing herself, not daring to think about the emperor.

Now that Ruyi has seen through her words, Gao Xiyue thought she would be sad, but after the initial shock, she felt quite calm.

When did she stop having any expectations of the Emperor? Was it when the Emperor told her the truth, but only used her as a tool to deal with Princess Rou Shu? Or was it because the Emperor hadn't set foot in Xianfu Palace even once in the past few years, leaving her to fend for herself, while he had children with Consort Chun and Consort Ling one after another?

Seeing her calm expression, Mo Xin panicked and immediately tried to see the guest out.

Xi Yue stopped her, smiling gently, "Did Consort Xian come all this way just to tell me this?"

Ruyi originally wanted to see her sad and angry, hoping that she would reveal some of the things that had wronged her in the past. However, she didn't expect her to seem to be watching from the sidelines, and she hesitated for a moment.

Xi Yue turned around, propped her head up with one hand, and looked at her with amusement, saying, "Do you think that the Emperor is wary of me, that he won't let me have a child, and that he's not sincere towards me? Does that make me sad?"

Ruyi's face darkened as she said, "Why does Your Highness insist on putting on a brave face? You should understand now that the Emperor's favor towards you is only because of the Gao family. Beyond favor, there is more wariness."

Xi Yue laughed heartily, then coughed from laughing.

Mo Xin quickly stepped forward and patted her chest to help her catch her breath. Once Xi Yue caught her breath, she laughed again, laughing so hard she was shaking. After a long while, she said, "What, now that you know the Emperor's feelings for me aren't real, you think his feelings for you are? Hahahaha, Ruyi, Ruyi..." She pointed with her finger and continued, "Are you still holding a grudge about what happened at Jiangxue Pavilion, thinking that you only lost because your aunt fell from power?"

"So His Majesty only respects the Empress for the sake of the Fucha family, and only favors me to appease the Gao family. But have you ever thought about this, Ruyi...?"

Gao Xiyue's smile grew even brighter: "Consort Mei was just a musician from the Southern Palace, yet she was still favored and had a daughter. Consort Shen's father used to be very capable, but since he was injured in the third year of Qianlong's reign, he has almost retired. Consort Shen's two younger brothers are still young, so what power does her maternal family have left? And Consort Ling, everyone knows that Consort Ling came from a poor family. Her mother and younger brother were both from the countryside. What power did they have? Yet she was still favored for many years and was made a concubine and then a consort even though she had no children."

Seeing Ruyi's dark face, she felt satisfied and casually delivered the final blow: "Even if the Emperor is constrained by the previous dynasty and acts against his will or feigns sincerity, he is still a human being, and humans have emotions and desires. He will treat those he likes well and those he doesn't like well. How can this be hidden?"

Ruyi took two steps back.

No, the Emperor truly cares for her, but he is concerned about the various factions and is afraid that treating her too well will make her a target!

Just then, dark clouds gathered outside, and a muffled clap of thunder sounded.

Amidst the rumbling thunder, the sound of footsteps drifted in from outside Xianfu Palace.

Mingyu entered wearing a veil and shouted, "Consort Xian, Her Majesty the Empress has decreed that Xianfu Palace is infested with scabies, and to prevent any unauthorized entry, no one is allowed to enter. Furthermore, the Noble Consort is ill and should not be disturbed. Yet you have entered here falsely claiming an imperial decree, violating Her Majesty the Empress's orders! Please return to Cuiyun Pavilion and await Her Majesty the Empress's punishment!"

After she finished speaking, several eunuchs rushed out from behind her, restrained Ruyi and Hailan, covered their mouths, and dragged them away.

Physician Huang, wearing a veil and gloves, also followed in.

Mingyu stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, I hope Consort Xian did not disturb your rest."

Xi Yue sat up and asked, "Why is Aunt Mingyu here?"

Mingyu said, "This Consort Xian falsely claimed to be here on the Emperor's orders to inquire about the situation. She ordered the eunuch guarding the gate to open it. The eunuch, knowing the danger, sent someone to report to Changchun Palace. The Empress went to the Emperor to verify, only to find out that there was no such order. The Empress was afraid that Consort Xian harbored malicious intentions, so she sent me to take a look. Your Highness, should we have Physician Huang take her pulse?"

Xi Yue said, "Please thank Your Majesty the Empress on my behalf. I am fine. Also, although Consort Xian entered without permission, Shuangxi is my former servant, and I would like to say a few words to him."

Actually, the trio had already split up after seeing Ruyi arrive at Xianfu Palace in the live stream. They hadn't expected the conversation between the two to progress so quickly; Ruyi had revealed everything in a short time. Mingyu had overheard their conversation through the live stream. She carefully examined Xiyue's complexion and, seeing that she was indeed alright, insisted on having Imperial Physician Huang examine her pulse. Only after confirming that Xiyue's condition hadn't worsened did she say, "Everything is up to Your Highness. This Consort Xian has often spoken nonsense in the past; if she has said anything disrespectful, please don't take it to heart. This servant will take her leave now."

Just as she was about to leave, Xi Yue suddenly said, "Wait. Aunt Mingyu, please inform Her Majesty the Empress that I wish to see the Emperor."

Mingyu said, "This servant will report. However, Your Highness, although the scabies in Xianfu Palace has subsided, just to be on the safe side, starting tomorrow, quicklime must still be sprinkled everywhere to kill the scabies mites. This process will continue for seven days before the palace gates can be opened. His Majesty's health is precious, so we must be even more careful. Moreover, it is still during the festival, so I'm afraid it will be at least ten days before His Majesty can travel to Xianfu Palace."

Xi Yue paused for a moment, then a strange light flashed in her eyes: "Very well, then I thank Aunt Mingyu. Mo Xin, reward me."

Mingyu thanked the reward and left. Only then did Xiyue turn to Shuangxi: "Shuangxi, you said you could help me again. Do you still stand by that promise?"

Shuangxi knelt down and said, "Your Highness, I have a kind of medicinal powder that will cause snakes to coil around the waist if one touches it. I originally intended to use this medicine on someone else, but later found that it was ineffective for that person, so I gave up. This is something that shortens one's lifespan, and I dared not offend Your Highness's ears before. Now that Your Highness has made up your mind, I have brought this item here."

Xi Yue said softly, "Also, find a way to open the locked palace servants' quarters and take out something like a pillowcase. Mo Xin, go get some leather gloves so Shuang Xi doesn't get scabies."

Meanwhile, the emperor was in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, writhing in agony while clutching his head.

Seven days later, the gates of Xianfu Palace opened. Xiyue declined Rongyin's request to visit, citing the Sixth Prince's young age and the Empress's inability to risk contracting the disease. She then sent Moxin to invite Aruo, Ruiji, and Yanwan.

Only Yanwan accepted the invitation and came.

Her belly was protruding, and her originally slender figure had become slightly plump. She wore a plain lake-green embroidered shirt, with an apricot-colored embroidered jacket with fur trim, and a silver bracelet on her left wrist, which was understated yet dignified.

As she was about to bow with Chun Chan's help, Xi Yue said that there was no need for formalities and asked Mo Xin to offer her a seat.

Yanwan had Chunchan present a white fox fur glove with a dark brocade satin surface, saying, "I have long wanted to pay my respects to Your Highness, but I was too busy with the gifts for the festival and was afraid of disturbing Your Highness's rest. This glove is made of leather that I specially chose; it is just a small token of my respect."

Xi Yue asked Mo Xin to accept the hand warmers. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Sometimes I think about how I hurt you, Consort Shen, and Consort Mei in the past. I wanted you all to come and clear up the past grievances and make amends. But only you, pregnant, are willing to come."

Yanwan said, "Your Highness the Noble Consort was just giving me pointers, and I can only accept them. I have my reasons for coming, and Consort Shen and Consort Mei also have their reasons for not wanting to come."

Xi Yue smiled: "You're getting more and more eloquent. Tell me, what's your reasoning?"

Yanwan glanced around, and Xiyue said, "Speak your mind, there are no outsiders here."

Yanwan then said, “Your Highness, Consort Xian has been punished by the Empress for impersonating the Emperor and trespassing into Xianfu Palace a few days ago. She has been confined to her quarters and forced to copy scriptures. However, it is truly despicable that Consort Xian dared to offend you while you were ill. Copying scriptures is probably not enough. If you wish to vent your anger, I humbly request that you lend me a hand.”

Xi Yue said with great interest, "Tell me about it."

Three days later, in the evening, the emperor arrived at Chengqian Palace.