Little Palace Maid Desires a Higher Seat of Honor - Chapter 67

Chapter 67 Falling Down

The side hall of the Changchun Palace was especially quiet. Rong Zhaoyi grabbed hold of Tan Yuanchu, panic welling up in her heart. The little princess had been ill before, but the Emperor had never treated her so coldly.
Was the Emperor angry with her?

Rong Zhaoyi was about to say something when the Empress interrupted her, her voice slightly lowered,

“The little princess just fell asleep. If Rong Zhaoyi has something to say, it’s better to say it outside.”

As soon as the Empress’s voice fell, Rong Zhaoyi felt her heart sink. Sure enough, Tan Yuanchu glanced at her coldly and turned to leave without another word.

Yun Si raised her brows slightly. The Empress knew to be mindful about whether speaking in the side hall would disturb the little princess’s rest, yet Rong Zhaoyi, who should have been the one most concerned, had neglected it.
How could Tan Yuanchu possibly be pleased?

Once everyone had left the side hall, Imperial Physician Chang was reporting on the little princess’s condition.

“…This humble official will come daily to perform acupuncture on the little princess until she is fully recovered.”

That was the only sentence Yun Si heard. Imperial Physician Chang bowed and withdrew to fetch the medicine. In an instant, only Tan Yuanchu and the gathered consorts remained in the Changchun Palace.
Without waiting for Rong Zhaoyi to speak, Tan Yuanchu directly ordered,

“Send the little princess to Kunning Palace. Once she recovers, let her return.”

Everyone was stunned. Even their breathing involuntarily lightened.

The Emperor was truly angry with Rong Zhaoyi. Otherwise, why would he send the little princess to the Kunning Palace?
He said she’d return once recovered, but who could say when the little princess would recover?

Yun Si was also a bit surprised. She instinctively looked up at the Empress, only to see the Empress frown slightly, a trace of displeasure barely visible.

Yun Si withdrew her gaze in understanding.

It seemed the Empress didn’t want to take on this hot potato at all.

After all, the Emperor had made it clear that the little princess would be sent back to the Changchun Palace once she was well. The Empress gained nothing from this and was merely burdened with the responsibility of looking after the child.

If it were Yun Si, she wouldn’t be happy about it either.

But it wasn’t just the Empress who was unwilling, Rong Zhaoyi could hardly accept this arrangement. She suddenly looked up, speaking out in disbelief,

“Your Majesty?!”

The Rong Zhaoyi that everyone had always seen was calm and composed, this was the first time they saw her so flustered. She practically fell to her knees at once, heartbroken to the extreme.
“Your Majesty, the little princess has never been apart from me since birth. I beg you to rescind your order!”

Tan Yuanchu’s face darkened impatiently.

“Can you not see that the little princess is resisting you?”

Rong Zhaoyi froze instantly. She had long since regretted her actions. Of course she knew that the little princess was now pushing her away, but just the thought of the child leaving her made her heart ache like it was being pricked by needles.

Rong Zhaoyi let out a soft sob and pleaded mournfully,

“Your Majesty, I already know I was wrong. I won’t make the same mistake again. I will take good care of the little princess. Please trust me once more.”

A beautiful woman weeping was like a painting, tugging at the heartstrings. Anyone could see Rong Zhaoyi’s remorse and sincerity. But Tan Yuanchu only said coldly, “Did no one hear what I said?”

Xu Shunfu immediately moved, ordering the palace maids to pack the little princess’s daily belongings and send them all to Kunning Palace.

At the same time, Tan Yuanchu looked at Rong Zhaoyi and spoke in a calm tone,

“The Empress is the little princess’s legal mother. It is only right that the little princess is close to her. If you are incapable of caring for the little princess, there are plenty of others in the palace who can do so.”

Rong Zhaoyi’s pleading came to an abrupt halt. She raised her head and stared dazedly at the Emperor.

She understood the meaning behind his words.

Sending the little princess to Kunning Palace this time was just a warning. If there was a next time, he wouldn’t hesitate to replace her as the princess’s mother.

Two lines of tears fell suddenly down Rong Zhaoyi’s face. She bit her lip, watching helplessly as the little princess was carried away in the arms of the palace maids. She dared not say another word to stop them.
Clutching the hem of Tan Yuanchu’s robe, she cried so hard that she couldn’t catch her breath, her body gradually bending lower and lower.

After the little princess was sent off, Tan Yuanchu also left the Changchun Palace.

Once he was gone, none of the other consorts had any desire to remain. The Empress lowered her gaze, her inner thoughts unreadable. After a long while, she let out a soft sigh.

“With the little princess now in Kunning Palace, I will take good care of her. If you wish to see her, you may come directly to Kunning Palace.”

Tong Yun supported Rong Zhaoyi as she turned with difficulty and gave the Empress a deep bow, “This concubine thanks Your Highness.”

Soon, the Changchun Palace fell into silence, the surroundings sinking into a deathly stillness. Not even the palace maids inside dared to breathe too loudly.

Rong Zhaoyi remained collapsed on the ground, staring blankly toward the outside of the hall.

Tong Yun stepped forward to help her up, holding back tears. “Your Ladyship, please stand up first.”

Rong Zhaoyi didn’t move. After a long time, she finally spoke, clutching Tong Yun’s hand as if seeking confirmation,

“Will he let the little princess come back?”

Tong Yun could only nod. “He will! Your Ladyship, don’t overthink. His Majesty just wants the little princess to recover quickly.”

Rong Zhaoyi forced a smile, tugging up the corners of her lips in a mocking curve.

If it had been before, she might have believed Tong Yun’s words. But now, how could she still think the Emperor wasn’t blaming her?

She had always believed that Consort De had a son, and the Empress had her status. She could only contend with them because of the Emperor’s favor. Until today, until she saw that coldness in the Emperor’s eyes, she finally understood that the Emperor’s favor had only ever been because of the little princess.

How could she have thought it was because of her?

Inside the hall, a low laugh suddenly came from Rong Zhaoyi. Two lines of tears fell abruptly, and Tong Yun was so frightened she didn’t dare reach out to touch her.

“All this time, I’ve said Yang Jieyu was foolish.”

Yet in the end, the most foolish one turned out to be herself.

She had always thought Yang Jieyu was merely trying to imitate her poorly. But only now did she realize, the only thing Yang Jieyu had lacked back then was a royal heir.

Tong Yun spoke fearfully, “Your Ladyship?”

Rong Zhaoyi raised her hand to wipe her face. She propped herself up and stood.

“I’m fine.”

She staggered a little and had to be supported by Tong Yun before she could steady herself again. Raising her head, she looked at the sunlight pouring through the lattice windows. But no warmth ever reached her. Rong Zhaoyi clenched her handkerchief tightly and said word by word,

“I will bring the little princess back.”

—

Yun Si didn’t know what happened next in Changchun Palace.

She was very tired.

She had stood in Changchun Palace for so long, her back was sore and her legs ached. Yet with all those consorts present, she didn’t dare show it at all. Now leaning against the ceremonial rail, she couldn’t help but rub her sore thighs.

In the distance, Yun Si spotted Su Jieyu’s ceremonial entourage ahead of her, deliberately blocking her path. They were walking especially slowly, as if on purpose.

Yun Si found Su Jieyu a bit childish. She was well aware that Su Jieyu had a close relationship with the Empress, so naturally, she couldn’t be bothered to cross paths with her. But her body was unbearably tired.

Glancing ahead, Yun Si weakly instructed, “Take the side path.”

Upon receiving the order, Song Fu led them directly along the small path at the corner.

Not far ahead, Su Jieyu heard that Yun Si had changed her route. Her cold face slightly furrowed, and Bai Shao gave a light snort and said,

“Good thing she knows her place.”

Su Jieyu glanced irritably at Bai Shao.
Yun Si had known her place, so what about her? Deliberately blocking Yun Si’s path had meant nothing to Yun Si, yet it made her look petty and narrow-minded.

Su Jieyu felt deflated and said directly,

“Return to the palace.”

Better to avoid embarrassment.

Bai Shao didn’t understand why her mistress was suddenly angry, but thinking of the royal heir in her mistress’s womb, she could only follow along and urged quickly, “Hurry.”

No one expected the accident to happen so suddenly.

It was an ordinary side path they had taken many times before. Just as the palanquin was being lifted onto it, suddenly, someone slipped. Cries of alarm erupted all at once.

Su Jieyu only felt the palanquin tilt, and her entire body went tumbling with it. Panic surged within her as she instinctively called out Bai Shao’s name, hurriedly using one arm to protect her belly.

When Bai Shao realized something was wrong, she looked up and saw the palanquin falling. Her mind went blank for a moment, but when she caught sight of her mistress’s panicked face, she snapped back to her senses and cried out in terror,

“Mistress—!”

Yun Si had not yet returned to the Panju Hall when she heard a rush of footsteps. She lifted the beaded curtain and turned to look, Song Fu came running over, his face still carrying traces of shock.

“Mistress, news just came, Su Jieyu fell on her way back to the palace!”

Yun Si was suddenly startled. “What?!”

Song Fu wiped his face, forcing himself to calm down.

“It happened just now, on that other path where we turned off. Su Jieyu’s palanquin had just been lifted when the accident occurred.”

Yun Si frowned, exchanging a glance with Qiu Yuan. Without the slightest hesitation, she ordered,

“Turn around!”

By the time Yun Si arrived, Su Jieyu still hadn’t been lifted up. She had just been helped down from the palanquin by Qiu Yuan. When Yun Si got a clear look at the scene along the path, she couldn’t help but cover her lips in horror.

Su Jieyu had fallen to the very bottom, the palanquin pressing down firmly on her body. No one knew exactly where she had been struck, but Su Jieyu had been crying and screaming in pain the entire time.

And now, in broad daylight, Yun Si swallowed hard, staring fixedly in one direction. Qiu Yuan followed her gaze, and instantly held her breath.

On the cobblestones, a stream of blood was flowing.

Song Fu whispered, “Mistress, should we go help?”

At those words, Yun Si turned her head toward Consort De, who had arrived a step earlier. Consort De stood frozen in place, frowning, her face full of worry. The palace servants behind her hadn’t moved at all.

Yun Si furrowed her brow subtly, irritation rising in her chest. Whether they helped or not, there would be trouble.

After a moment, she said in a low voice, “Go. Help them get her out!”

No matter what, Su Jieyu was carrying the Emperor’s heir. Since they had witnessed it, they couldn’t just stand by.

Upon receiving the order, Songfu immediately led people forward. Just then, Tan Yuanchu finally arrived. He took one glance at Su Jieyu’s miserable state, his face instantly darkened, his voice filled with fury.

“What are you all standing around for?! Help her!”

Yun Si heard the commotion and turned around. When she saw Tan Yuanchu, she suddenly let out a breath of relief and lowered herself in salute. “Your Majesty.”

The people around them also snapped back to their senses and hurried to salute.

Tan Yuanchu saw that she was standing there all alone and suddenly frowned. Upon closer inspection, he realized that everyone else was busy helping lift Su Jieyu’s palanquin. He silently gave Yun Si a glance.

In this palace, who didn’t understand the principle of self-preservation?

Tan Yuanchu admitted that he had hoped someone would step forward to help Su Jieyu at this moment, but when he saw that person was Yun Si, his emotions inevitably became a bit complicated.

Everyone was clever. She too had always been clever, so why did she always choose to be foolish at moments like this?

Helping someone was, in itself, a good deed, but the person being helped might not necessarily feel grateful.

At last, the palanquin was lifted away. Su Jieyu’s lake-blue palace gown had been soaked in blood, turning a deep, dark red. Her whole body was in disarray, and though her sobs came in broken intervals, she clearly couldn’t hide the pain.

Someone knelt on the small path where Su Jieyu had fallen and touched the cobblestone surface.

A quarter of an hour later, the group relocated to Qingyu Courtyard.

Imperial Physician Chang had only just returned to the Imperial Medical Bureau when he was dragged all the way back to Qingyu Courtyard by palace servants. He was still out of breath, and the moment he caught a whiff of the bloody scent inside the hall, his expression changed instantly. He hurried forward to take Su Jieyu’s pulse.

Within moments, Imperial Physician Chang’s face also changed, cold sweat breaking out across his forehead.