Little Palace Maid Desires a Higher Seat of Honor - Chapter 92

Chapter 92: Falling Ill

By the time the imperial entourage returned to the capital, it was already mid-September. The osmanthus flowers were in full bloom, their fragrance wafting through the air, and golden petals carpeted the ground.

On the fifteenth of each month, the palace distributed monthly allowances, requiring palace servants to personally register and collect them at the Central Province Hall. 

Liu Anshun, now advanced in age, had long delegated such mentally taxing tasks to Xiao Rongzi.
A chair was placed in the covered corridor, and Xiao Rongzi sat there leisurely, completely shielded from the sun. Palace servants around him barked orders: 

“Form a line, one at a time!” 

Lu Song, who rarely had the chance to leave Yihe Palace, was habitually low-key. When he arrived at the Central Province Hall, he didn’t presume to cut in line despite his status. 

When it was finally his turn, Xiao Rongzi looked up, squinting slightly with an inscrutable expression.

“How’s life in Yihe Palace?” 

Back in Heyi Hall, they had shared a room, so exchanging pleasantries seemed perfectly normal. 

But Lu Song knew deep down that it was anything but normal. 

Cautiously, Lu Song replied, “Her Ladyship is a kind person.” 

Xiao Rongzi acted as though he were merely making small talk and didn’t press further. After registering Lu Song’s name, he grabbed a pouch from the side and tossed it to him.
“Take your silver.” 

The pouch landed in his hand. Without a word, Lu Song turned and left. 

Xiao Rongzi glanced up, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over Lu Song’s retreating figure, a hint of coldness flickering in his eyes. 

A moment later, he withdrew his gaze as if nothing had happened and called out indifferently: 

“Next!” 

Once outside the Central Province Hall, Lu Song clutched the pouch in his hand, his heart heavy. 

Upon returning to Yihe Palace, Gui Qiu was carrying tea into the main hall. Spotting him, she glanced at the pouch in his hand and remarked casually,

“You’re back?” 

Lu Song nodded. 

Gui Qiu said, “Then hurry up. Her Ladyship might ask for you soon.” 

Lu Song said nothing and retreated to his room. Only when he was completely alone did he take a deep breath and open the pouch. 

Inside, aside from the silver, was a slip of paper.

It bore only a single line—She wants to see you.

A time and address followed. 

Lu Song’s heart sank abruptly, his eyes darkening. The identity of “she” was unmistakable. What could Yun Si possibly want from him by summoning him now? 

Yun Si loathed him to the core. If she sought him out, it certainly wasn’t for old times’ sake. 

Lu Song exhaled slowly, then burned the note over a candle’s flame. In the flickering light, his expression grew inscrutable. 

******** 

Inside Panju Hall

The small kitchen had prepared osmanthus cakes, which Qiu Yuan brought into the hall. Song Fu was recounting recent events in the palace to Yun Si.

“Mistress, you wouldn’t believe it, ever since her miscarriage, Su Jieyu’s temperament has turned utterly bizarre. Just the other day, right at the gates of Zhaoyang Palace, she punished Song Pin by ordering palace servants to slap her ten times in full view of passersby. Song Pin returned weeping and nearly hanged herself afterward.” 

Song Fu clicked his tongue. “Thankfully, Her Highness the Empress sent someone to stop her.” 

Yun Si frowned, puzzled. 

“What was the reason?” 

Song Fu replied, “They say Song Pin was overheard mocking Su Jieyu for failing to protect the imperial heir in her womb, right in front of Su Jieyu herself.” 

Yun Si shook her head. 

“To gossip about a superior behind her back and get caught red-handed, no wonder.” 

Su Jieyu had never been one to tolerate disrespect, but if that were all, it wouldn’t be enough to call her temperament “bizarre.” 

Curious, Yun Si looked at Song Fu, who lowered his voice. “There’s another matter, though I don’t know if it’s true. Rumor has it Su Jieyu now demands palace maids’ blood for daily medicine, terrorizing everyone in Qingyu Courtyard.” 

Palace maids’ blood?

Yun Si’s delicate brows knitted in suspicion.
Blood as medicine?
What kind of madness was this? 

Just as Qiu Yuan entered, she caught the tail end of the conversation and immediately frowned. 

“Palace maids’ blood?”

It all depends on the rank and favor of the mistress in question within the palace. 

Truly, palace servants are the most adept at judging the wind and adjusting their sails. 

Only the three of them, mistress and servants, were in the hall. As Qiu Yuan set down the pouch, she lowered her voice,

“The messenger said the words you instructed have already been delivered. Please rest assured.” 

A flicker of emotion passed through Yun Si’s eyes. 

Qiu Yuan counted the silver and noticed the Central Province Hall had sent an extra ten percent. She understood this was their way of currying favor with her mistress but said nothing.

Still, she hesitated.  “He’s been in Yihe Palace for less than two years, yet he’s already won Consort De’s trust and is kept by her side daily. Do you think he’ll come to the meeting, Mistress?” 

Without lifting her head, Yun Si curled her lips in a faint, cold smile.

Her voice was icy. “He will.”

Qiu Yuan didn’t understand why her mistress was so certain, but she didn’t question her. 

Yun Si lifted her gaze, looking past the lattice window to the world outside. A mocking thought rose in her heart, of course Lu Song would come.

He had always been a sanctimonious hypocrite. Tormented by guilt toward her, he would naturally seek to make amends. 

Back in Heyi Hall, when she and Lu Song had crossed paths again, she had already seen through his true nature. 

How many times had Consort De secretly manipulated events behind the scenes, plotting against her in the palace? 

Yun Si didn’t know. 

Lu Song might have privately wallowed in guilt, perhaps even worry over her, yet he stood by and watched as Consort De schemed against her. Not once had he ever thought to warn her. 

Wasn’t it laughable? 

And yet, this very same man still believed himself to be profoundly devoted. 

Yun Si thought Lu Song was every bit a member of the Lu family. No matter how much remorse he feigned or how sweet his words, he was no different from his parents. 

******* 

That night was the fifteenth, the night for serving the Emperor in Kunning Palace. 

Just as the lanterns in Kunning Palace were being extinguished, Yihe Palace also called for water. The bed curtains were drawn, veiling the intimacy within. Consort De arched her slender neck slightly, breathing lightly yet unevenly. 

When Gui Qiu brought in the water, she caught a glimpse of Lu Song kneeling on the floor, head bowed. 

For a moment, Gui Qiu was stunned. 

A man who once studied for the imperial examinations, now reduced to this—
Would he feel honored by the attention, or humiliated and resentful? 

Gui Qiu didn’t know. But at this moment, she suddenly realized the tragedy of Lu Song’s existence. 

She helped her Ladyship into the bathing chamber to wash. After a long while, Consort De’s voice emerged from within, laced with satisfaction.

“You may leave.” 

By the time Gui Qiu stepped out again, Lu Song was already gone. 

Inside his quarters, Lu Song sat with his head lowered, scrubbing his hands relentlessly. He scoured them as though trying to peel off a layer of skin, stopping only when they were raw and red. 

He remained seated on the floor, lost in thought. After a long silence, he went out once more, fetching another bucket of well water. 

The water was icy.
Standing in the bathing chamber, he poured it over himself from head to toe.

The water drenched his hair and clothes, pouring over his head and face until he was completely soaked.
The window was left open, and a gust of wind blew in, making him shiver faintly. His head hung low, but upon closer inspection, one could see his lips had turned deathly pale. 

The next morning, when it was time to pay respects, Consort De still hadn’t seen Lu Song. She raised her eyes slightly.

“Where is he?” 

Gui Qiu immediately sent someone to look for him. 

When they reached Lu Song’s quarters, they found him lying unconscious on the bed, his face flushed, clearly severely ill. 

After receiving the report, Consort De frowned briefly. Gui Qiu glanced at the time and reminded her respectfully,  “Your Ladyship, it’s almost time for the morning greetings.” 

Hearing this, Consort De wasted no more thoughts on Lu Song and only casually instructed, “Send for a physician from the Imperial Hospital to examine him. Don’t let him die from illness.” 

Besides imperial physicians, the Imperial Hospital also had assistant physicians and female healers, none holding official positions but possessing genuine medical skills. Lower-ranking palace servants could pay silver to have them treat illnesses. 

Lu Song remained bedridden for several days. 

Consort De personally visited him once. Seeing his complexion still ghastly, she recalled the physician’s warning that without intervention, the fever might have burned him to death. 

Left with no choice, she allowed him to recuperate, even gently advising,

“Focus on recovering. Return to your duties only when you’re well.” 

She had Gui Qiu retrieve a century-old ginseng from the storeroom to nourish him. 

Lu Song, flustered, tried to rise from the bed to express his gratitude but was stopped by Consort De.
She chuckled lightly. “You serve me—there’s no need for formalities.” 

Lu Song said nothing, merely bowing his head in deference. 

On the twenty-third of September, the Eldest Prince’s birthday, Consort De had made preparations early. After paying respects to the Empress, she unusually didn’t return directly to Yihe Palace but instead had her procession head to the Emperor’s quarters. 

Yun Si exited Kunning Palace behind her. As she mounted her palanquin, her gaze subtly traced the direction of Consort De’s departing procession. 

Qiu Yuan, walking beside the palanquin, spoke softly, for Yun Si’s ears alone.

“They say Lu Song is gravely ill.” 

Yun Si couldn’t care less. Lowering her eyes, she murmured, “Today is the Eldest Prince’s birthday. Consort De won’t spare him a thought. He was never a fool, it’s only a matter of whether he chooses to act.” 

If Lu Song truly wished to see her, he would find a way to keep their appointment.