Chapter 15: Enduring It All

She was getting thinner by the day.

The weather was hot, but she hadn’t seen a single block of ice in her quarters. When she asked, they would brush her off, saying, “How can a ranked consort who’s had a miscarriage use that? It’s bad for the body.”

Previously, Consort Cao still dared to make a fuss, but after her miscarriage and demotion in rank, the boldness that had swelled with her pregnancy shrank back again.

She no longer dared to trouble the Empress over such things.

She could only endure it.

“My lady, please try to eat something. How can your body take this kind of torment?” her maid coaxed her gently.

Consort Cao waved her hand. “I can’t eat. Take it away. Just stay and talk with me.”

The maid had no choice but to remove the food.

“Don’t be so upset, my lady. Once your body recovers, you might still conceive again,” the maid said, pouring her a cup of water.

“There won’t be another chance. His Majesty is disgusted with me.” Consort Cao looked deeply distressed. “Tell me… who did this to me? I… I was foolish, fell into the trap so easily. Aside from you, I don’t dare trust anyone anymore.”

The maid before her had come from her family home—naturally, she could be trusted. But the others?

“My lady, you mean… it wasn’t you…” the maid stumbled, panicked.

“I’ve only just figured it out. How could a miscarriage happen so easily? But it’s been so long, there’s no way to investigate anymore.” Consort Cao began to cry. “I was too naïve.”

“It wasn’t that Wei woman…” the maid was shocked.

“If she had that kind of ability, would that even be allowed? It was my own arrogance. Who in the harem truly wished for me to bear a child? I’m still considered a beauty—if I’d carried to term, I’d at least have been promoted to Jieyu. Or maybe His Majesty would have thought my family background was decent and my father loyal, and made me one of the Nine Consorts. Then I’d have the right to raise the child myself. By then, I would have had a real foothold. Even if I couldn’t raise the child at first, there would have come a day when I could take them back. I was too foolish.”

Unlike Lady An, whose rank was so far from the Nine Consorts that the gap was like a chasm.

Naturally, someone else had other ideas.

The harem was full of hidden currents. She had been arrogant, growing restless as soon as she got pregnant. Even if she had given birth, the child might not have survived.

Consort Cao lay down and wept.

The maid could only comfort her. Even if they knew someone had schemed against her, they could only keep quiet and pretend not to know.

If they caused a scene without proof, her mistress would be finished for sure.

沈初柳 (Shen Chuliu) thought that with this heat, the emperor would surely have no interest in visiting the inner palace.

But that evening, someone came to summon her.

She had no choice but to hurriedly change into a light green ruqun dress, fix her hair, and go to Taiji Palace.

Her hairstyle was simple, adorned with silver and jade ornaments.

On each wrist, she wore a silver-thread bracelet.

Currently, there weren’t strict rules against showing arms, so her wide sleeves naturally revealed a small portion of her arms.

It wasn’t a big deal—her neck and chest were also partially exposed, though not overly so.

Just ordinary.

Afraid of the heat, she carried a round fan, a plain one from the Household Department, but one she liked very much.

She had even spent her own silver to request four different ones.

When she arrived at Taiji Palace to pay her respects, Qi Yixiu said, “Beloved consort, why are you dressed so plainly?”

“Your Majesty, it’s just too hot,” Shen Chuliu replied with a bright smile. “If I wore something too heavy or piled on more jewelry, even if I could endure it, I fear Your Majesty would feel overheated just looking at me.”

Qi Yixiu understood it was just an excuse, but since she stated it so openly, it didn’t come off as irritating.

“Daring to deceive your emperor to his face?” he teased, pretending to be stern.

“Your Majesty…” Shen Chuliu pouted and stamped her foot playfully. “You’re no good at pretending to be angry.”

Her youthful voice was sweet, and the little stomp only made her more endearing.

“Such indulgence. Are you not going to apologize properly?” Qi Yixiu laughed.

“Then allow me to serve Your Majesty some tea.” She picked up a cup from the table. “I can smell it—it’s golden chrysanthemum tea. Just right for drinking now.”

“You’re well-informed. What kind of tea do you like? I’ll reward you with some,” Qi Yixiu asked as he took the cup.

“I don’t have a favorite, really. In winter, I prefer black tea or red tea. But sometimes when I feel overheated, a cup of green tea is nice too. In summer, chrysanthemum tea or fruit and flower blends are good. Or even white tea. Back home, my grandmother used to say I was fickle. But I think tea is for people to enjoy—if I only liked one kind and rejected all others, wouldn’t that be such a loss?”

Qi Yixiu studied her. She spoke casually, but there was a genuine honesty in it.

Other women, asked the same question, would no doubt recite some refined preference and describe it with poetic flair—how to brew it, its clarity, its sweetness.

But deep down, Qi Yixiu was still a man of nomadic blood and didn’t care for such pretensions.

Indeed, the current Dayi Dynasty had its roots on the grasslands just a few generations back.

That’s also why Dayi’s customs were more open.

Previous dynasties had countless rules binding women—female codes, moral edicts—but by this era, those had become much more relaxed.

“Well said. Since you’re so greedy, I’ll have someone send you a selection of teas to enjoy,” Qi Yixiu said.

“Does that include the golden chrysanthemum tea? Isn’t that a tribute tea? If so, I don’t want it. Just the regular kind will do,” Shen Chuliu looked at him expectantly.

“You little glutton. You’re already asking for it so eagerly—how could I not give it to you?” Qi Yixiu set the tea down and pulled her into his arms.

Shen Chuliu stuck out her tongue playfully. “I’m not that greedy.”

Qi Yixiu sniffed lightly near her. “What fragrance are you wearing? It’s very light and pleasant.”

Shen Chuliu smiled. “I didn’t apply any fragrance. In winter, I do use some. But in summer, I’m afraid it’ll mix with other smells and become unpleasant. What you’re smelling is probably from my hair wash.”

The “other smells,” of course, referred to sweat.

Qi Yixiu looked at her—she was indeed fresh and clean.

Of course, the concubines in summer did try to keep fresh, but those of lower rank lacked the means, and when seeing the emperor, they had no choice but to mask their sweat with stronger perfumes.

Not every woman was like Shen Chuliu, who flushed in the heat but didn’t sweat much.

That wasn’t necessarily healthy—it meant underdeveloped sweat glands. But in the harem, maybe it was for the best.

Otherwise, falling out of favor would be the least of their worries. Displeasing the emperor could bring real danger.

“Why isn’t Your Majesty wearing your dragon robes today? Though I must say, the crimson-purple looks wonderful on you. But since princes also wear that color, isn’t it a bit of a loss for Your Majesty to be mistaken for one of them?” Shen Chuliu looked at Qi Yixiu’s attire.

“I’m not going outside. What kind of thoughts are you spinning in that head of yours?” Qi Yixiu chuckled.

Shen Chuliu smiled quietly.

When the meal was brought in, Qi Yixiu didn’t eat much. The heat had worn him out, and after a long day’s work, he had little appetite.

Shen Chuliu, however, ate quite well. She was still growing, after all.

So she took small bites, but ended up eating a fair amount.

Qi Yixiu was tired today, so after dinner they didn’t do anything else. They simply washed up and prepared for bed.