Su Yunmo had already received news that the other concubines in the harem had been conferred titles when she left the palace.
Liu Lanxue was unaware of this. After returning to the Cold Palace, she claimed to be tired and went to bed to rest.
Su Yunmo knew that she was somewhat unhappy, but she didn't ask further. Some things had to be resolved by herself.
However, Su Yunmo was still worried, so she told Yi Zuo and Yi You to take good care of Consort Liang and decided to visit her again the next afternoon.
The next day was the day of the conferment ceremony.
Including Wang Xiting, the three women paid their respects to Emperor Ye Yao and the Empress Dowager, and the conferment ceremony concluded.
Since Qin Kexin had the longest seniority among them, she was still entrusted with managing the harem after becoming Consort Qin.
No one had any objections to this. Chu Xingyun was more concerned about the future than about who managed the harem at the moment.
After the conferment ceremony, Emperor Ye Yao left with Wang Xiting.
Seeing Emperor Ye Yao's impatience, Chu Xingyun's expression grew even more somber. The joy of the conferment ceremony did nothing to alleviate her anger. She found an excuse and left early.
Only Qin Kexin watched Wang Xiting's retreating figure, her expression slightly moved.
The maid Ye Zhu stepped forward and whispered, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Qin Kexin gazed at Wang Xiting's back. Only when the figure disappeared did she say with a deep gaze, "Don't you think Consort Ting looks a bit like someone?"
Ye Zhu recalled Wang Xiting's appearance and shook her head. "Your Highness, I don't think so. Who does Your Highness think she resembles?"
A strange glint flashed in Qin Kexin's eyes.
At first, she hadn't noticed it either, but the dress Wang Xiting wore today was similar to the one Consort Liang wore during her own conferment.
So, in a moment of distraction, she had thought she was Consort Liang.
Qin Kexin took a deep breath and tugged at her clothes. "Let's go, we're going to the Cold Palace."
Ye Zhu replied, "Yes," and ordered the servants to prepare the carriage.
Meanwhile, Su Yunmo was having lunch with Liu Lanxue.
Qin Kexin, wearing her conferment attire, entered with her servants.
Yi Zuo and Yi You exchanged glances as she arrived at the Cold Palace so grandly. One went to greet her, while the other went to report.
Upon hearing the news, Su Yunmo jumped from her chair, ready to go out.
Liu Lanxue reached out and stopped her, shaking her head. "Momo, it's alright, I can go myself."
Su Yunmo was still worried.
Liu Lanxue gave her a comforting smile, got up, and went out to greet her.
Su Yunmo watched her leave, still a little uneasy, and then followed her out.
She didn't let Liu Lanxue notice, secretly trailing behind.
She planned to use her powers to throw anyone unwelcome out of this place immediately.
Qin Kexin saw Liu Lanxue upon entering the courtyard and hurried forward. "It's so cold outside, why did Sister come out?"
Liu Lanxue bowed to her. "Since Consort Qin has come, I naturally must come to greet you."
Qin Kexin returned the bow. "What are you saying, Sister? What Consort and Consort, it dilutes the sisterly affection between us."
She beckoned behind her.
Immediately, a group of eunuchs and maids followed in.
They were carrying many items on their hands and shoulders.
Yi Zuo and Yi You, who had been on high alert, exchanged glances, confused.
Even Su Yunmo frowned.
What was Consort Qin up to?
Could the gifts be poisoned? That was unlikely.
She had brought these things so openly. If she were to poison them, she would be too foolish.
Liu Lanxue's expression remained unchanged, and she was also puzzled. "What is Sister doing?"
Even before she was banished to the Cold Palace, she had no particular friendship with Consort Qin.
Why was she sending gifts for no reason?
Qin Kexin saw her confusion and smiled lightly. "His Majesty has now decreed that Sister will be restored to the rank of Consort."
"Although Sister has grown accustomed to living here and does not wish to return to her own chambers, Sister is, after all, His Majesty's consort, and her food and lodging cannot be shabby."
"Now that I am trusted by His Majesty and manage the harem, naturally, no sister in the harem should be neglected."
"These items are just small daily necessities for Sister's residence. From today onwards, the Imperial Kitchen will deliver meals to Sister daily."
"If Sister likes anything, she can directly send someone to tell the people in the Imperial Kitchen."
Qin Kexin paused, then added, "Of course, if Sister doesn't like the hassle, she can have a small kitchen set up here."
Liu Lanxue looked at the eunuchs and maids busily tidying up her courtyard with some helplessness.
Although Yu'er was filial and had added many things for her over the past few months, she was a deposed consort at the time, so even the added items could not be too conspicuous.
The courtyard was still overgrown with weeds and messy.
Now that it was suddenly cleaned up, it felt a little uncomfortable.
However, Liu Lanxue did not refuse the other party's kindness. "Then thank you, Sister."
"Sister, there's no need to thank me, it's all as it should be." Qin Kexin's happiness was visible as she changed her address.
"Originally, I wanted to bring more maids and eunuchs to serve Sister here, but I thought Sister was ill and might not like too much noise, so I decided against it."
"However, if Sister wants anything else in the future, she can send someone to tell me, and I will do my best."
Liu Lanxue thanked her again, then invited Qin Kexin inside to sit.
Qin Kexin smiled and shook her head, refusing. "I still have a lot of things to attend to today. I'll come to chat and amuse Sister tomorrow."
Liu Lanxue nodded and asked Yi Zuo to see her out.
Qin Kexin bowed again, her expression very gentle, then turned and left with her servants.
After she left, Su Yunmo walked over, frowning in confusion. "Was Your Highness very close to Consort Qin before?"
That shouldn't be the case. If they were close, Ye Jingyu wouldn't have had to make a deal with her before.
Liu Lanxue shook her head, seemingly unconcerned about Qin Kexin's attitude. "In this deep palace, everyone has their own thoughts."
All things in the world are fleeting, let alone the human heart.
Su Yunmo shrugged. "When soldiers come, block them; when water comes, cover it."
It was no longer easy for people in the harem to plot against Consort Liang.
Meanwhile, Qin Kexin returned to her chambers, removed her heavy headdress, and changed into her usual clothes.
Ye Zhu wiped her hands while asking curiously, "Why did Your Highness suddenly decide to go to the Cold Palace?"
Qin Kexin removed her earrings with one hand and placed them in the jewelry box. "Haven't you understood yet? Don't you see who Wang Xiting resembles?"
Ye Zhu recalled carefully and exclaimed, "Consort Liang?"
That's right. Although their face shapes and eyes were not similar, coincidentally, their mouths, noses, and subtle expressions were somewhat alike.
If one wasn't particularly sensitive, they wouldn't have noticed.
It was truly remarkable that Your Highness could notice this.
"Your Highness means that His Majesty doesn't truly favor Consort Ting, but rather misses Consort Liang deeply, and therefore uses Consort Ting as a substitute?"
Ye Zhu thought this possibility existed, but she was still somewhat confused.
"But I don't understand. Consort Liang has already recovered her memory. If His Majesty truly misses her, why wouldn't he favor her directly?"
And why would he find a substitute? Isn't that an unnecessary step?