"Will I be like the Empress? Am I destined to be barren for life?" the Grand Princess asked, her voice laced with fear. If she were to live a life without children, what would be the point of seizing the throne?
Xiao Man shook her head. "It's not a major issue. Just don't eat anything from her palace from now on."
The Grand Princess asked nervously, "Are you sure there's no problem?"
"You eat so little, it won't be a problem," Xiao Man finished the pastry in her hand and licked the crumbs from her fingers. "However, avoiding it might not be as easy as you think."
"Does His Majesty know?"
"Do you think she is unaware?" Xiao Man retorted. For so many years, the Empress had no children. She must have investigated. Xiao Man knew the reason, yet she did not pursue it. Instead, she allowed her adopted children to suffer alongside her. Xiao Man couldn't quite understand her motives.
The Grand Princess felt a chill run down her spine. She had thought the Empress held some affection for them, having been together for so many years. But today, she finally realized the truth: the Empress did not care about them, not at all. She hadn't even treated them as human beings!
"Xiao Man, if the Empress were to kill you, would you willingly accept your fate?"
Xiao Man looked at the Grand Princess and smiled. "Grand Princess, you should ask yourself that question. Would you willingly accept your fate?"
For several consecutive days, Xiao Man entered the palace to accompany the master of Lantai Palace.
Upon hearing this, the Fourth Princess grew restless. After all, no one else could enter Lantai Palace, yet Xiao Man could. Not only could she enter, but she also seemed to get along well with the master of Lantai Palace. This left the Fourth Princess deeply troubled, unable to eat or sleep.
"Princess, His Majesty has always been heartless. Among the consorts in the harem, who has ever truly pleased her?" her advisor reasoned. "Perhaps the person in Lantai Palace is merely a temporary plaything."
"If they were just a plaything, why would His Majesty house them in Lantai Palace?" the Fourth Princess sighed. "Besides, the consort residing in Lantai Palace is named Feng."
"Princess, if the consort in Lantai Palace truly is named Feng, then they are a genuine candidate for Empress Consort," the advisor expressed concern. "If the consort in Lantai Palace were to be bribed by the Crown Princess, then you would be completely at a disadvantage."
The Fourth Princess fell silent. Lantai Palace was a taboo for those in the inner court. She vividly remembered a consort who, relying on their favor, had trespassed into Lantai Palace. The Empress had personally beaten them to death in front of everyone. At that time, Lantai Palace was merely an uninhabited palace, yet for trespassing, they were executed.
"Qiu Le, do you know what it is like inside Lantai Palace?"
Qiu Le shook his head. "Your subordinate does not know."
"I know," the Fourth Princess said in a low voice. "I once snuck into Lantai Palace, wanting to uncover its secrets. The interior was decorated with exquisite taste. Although there was no one there, the attending eunuchs and maids were numerous. The flowers and plants in the garden were rare treasures the Empress had collected from all over. Even the floors of Lantai Palace were made of warm jade, so warm that even in winter, one could walk barefoot on them."
"Such extravagance. Could this consort in Lantai Palace be His Majesty's favorite?"
The Fourth Princess did not answer immediately. She also wanted to know if the consort in Lantai Palace was the Empress's favorite. However, that person remained behind closed doors. Her people had kept watch for many days but had never seen them.
"I have a feeling I know this name," the Fourth Princess mused. "Feng Mo Ran. Qiu Le, does the name Feng Mo Ran sound familiar to you?"
The Fourth Princess looked at Qiu Le, only to find him staring in shock.
"You know him!" the Fourth Princess stated with certainty.
Qiu Le nodded. "Fourth Princess, is the consort residing in Lantai Palace truly named Feng Mo Ran?"
"Yes."
Qiu Le slowly sat down. "Do you know that the Imperial Husband of Empress Yue Xian was named Feng Mo Ran?"
The Fourth Princess's eyes widened in disbelief. "You mean, the consort currently living in Lantai Palace is Empress Yue Xian's Imperial Husband?"
"I'm not certain. It might not be the same person, but the probability of it being the same person is very high." Qiu Le frowned deeply. "Empress Yue Xian and His Majesty are sisters. Feng Mo Ran was the designated Crown Princess's consort. The three of them grew up together, sharing a childhood bond and deep affection. It's understandable that the Empress would favor Gentleman Feng."
Empress Yue Xian was a forbidden topic. The princesses usually dared not interact with anything related to Empress Yue Xian, and thus did not know that Feng Mo Ran was Empress Yue Xian's Imperial Husband. Even if there were records in history, they had long been destroyed by the current Empress.
"If Feng Mo Ran was Empress Yue Xian's Imperial Husband, then shouldn't he hate Xiao Man? Why has he become so close to Xiao Man?" the Fourth Princess asked, confused. After all, Xiao Man was not his daughter.
"The reason behind this might only be known by the people involved," Qiu Le mused. "Fourth Princess, I have a portrait of Feng Mo Ran. Find an opportunity to enter Lantai Palace with the Crown Princess and meet the consort there. Perhaps we can enlist his help."
"What do you mean by that?"
"This person escaped from Lanyue back then. Now that he has returned..." Qiu Le's eyes flickered. "Perhaps he was captured by the Empress."
"You mean, Gentleman Feng is seeking outside help, and he can only see His Majesty and Xiao Man, so he has no choice but to seek Xiao Man's assistance?"
Qiu Le nodded. "The truth of the matter requires further confirmation."
The Empress watched Xiao Man enter Lantai Palace, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "The mother and daughter are truly alike."
Hong Shang Gong stood silently behind the Empress, acting as a mere backdrop. She would only speak when the Empress needed her to, remaining like a wooden figure otherwise.
"Hong Shang Gong, do you think my sister and Xiao Man resemble each other?"
"Mothers and daughters resembling each other is not unusual."
"I still think they are nothing alike," the Empress said gently. "My sister had a gentle disposition, acted with restraint, and possessed a touch of stubbornness. Xiao Man, on the other hand, has an unrestrained personality and acts boldly, regardless of what others think. In comparison, I prefer Xiao Man, because her thoughts are laid bare for all to see."
Hong Shang Gong's voice was steady and indifferent. "A daughter raised by a commoner naturally cannot be compared to a daughter raised by a true royal family."
The Empress tilted her head to look at Hong Shang Gong, a smile forming on her lips. "Hong Shang Gong, although she was raised by a commoner, she is of pure royal blood."
Upon hearing this, Hong Shang Gong's face remained impassive. "Only those favored by Your Majesty can be considered royal blood."
The Empress's smile bloomed. "My daughters, they are exceptionally obedient to me in my presence. I know what they are like behind my back. But Xiao Man has been dissatisfied with me from the very beginning. She dared to wound me upon our first meeting. That temper, it's just like her father's."
"Rough, lacking in manners."