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After stepping out of the palace hall, Zhang Sancai felt as if he had just experienced death, and he swore in his heart never to easily agree to relay messages again.

He then thought about how His Majesty had summoned the Noble Consort tonight.

He had helped the Noble Consort, and there would surely be a reward later when he passed on the decree.

With this in mind, his mood improved somewhat.

The Noble Consort was generous, and after all, it was worth it this time.

Zhang Sancai instructed the young eunuchs around to serve His Majesty diligently without slackening, and he then led the task given by His Majesty toward Huaqing Palace.

After Zhang Sancai had withdrawn, the Emperor in the Star Palace had been holding a vermilion brush for a while, unable to concentrate on the characters in the memorial.

He had initially thought that having someone to dine with him at dinner could help him divert some attention.

But then he felt that dining with the Noble Consort was somewhat tasteless, as the Noble Consort had a small appetite, eating like a little bird, quickly full after just a few bites, which probably could not stimulate his appetite.

If he were to consider whom in the harem made meals most enjoyable, it would have to be Little Concubine, who ate with puffed cheeks like a little squirrel, shoveling the next bite in before finishing the first, savoring while eating, able to consume two bowls in one go, with rice grains hanging on her lips without her knowing until he wiped them for her.

Thinking of this, the Emperor laughed involuntarily.

Realizing this, he felt somewhat helpless. How could Little Concubine be so pervasive? He was always reminded of her in everything he did. Though they had not been together long, it seemed a significant amount of time had passed.

He refused to believe that he could not live well without her.

The Emperor resolved firmly, using his willpower to clear away the distractions and forced himself to begin reading the memorials, finally managing to get into them.

...

Inside Canglan Court.

Xiao Qing and Xiao Jizi, with dark circles under their eyes, were waiting for Young Master to wake up.

They had not slept well the entire night, various thoughts swirling in their minds, the most worrying thought being not knowing how Young Master was now.

It was nearly noon now, and Young Master still had not come out. Usually, even if he slept late, it would never be this late. They wondered what was wrong, sighing.

The two exchanged looks, unsure of what had happened last night, everything was still speculation, so they decided to wait and see how things were when Young Master woke up.

"Xiao Jizi, I’ll go pick the corn first. Call me when Young Master wakes up.

" Xiao Qing had waited and waited but Young Master had not gotten up.

Remembering that they might have to return to their former lives, she decided to be diligent about storing food for the winter and prepared to get started on the work.

"Eh, why have you become so diligent?" Since he had arrived, Xiao Qing had cared less about the fruits and vegetables in the courtyard, leaving most of them to him.

"We don’t know what the future holds, if one day.

.." Xiao Qing paused, not daring to say His Majesty’s name openly, "if they stop supplying our food, we’ll have to return to our old ways.

In past years, Young Master and I would start collecting corn at this time, grinding the cobs to make a warm bowl of corn porridge during winter days—it’s simply delightful. "

Xiao Jizi fell silent. Xiao Qing’s point was not without reason. Although he was initially assigned to specifically arrange food for Young Master, he now belonged to Young Master. He couldn’t guess what His Majesty might decide later. They would have to wait and see.

Seeing that Xiao Jizi stayed quiet, Xiao Qing seized the moment to suggest, "Xiao Jizi, why don’t we store more food while we can? We haven’t been told they will stop supplying yet; it’s better to have more to last through winter."

Xiao Jizi’s eyes brightened, thinking Xiao Qing was clever for once and was about to respond when suddenly the door of Young Master’s room was opened.

Young Master was awake!

"No need to store, His Majesty isn’t that kind of person, he won’t just stop supplying without notice." Lian Hua came out from pushing the door, having heard the conversation while tidying the room.

In her heart, His Majesty was not a capricious man; he was broad-minded and tolerant, strict with himself, and had never been known to mistreat the Imperial Concubines. He would not care about such a trivial matter.

Upon hearing the two speak in such a manner, she could not help but push the door open and speak.

The two said in unison, "Young Master, are you awake?"

"Yes, I woke up some time ago and was tidying up things in the room." Lian Hua smiled and looked at them.

Xiao Qing, hearing that the Young Master had woken up earlier and was working inside, asked, "Young Master, what are you doing, do you need your servant’s help?"

Lian Hua shook her head and said, "No need." It was better she handled things herself.

"Oh." Xiao Qing’s voice fell, somewhat hesitant, not knowing whether to ask.

Xiao Jizi gave her a look, as the Young Master was still feeling upset. It would be better to ask after some time.

Seeing the two’s expressions, Lian Hua could guess their thoughts and said with a smile, "I am fine, you don’t need to worry. What’s wrong, did you not sleep well last night? Xiao Jizi, look at you, you were already dark, now you’ve turned into a big black bear."

Xiao Jizi also smiled and said, "The paw of a black bear is very precious, my servant does not have such valuable palms, Young Master is really overpraising, this servant doesn’t deserve it."

Lian Hua laughed heartily upon hearing this, easing the tension between her brows.

Xiao Qing, seeing the Young Master a bit happier, also laughed and said while laughing, "Tsk, Xiao Jizi, your skin is getting thicker."

Xiao Jizi retorted in a justified manner, "Don’t talk nonsense, Xiao Qing, my skin has always been only a bit thicker than the city walls, it hasn’t gotten thicker."

The three of them laughed again.

Lian Hua understood that the two were worried about her, making jokes and trying to cheer her up, diverting her attention.

After the laughter, Lian Hua became serious and said, "Last night I unwittingly angered His Majesty, I fear that His Majesty will not come anymore. Just now, Xiao Qing mentioned the supply of ingredients, which is funded by His Majesty’s private treasury, originally for preparing meals for His Majesty, but now we no longer need them.

So starting today, we will no longer receive them; what do you think? "

Ignoring the pang of pain in her heart, she spoke openly about this matter with them, to avoid their wild speculations and misplaced concerns.

Without His Majesty for over two years, she and Xiao Qing had survived like this, and now with ten taels of monthly silver, they could certainly live even better in the future.

The two exchanged a look, their eyes somewhat complex, and nodded in unison, "As the Young Master wishes."

Xiao Qing was distressed; this was the first time the Young Master spoke so seriously. The Young Master was naive and whimsical, rarely took things to heart, and did not brood over them. Now for her to be so serious, she must truly be heartbroken.

Xiao Jizi was shocked; the Young Master was essentially falling out of favor.

He had not expected it to be so serious; just yesterday His Majesty seemed very affectionate towards the Young Master and was even concerned about the danger of the Young Master playing on the swing, directly cutting off any possibilities to eliminate her playfulness.

Unexpectedly, by evening His Majesty had changed, indeed an Emperor’s heart is unpredictable.

He was also astonished by the Young Master’s frankness, to be able to lay the matter out and face it directly.

For a consort in the harem, this was a very difficult thing; normally one would hide and conceal such matters.

Even if they truly fell out of favor, which of the Palace Concubines could accept it with composure?

Perhaps this was it for a lifetime, never to regain the Emperor’s favor again.