Since the Virtuous Consort was criticized for the incident with the palace maid Dechun, she had been receiving less and less favor from the Emperor, to the point where the Emperor stopped visiting the inner palace altogether.

She was feeling depressed about this, but then rumors inexplicably started spreading in the palace, saying that she was about to be made Empress. The rumors were so detailed, even the officials in the Department of Ceremonies got wind of it, and gradually she started to half believe it herself.

It so happened that one day, Virtuous Consort felt stuffy and went out for a walk, passing by the old Fengxian Palace. It had already been sealed off, and craftsmen were busy constructing a new palace behind the curtains. Exquisite treasures flowed in like water, with eunuchs and palace maids coming and going in an endless stream. Roll after roll of precious large red felt were being pulled in by carts, making it a bustling scene.

Virtuous Consort saw the carts carrying the red felt stretching as far as the eye could see, and felt a bit puzzled. She asked the palace maid beside her, "What is the Emperor doing, spending so much on this fine fabric?"

Little did she know that the cinnabar red color was extremely rare, made by dyeing the fabric with blood. It was usually used by noble families to make capes and cloaks for snowy days, and commoners rarely got to see it. The color was a very proper red - gorgeous but not gaudy, rich but not dazzling.

The top-quality large red felt was very precious, on par with feather gauze. Normally it would only be taken out of the storeroom to make clothes in winter. What was it needed for in the lush spring weather?

The palace maid quickly knelt down and said, "This servant doesn't know. Would the Virtuous Consort like to ask the person on duty?"

A woman's voice came over, laughing, "Sister, it seems you don't know. This is for carpeting the floor."

Virtuous Consort turned around and saw Ding Zhaorong walking over leisurely with two palace maids, fanning herself with a jade-green feather fan. When she got close, she dismissed the attendants and affectionately took Virtuous Consort's hand, smiling, "This is top-quality felt. I heard that in the past, even Noble Consorts couldn't use this fabric for their clothes. Now it's being taken out to carpet the floor of the new hall. Who knows if there will be enough? The Emperor said that if there isn't enough, they'll use large wool fabric to carpet the inner hall."

You should know that this kind of fabric was usually offered as tribute by small countries. Getting ten or eight bolts a year was considered more than enough. Virtuous Consort had never seen such extravagance. She sighed repeatedly, "Even the ancestors have never seen this! Who knows if living in such a palace will bring misfortune!"

Ding Zhaorong lowered her voice, "Sister, do you really not know who this new palace is being built for?"

Virtuous Consort hesitated and pointed in the direction of Qingzhen Palace, "Could it be..."

Ding Zhaorong sighed, looking a bit resentful, "What a pity that Sister has such a beautiful face, but even if made Empress, will still be an Empress suppressed by others!"

Virtuous Consort was startled and scolded, "Don't talk nonsense! If those gossiping people hear, neither of us will have a good end!"

Ding Zhaorong didn't get angry, but laughed instead. She looked around and leaned in close, asking softly, "Has Sister really become foolish? The Emperor has already decided, and is even having people pick an auspicious date. He's just waiting for a good day to carry Sister in through the main gate. Such a Mother of the Nation, but having to yield at every turn to a boy who isn't even clear-headed. Is Sister really willing?"

Virtuous Consort remained silent.

"Think about it, Sister. Even if given the title of Empress, it will just be in a remote cold palace. Who will really be living in the Empress' palace? I'm afraid Sister's title of Empress will only be recorded in history books! Who in this palace doesn't know that the real Empress is the one in Qingzhen Palace?"

Virtuous Consort still remained silent. Ding Zhaorong knew her resolve was wavering, so she smiled and patted her hand, saying softly, "When you've made up your mind, come find me. Of course I'm willing to go through fire and water for Sister's sake..."

Then with a graceful turn, her skirt fluttering, she walked away leisurely, stepping on the spring light.

At night, Lianyi Palace held a grand banquet with fireworks filling the sky, the scene majestic and magnificent.

Virtuous Consort's palace, which was originally not lively to begin with, now seemed even more cold and desolate in comparison. Although the sound of the fireworks was right next to her ears, the bustling grandeur was completely cut off from her.

Virtuous Consort sat dazedly in front of her bed, feeling the loneliness of the solitary lamp dripping with each passing moment. She couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness and silently wiped away tears with an embroidered handkerchief.

The close palace maid knew what she was thinking and leaned over, whispering, "Madam, this servant had someone inquire. They said the night banquet at Lianyi Palace just ended."

Virtuous Consort was startled and delighted at first, but then thought about it and became dejected again, "Who knows if the Emperor is there or not?"

The palace maid shed tears and said, "Whether he's there or not, we have to go and invite him to know."

"Alas, I..." Virtuous Consort said half of it and felt Ding Zhaorong's words from the day echoing in her ears, feeling a stab in her heart. She, the daughter of a local official's family, had climbed to such a high position with great difficulty. She originally thought she could hold her head high, but who knew she would still be under the control of others.

How could she be willing? Thinking of this, she could no longer hold back and ordered the palace maid, "Go, go tell someone to invite the Emperor!"

The palace maid agreed repeatedly and left. It was about the time it took to burn one incense stick to walk from Virtuous Consort's palace to Lianyi Palace. She hurried over, half-running all the way to the entrance of Lianyi Palace.

Looking left and right, she saw a bright yellow dragon-embroidered palanquin stopped at the door. The Qianwan Emperor was holding a child wrapped in a snowy fur coat and had just stepped onto it with one stride.

The child was crying in a messy way, sounding like a little kitten, with tears all over his face. The Qianwan Emperor was also a bit drunk, the alcohol going to his head. He roughly wiped away the tears with his palm, rubbing Mingde's face red with his rough palm.

The palace maid didn't dare approach directly, but secretly gave some loose silver to the little eunuch serving outside and asked, "Where is the Emperor going? Did he flip a plaque tonight?"

The little eunuch weighed the silver and laughed, "In the past two or three years, when has Sister ever seen the Emperor flip a plaque?"

"Then..."

The little eunuch looked at her clothes and understood, "From Virtuous Consort's palace, right? Go back and tell Virtuous Consort, don't wait. Go to bed early. The Emperor is so drunk he's not clear-headed. Luckily the banquet ended early. Didn't you see the little noble consort crying like that..."

When the palace maid returned, she angrily added oil and vinegar as she told Virtuous Consort, adding many unspeakable details. Upon hearing this, Virtuous Consort's face turned red and white. For a long time, she couldn't say a single word. The palace maid seized the opportunity to advise, "Your Highness, what Ding Zhaorong said during the day was right!"

"I just find it unfair! The one in Qingzhen Palace, forget it if she's the only one who looks like that; but in what way is Ding Zhaorong better than me? Apart from family background, in terms of rank, imperial favor, and appearance, she falls far short of me in every aspect! What gives her the right to instruct me at every turn, even telling me how to handle the matter of becoming Empress?"

The palace maid hurriedly pulled the Virtuous Consort back. "Your Highness, be careful of the walls having ears!"

The Virtuous Consort fell silent, her face filled with extreme discontent. The palace maid carefully observed her expression and whispered, "Your Highness, think about it. Now is not the time to be resentful. Only by first securing the position of Empress can the rest be slowly... eliminated one by one. Apart from that one in Qingzhen Palace, won't you be the most outstanding in this harem? By then, what is there to fear from a mere Ding Zhaorong?"

The Virtuous Consort sat there, fuming with anger for a long time. The palace maid poured tea and fanned her. After a while, she heard her say coldly, "Come."

Several old palace maids and servant girls filed in from outside. "We are at your service!"

The Virtuous Consort stood up, her face stiff. "Prepare the palanquin! I am going to see Ding Zhaorong!"