Noble Consort Li's recent days have not been easy.

Originally, when Empress Ling passed away and she was promoted to Noble Consort, becoming the head of all the consorts, and also received the Phoenix Seal to manage the affairs of the six palaces, she thought she had finally made it through the hardships. She was just one step away from the Empress position, but somehow she just couldn't take that step.

After Prince Chu Shaoruan finished his studies at the Imperial Academy and returned, he came directly to Noble Consort Li's Linzhi Palace. Prince Chu Shaoruan, the Second Prince, was seventeen this year, at the prime of his youth. After paying his respects to Noble Consort Li, she quickly pulled her son to sit down and asked about his lessons today and so on.

Chu Shaoruan smiled, "Everything is fine. The Grand Tutor said that other than Big Brother, my essays are the best."

At the mention of the Crown Prince, Noble Consort Li felt a pain in her heart again. "Of course the Grand Tutor wouldn't dare say his essays are not good."

Hearing this, Chu Shaoruan also lost his smile. He naturally knew all this. He was only two months younger than Chu Shaoling, but just because he wasn't born from the Empress's womb, their experiences since childhood were worlds apart.

"Mother Consort doesn't need to be like this," Chu Shaoruan sneered coldly. "Now that the Empress has passed away, once Mother Consort becomes the Empress, I will no longer be inferior to Big Brother."

Noble Consort Li gently rubbed her forehead and sighed, "How can it be that easy? Even though the Empress is gone, there's still the Empress Dowager. Your Imperial Grandmother always brings up the matter of the Crown Prince being the eldest legitimate son. One moment she says he's pitiful without his birth mother to look after him and tells me to double the allotment for Bitao Palace. The next moment she says the Crown Prince has had a weak constitution since childhood, insisting on nourishing foods and medicinal meals..."

The more Noble Consort Li spoke, the more her temper flared, and her voice became shrill, "His constitution is weak?! He just had a few minor illnesses when he was young because the Empress doted on him too much! It was all spoiled by the Empress and Empress Dowager. Is his health any worse than the other princes now? He has to be pampered to the extreme, aren't they afraid he'll end up unable to withstand it like his mother..."

"Mother Consort!" Chu Shaoruan interrupted her in a timely manner. "Loose lips sink ships. Mother Consort should say less of these things, lest one day you inadvertently let it slip in front of others."

Noble Consort Li took a deep breath and nodded, the pearls and jades on her temples tinkling with the motion. Noble Consort Li gently rubbed her forehead, "Don't worry, even if Mother Consort hates him to the extreme, I won't let others see it. Every time your Imperial Grandmother says something, Mother Consort always agrees with a smile."

Chu Shaoruan comforted Noble Consort Li, "Mother Consort, we're in no rush. Empress Ling was the Empress Dowager's niece, so the Empress Dowager naturally favors them. But now, among the rear palace, Mother Consort has the noblest rank. And Grandfather is increasingly gaining the Emperor's favor in the court. Your position cannot be easily shaken. Mother Consort's ascension to Empress is just a matter of sooner or later."

Chu Shaoruan smiled faintly, "After all, the Empress Dowager is getting old."

Hearing her son's words, Noble Consort Li felt much better and nodded, "My son is indeed far-sighted. Good child, Mother Consort is enduring all this for you. Empress Dowager, let's see who will live longer."

Noble Consort Li let out a long sigh. An eunuch slowly walked in from outside the hall and whispered a few words in Noble Consort Li's ear. Noble Consort Li's face suddenly changed and she exclaimed, "Is this really true?!"

The eunuch lowered his head, "After this servant heard the rumors, I sent people to pay attention to Bitao Palace. For several consecutive days, the Crown Prince does not rest at midnight, but stays alone in the side hall. First he bathes and burns incense, then he writes and paints, tossing and turning until the middle of the night. After coming out, he personally locks the side hall. During the day, he does not allow anyone to enter."

Chu Shaoruan listened on the side, confused, "Mother Consort, what's going on?"

"Well, well, Chu Shaoling is in a hurry to court death." Noble Consort Li bit her red lips and sneered coldly, "The Crown Prince is practicing witchcraft in the palace to curse Mother Consort and you. How vicious of Chu Shaoling. I want to see how the Empress Dowager will protect him this time!"

This time, Noble Consort Li rarely restrained her temper and only let the eunuch pass a message to the Emperor that she would personally cook dinner tonight and invite His Majesty to dine at Linzhi Palace.

In the evening, the Emperor indeed came to Linzhi Palace. Noble Consort Li had been waiting early. Upon seeing the Emperor, she was all gentleness and charm, catering to his every whim. The Emperor's long-standing favor for Noble Consort Li was not without reason. Noble Consort Li was thirty-four this year, but due to proper maintenance and being a natural beauty, she did not appear old. Her charm to overthrow a nation was still present.

More importantly, this woman was very good at figuring out a man's thoughts. What the Emperor wanted to hear her say, what he wanted to see her do, to what extent he wanted to hear her speak, to what degree he wanted to see her handle matters - Noble Consort Li could do it all.

"Your Majesty," Noble Consort Li waved her hand to dismiss the close attendants. Her face was hesitant. After a long while, she sighed, "This concubine has recently felt unwell. I took a few doses of medicine but never seemed to get better. This concubine's wet nurse went to a temple outside to seek divination for me. The monk said that this concubine is having an unlucky year and that there are villains cursing me."

The Emperor closed his eyes and gently rubbed his brow, "Beloved Consort thinks too much."

Noble Consort Li carefully observed the Emperor's expression, her eyes reddening, "Yes, this concubine serves before the Emperor and is protected by Your Majesty's dragon energy. How could villains still curse me? This concubine scolded the wet nurse. This concubine knows Your Majesty does not like to hear these words of strange forces. This concubine also does not believe them... But yesterday, this concubine heard that the Crown Prince burns incense and curses at midnight every night in the side hall of Bitao Palace. This..."

The Emperor opened his eyes and said coldly, "What you say is true?"

Noble Consort Li nodded, wiping her tears, "This concubine dares not recklessly discuss the princes. But these two things are too much of a coincidence. This concubine doesn't know what to do. Although this concubine now manages the affairs of the palace, the Crown Prince is the legitimate son left behind by Empress Ling. This concubine both respects and fears the Crown Prince. This concubine only dares to tell Your Majesty. Your Majesty, please give this concubine a decision. No matter what you say, this concubine can only obey..."

Noble Consort Li seemed to have suffered a great grievance. After saying these words, she finally couldn't hold back and started crying. A beauty is beautiful even when crying, like a pear blossom with rain. The Emperor's heart had long softened, and he couldn't help but comfort her. The Emperor pondered for a moment and said, "Forget it. Tonight, I will go with you to take a look. If Ling'er is really muddleheaded, I will certainly give you justice."

Noble Consort Li lowered her head, "This concubine obeys whatever Your Majesty says."

At midnight, Chu Shaoling bathed and burned incense as usual. He changed into a plain colored robe and entered the side hall by himself.

Chu Shaoling opened the incense burner, put some sandalwood incense in it, and after being still for a while, began to write. It didn't take long before chaos erupted outside. Chu Shaoling's lips curled into a cold smile as he continued writing without pause. Soon, Wang Muhan knocked on the door and said urgently, "Your Highness! The Emperor has arrived with his entourage!"

Chu Shaoling calmly put down his brush and turned to open the door. What an impressive display!

The Emperor had come with Noble Consort Li and a group of close attendants and guards. Chu Shaoling straightened his robes and approached to pay his respects to the Emperor, who was frowning deeply. "You may rise," he said.

Chu Shaoling stood up, glanced at Noble Consort Li, and slightly raised his hand. "Greetings, Noble Consort Li."

Noble Consort Li, feeling smug at the moment, didn't mind Chu Shaoling's usual disregard for her. She smiled and nodded, speaking in a sarcastic tone, "Greetings, Crown Prince. What are you doing alone in this side hall so late at night instead of resting in your bedchamber?"

Chu Shaoling's expression showed a hint of hesitation. After a moment, he said, "It's nothing. I simply didn't want to disturb Your Majesty. It's really nothing."

"What do you mean nothing? What matter is worth you making a fuss in the middle of the night?" Chu Shaoling's uneasy demeanor only confirmed Noble Consort Li's words. The Emperor was growing impatient. He despised witchcraft the most, and his own legitimate son had never been close to him. If he dared to use sorcery to harm Noble Consort Li today, who knew if he might come after the Emperor himself in the future?

The Emperor glanced inside the side hall and indeed saw flickering lights. "I'll go in and see for myself!"

"Your Majesty!" Chu Shaoling tried to stop him, but how could he? The Emperor and Noble Consort Li, supported by the attendants, entered the side hall. Chu Shaoling hurriedly followed. As they circled around the screen, everyone was stunned by what they saw on the desk.

There was no cinnabar, talisman paper, or any foul objects of witchcraft in the hall. Sandalwood incense burned quietly, creating a tranquil and elegant atmosphere. On the desk, a square of dark green silk tribute fabric, measuring one zhang, was neatly laid out. Countless characters for "longevity" were written on it in gold powder, exquisitely and densely arranged with vigorous strokes.

Noble Consort Li was taken aback. She asked in a dumbfounded manner, "Why have you been hiding here every night to write this?!"

The Emperor also hadn't expected this. He turned to look at Chu Shaoling, who bowed and slowly explained, "Next month is the Empress Dowager's birthday. This son has nothing else to offer, so I can only imitate the ancients by bathing, burning incense, and writing a hundred longevity characters every day to pray for the Empress Dowager's blessings."

The Emperor felt as if he had been slapped. He also cast a sharp glance at Noble Consort Li. After a moment of silence, he forced a smile and said, "Good child, you are thoughtful. But you mustn't stay up so late every day. You have always been delicate and can't endure this."

Chu Shaoling lowered his head in acknowledgment and calmly said, "This son has too many miscellaneous matters to attend to during the day. Moreover, with people coming and going, it's not easy to calm the mind. Secondly," Chu Shaoling raised an eyebrow and glanced at Noble Consort Li, "this son is praying for the Empress Dowager's blessings, not seeking recognition from everyone. Your Majesty's teachings are correct. Fortunately, I have finished writing today, so I will definitely not stay up late again in the future."

The Emperor nodded. In the end, he found the situation pointless. After a few more words of comfort to Chu Shaoling, he left without giving Noble Consort Li another glance.

Chu Shaoling properly saw them off from Bitao Palace, then turned and returned to his bedchamber. Wang Muhan had been following behind the entire time. Not knowing the truth, he assumed Chu Shaoling had been wishing the Empress Dowager a long life but was misunderstood by the Emperor, causing heartache.

As Wancui helped Chu Shaoling undress in the bedchamber, Wang Muhan softly advised, "Your Highness also saw that today's incident was surely instigated by Noble Consort Li. When has the Emperor ever doubted Your Highness? He was merely influenced by pillow talk. Your Highness needn't take it to heart. In this old slave's opinion..."

"Eunuch, you needn't worry," Chu Shaoling smiled. Wang Muhan had originally served the Empress. When Chu Shaoling moved out of Phoenix Palace back then, the Empress, fearing he wouldn't have anyone suitable to serve him, gave Chu Shaoling the person who had served her for half a lifetime. Since then, Wang Muhan had loyally served Chu Shaoling for these years. To Chu Shaoling, he was more than just a servant. Chu Shaoling chuckled, "I wasn't thinking about that. Go, I'm going to sleep."

Chu Shaoling lay alone on the pear blossom bed, gazing at the layers of bed curtains with a cold smile. The palace staff in Bitao Palace all knew he went to the side hall every night, and he had strictly ordered them not to spread the word. The people by his side were all carefully selected by Empress Ling, Wang Muhan, and himself, each one loyal and tight-lipped. Even if someone had spoken, Noble Consort Li would only know he was preparing for the Empress Dowager's birthday. As for the witchcraft matter, he had only mentioned it to Chu Shaoyang.

Chu Shaoling had originally harbored a probing intention. Yet his dear younger brother had sold him out so easily. Chu Shaoling closed his eyes, laughing coldly in his heart. Chu Shaoyang had already considered him a rival so early on. Very well, the days in the palace were long. They would slowly fight it out.