He Favored Her

Consort Bai's father was the Director of the Imperial College, a Subordinate Fourth Rank official whose rank was higher than Hua Meng's father's. The Bai family was also a prominent clan, though Consort Bai's father belonged to a collateral branch.

When Emperor Jing'an had just ascended the throne, there had also been a Bai family woman in the palace. That woman, a former Lady Concubine Bai, had later died of illness.

This time, another Bai family daughter had entered the palace. Even though she was from a collateral branch, the Bai family had put a great deal of thought into it.

The new Consort Bai had taken up residence in the Golden Crow Hall, where the former Consort Bai had once lived. That alone showed how highly the Bai family regarded this Lady Concubine Bai.

Hua Meng had not understood what Consort Wan meant at first. Only when Consort Wan mentioned Consort Bai's family background and her connection to the former Consort Bai did Hua Meng remember that, according to palace rules, Emperor Jing'an should have summoned Consort Bai to attend him in bed the previous night.

Now that Consort Bai had not attended him, there was no telling what rumors would spread through the palace.

Still, it was not for them to decide.

At the thought, Hua Meng shook her head at Consort Wan. "His Majesty is in very good health. Perhaps something came up last night." She hurriedly changed the subject. "Sister, what rouge are you wearing today? How is it so fragrant?"

Seeing that Hua Meng did not wish to say more, Consort Wan naturally did not press her. Instead, she followed her lead and spoke about the rouge she was wearing that day.

Consort Wan was not the only one curious. Consort Qi and the others also found it very strange. After all, their emperor had always followed the rules all these years.

After a night of sadness, Consort Bai pulled herself together again. She had entered the palace carrying her family's hopes, after all.

Emperor Jing'an did not leave everyone wondering for long. By midafternoon, Xiao Jiangzi had gone to the Golden Crow Hall to inform Consort Bai that she would attend the emperor in bed that night.

Afterward, Emperor Jing'an did not summon the newly arrived palace candidates to attend him in bed on consecutive nights as he had before. Instead, he summoned one every other day.

Seeing this, the people of the harem simply assumed that Emperor Jing'an was getting older and was no longer so eager for female company.

Hua Meng, however, who was often summoned to attend him at the Phoenix Approaches Palace during the day, knew that although Emperor Jing'an had summoned several newly arrived palace candidates over the past few nights, he had merely gone through the motions with them. Now, his heart was entirely set on her body.

Worried that giving him more spirit spring water would affect the physician's diagnosis, Hua Meng had not given Emperor Jing'an any more over the past few days. She herself, however, had taken another drop to nurture her body and a drop to moisturize her skin.

Emperor Jing'an seemed to be busy every day. Twice when Hua Meng went to the Phoenix Approaches Palace, she encountered her grandmaster, Minister Lin Ming, outside the hall.

Seeing Lin Ming and the hurried look on his face, Hua Meng knew that Emperor Jing'an must have entrusted him with this important matter.

When Hua Meng went to the Phoenix Approaches Palace, it was not because Emperor Jing'an wanted to do anything. Most of the time, she helped grind ink at his side, then waited to share a meal and exchange a few words with him.

Even so, word still spread through the palace that the emperor favored Consort Hua too much.

Nothing like this had happened since Emperor Jing'an ascended the throne.

Hua Meng knew that the groundwork laid over the past few days was merely preparation for leaving the palace later. So, even as the rumors in the harem grew more and more rampant, she would not back down in the slightest.

It was only the title of "favored consort." She truly was not afraid of it.

For she understood that if she backed down this time, it would be difficult to take another step forward in the future.

Hua Meng kept waiting for Emperor Jing'an to take her out of the palace. At last, on the day before the day of rest, Emperor Jing'an came to the Sparrow Plume Palace again and informed her, "You will leave the palace with me early tomorrow morning."

Hua Meng had already guessed that they would leave the palace tomorrow. After all, she had heard Consort Wan say that day that her elder sister's mother-in-law had entered the palace to visit the empress dowager.

At the thought that she could leave the palace tomorrow, Hua Meng was delighted, regardless of whether this was merely a pretext Emperor Jing'an had found.

In her delight, Hua Meng took a little more initiative.