In the Hall of Diligent Governance, the ministers were attending the morning court.
In the harem, the consorts also had to rise early to pay their customary respects to the empress.
Zhou Ya was accustomed to getting up early to practice her swordsmanship, so unlike the other consorts, who looked weary, she was always full of energy.
She was the first to arrive at Kunning Palace, where the empress lived, and bowed to greet her.
As she rose, she said frankly, "Your Majesty, your complexion is even brighter today than the peach blossoms I saw outside. You must be feeling much better."
"That's thanks in no small part to the exercises you gave me, Sister." Empress Feng's attitude toward Zhou Ya was not at all bad.
She smiled and said, "I've been stretching my muscles and joints in those positions every day. Now I feel refreshed, and I no longer tire as easily as I used to."
Zhou Ya took her seat with easy grace. "I've practiced martial arts since I was little, and I enjoy studying these exercises. I'm happy they've worked well for you, Your Majesty."
Empress Feng watched her expression, and thoughts began to stir in her heart.
She had already heard how Noble Consort Shu had sent Zhou Ya gifts the day before last, only for Zhou Ya to return them with gifts of her own.
Her informants had told her that Noble Consort Shu had flown into quite a rage at Shuyue Palace that day.
From this, she concluded that Zhou Ya was not swayed by Noble Consort Shu.
Although the Feng and Zhou families were not particularly close, they knew each other's character.
Zhou Ya was straightforward, and her likes and dislikes showed plainly on her face.
As things stood, Zhou Ya seemed to have a favorable attitude toward her. Perhaps she could recruit her.
Still, Empress Feng knew in her heart that recruiting Zhou Ya was an extremely dangerous move.
After all, the Marquis of Zhenbei's Household was in the eye of the storm. If His Majesty discovered that the Feng family had formed ties with them, her family would be in danger too.
As she considered this, a clamor arose outside Kunning Palace.
The other consorts were arriving one after another.
After paying their respects to Empress Feng, they took their seats in turn.
Now only Noble Consort Shu had yet to arrive.
Empress Feng ordered tea to be served, and the consorts held their cups as they chatted about trivial matters, though their expressions varied.
Consort Ning, who stood on the empress's side, could not help saying, "Everyone else is here except her. Even common women aren't as negligent as she is, are they?"
She did not name anyone, but there was only one empty seat.
It was obvious whom she was criticizing.
Empress Feng said nothing.
Consort Wan, who stood on Noble Consort Shu's side, replied, "How can someone so noble and precious be compared to those crude women? Besides, everyone saw where His Majesty spent the night yesterday. It's only natural for her to rise a little later."
"What's natural about it? She's plainly grown arrogant because of His Majesty's favor!"
"Oh, sisters, who are you talking about?" Noble Consort Shu entered Kunning Palace with a palace maid supporting her.
She cast a chilly glance at Consort Ning, who had been criticizing her.
Years ago, Consort Ning had been pregnant, only to miscarry because of Noble Consort Shu's schemes.
She deeply hated Noble Consort Shu and showed no fear now.
She said, "We were talking about whoever wasn't here."
"Now that Your Grace has arrived, you can decide for yourself whether it was you."
"Sister Ning, your tongue is as sharp as ever. I can't possibly get the better of you." Noble Consort Shu feigned weakness as she bowed to Empress Feng, then took her seat, an apologetic look in her eyes.
"Empress, my sister, I did not mean to arrive late today."
"I served His Majesty until late last night, and with the preparations for the Qingming sacrificial ceremony these past few days, I was a little too tired."
"His Majesty took pity on me and allowed me to come to Kunning Palace a little later."
Zhou Ya listened with great interest as she cracked melon seeds.
As for Noble Consort Shu's words-
Every sentence was practically a stab at Empress Feng's heart.
Serving His Majesty made it clear how much favor she enjoyed.
Being busy with the Qingming sacrifice made it clear that she was the one currently in charge of the empress's seal.
It mocked the empress, who could not preside over the important sacrificial ceremony despite being the empress.
Finally, she said she had come late at His Majesty's command, making the hearts of those who had spoken ill of her skip a beat.
And that's all? It would be strange if Empress Feng weren't angry.
At that moment, Zhou Ya felt that her younger brother was right.
Judging by Noble Consort Shu's arrogant attitude now that she had gotten her way, Empress Feng would cooperate with them sooner or later.
"Since it was His Majesty's wish, it would not be proper for me to say more." Empress Feng came from a distinguished family, and her father and brothers were all reasonable men. Though she was angry, she did not show much of it on her face.
She took a small sip of fragrant tea and said, "It's just that you are now holding the empress's seal in my stead, Sister, and the Qingming sacrifice is upon us. You must take extra care not to make any mistakes and bring shame upon our harem, lest the civil and military officials at court and all the people of the capital laugh at us."
Noble Consort Shu took her words as nothing more than sour grapes and replied with a smile, "Thank you for the reminder, Your Majesty. I will naturally do my utmost to see the matter through perfectly."
Afterward, everyone chatted a little longer.
Then Empress Feng dismissed them.
Zhou Ya's seat was farther inside, and she deliberately waited until everyone else had left.
Only then did she put down her melon seeds and rise to leave.
Then she heard Empress Feng ask behind her, "Sister Xian, are the melon seeds in my palace really that good?"
The corners of Zhou Ya's lips curved up slightly.
She knew there was more to Empress Feng's words than met the eye.
She turned and answered Empress Feng, "They're good only because they're from Your Majesty's palace."
With that, she set off again.
This time, Empress Feng did not call her back.
But both women had their own thoughts on the matter.
Daylight had already come, but Wei Mingxiu had not gone to the Imperial Academy.
He quietly finished his exercises in his own Southern Spring Courtyard, then changed his clothes and took the other thing Xiao Tao had had Xiao Wu give him the night before, sprinkling it on his cuffs and collar.
Then he had Xiao Wu leave Southern Spring Courtyard first. He followed afterward, pretending to look for Xiao Wu and calling his name as he walked toward the imperial garden, seemingly by chance.
When he reached the imperial garden, he saw, just as expected, a group of palace servants gathered around a boy of about fifteen or sixteen, trying to persuade him.
"Your Highness, there's no need to worry. The cat will come down in a little while."
"You mustn't climb the tree! If you fall and hurt yourself, Her Majesty the Empress won't spare us!"
As they spoke, an agile eunuch had already climbed the tree to catch the cat.
But the cat was extremely wary of them, even bristling. It swiped at the eunuch, leaving several bloody scratches on his face, and he slid down the tree.
The second prince, Wei Zeyu, was surrounded on all sides. So anxious he was nearly in tears, he reached toward the snow-white cat above and called, "Xuexue, come down, come down! Hug, hug!"
He was taller than the eunuchs, but he did not dare push anyone aside. His eyes were as innocent as a child's, and he only called the cat's name urgently, his voice choked with sobs.
Wei Mingxiu had not had much contact with this second brother of his.
After all, because Wei Zeyu was simple-minded, the empress kept him well protected and would not readily let him meet the other princes. Wei Mingxiu had therefore never gone out of his way to bother this second brother of his.
Now, seeing Wei Zeyu like this, he felt an inexplicable flicker of envy.
He thought that being simple-minded could sometimes be a good thing, leaving one unable to see through the dirty schemes of the harem.
Wei Zeyu lived much more freely than he did.
But the thought lasted only an instant before he dismissed it.
After all, such a life would mean he would never meet General Zhou.
That alone was enough for him to reject it.
At that thought, he put on a puzzled, worried expression, walked toward the palace servants, and called out to Wei Zeyu, "Second Brother, what are you doing?"
"Why are you so upset that you're crying?"