With Fang He’s current status, she should have been the last to arrive, or at least left the Yongshou Palace around the same time.
But making Jiujiu face the wind and rain was one thing; she wasn’t careless enough to let Jiujiu leave her sight.
Consort Yi entered the Imperial Garden and saw Fang He lazily sitting on the newly placed Luohan Couch outside the Fubi Pavilion, munching on walnuts cracked open by Xinhua.
From afar, she watched Yin Tang and Yin’e chasing butterflies through the flowerbeds with Jiujiu.
She stepped closer.
“Oh? Why did you come so early?” Consort Yi teased as she greeted Fang He with a formal bow.
“If I waited too long, those idlers would surely gossip again, saying Noble Consort Zhaoyuan can’t keep her composure and is out of line.  The rule of thumb is: the higher your rank, the later you appear. It’s an unwritten custom.  These days, the powerful believe that only those without confidence get anxious. Even if they don’t voice it openly, they’ll murmur some words over drinks in private. The more you know, the more suspicious their glances become, and it’s tricky to accuse them of insubordination—it just rubs people the wrong way.” Â
Fang He shrugged indifferently.
“Well, since I’m here anyway, let them talk. No matter how much they gossip, they still have to bow to me. I like it when people dislike me but can’t do anything about it.” Â
Countless remnants of feudal superstition existed, but in this case, being able to silence people with authority felt satisfying.
If there was any displeasure, she wouldn’t keep it bottled up.
Consort Yi smiled, acknowledging the truth, but except for Fang He, no one dared to be so openly defiant.
Fortunately, everyone knew Fang He suffered severe morning sickness.
Afraid the smell would make Noble Consort Zhaoyuan vomit and get punished, they all greeted her from a distance without coming closer. Â
Not even Consort Hui or Consort Rong were exceptions.
Only Consort Yi, who no scent could deter, sat nearby, unbothered, and together they watched Yin Tang and Yin’e play with Jiujiu. Â
Though Jiujiu loved beautiful things, sometimes a child’s taste resembled that of elders: bright and intense colors were pretty to her.
She favored flowers in vivid reds and purples. Â
Within half an hour, Yin Tang and Yin’e had already been pulled along by Jiujiu to pick several begonias.
But since Jiujiu’s hands were small and she couldn’t hold many flowers at once, and her head was small too, she could only wear one flower, which left Yin Tang and Yin’e to suffer.
Though the two brothers had thin hair, their ears could still hold flowers, and their robes had more buttons than Jiujiu’s little flag-style dress.
Now, each boy had a big red flower pinned to their cheeks and collars, both dressed in stone-blue robes, standing beside Jiujiu in her bright red peony-patterned flag dress…
Consort Yi laughed so hard she almost couldn’t drink her tea.
“Bet their wedding won’t be half as festive as this.”
Fang He smiled as well, though hers was more subdued.
“Who was it yesterday that mentioned the flower viewing to Jiujiu at Shoukang Palace, do you know?”
Consort Yi’s smile remained, her voice soft: “I was just about to tell you. It was the Second Princess who brought it up, Consort Rong…”
“And my maternal aunt came to the capital as the chief guest for my half-aunt’s daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony. As long as Yin Tang and Yin’e don’t have to go to the study hall, they’ll cook up any scheme they like without anyone pushing them.” Â
“The Niuhulu Clan is full of schemers, but they won’t use their own sons as pawns. They’ll find some reason to pull the brothers away later.”
Consort Yi’s maternal family is from the Shumululu Clan, married into the Hesheri branch.
Fang He snorted softly.
Consort Rong popped up again—no idea what deity she was worshiping this time. Â
Consort Yi noticed Yin Tang starting to chase Yin’e, trying to stick a flower in his mouth.
She smiled at Fang He and said, “Like a dazzling chaos of flowers. When Concubine Jing mentioned chrysanthemum viewing in the Imperial Garden, she said the place was too small and mixed with lingering scents—not good for your body. Consort Hui didn’t even show a hint of displeasure; she must know something.” Â
Though the palace’s power still rested in the hands of Consort Hui, Consort Rong, and Consort Yi, only they themselves understood that because of Fang He’s previous actions, trying to insert their own people into the Imperial Household Department was now impossible.
Even their perks were somewhat diminished. Â
Power now was like chicken ribs—hard to hold but not quite easy to give up.
As for heirs, Fang He had overtaken the others.
No one could sit still. Â
Fang He leisurely raised an eyebrow at Consort Yi, “Have they tried to win you over?” Â
“The Second Princess sent Erha with a message,” Consort Yi did not hide it.
“But Erha knows your methods well. He’s been ill these days, so naturally, I know nothing.”
Fang He: “…………”
‘You might as well have given your ID number. Why make trouble with children?’Â Â
While they spoke, Noble Consort Wenxi arrived.
Approaching, she was surprised to see both Fang He and Consort Yi there, but her smile didn’t waver.
She came over familiarly and said, “I thought Noble Consort Zhaoyuan would arrive late because of her condition and handling affairs in the palace. Seems like I’m the one who’s late. I deserve a beating.” Â
Consort Yi laughed and stood, offering her seat to Noble Consort Wenxi.
“We’re all sisters here. Whether early or late, it’s all a commotion. If you deserve a beating, just look at Yin’e, and you’ll see who truly should be punished.”
Noble Consort Wenxi turned to see her son carrying Nine Princess on his back, running around with the few rare chrysanthemum pots she had nurtured in her palace, while the Ninth Prince chased after them, roaring wildly.
Her eyelid twitched violently, ‘Why was that scoundrel here?’
Before she could shout for help, there was a loud crash—the carefully tended Phoenix Wing Chrysanthemum shattered into pieces.
Jiujiu was startled, pouting and nearly crying.
Yin’e, probably afraid of scaring his sister, kicked the flowerpot a few times, sending both pot and flowers under the flower rack.
Yin Tang followed, twisting his foot to hide the evidence. Â
Jiujiu lay on Yin’e’s back, tilting her head, watching the two brothers jump around like monkeys and laughing gleefully.
The surrounding consorts, scattered around viewing flowers, covered their lips with handkerchiefs and turned away to stifle their laughter.
Noble Consort Wenxi’s face turned dark, her hands clutching a handkerchief tightly as she took a deep breath… and another.
She rolled her eyes at Consort Yi and said, “If you don’t care about your son, I’ll make sure to pin them down in Yongshou Palace and teach them some manners with a cane!” Â
Consort Yi laughed with glee and said, “Go ahead and beat them. Since the emperor left the capital, those two little brats have gotten craftier every day, always stirring up trouble. To avoid going to the study hall, they even use Jiujiu as a shield.” Â
Noble Consort Wenxi nodded as if she heard nothing.
“Fine, then I’ll play the bad cop. Not focusing on studies, always causing trouble, meddling in everything—should’ve been disciplined long ago.”
Fang He stayed silent, smiling softly as she slowly cracked more walnuts, happily watching Jiujiu smile brightly, allowing the two to exchange barbs.
No matter if the Niuhulu Clan was involved or if Yin’e was dragged into it, she wouldn’t attack children—only the real culprits.
The sun rose higher, and aside from Fang He, Noble Consort Wenxi, and the three consorts, everyone else gradually gathered under the larger Wanchun Pavilion.
The flower viewing banquet finally began.
Actors from the Southern Bureau performed songs, their melodies mingling with the prepared dishes and snacks, flowing steadily into the Fubi and Wanchun Pavilions.
With Qinan Hall blocking the view, these two lakeside pavilions in the Imperial Garden were now the best places to enjoy the scenery and flowers.
Yin Tang and Yin’e, tired from playing, dared not approach their mother except with Jiujiu, who was allowed to stay due to the strict etiquette for men and women.
They ate and played under the adjacent Yujing Pavilion. Â
Fang He thought: ‘Good thing Jiujiu doesn’t understand the concept of genders yet. Otherwise, she’d surely be clinging to her brothers!’Â Â
Noble Consort Wenxi ordered some chrysanthemum wine sent over for the occasion, while Fang He only had Jin Yinhua Dew from Yanxi Palace before her.
After several rounds of drinking, Noble Consort Wenxi finally smiled.
“Let’s not bother with rules today. I heard the emperor won a battle—I’m truly delighted. Sisters, relax. I’ve arranged everything properly. When the imperial wives arrive, you can choose where to meet and greet.” Â
Consort Yi glanced discreetly at Fang He.
If anyone intended to make a move against Fang He, it would likely be during the meal. Â
Fang He agreed silently, casting a glance at Chunlai, who stayed close to Jiujiu, putting her at ease.
Xinhua and Xinzi never left her side, especially alert when Fang He looked toward Chunlai, as if receiving a signal, staying sharp without any lapse.
After the meal, the outer wives who had been viewing flowers in the side hall of Qinan Hall were summoned over.
Still, everything remained calm. Â
Consorts and maids paired up with long-unseen relatives to find places to chat.
The crowd thinned, and nothing happened. Â
Concubine Jing passed by with her Hesheri aunt silently, giving Fang He a knowing wink.
“She’s brought everyone; now it’s just waiting for the show to start.”
Fang He thought: ‘Since mother and daughter have teamed up, if they don’t act, she can’t be looking for trouble herself, right?’Â Â
Originally brimming with murderous intent and prepared for battle for days, Fang He suddenly felt uncertain.
A while later, even Noble Consort Wenxi and Consort Yi left the pavilion apologetically after seeing their maternal elders.
Fang He wondered: ‘Did the Crown Prince regret it? Or was this to keep her on edge like a frightened bird, so the fetus wouldn’t survive? ‘Â
Just as she pondered, a timid voice came from Consort Ping.
“Noble Consort Zhaoyuan, I have a few words to say…”
Fang He stood abruptly, startling Consort Ping so much she couldn’t finish her sentence, eyes wide and pale.
Fang He barely restrained her excitement, clearing her throat hastily.
“Hmm, I was daydreaming and almost missed what you said.”
She smiled warmly at Consort Ping.
“You want to speak? Here? Or by the lake? Or pick another place?”
Consort Ping: “You… don’t be like that…”
She was frightened. Â
She gripped her handkerchief tightly, glanced toward the lake, bit her lip, took a deep breath, and forced a bitter smile.
“Then… let’s go by the lake…”
Consort Ping hesitated, smiling as if on the verge of tears.
“If you don’t feel safe, somewhere else is fine.”
“By the lake it is. We’ll walk slowly.” Fang He’s lips curled in a smile, but her eyes darkened with contemplation, lowering her gaze to hide the flicker of thought.
If the Crown Prince wanted her aunt to act, why send her to Yongshou Palace?