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Qu Moying and Qu Qiuyan had already finished their lunch in the side palace before Dowager Consort Qu got up from her sleep.

Dowager Consort Qu seemed much better after this sleep, appearing more refreshed. After being served half a bowl of porridge by a palace maid, she called for Qu Moying and Qu Qiuyan to come in.

Qu Moying followed behind Qu Qiuyan as they entered the room. As soon as they entered, her gaze swept over and immediately noticed the incense burner placed there. Though it wasn’t lit, the incense had already been inserted, indicating that it had been prepared in advance.

“This sleep was much more restful than before. It seems I truly need to move around more. I haven’t been active enough, and it affected my appetite. I didn’t even feel like taking medicine, let alone having a proper meal.”

Dowager Consort Qu said, reclining on the bed after freshening up. She appeared much better than before.

Observing Dowager Consort Qu’s complexion, Qu Moying realized that her lack of vitality wasn’t solely due to inactivity. The main reason was that Dowager Consort Qu couldn’t see any hope and believed her condition was inevitably worsening. Under such circumstances, it was difficult for her to find the energy to move. However, now she seemed to have a glimmer of hope, and her whole demeanor had changed.

Although it didn’t signify a significant improvement, it was crucial to instill confidence in her, to make her believe that her illness wasn’t severe and that she only needed gradual treatment. It prevented her from falling apart completely.

After exchanging greetings, Qu Moying gently placed her hand on Dowager Consort Qu’s and, after a careful examination, smiled and said, “Your Highness has indeed improved significantly.”

“Really? That’s wonderful.” Dowager Consort Qu exclaimed with delight, clearly placing great trust in Qu Moying.

“Naturally, it’s true. However, I cannot give a precise assessment. Your Highness should consult the imperial physicians later; they would be better able to evaluate the progress,” Qu Moying replied with a smile.

The Dowager Consort nodded in agreement. Her mood was completely different from her previous encounter with Qu Moying; she now radiated vitality.

Qu Qiuyan sat by the side, feeling frustrated witnessing Dowager Consort Qu’s warm and affectionate interaction with Qu Moying. Gripping her handkerchief tightly and clenching her fists, she couldn’t help but resent the situation. They were both nieces, yet Dowager Consort Qu completely ignored her when speaking, even turning her back. In contrast, Dowager Consort Qu spoke so intimately with Qu Moying.

Despite her envy and resentment, Qu Qiuyan knew better than to act impulsively. This wasn’t the Qu Mansion, after all.

Finally, after Qu Moying and Dowager Consort Qu had conversed for a while, Dowager Consort Qu began to feel tired. Seizing the opportunity, Qu Qiuyan interjected with a smile, “Since Your Highness is feeling weary, Fourth Sister, let us take our leave.”

She was desperate to leave as soon as possible.

“No need to rush. Come here, bring the rewards!” Dowager Consort Qu, in high spirits, motioned for a palace maid to enter and issued the command.

A palace maid entered, appearing slightly older than the others, walking with a different demeanor. Qu Moying hadn’t seen her before, indicating that she had arrived after her departure. Qu Moying deliberately gave her a few more glances.

“Your Highness, as per your instructions, I have prepared two portions—one for Forth Lady Qu and another for Third Lady Qu.”

The palace maid said, bowing respectfully to Dowager Consort Qu. She then pointed to the two young palace maids following her, each holding a tray with two ornamental boxes on top. The palace maid first gestured to the one in front before indicating the one at the back.

The preceding represented the gift of Qu Moying, and the one behind was the gift of Qu Qiuyan.

It was evident that the two gifts were different.

Despite being the older sister, Qu Qiuyan was left behind by Qu Moying. Dowager Consort Qu was truly biased and lacked courtesy. Qu Qiuyan hadn’t even seen her gift yet and was already unhappy.

She took a deep breath and suppressed her anger.

“Both of you are daughters of the Qu Mansion and can be considered my juniors. You should come to the palace often to visit me. I am alone in the palace without any other relatives. When I see you young girls, I am delighted.” Dowager Consort Qu sighed. “Being with you improves my mood. I’m no longer feeling dull. As one grows older, the mind tends to wander, especially concerning matters outside the palace.”

“Your Highness, you are not old. You are only unwell. In the past, you were in the best health. When the Empress Dowager was still here, she always praised you! Remember that time you had a meal together, and you ate two bowls? The Empress Dowager was astonished!” The palace maid chuckled, teasingly. “Many young ladies can’t even compare to you!”

This comment made her laugh. She lightly covered her mouth with a handkerchief and playfully scolded, “You only know how to make me happy! I was truly hungry at that time. After accompanying the Empress Dowager for so long without being served a meal, I finally got to eat. Of course, I had to eat more!”

“I was not merely trying to please you; it’s the truth. Apart from that incident, there were other young noblewomen walking with you, but in the end, you won!”

The palace maid continued to amuse.

The laughter put her at ease. She nodded repeatedly and then showed a trace of regret. “There were some incidents, but that was a long time ago.”

“It hasn’t been that long; it’s only been a few months! When Your Highness recover from your illness, you can compete with other young ladies again.” The palace maid teased.

These words made her laugh even more. She looked at Qu Moying and Qu Qiuyan, affectionately pointed at the palace maid, and said, “This is Han Yu, the senior palace maid by my side. In the future, if you have any matters when entering the palace, you can find her. Usually, she is a lazy person, but she has a good tongue!”

“Greetings, Fourth Lady Qu and Third Lady Qu.” Han Yu didn’t object and smiled as she approached to bow to the two young ladies from the Qu Mansion.

Qu Moying and Qu Qiuyan quickly stood up. “Aunty Han Yu is too kind.”

In the palace, the senior palace maids are often referred to as aunty.

“In the future, both of you should come to visit Her Highness more often. Whenever Her Highness talks about both of you, she becomes particularly happy. She always says that both of you are the most intelligent and promising, and you are family,” Han Yu said with a smile, demonstrating her conversational skills.

“You are too kind!”

“Alright, alright. Hurry up and present the gifts. If you delay any longer, when will they be delivered?” Dowager Consort Qu said with a smile, observing that she had a special trust in Han Yu.

Han Yu nodded with a smile and didn’t say anything more. She instructed a palace maid to come forward and present the gifts to the two young ladies from the Qu Mansion.

The palace maid brought the gifts to them, and both of them expressed their gratitude and instructed their maids to accept them.

When the time was almost up, Qu Moying also stood up and bid farewell to Dowager Consort Qu.

Dowager Consort Qu had originally wanted to engage them in conversation, but at that moment, a eunuch came to report that the imperial physician had come to check her pulse again. After some thought, Dowager Consort Qu sighed helplessly and decided not to keep them any longer.

“Your Highness, in the future, you should walk around more, go to places with better air circulation. Sometimes you should open the windows in the room and not keep it stuffy all the time. If you keep suffocating like this, you might end up getting sick even if you’re not. Look, they put the incense back in again.” Qu Moying pointed with her hand, looked like she suddenly noticed the incense in the incense burner, surprised.

Dowager Consort Qu followed Qu Moying’s hand with her gaze and saw it too. She looked up at Han Yu, her face turned serious. “Did you have someone bring this incense burner in?”

“I entered and noticed that the fragrance was absent. Upon inquiring with a palace maid, it was explained that it had accidentally fallen and a replacement was requested. However, it was not lit. Since Your Highness was sleeping soundly, I thought it wouldn’t be a problem and refrained from lighting it. Is there something wrong with this incense burner?”

Han Yu looked at her in surprise and offered an explanation.

The incense was not lit, so it was reasonable.

Qu Moying’s gaze fell on the ground. She seemed to have noticed Han Yu’s words, but at the same time, she did not seem to have noticed it. She only saw Han Yu’s feet standing firmly on the ground. She did not seem to be at a loss. Her eyes darkened.

“It’s not that there is something wrong, it’s just that the scent from this incense burner is not as pleasant. You can have it removed. From now on, for better air circulation, I will refrain from lighting incense here. Instead, I will occasionally pull the curtains to let the room breathe. I will also follow suit and ventilate.”

Dowager Consort Qu wouldn’t really make things difficult for the palace maid beside her because of the incense.

“Yes, I will have someone remove it now.” Han Yu obediently smiled and gestured for a eunuch to come forward and take the incense burner away.

As they passed by Qu Moying, a faint hint of fragrance floated in the air, offering a soothing sensation. It indeed had a calming effect. However, Qu Moying keenly sensed that this fragrance was slightly different from the previous one. The scent she had imagined seemed to be missing.

Qu Moying’s gaze fell upon the incense in the burner. It was the exact same incense, without any discrepancy!

However, it had actually been replaced.

After Han Yu sent off the two sisters of the Qu family at the door, she instructed them to come back and visit Her Highness again in a few days. Previously, the serene atmosphere in this place did not bother her, but now she longed for the presence of the Qu sisters, to have lively conversations here. With age, she had developed a fondness for liveliness.

Qu Moying and Qu Qiuyan accepted the instructions with smiles, said their farewells to Han Yu, and boarded the sedan chair prepared by the palace at the palace gate. This palace was quite far from the gate, almost at the furthest and most secluded corner if measured along the central axis of the palace.

In this area, there were hardly any esteemed palace consorts. Some parts of the palace were even empty, creating a desolate ambiance.

However, by going through the other side of Dowager Consort Qu’s palace, one could reach the lively areas inside the palace. In order to take a shortcut, a few chamberlains took a different route, although not along the central axis, the road was spacious enough. They made their way towards the palace gate.

Once they arrived at the gate, Yu Dong assisted Qu Moying in descending from the sedan chair, and they followed Qu Qiuyan towards the outer area of the palace gate.

Upon leaving the second gate and stepping outside, they were relieved to find their family’s carriage still parked there. Yu Dong finally relaxed, as she had been on edge throughout the journey, fearing that something might go wrong.

They boarded the carriage, and an air of indifference lingered among them. Each closed their eyes to rest, and as the carriage turned a corner, they made their way towards the Qu Mansion.

The journey was uneventful. Upon arriving at the parking area within the Qu Mansion, the carriage came to a stop. The two sisters alighted and proceeded towards the Old Lady’s courtyard.

The Old Lady had been waiting for them. Upon their arrival, she inquired about the condition of Dowager Consort Qu and expressed relief upon hearing that her condition had improved. Afterwards, she asked the two of them if they had encountered anything during their time in the palace.

Qu Qiuyan simply replied that they went for a walk and didn’t encounter anyone, while Qu Moying stated that she hadn’t left the palace, so it was impossible for her to meet anyone.

The Old Lady was satisfied with their answers. Once she clarified the situation, she instructed them to rest. Although they had been riding in sedan chairs and carriages throughout, the constant anxiety made them feel as if it had been a strenuous journey.

When Qu Moying returned to the Qianyue House, Granny Yan had been waiting there. She had left the palace earlier and arrived a while before Qu Moying.

“My lady, a gift has arrived from Duke Qi’s Mansion.” Granny Yan reported as Qu Moying took her seat. She had received it when she entered and heard that it was meant for the Lady. Granny Yan had brought it in directly from the mansion’s entrance.