Chu Yueli paused, then quickly composed herself and offered Tuoba Yi a smile.
Tuoba Yi returned the smile, though his expression remained profound and inscrutable.
Chu Yueli had no desire to fathom his intent; she immediately looked away once the smile faded.
Before long, the Emperor and the Empress arrived, followed by Consort Rui, Consort Ning, and Consort Zhuang. These concubines had all been secondary wives in the Prince's Mansion back before the Emperor ascended the throne. Each had proven their worth by bearing sons, a matter of particular importance within the imperial clan. Consequently, their current positions within the inner palace remained relatively secure.
Consort Zhuang was the birth mother of the Second Prince, Lu Zhengrong, while Consort Ning was the mother of the Third Prince, Lu Shangfeng. As for Prince Mo, his mother was Consort Yu, yet she was unlike the other concubines. Naturally indifferent and averse to bustle, she had no interest in vying for the Emperor’s favor. For years, she had spent half her time at Changle Palace praying for the Emperor and her son, and the other half at Mount Wugong, chanting scriptures and practicing Buddhism. She rarely attended court banquets. Consort Yu had been at Mount Wugong for some time; she would likely return soon upon hearing of her son’s arrival in the capital, but for the moment, she was not in the palace. The other concubines generally neither provoked nor grew close to her; her presence in the inner palace re…
Chapter 78