Moyuan had once spoken to Xie Qiqi about the intricacies of imperial politics. From him, she learned that both Imperial Noble Consort Yun and Concubine Xu—the mother of the Second Prince—were the Emperor’s most favored consorts. Of the two, Imperial Noble Consort Yun held the upper hand, and it was upon this influence that the Third Prince relied, acting with unchecked arrogance and malice.
The Crown Prince, despite being the Empress’s legitimate son, held a position of prestige that did not equate to favor; the Empress was far less cherished than Imperial Noble Consort Yun. The reason the Crown Prince had not yet severed ties with the Xie Family was precisely because the Empress’s own kin lacked leverage, forcing him to seek support from external powers.
With these thoughts in mind, Xie Qiqi followed Eunuch Miao into the Jinhua Palace. Upon entering the hall, a world of gilded splendor unfolded before her eyes. The floor was covered in exquisite carpets, each thread hand-stitched by skilled embroideresses into intricate floral patterns. Behind the main seat stood a massive screen, embroidered with auspicious clouds and peonies in gold thread. After a single glance, Xie Qiqi lowered her head, knelt, and paid her respects to the woman on the throne.
Chapter 119