My Sin

Realizing

After that talk, the Emperor was bedridden for nearly a week. Although he had a strong body, the sudden wave of emotions and accumulated fatigue left him weak. The imperial physicians attended him day and night, but when he finally rose, his movements were still sluggish, and he often leaned against the window sill, gazing at the gardens beyond without speaking for long stretches of time.

The Empress, however, seemed as usual. He wore his light yellow court robes, his hair swept up neatly with only a single jade hairpin adorning it. In the quiet of his quarters, he sat by the low table, one knee drawn up slightly beneath his skirts for balance as he poured tea with steady hands. The steam curled gently from the porcelain cup in his grasp, and the scent of osmanthus drifted faintly in the air.

He needed a moment to calm himself.

With the Emperor bedridden, most of the matters of court had fallen upon him and the Emperor's younger brother. Though His Highness the Prince had willingly stepped forward to share the burden, there was a reluctance in his demeanor that could not be wholly hidden. Even so, the pressing affairs of state left little room for hesitation.

The Empress bore much alone, reviewing memorials, managing the palace households, and ensuring the upcoming celebration for the Empress Dowager proceeded without fault. Each duty was heavy, and each decision demanded care. The weight of it all pressed against his chest like an unseen hand, making the simple act of breathing feel tight and constrained.

He had barely finished folding the latest household report when Li Dani entered quietly.

"Your Majesty," he said with a soft bow, "a few smaller matters from the inner court."

The Empress nodded faintly without turning.

"Consort Xuilan has begun sending incense and prayer offerings to the Empress Dowager's residence," Mingzhu continued. "She's done so every day this week."

At that, the Empress finally glanced up. A flicker of amusement passed over his face, the curve of his lips cold.

"The Empress Dowager and I eat together every other morning, and we are as close as mother and son" he said calmly. "She has no need of Xuilan prayers, and she certainly doesn't believe in her sincerity."

He picked up a brush and dipped it lightly in ink, scribbling a short note across the corner of a silk register before setting it aside.

"If that is all—"

"There is something else," Li Dani, hesitating. "It concerns Virtuous Ju."

That name made him pause.

"She has received a small gift, a fan made of ivory and silk embroidery. It was sent quietly, not officially listed. The sender was Consort Xuilan."

"Consort Xuilan again?" the Empress asked, brow lifting. "Is she suddenly fond of expectant mothers?"

"Perhaps," Li Dani replied mockingly. "But the gift was not personal. It was given to her through the hands of an attendant... the one assigned to supervise Virtuous Ju's pregnancy. She had also gotten very close, to Yuanji gongong, who's in charge of Virtuous Lady Ju's food"

The Empress stilled, a shadow flickering in his gaze.

"Food?" he asked.

"Yes. The same attendant has also begun making rounds between Consort Xuilan's residence and the inner kitchens. I don't believe she answers to the Kitchen Hall directly anymore, but it's done very discreetly. Our spy barely found out."

A long silence followed.

Then the Empress said quietly, "Have Chen-gonggong observe. Names, times, routes. Who delivers meals to whom, who speaks in which hall. Discreetly."