Zi Yan was quite confused. Concubine Rong clearly intended to use the Emperor's favor to step on the county princess, so why was the county princess so happy?
"Who do you think you are?"
Li Man'er said, "You wouldn't understand even if I told you. I'm tired, go to sleep. Oh, and call A'si. We're going to the palace tomorrow, tell her to come along."
"Yes!"
Zi Yan helped Li Man'er lie down, lowered the bed curtain, and extinguished the lamp before quietly withdrawing.
Li Man'er sighed softly under the covers, "Men, indeed, as long as their physical condition allows, their minds are always on 'driving'."
A few months ago, Emperor Chenghua was unwell and hadn't set foot in the inner court for months, let alone summoned concubines. Now that his health had improved and his functions had recovered, he was eager to favor a young palace maid.
Coincidentally, this palace maid was a bit too arrogant. Having just been promoted, she came to provoke her benefactor.
It was quite amusing.
The next day, Li Man'er went to the palace as usual, but she brought A'si with her.
She was a county princess and was summoned to treat the Emperor, so no one would say anything to her over such a small matter.
Li Man'er had just finished taking the Emperor's pulse and modifying the prescription. As she was about to personally select the medicinal herbs, she heard that Consort Rong had arrived. She wanted to stay away from Consort Rong to avoid unnecessary trouble, but the other party took the initiative to find her, making avoidance impossible.
She hadn't even gone to see the Emperor, yet she came to block her.
Although Li Man'er was a county princess, she still had to bow and greet the "landladies" of the inner court.
"Greetings, Your Ladyship."
Concubine Rong took her seat and first surveyed Li Man'er's workplace, then cast a critical gaze upon Li Man'er.
The jealousy in her eyes was palpable and unabashed.
Li Man'er lowered her eyelids, letting herself be scrutinized without reservation. She had nothing to hide, so what was there to fear? She was merely a minor concubine, and it would be difficult to trouble her.
"You are Princess Anning."
Wasn't that obvious?
"Yes."
"You are quite beautiful."
Li Man'er replied, neither subservient nor overbearing, "Your Ladyship's visit is likely not solely to praise Anning, is it?"
"How dare you!" A eunuch's shrill voice sounded next to Li Man'er. "It is your fortune that Her Ladyship shows you some respect."
"Oh, should I ask if you want this fortune?"
"I am very busy!" Li Man'er stated, "Your Ladyship resides in the inner court, free from worries and living a carefree life. I am unlike Your Ladyship; I am born to labor. Not only do I manage the entire county princess's mansion, but I also have to worry about His Majesty's well-being. I truly have no time to chat with Your Ladyship."
"Are you mocking me?" Concubine Rong was petite and delicate. Although her features were not as radiant and dignified as Li Man'er's, she possessed a certain charming innocence. However, at this moment, her small, palm-sized face was etched with frost, indicating she was angered.
But they had no prior interactions. One was the Emperor's favored concubine, and the other was a prince's principal consort. They were completely incompatible, so how could this Concubine Rong be so enraged!
Li Man'er suddenly thought of Ashuang.
So many times, Asi had spoken of Ashuang with hesitation. Even the chatterbox A'qi would stammer and be vague when mentioning Ashuang.
Last time, when the Grand Princess was overthrown, someone named Shuangxi had helped. Li Man'er had mistakenly thought he was that Ashuang. Later, she realized that Qi Yihan named people based on odd and even numbers, so Ashuang should be a girl.
Concubine Rong was originally just a palace maid and didn't look very old. Could she be that Ashuang?
Li Man'er, always clever, felt a desire to test her. She immediately said, "If Your Ladyship has no other business, Anning will take her leave. Later, the Ninth Prince needs to go to the separate residence."
"Are you using the Prince to threaten me?" Concubine Rong's eyes indeed blazed with fire, and her tone was harsh.
A'si next to her was sweating anxiously, but this was the palace, with so many eyes and ears; she didn't even dare to move.
"Anning would not dare. It is just that now, everything must prioritize His Majesty's health. If Your Ladyship has matters to discuss, perhaps you could summon me another day! For now, I must go and select herbs for His Majesty."
Concubine Rong took a deep breath, trying to appear more amiable. "I sought out the county princess not for any significant matter, but I merely wished for the county princess to check my pulse and see if I have the fortune to leave a drop of bloodline for His Majesty."
She wanted to have a child!
"Your Ladyship, please find another time. Today might not be suitable," Li Man'er replied. "In our practice, consultations must correspond with the correct timing. If Your Ladyship wishes for a consultation, it is best to do so before noon, otherwise, it will not be valid."
Concubine Rong forced a smile twice. "Very well, then another day. When the county princess is free, I will return."
Li Man'er stepped aside. "I bid Your Ladyship farewell."
Concubine Rong was extremely unwilling, but she ultimately did not make things difficult for her. She turned and returned to her chambers, venting her anger in a great tantrum.
Li Man'er went to the storeroom to collect the herbs as usual. She carefully measured them, personally brewed the medicine, and had Eunuch Xia deliver it to Emperor Chenghua.
Not long after, Eunuch Xia found her and whispered, "Please be assured, Your Ladyship. His Majesty is already aware of the matter concerning Concubine Rong."
This was to reassure her.
"Thank you, Eunuch. It was a minor issue, and I will not dwell on it. Eunuch, you need not trouble His Majesty over such a small matter; Concubine Rong did not make things difficult for me anyway."
"Ah, ah, Your Ladyship is truly perceptive. No wonder the Prince cherishes you like a treasure. Even His Majesty holds you in high regard."
Li Man'er engaged in some reciprocal pleasantries with him before finally leaving the imperial palace with her two maids.
She remained silent in the carriage. Upon returning to the county princess's mansion, the first thing she did was summon A'si for a private conversation.
Before Li Man'er could ask, A'si knelt down. She knew she couldn't hide it any longer.
"So, she is Ashuang?"
A'si nodded, assuming that if she didn't say it, the Prince would have told the county princess anyway.
"Your Ladyship, please believe me, Ashuang was my friend in the past. She was a good person. She used to..." A'si pouted. "Now that she is a concubine, surely she wouldn't..."
"You mean Ashuang is infatuated with the Prince, don't you?"
A'si was so startled she almost jumped up, waving her hands repeatedly. "No, no, that's not it."
"I'm not blind."
A'si's head drooped like a defeated rooster. "But there are distinctions between social ranks. And now that she is His Majesty's woman, she surely wouldn't have any such thoughts anymore. Your Ladyship, please don't worry, she, she just can't turn her mind around for a while."
"Alright, I didn't say anything. You're so scared. Get up."
A'si stood up. "Your Ladyship, you are not angry?"
Li Man'er picked up a book and looked at it absentmindedly. "Alright, let me be for a moment. You may go."
"Yes."
As soon as A'si left, Li Man'er tossed the book aside and tilted her head. "I thought she was intelligent, but now it seems she's quite foolish."
Concubine Rong was clearly just a pawn.