Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 367 You Are Really Harsh on Yourself

Chapter 367: Chapter 367 You Are Really Harsh on Yourself

Consort Yun Pin fell out of favor because, after her miscarriage, she remained persistently despondent, only knowing how to weep in tears.

The Emperor visited several times, but seeing her with a sorrow-stricken face every time, he naturally became reluctant to visit.

Once she lost favor, there were plenty ready to kick her while she was down.

As glorious as she had been during her pregnancy, she became equally destitute afterward.

Her palace maid died because of her, and for the sake of her loyal palace maid, she needed to regain the Emperor’s favor and obtain better treatment.

Murong Jiu had once given her a few hints, and Consort Yun Pin’s heart became set on contending for favor.

Once, when the Emperor was passing by the Imperial Garden, she performed a dispersed-feather dance, singing and dancing by herself; her voice was mournful and touching, very pleasing to the ear. The Emperor remembered her, saw her pale and frail, felt a bit of pity, and favored her that night.

A few nights later, the whole palace knew that Consort Yun Pin had regained favor.

"The Emperor wants people to know he’s still vigorous, favoring Yun Pin again, probably because she has a body prone to pregnancy, thinking if Imperial Noble Consort Qin can bear children, surely Yun Pin can too. The more heirs, the less people will doubt his potency,"

Jun Yuyan crisply pointed out the Emperor’s thoughts.

Naturally, if Consort Yun Pin herself did not compete for favor, the Emperor would not think of her.

With many beauties in the palace, and the Emperor naturally fickle, he hardly remembered so many women.

"Did you say Yun Pin wants me to treat her body, perhaps thinking about conceiving?"

Murong Jiu asked doubtfully.

Jun Yuyan said, "What she’s thinking, probably only she herself knows. When she meets you, Ah Jiu, she will surely tell you."

"So, should I enter the palace to meet her?"

"No need to enter the palace," he said. "Later, go to the Travelling Palace. The Emperor will surely bring Yun Pin, and you will have the chance to meet then."

Murong Jiu nodded, figuring that Yun Pin was probably not in a rush for a day or two; if it were really urgent, she wouldn’t have used such a term as revisiting old times.

Jun Yuyan did not want her to risk leaving his sight by entering the palace, as the Fourth Prince had a heavy intent to kill her, and entering the palace might inadvertently expose her.

Imperial Noble Consort Qin had repeatedly summoned her to the palace, but she always refused, saying she was occupied with alchemy for the Emperor.

Of course, no alchemy was being done; only an alchemy furnace had been set up in the house, where people added firewood and boiled water, creating the illusion of alchemy.

The Emperor was not afraid of poisoning people; she was, however. When later the Emperor asked her for the "Golden Core," she would just present a few hard pills her master had fried up.

Jun Yuyan continued to be busy until the day they were to go to the Travelling Palace arrived.

Murong Jiu was elegantly dressed by Chun Tao and others, and she joined the royal procession.

Jun Yuyan came riding over, and Murong Jiu, lifting the carriage curtain, stared in shock.

"You’ve taken off your mask?" she whispered, feeling eyes gathering on them from all around.

The long royal procession had not yet left the city, surrounded by commoners who watched from a distance.

"The Star Snow Grass you gave to Consort Jing."

With just those words from Jun Yuyan, Murong Jiu understood that he had already prepared for removing his mask.

The scar removal ointment given to Consort Jing, which he used himself, obviously worked excellently. The fierce scars on his face were gone, revealing his original handsome features.

The commoners whispered among themselves, believing that from then on, no one would ever say that Prince Ling was so ugly, he could stop a child’s cries.

Murong Jiu’s lips curled up as she raised an eyebrow at him.

Jun Yuyan came closer to her and whispered a few private words, causing her cheeks to flush, feeling rather embarrassed by everyone staring.

Jun Yuyan quickly moved to the front of the procession.

They set out in the early morning, and by sunset, they arrived at the Travelling Palace.

This Traveling Palace was built halfway up the mountain, nestled against both mountain and water, and was lavishly beautiful. It was cleaned so thoroughly it looked brand new, without a speck of dust.

The residence of Murong Jiu wasn’t inferior either, located not far from the Emperor’s palace, where the Emperor stayed with several of his consorts.

The Emperor only brought four consorts with him, Consort Jing, Consort Yun Pin, Consort Qi, and Imperial Noble Consort Qin, who had recently completed her postpartum confinement.

Among the princes, only Jun Yuyan and the Third Prince had come.

The Emperor didn’t favor the Fourth Prince and didn’t allow him to come, assigning him some trivial tasks instead. The Second Prince, due to a leg ailment, was said by the Emperor to have difficulty walking and need not come.

The Emperor came to the Traveling Palace to relax, naturally not wanting to see the sons he disliked.

Without these two troublesome princes, Murong Jiu also felt a sense of relief, treating it as an outing and enjoying a meal of game meat that very night.

The palace at night was very secure, surrounded by densely packed guards, not even a bird could fly in.

The next day, the Emperor went hunting, in high spirits.

Murong Jiu and others waited at the hunting stand.

At this time, Consort Yun Pin approached Murong Jiu.

"Has the Princess Consort been well recently?"

"All is well, I have not yet paid my respects to Consort Yun Pin."

"There’s no need for such formalities, let’s just catch up as old acquaintances."

Consort Yun Pin was amiable and young, with a striking appearance and a particularly charming voice.

Speaking of catching up, it was indeed just that, as Consort Yun Pin merely discussed the latest trends in the palace and showed a handkerchief she had embroidered to Murong Jiu.

Consort Qi and Consort Jing rested with their eyes closed, neither speaking.

Only Imperial Noble Consort Qin often glanced over, her eyes somewhat chilly.

She hadn’t brought the Young Prince with her, as he was well looked after by nursemaids and palace maids in the palace, and she herself had recovered very well, with no extra flesh and a shapely figure.

"I really hadn’t noticed that Princess Consort Ling and Consort Yun Pin were so close,"

Imperial Noble Consort Qin spoke up.

Consort Qi furrowed her brows and opened her eyes, while Consort Jing remained unperturbed.

"Didn’t the Noble Consort also have a good relationship with Princess Consort Ling before? You even said that only with the Princess Consort’s help during birth could you feel at ease. How come in just a few months, Noble Consort has turned so indifferent?"

Consort Yun Pin said with a laugh, her eyes slightly puzzled.

Murong Jiu suddenly felt a fondness for her, impressed by Consort Yun Pin’s courage, well aware that Imperial Noble Consort Qin was currently the most favored, yet she dared to confront her.

"Princess Consort Ling is a busy person. I have called her to the palace several times, but she always found an excuse to decline. It appears she never considered me a friend, so why should I bother?"

Imperial Noble Consort Qin spoke coldly, her eyes clearly showing dissatisfaction with Murong Jiu.

Murong Jiu, neither servile nor haughty, said, "Your Majesty is my father’s consort, how could I presume to call you a ’friend’? You really flatter me too much. I have been busy with alchemy for my father these past days. Each time was a critical moment, and I dared not leave the alchemy furnace; I hope for your understanding."

"Sharp-tongued as always, you’re just as they say. Now that Princess Consort Ling is not busy with alchemy, could she come and check my pulse?"

Imperial Noble Consort Qin said with an air of arrogance.

Murong Jiu replied, "My hand was swollen by a bee sting yesterday, and I cannot take your pulse."

She revealed her swollen finger, hidden in her sleeve, effectively silencing Imperial Noble Consort Qin’s words.

Imperial Noble Consort Qin’s expression stiffened, then a flash of anger crossed her eyes.

"Hmph, you really are something! So ruthless to yourself!"