[Flashback - a few weeks ago]

Xiao Qing strolling around the palace. It's just a few days since she returned to this place but she already feels bored cooped inside the palace. She likes being carefree, travel around. Staying in a place, not doing anything, is not her thing. She walks around the palace, going from one place to another.

Xiao Qing prefers not to be disturbed so she only brings two of her closest female servants with her. Since she's still in the palace ground, there's no need for her to drag along the bodyguards.

When she walked past Yanxi Palace, she stumbled upon Yu Li Na and Lin Hui Yin. With a fake smile, she approached them.

"Greetings, Your Highness." Greet Yu Li Na and Lin Hui Yin.

"Raise." Waiting for them to raise then she asked, "Where are you both heading to?"

"Oh. We're going to the imperial pharmacy," said Li Na.

"Well then, may I join both of you?" Both Li Na and Hui Yin slightly frown when Xiao Qing wants to join them. Hui Yin nearly to says no but Li Na quickly cuts her off.

"Sure Your Highness. Let's walk together there." She takes a step back then opens her left arm, asking Xiao Qing to take the lead.

Li Na and Hui Yin walk just slightly behind Xiao Qing. It is inappropriate for concubines to walk side-to-side with the royal family unless the royal family ordered them to do so.

"If I can know, what's the purpose of Concubine Yu and Concubine Lin going to the imperial pharmacy? Does anyone of you sick? If yes, you can just call a physician to come to your room. There's no need to trouble yourself walking."

Li Na and Hui Yin look at each other. "Hmm... well, both of us are still in good health so we can just walk. We just want to examine our condition. Are we..... fertile or not." said Li Na.

Xiao Qing immediately turns her head, "Fe- fertility? What for?"

Li Na looks at Xiao Qing with a face 'are you kidding me? are you seriously asking me that?'. She lifts her fingers, covering her fake shy smile. "Your Highness, don't you know we're the consort for His Majesty?"

"Yeah...so?"

Both consorts frown. "Your Highness, I know it's been a while since Your Highness return here but at least Your Highness won't forget right, what's the purpose of consorts?" Hui Yin said.

"Just....for fun? Isn't it?" The princess's words are like an arrow stabbed right into both of their hearts.

"H- how could you say that?!" Hui Yin raised her voice. Li Na quickly taps on Hui Yin's back, asking her to stop saying more.

"Your Highness, I think Your Highness should attend the study again. It would be a shame to His Majesty if one day, a prince from another country came to ask for a hand in marriage but the princess didn't even know the rules and protocols of the palace. It's just the same as the prince marrying a commoner." Li Na smirks.

"You! How dare you say that to me! You're just a mere consort and I'm the princess of this country!"

With a sly smile, Li Na retorts, "Your Highness, a consort is not just a mere consort if she could carry the next heir for the throne. After a few nights with His Majesty, in here..." She caresses her flat tummy, "there might a crown prince being created. And Your Highness knows right, if my son becomes the crown prince, I could be entitled as Imperial Noble Consort or even the empress. So...." She wiggles her eyebrows.

Yu Li Na tried to say that one day, her position will be higher than the princess, so Xiao Qing should be careful with what she's trying to say.

Xiao Qing scoffs. "Ha! Do you think my brother will make you the empress?! Dream on!" Her hand trembles. She can't hold her anger.

"Oh really? But last two nights, His Majesty showed that he really cares for me. He caressed my tummy and he even said if I give birth to his son, he'll grant any wishes of mine."

Hui Yin watched the arguments from the side. She feels betrayed by Li Na's words. Even with the princess, Li Na dared to threaten, what's more, a consort like her. She might even be tortured if one day Li Na really became the empress. She only shuts her mouth. Didn't dare to interrupt.

Seeing the princess doesn't have anything to retort, she continues, "Your Highness, it's useless to have a beautiful face but lack in other things. Did you know Your Highness, living so carefree, ignorance of your surroundings, and acting rough like a guy, men won't like it. Please behave like a real princess and don't taint the royal family's image." Li Na said sarcastically.

"Well, it is better than be a woman that easily throws herself into a guy's arm. That's so cheap. Even a prostitute needs to be paid a large sum of money to let the guy touch them." A low and soothing voice interrupts their conversation.

All of them turn to where the voice came from. They met with a beautiful guy in a pink robe.

"Isn't that right, princess?" said Xiu Ying with a wide smile. Xiu Ying just stepped out of the imperial pharmacy when he heard familiar voices. He's not the type to meddle in other people's business but he can't let the princess being bullied. Plus, he just wants to annoy Concubine Yu.

"True!" Xiao Qing vigorously nods her head. When Xiu Ying came and stand beside her, she feels a kind of relief and safety. Even though Xiu Ying is a guy but his appearance is like a protective sister.

"Wh- what do you mean?! How dare you trying to say that I'm a cheap woman!" Li Na wiggles her forefinger in front of Xiu Ying's face.

"Excuse me, My Lady. When did I mention that you're a cheap woman? I just deny your words that said Princess Xiao Qing needs to behave like a real princess. What I meant is, it is better to behave roughly than acting like a slut, seducing guy here and there. So which part did I mention about you, my lady?" Xiu Ying slowly moves forwards, hiding Xiao Qing behind him.

Concubine Yu huffs. "Well, I might hear it wrong. But... seducing guy here and there... Isn't that what you did before? Trying so hard to get His Majesty's attention. Then, I even heard many guys wanted to marry you when you return home. Aren't you a bit.....loose?"

Xiu Ying laughs. Then, he suddenly inclined his head, whispers, "It's all just a rumor, my lady. If you don't believe me, after I spent the night with His Majesty, you can do some confirmation with His Majesty, whether I'm loose or tight." He winks.

Yu Li Na turns red like a tomato. She flicks her sleeves then walks past him.

Xiu Ying shouts, "Make sure you asked the physician to check your pulse carefully. In case, he might miss the second pulse. Well, that's only will happen if Your Majesty REALLY DID THE DEED." Xiu Ying sneers.

Without turning back, Li Na quickly walks into the pharmacy with Hui Yin strutting behind her.

Xiao Qing watched Xiu Ying in admiration.

[End of flashback]

"So....that's why... I really hate those two, Concubine Yu especially. Ha! She's so confident to be the next empress. The moment she becomes the empress, I'll leave this country!" Her chest going up and down, breathless from talking too much.

Wu Jiaying speechless while Zhang Wei....smiles. It seems like his love for Xiu Ying is getting deeper.

"Wei-ge!"

Zhang Wei flinches.

"Remember! Never sleep with that woman. I'm okay if Wei-ge likes Concubine Wen but I give full support if Wei-ge chooses Concubine Li."

Zhang Wei chuckles. He raises his hand and gently caresses Xiao Qing's head. "Thank you my lovely meimei."

"Ahem. Ahem." The two siblings turn to their mother. "Zhang Wei still didn't answer mother's question. Is it true that Zhang Wei likes Concubine Li?"

'Guess I can't avoid this question.'

"Mother...." Zhang Wei slowly nods. "Yes, Zhang Wei likes him."

Wu Jiaying stares directly into her son's eyes. "Is it because of his face?"

"To be honest, Zhang Wei did notice his face at first. But later on, when Zhang Wei learned about his attitude, the way he avoided Zhang Wei, the way he never cared about getting my attention or dream about ranks, his straightforwardness, and his wide knowledge. He also treated his servant like a friend. Day by day, Zhang Wei fell more for his manners and etiquette, rather than his face." Zhang Wei hangs his head low.

"Zhang Wei feels so bad for treating him badly in the past. Even though he's a little bit different before, Zhang Wei shouldn't treat him like that and I really regretted it."

Wu Jiaying holds on to Zhang Wei's hand. "We can't change anything for things that happened in the past but we can always do better for things in the future. If Zhang Wei really loves him, then treasures him. Show him your sincerity. Sooner or later, maybe he'll open up to you."

Zhang Wei grips his mother's hand tighter, "Thank you, mother. Zhang Wei promised to be a better person."

The family of three having a harmonious moment and continue spending time together for a little longer.

........

As promised, right after lunchtime, a eunuch came to Yanxi Palace. He brought the order from Empress Dowager.

"As God's will and the Empress Dowager's command that, Concubine Li Xiu Ying did a great job in assisting and healing Prince Yang Lijun from Empire Yang. So, hereby Concubine Li Xiu Ying was promoted as Noble Consort and is given the title Shenyi (The Divine Doctor). Consort Li is now totally responsible for imperial pharmacy matters. All decisions made must be consulted and permitted by Consort Li. Respect that." The eunuch read the imperial decree.

Xiu Ying who is kneeling said, "Li Xiu Ying thank you, Your Majesty."

As soon as the eunuch left, Xiu Ying and Jing Yi look at each other in disbelief.

Xiu Ying thought the emperor will let him do the work as a helper at the imperial pharmacy. Never crossed his mind that he'll be promoted to Noble Consort and was given a title.

"Young master, is this what His Majesty told young master last night? Isn't it too sudden?" asked Jing Yi.

"Yes. TOO SUDDEN and no, this is not what he told me last night. He just said he'll let me work at the imperial pharmacy. He never mentioned the title or even Noble Consort rank. I- I know nothing about this." Xiu Ying slumps onto the bed.

The news is just too shocking for him. The more he tried to get away from the palace, the harder for him to do so.

Xiu Ying sighs. "I don't know how to face Wen Qian. She must be shocked and sad when she heard this. His Majesty acting so close and nice to her but then suddenly it was me who was promoted." He kneaded his temple.

"It's okay, Young Master. I'm sure Concubine Wen is not a vengeful person. If you try to explain to her, I'm sure she will understand."

"Let's hope so."

........

[In Yanxi Palace]

"Wh- what?! No- noble Consort?! Th- that ugly whore?!" Another set of teacups smashed shattered into pieces.

"H- how could it be?! Impossible... Impossible... No way... why would His Majesty give him that title... Impossible... His Majesty loves me... He loves me...." Yu Li Na pacing back and forth and mumbles.

"M- my Lady, it's not His Majesty that bestowed that title and rank to Concubine Li. It was Her Majesty, Empress Dowager. It said that Her Majesty feels like owe him when he treated Prince Yang....that's why... Her Majesty promoted her." The knelt servant shivers. She shuts her eyes tight, prepares herself for getting hit.

"Her Majesty?!" She scoffs. "That old woman... Can't she stop meddling for once? She's already old why would she be involved in such a matter. Imperial harem matter should be handled by His Majesty, not her!"

From frowning, she suddenly sneers. "It's okay. Things that my uncle ordered for me will arrive soon. Until then, all of you enjoy your life since....it won't be that long.." She laughs hysterically.