Yikun Palace, Noble Lady Ying is conversing with Princess Consort De.
Lan Qin hurriedly walked in from outside, bowed slightly to Noble Lady Ying, and looked at Princess Consort De with a bit of excitement, as if wanting to share some happy news but hesitating due to the presence of others.
Princess Consort De chuckled softly, "Noble Lady Ying is not an outsider, speak of the matter."
Lan Qin said, "I just heard that Lady Li has been mistaken for an assassin and taken away by the patrolling guards."
"How could that be?" Noble Lady Ying exclaimed, "Wasn't Lady Li recovering from the summer heat at Luaxin Pavilion? How did she get mistaken for an assassin and how was she taken away?"
"Exactly," Princess Consort De steadied her mind, "Lan Qin, tell us in detail."
"Right away." Lan Qin recounted what she had heard, adding, "This matter has spread throughout the harem, even the Empress Dowager has heard of it and sent Aunt Chen to inquire."
Aunt Chen, named Chen Jing, is the Chief Palace Maid around the Empress Dowager. Being close to the Empress Dowager, people in the harem respectfully address her as 'Aunt.'
"This really is..." Noble Lady Ying muttered under her breath.
Princess Consort De glanced at her.
Noble Lady Ying raised a handkerchief to cover her smiling lips and tenderly said, "Lady Li truly is General Li's sister; it isn't even 5 p.m., yet she has already been involved in three major incidents today."
Demoted from Fifth-rank Beauty to Sixth-rank Noble, she had lunch with the Emperor, not only was she reinstated, but she was also promoted to Fourth-rank Consort, becoming the rightful lady in charge of Luaxin Pavilion.
Just when everyone in the harem thought Lady Li would be endlessly favored, they received the imperial edict for her to recuperate at Luaxin Pavilion, puzzling over why the Emperor issued such an order. And there is yet another commotion surrounding Lady Li.
Alas, what a day this is...
Princess Consort De's thoughts were the same as Noble Lady Ying's, and the entire harem shared the same feeling upon hearing this.
"Is Lady Li now locked in the dungeon or sent to the Imperial Prison?" Princess Consort De asked with concern.
Noble Lady Ying asked casually, "Yes, was the Emperor informed?"
Lan Qin shook her head when speaking of this matter.
"Really, not informed the Emperor?" Noble Lady Ying spoke with worry, though the delight in her eyes revealed her true thoughts.
Princess Consort De noticed but said nothing.
She thought the same.
Suddenly, Lan Qin knelt down, "Madam, Noble Lady Ying, when I shook my head just now, I didn't mean the Emperor was not informed; Lady Li was not locked in the dungeon, nor was she sent to the Imperial Prison. She was taken to the Guard House, served well with tea and refreshments, afraid of slighting Lady Li, the Emperor... the Emperor rushed to escort her."
Princess Consort De: ...
Noble Lady Ying: ...
"Today the Guard House is radiant; first Lady Li, then the Emperor himself visiting, the Deputy Commander truly is lucky." Shen Quan praised with a smile.
"Mr. Shen, please don't joke with me. I really didn't recognize Lady Li, otherwise, how could I... alas." Song Sheng shook his head and sighed.
He briefly recounted the scene just now.
Shen Quan's smiling face vanished entirely upon hearing Song Sheng say he wrapped a whip around Lady Li's ankle to pull her down from the palace wall.
He anxiously asked, "Is she hurt?"
"She's injured, unable to walk."
"Ah!" Shen Quan slapped his thigh in worry, "Where is the Imperial Physician? Did they examine Lady Li for the extent of her injury?"
"Called for, but no one came." Song Sheng shrugged helplessly.
"Why don't you..." Shen Quan took a deep breath, silently reminding himself 'This is the Deputy Commander, cannot shout or gripe,' and turned, "Donglai, go, hurry."
"Yes, yes," Donglai realized the gravity of the situation and quickly ran towards the Imperial Medical Bureau.