Chapter 11: E Niang is so good to me

Early the next morning, Chu Yu was called up early.

Today, she had to go and pay respects to the Empress Dowager and her mother-in-law, the Imperial Noble Consort. In the past, she could feign illness to avoid meeting people, but now it was no longer possible.

However, living in the palace, she had to go through this routine every morning and evening.

Yonghe Palace

"Fourth Lady, come in with me. Her Highness is putting on makeup," said Qiuju, the chief maid of the Imperial Noble Consort.

Chu Yu followed her into the inner chamber, where there was no incense but a pleasant fruity fragrance wafted through the air.

At this time, only close acquaintances were allowed to enter the inner chamber when a woman was putting on makeup. The Imperial Noble Consort let her in directly, which left Chu Yu feeling a bit bewildered.

"I pay my respects to Your Highness, wishing you good fortune," Chu Yu bowed respectfully, trying to minimize her presence.

"Is your illness much better now?" the Imperial Noble Consort asked.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am much better now," Chu Yu replied obediently.

"Qiuju, go to the storeroom and fetch some tonics. I'll have them sent to you later. I see you've lost some weight, you should take good care of yourself," the first half of the sentence was directed at her maid, while the latter half was directed at Chu Yu.

Qiuju also brought Chu Yu her favorite herbal tea and told her to help herself and have some snacks if she got hungry.

Chu Yu was pleasantly surprised by the attention she was receiving. She had the impression that her husband, the Fourth Prince, and his mother, the Imperial Noble Consort, did not have a good relationship. Before coming here, she had made a lot of mental preparations, even bringing knee pads. She had considered every possibility, but she had not expected her mother-in-law to have no intention of making things difficult for her. Moreover, she was quite kind to her.

"Your Highness is really too kind to me," Chu Yu couldn't help but look up at the Imperial Noble Consort and say.

At this moment, she couldn't help but be stunned. The Imperial Noble Consort's skincare was impeccable. She was in her thirties and a mother of four, but at first glance, she looked like a young woman in her twenties. She wasn't stunningly beautiful, but the more you looked at her, the more attractive she became, especially her calm and peaceful eyes, which made people unconsciously let down their guard around her.

The Imperial Noble Consort was also taken aback by Chu Yu's straightforward words. Seeing Chu Yu staring at her in a daze, she smiled and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Your Highness is truly beautiful," Chu Yu said foolishly.

The Imperial Noble Consort chuckled and smiled again. She found her daughter-in-law more pleasing than in her previous life. At this moment, this young woman's compliment made her feel even better.

In fact, the Imperial Noble Consort didn't have any ill feelings towards Chu Yu. On the contrary, she felt some pity for her. Her fourth son was cold and indifferent, except towards the Lady Nian. In her previous life, this daughter-in-law had lived a hard life, and she had done her best for her. As fellow sufferers, she tried to be a little kinder to her.

At this point, Qiuju also smiled and said, "Fourth Lady has a good eye." The Imperial Noble Consort scolded Qiuju with a glance.

This time, everyone laughed.

The atmosphere in Yonghe Palace was harmonious. Before long, the Imperial Noble Consort finished dressing and took Chu Yu to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.

On the way, the Imperial Noble Consort gently reminded her of some things, basically telling her to speak less and try not to conflict with others, but if someone bullied her, she didn't need to be afraid.

Chu Yu felt that she had been captivated by her mother-in-law's charisma. If she were a man, she would also like this kind of woman.

As they spoke, they arrived at Cining Palace, which gave off a solemn and peaceful atmosphere.

When Chu Yu followed the Imperial Noble Consort inside, almost all the concubines and noble ladies were already there.

Chu Yu couldn't help but take a deep breath and continue to bow her head and maintain a dignified and steady appearance.

She looked like a fox spirit, with a hint of cunning.

In the morning, she had deliberately put on makeup to conceal her appearance. Thanks to the modern makeup techniques she had mastered, she had spent a lot of effort to cover up her flaws. At this moment, she didn't look particularly dignified, but she didn't appear too enchanting either. The women in the palace were not very friendly to a woman with her looks.

"Oh, this is our Fourth Lady? She's indeed a beauty with such distinctive features," Rong Fei exclaimed as she looked at Chu Yu behind the Imperial Noble Consort.

There were rumors in the palace that Chu Yu was ugly, but these were only spread among the servants in private. These discerning mistresses understood what was going on. A woman selected through a formal selection process couldn't possibly be ugly, and many of them had seen Chu Yu before. They were just speculating whether the Fourth Lady had a scar on her face, which was why she had been feigning illness and not going out.

At this moment, the Empress Dowager had not yet appeared, and everyone was waiting in the hall. After hearing Rong Fei's words, they all looked over.

Chu Yu was a little nervous at this moment, feeling the pressure of being scrutinized by a room full of women.

"Mother, you're exaggerating. She's not as beautiful as you are," the Imperial Noble Consort smiled and said, trying to indirectly praise Rong Fei.

"Are you teasing me?" Rong Fei, who had been the most beautiful among the concubines in the past, laughed when she heard this and didn't pay attention to Chu Yu. She started chatting with the Imperial Noble Consort.

At this moment, Rong Fei and the Imperial Noble Consort were chatting, and Chu Yu and Dong E, the Third Lady behind Rong Fei, exchanged a smile, both putting on a meek appearance behind their respective mothers-in-law.

Soon, Hui Fei arrived with the Grand Lady, Irgen Jueruo, and everyone paid their respects again.

When Chu Yu was about to sit down again, she heard the Grand Lady say, "Fourth Sister-in-law, you've recovered from your illness. We were all very worried!"

"Don't worry, I'm fine now," Chu Yu smiled. The Grand Lady was being a bit strange.

"Seeing your rosy complexion, it seems that you are already feeling better. You really should be scolded for not informing us earlier that you have recovered. We were worried for nothing. Especially the Empress Dowager, she was always worried about you," the Grand Concubine smiled, taking Chuyu's hand. When Chuyu heard this, her heart sank, and she quickly pulled her hand away from the Grand Concubine.

She knelt in front of the Empress Dowager and said, "Mother, I'm truly at fault. I was feeling better a few days ago and only sent a message instead of coming to visit you, causing unnecessary worry."

"Child, why are you apologizing again? I know you didn't visit me because you were worried about infecting me. I won't blame you. Please get up," the Empress Dowager reassured her, effectively preventing anyone from accusing Chuyu of being unfilial. At this moment, Chuyu's affection for her mother-in-law rose again.

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words, everyone secretly pondered. They had thought the Empress Dowager wouldn't favor this daughter-in-law, considering the controversies when she first entered the palace.

Chuyu mentally criticized Erlige Jin Luoshi. What was her intention? There was no conflict between them, and yet she was framing Chuyu with unfiliality. Chuyu noted this grudge against the Grand Concubine.

In reality, the Grand Concubine was influenced by Hui Fei.

What did Hui Fei say again?

Look at the Fourth Concubine. Even when she was sick, she still remembered to take care of the Fourth Prince. As soon as she recovered, the Emperor rewarded her.

And you? All you do is be possessive and jealous. If you want to be possessive, at least give birth to legitimate grandchildren. She's already given birth to two Gege.

The Grand Concubine was already unhappy, and on top of that, she heard two maids whispering that the Fourth Concubine looked better than the Grand Concubine of those days. Seeing Chuyu, who had a rosy complexion, her anger was directed at her.

But she didn't expect the Empress Dowager to defend Chuyu, which made the Grand Concubine even more frustrated when she thought about her own mother-in-law.

At this point, Hui Fei, seeing the harmonious relationship between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, didn’t want to say anything, but still said, "Good child, you've lost weight due to your illness. I'll send you some tonics later to replenish your body properly."

She didn't even bother to look at her foolish daughter-in-law, who had just received the Emperor's favor. What trouble are you causing now?

Chuyu glanced at the Empress Dowager and, seeing her nod, replied, "Then, I thank Hui Mother for that."