Chapter 296: The Atmosphere at the Palace Gate
Esme breathed a sigh of relief, feeling both relieved and pleased as she watched Isolde. Isolde’s temper had improved significantly. Aveline led Isolde to greet each noblewoman individually.
“This is the Queen’s mother, Mrs. Morris.”
“It’s my honor to meet you, Mrs. Morris,” Isolde curtsied.
“Greetings, Princess Langley,” Lady Yuan returned the gesture with a kind and gentle smile, clearly impressed.
“This is Consort Cora’s mother, Lady Wondery, honored by the King.”
“Hello, Lady Wondery!”
“Greetings, Princess Langley.”
After these introductions, Isolde received generally positive feedback. The main reason was that, despite her status as a princess and the King’s appointed General, Isolde remained humble and respectful, neither overbearing nor submissive. Secondly, she had earned Aveline’s favor. Aveline was known as the Queen Dowager’s adopted daughter and a member of the royal family’s inner circle. This inner circle—Aveline, Rosemary, and Elisa (Graeme’s wife)—were close confidantes of the Queen Dowager and could enter the palace without a formal summons. While many sought to curry favor with this elite group, few succeeded, so most kept their distance.
After the introductions, the palace gates opened. The procession moved slowly and silently inside. It was the fifth watch of the night, and the sky was still dark. Entering the palace, they walked through a long corridor illuminated by bonfires on either side. The high walls isolated the palace from the outside world, muffling almost all external sounds. Birds began chirping noisily, and a flock took flight from a distant, nameless tree. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed as people busied themselves. As they walked, the horizon lightened with the first hints of dawn. Faint morning light painted the sky in shades of black and blue, and a thin mist hung in the air, carrying the chill of autumn.
The walk was silent. The noblewomen and young ladies, who had been chattering outside, were now quiet, their expressions serious and solemn. A chamberlain led the procession to pay their respects to Queen Catherine.
Queen Catherine had grown kind and approachable over the years, enjoying interactions with others. Thus, after Queen Sophia issued an edict allowing the families of palace concubines to visit once a month, Queen Catherine invited everyone to her palace. Since Queen Catherine extended the invitation, everyone treated it as an imperial decree. Upon entering the palace, they first went to Queen Catherine’s palace to pay their respects before visiting their daughters’ quarters.
The Queen Dowager rarely received visitors; access required a formal summons. Today, everyone hoped to catch a glimpse of her. They had brought generous gifts, using the opportunity to inquire about her health to pave the way for their daughters. They had prepared two sets of gifts: one for Queen Catherine and one for the Queen Dowager. However, they were well aware that seeing the Queen Dowager would be difficult, so they planned to entrust their gifts to Queen Catherine for delivery. Asking their daughters to deliver the gifts themselves was unthinkable.
The King forbade any connections between the inner palace and the outer court. Family members visiting the palace had to be women and were required to strictly adhere to etiquette. They could only meet in the main halls and were not allowed to enter private chambers for conversations. Family members often brought gifts, but due to explicit edicts, these were limited to items like tonics, fabrics, and silks. They dared not bring anything too valuable, let alone silver. The gifts for the Queen Mother were particularly lavish, so they couldn’t be presented in the concubines’ quarters, as it would invite criticism.
Some families of high-ranking concubines were even more cautious, visiting only once or twice a year instead of monthly. For example, Layla’s family rarely came to the palace. This time, Alice had come because her daughter had been demoted. She wanted to comfort her daughter and teach her how to regain the King’s favor.
As they walked, they noticed that the chamberlain was leading them not to Queen Catherine’s palace but elsewhere. Unable to contain her curiosity, Alice asked, “Lord Chamberlain, may I ask where we are headed?”
The chamberlain turned and bowed, “Ladies and young misses, the Grand Queen Mother is unwell. The Queen Grandmother stayed overnight at Mystic Palace to accompany her. Thus, I am leading you all to Mystic Palace to pay your respects.”
Everyone was instantly excited, but no one spoke except Alice, who said, “We pray for the Grand Queen Mother’s swift recovery.”
The pace quickened, and aside from the sound of footsteps, even breathing seemed to be held in check. Everyone nervously adjusted their appearances, smoothing their clothes and fixing their hair, afraid of making any misstep. Isolde walked in silence, her mind preoccupied. Since the Grand Queen Mother was going to receive so many people, she certainly couldn’t ask her questions in front of everyone. She wasn’t sure if the Queen Mother would allow her to stay behind for a private conversation.
Moreover, if Queen Catherine was present, how could she bring up such matters? But if she didn’t ask today, she would surely be overcome with anxiety.
Aveline, noticing Isolde’s uneven breathing, thought she was nervous and said with a smile, “Don’t worry. Her Majesty is kind and won’t make things difficult for you. Just relax.”
Isolde found it hard to relax but still smiled gratefully at Aveline. Theodric, holding Isolde’s hand, whispered, “If Grandmother scolds you, just pout. You don’t even have to cry, and she’ll soften. That’s what I do every time.”
Isolde looked at his little face and gently touched it. A child’s skin was so smooth and soft, but she wondered how delicate a baby’s skin would feel. The fire had been so intense… A dull pain tugged at her heart. She forced a smile, “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”
Aveline tapped his head lightly, “A real man doesn’t pout all the time. Do you think it’s something to be proud of? Grandmother doesn’t like cowardly children.”
Isolde, remembering the time he had been kidnapped, said, “No, Theodric is very brave.”
Aveline sighed softly, knowing that the incident still haunted her. Even months later, she would wake up from nightmares filled with the fear of losing him. Unable to help herself, Aveline took Isolde’s other hand and whispered, “If it weren’t for you that day, he would have been lost. Isolde, thank you.”
“You’ve already thanked me. There’s no need to do so again,” Isolde replied softly.
Though they spoke in hushed tones, the surrounding silence made their conversation audible to everyone. Everyone knew that Isolde had saved Theodric. But how sincere was the gratitude of those in high positions? Initially, they thought Aveline’s thanks were merely perfunctory, but hearing her genuine appreciation, they held Isolde in even higher regard.
When they arrived outside Mystic Palace, they saw the imperial concubines waiting outside to be received by the Queen Mother. Queen Sophia was also there, leading the concubines who had arrived early in the morning. The chilly air made everyone shiver. Yet, the silence remained unbroken. Each person stepped forward to pay their respects, curtsying without a word. Though it was just a greeting, the atmosphere was more solemn than a court assembly.