By hip, I meant lower back/waist/hip area. Yeah, suck it up.

[Here is where yz introduces self as editor](squinty pretending to be yz: hi, i'm awesome! stop.) (⊃‿⊂)

In the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility. Xia Yuqing cringed at the sporadic groans. Her head hung so low it almost touched the floor.

God knows, it wasn't intentional! She'd just panicked and grabbed the maid at hand. Who knew they'd be so wimpy as to drop like a hat. And of course, how could anyone have predicted that a substantial figure would be beside the empress dowager at precisely that moment, and they'd fallen with the empress dowager and sprain her hip. Xia Yuqing silently faced the heavens—no choice but to say it—this must be divine justice!

"Mother, how do you feel? Can you move?" After the physician left, Feng Tingye sidled up apprehensively. His face was full of concern for the immobile Madam Zhangsun.

"Old, I've really gotten old. Just a little fall and I've hurt my hips. Hah, I've really gotten old." Madam Zhangsun wriggled her waist and discovered that it no longer hurt quite so much, however, she still couldn't bend it without much difficulty. The smile on her face cramped a little.

"Don't move anymore, mother. The imperial physician said that you've dislocated your hip and should stay in bed and recuperate properly." Feng Tingye chastened and hastily helped Madam Zhangsun to sit upright.

Madam Zhangsun chuckled. She glanced around a little apprehensively. "Where is she?"

"You mean Consort Qing?"

"You've already made her a consort? Seems like you really like her." Madam Zhangsun laughed lightly and said to her son.

Feng Tingye's expression changed. "Mother, she is a princess of the State of Xia. We must give them face."

"Give them face? To the point that you're willing to endure rumors of being impotent?"

Feng Tingye said uncomfortably, "That was just an accident."

Madam Zhangsun merely looked at Feng Tingye and laughed without a word. After a while, she said, "Let her leave first, I must speak with you about something. Actually, what happened today wasn't all her fault, so you don't have to blame her. I heard about her from Miss Yixiang after returning to the palace, and didn't think of her acting maliciously, but that she was pretty amusing, so I sent people to invite her over. I didn't think that I'd be interrupting her breakfast, leading her to be so weak from hunger and causing that disaster. I was also at fault."

Feng Tingye's eyebrows shot up with realization. He secretly thought, Mother, it wasn't because your daughter-in-law was weak from hunger, but rather that I, your son was too industrious last night.

Feng Tingye coughed lightly. He dismissed his personal servant first before asking, "And what else does Mother have to say?"

Madam Zhangsun signaled her maid stationed beside the bed, Xiang Yun, who ushered everyone else out, leaving the mother and son alone in the room.

"Ye'er, don't lie to me. I've already been informed about things on the road home. What is going on in the palace for you to summon Yan Ran and the others so frequently? Tell me the truth, is there someone trying to harm you?" Madam Zhangsun gripped Feng Tingye's hand with motherly concern.

"Mother..." Feng Tingye was dumbfounded. After a bit, he said, "A while back, someone reported that the border wasn't secure, yet afterwards, there were tidings of Third Uncle winning against the State of Xue and returning. Then an assassin snuck in the palace a few days ago. Thankfully, Yan Ran and I caught wind of it early and were prepared for it."

"The palace is heavily guarded, so how could an assassin have slipped in? You two weren't hurt, right?"

"Don't worry, Mother. We were fine." It's just that we met a peeping Tom, whose misunderstanding caused a huge mess.

Madam Zhangsun loosed a small breath, then wrinkled her brows. "Ye'er, you think that...Prince Rui is colluding with the State of Xue to harm you and seize the throne?"

"We cannot be certain whether he is or not, but it all will soon be resolved. Third Uncle will return to the capital in three months. If he is truly planning treachery, then he will show his hand soon. But what do we have to fear when we have so many capable subjects?"

Madam Zhangsun regarded Feng Tingye, then patted his hand. "You've grown. You no longer need my schemes. Now, you have little Ran and Ruofeng to advise you in court, Zitang for military matters, and Wenzhong to protect you. I'm not worried anymore, I just want to remind you to consider everything carefully, but act severely. Those are the qualities of a monarch. Your mother's old now, and my only wish for you is to always be well and to succeed your father to become a great emperor."

"I understand, Mother."

Madam Zhangsun beamed. Then she recalled something. "Your engagement to Yixiang was something I arranged because your harem was always empty. Now that there is someone, I will terminate the engagement if you'd like. I don't think it'll be too difficult since you and Yixiang are more like brother and sister than anything."

Feng Tingye paused, "Our relationship is indeed only that of a brother and sister. I'll leave this matter to Mother then."

"No matter, you young'uns will be just fine. Do whatever you'd like. I don't think that girl will be any trouble, but it's best to be careful of a foreign woman."

"I know."

"That's more or less everything. I'm tired now, and concerned about that poor girl. She must have been frightened earlier. You should go check on her."

Feng Tingye felt that was a reasonable course, so he got up and excused himself, "Yes. Then take care, I'll return in the evening."

"Mhm."