Chapter 33 – Chess Piece

Side Consort Jing gave an awkward smile.

She immediately changed the subject to mask the awkwardness of the moment.

“I have been constantly worried about Your Highness’s health, always wanting to come visit, but I feared disturbing your official duties, so I never dared to.”

“Today, I simply couldn’t hold back my longing and came uninvited. I hope Your Highness won’t blame me.”

As she spoke, a sheen of tears quickly gathered in her bright black eyes.

This made it seem like the Crown Prince had done something wrong, causing her to feel aggrieved.

Xiao Che said nothing.

Seeing his silence, Side Consort Jing was secretly pleased. The Crown Prince must feel sorry for her.

She slowly walked behind Xiao Che. “Your Highness must be tired from managing state affairs lately. Let me give you a shoulder massage.”

She tried to appear virtuous, gentle, and composed—after all, that’s the kind of woman men liked.

But just as her hand was about to land on Xiao Che’s shoulder…

Xiao Che suddenly stood up.

“I’m already fine. If you have nothing else, then you should return.”

With that, he shot a glance at Eunuch Lin.

Eunuch Lin immediately understood.

Side Consort Jing froze again.

The Crown Prince was clearly brushing her off on purpose.

Her heart clenched with bitterness, and just as she was about to speak, “Your High—”

Before she could finish, Eunuch Lin had already approached.

He bowed and said, “Your Ladyship, please.”

Side Consort Jing fell silent.

She looked toward the Crown Prince, trying to move him with a pitiful and vulnerable expression.

But Xiao Che remained expressionless and didn’t even spare her a glance.

She tried to step forward, but Eunuch Lin blocked her path.

He bowed again with a gesture of invitation.

He was clearly asking her to leave.

In the end, Side Consort Jing could only leave angrily with Qiu Yue, returning to the Liuli Hall.

Inside the Liuli Hall—

Since her return, Side Consort Jing had been sprawled on the couch like someone who had just been wronged.

Her cheeks were puffed up, and her lips were pursed high.

By evening, Qiu Yue came over.

“Your Ladyship, Miss Liu Xu requests an audience.”

“Liu Xu?”

A face instantly flashed through Side Consort Jing’s mind.

Wasn’t she the maid of Side Consort Yang?

Last time, when they set a trap at Lengfeng Pavilion to punish Qian Ning, it was Liu Xu who had given her the idea.

Though the plan failed, Side Consort Jing didn’t blame Liu Xu for poor advice—she only thought the Crown Prince was too clever.

After a moment of thought, she said, “Let her in.”

Liu Xu quickly entered. “This servant greets Your Ladyship.”

Side Consort Jing replied, “Rise.”

She lazily glanced at Liu Xu. This girl must be here for something.

“Your Ladyship, my mistress asked me to deliver this letter to you.”

Liu Xu respectfully presented a letter to Qiu Yue.

Then she took her leave.

Side Consort Jing accepted the letter from Qiu Yue, opened it, and glanced over it.

There were only eight characters written: Shu Ruohua is now a discarded consort.

Side Consort Jing’s heart trembled slightly.

This letter from Side Consort Yang was clearly trying to use her to get rid of Shu Ruohua.

Her dark eyes narrowed slightly, and a faint cold smile appeared at her lips.

She wasn’t stupid—why would she become a chess piece for Side Consort Yang?

She ordered Qiu Yue to burn the letter, pretending she had never seen it.

But after that…

For some reason, Shu Ruohua’s image lingered in her mind.

Why had the Crown Prince snubbed her today?

It must have been Shu Ruohua who badmouthed her over the punishment of Qian Ning.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.

Shu Ruohua had already been banished to the Cold Palace, yet she could still seduce the Crown Prince?

Side Consort Yang was right—Shu Ruohua was a discarded consort.

She clenched the handkerchief in her hand with fury.

Even if she couldn’t get rid of Shu Ruohua, giving her a little punishment shouldn’t be a problem.

…

…

(End of Chapter)