Chapter 9: Just Kneel Honestly

As soon as the banquet ended, Ning Zhaorou hurried back to her tent.

If there had been even the slightest sliver of hope left in her heart earlier that day, it had completely shattered the moment His Majesty uttered those words.

There was absolutely no chance with Chu Changfeng now.

Who else could she possibly turn to for help?

Even Shuangwu had no better ideas. Seeing Ning Zhaorou drag her feet forward before collapsing onto the couch, completely listless, she couldn’t bear it anymore. Gritting her teeth, she stepped forward and gently said, “Miss, if there’s no hope with Young General Chu, we can still look for someone else. At the very least… at least we’ve gotten past His Majesty’s hurdle.”

She was right. Now that the emperor had spoken so clearly today, even if Chu Changfeng and Ning Zhaorou were never to interact again, no one could say Ning Zhaorou had deceived His Majesty.

Ning Zhaorou forced a stiff smile and murmured, “Yes.”

But what about after this? If they couldn’t find a suitable match on Mount E’ming, she’d be dragged back to the residence, and Wu shi would marry her off to whomever she pleased.

No—she didn’t want that!

Ning Zhaorou clenched her fists so tightly they trembled, her eyes turning red with suppressed emotion.

Shuangwu fetched water to help her wash up, and after Ning Zhaorou sat on the bed for a long time, somewhere around midnight, she finally peeked out from behind the bed curtain. Her face pale, she asked in a small voice, “Tell me… if truly no one wants to marry me, what if I entered the palace… would that be so bad?”

“Miss!” Shuangwu couldn’t help but cry out, then quickly lowered her voice. Her eyes turned red as well. “Please, think carefully. Even if the second madam’s arrangements for you are without kindness, the palace… that place is a tiger’s den!

“The imperial harem’s hierarchy is already set. If you enter now and fail to win His Majesty’s favor, the other consorts will skin you alive. And what’s more—Consort Liang has taken notice of you. Do you really think you can escape her?”

Of course Ning Zhaorou knew all of this.

Her already swollen eyes brimmed with fresh tears, falling silently as she whispered into her bedding, “But I… I truly have nowhere left to go—”

Ahead, wolves. Behind, tigers.

She was trapped, unable to move even half a step. What other choice did she have?

Shuangwu had no solution either. Though she spoke hard truths just now, if Ning Zhaorou really reached a dead end, the palace might become their only gamble.

For now, all she could do was watch her mistress cry uncontrollably, wiping her tears and murmuring soft reassurances.

It was only when dawn neared that Ning Zhaorou finally dozed off for a short while.

But before long, Consort Liang sent someone over with a summons, saying she wished to speak with her.

Ning Zhaorou had slept lightly. She stirred when she heard the voices, and before she could ask what was going on, she heard the conversation clearly from behind the screen.

“Since Consort Liang has personally sent for her, there’s no reason to make Her Highness wait. She only wishes to speak with Miss Ning out of concern. If Her Highness is kept waiting too long, we’ll all be in trouble—don’t you think so?”

Palace attendants were always sharp with words. Just a few lines were enough to leave Shuangwu fumbling.

Stepping behind the screen, she saw Ning Zhaorou already awake—no doubt she had heard everything.

“Miss, Consort Liang is asking to see you.”

Even as just a maid, Shuangwu couldn’t help but feel sorry for her mistress.

Ning Zhaorou’s eyes were still red. After crying for so long and barely sleeping, she looked utterly worn out.

Forcing herself to stay upright, she leaned on Shuangwu for support as she got dressed and had her hair done. In a low voice, she asked, “What time is it now?”

“Almost the hour of Si, Miss,” Shuangwu answered gently as she fixed her mistress’s hair.

“It’s nearly the hour of Si…”

Ning Zhaorou stared at her reflection in the mirror, then suddenly lowered her head again.

Outside, the palace maid was still waiting and urged her once more: “Miss Ning, please hurry. Best not to keep Consort Liang waiting too long.”

Ning Zhaorou trembled slightly but didn’t respond.

Still, no matter how much she delayed, she had to go out eventually.

She wore no ornaments today—just a single white jade magnolia hairpin in her bun. Her chest was still tightly bound beneath her inner garments, and with small, careful steps, she finally walked outside.

The palace maid gave a slight curtsy and said, “Miss Ning, please follow me.”

Ning Zhaorou could already guess that Consort Liang’s summons held no good intentions. After all, the emperor had just made such a statement last night, and today Consort Liang was calling for her. Though she wasn’t a palace woman, no one in the marquis’s household cared about her. If Consort Liang chose to punish her today, no one would speak on her behalf.

Who could help her?

The consorts’ tents were all in the same area. Everything looked quiet, but the mere presence of silent palace attendants standing still outside the tents was enough to set her nerves on edge.

Shuangwu could only wait outside, watching helplessly as Ning Zhaorou entered the tent.

Inside Consort Liang’s tent, a mild incense wafted through the air. It wasn’t overpowering. When Ning Zhaorou entered, Consort Liang was getting her nails dyed with kuotan. Palace maids knelt by her beauty couch, carefully holding her hands, while another young maid gently massaged her legs. The consort lounged comfortably with her eyes closed, appearing not to notice Ning Zhaorou at all.

“Your subject—” Ning Zhaorou had just begun to kneel and offer a greeting when something struck the back of her knees, sending her crashing firmly to the floor.

It was the same palace maid who had led her in. After kicking her, the maid bowed slightly and whispered, “Miss Ning, silence. Her Highness detests being disturbed while she rests.”

Ning Zhaorou looked up at her. Her knees had scraped the ground harshly—she could feel her skirt had torn a bit.

Then she looked at the supposedly sleeping consort again and lowered her head in silence.

So this was the lesson Consort Liang meant to give her—make her kneel? Even a mere palace maid could treat her with such contempt. This must have been an order directly from the consort herself.

Time passed slowly in the still tent. It wasn’t clear how long she knelt, but eventually, Ning Zhaorou’s back began to ache terribly. At last, she heard some movement.

Consort Liang seemed to have just awakened. She first inspected her freshly dyed nails, nodded in satisfaction, and rewarded the maid. Then she reached for the tea prepared beside her. As her gaze lowered, she suddenly noticed Ning Zhaorou still kneeling on the floor.

“When did Miss Ning arrive? Why didn’t you say something?” she asked in feigned surprise. “Oh my, quickly help Miss Ning up.”

She acted all warm and caring, and the palace maids around her stepped forward to assist Ning Zhaorou.

By now, no one knew how long she had been kneeling. As the maid pulled her up, pain shot through Ning Zhaorou’s knees, and she stumbled forward. The maid didn’t seem to steady her and instead let go. Fortunately, Ning Zhaorou managed to catch herself on the floor—but not before her knees slammed into it again, making her gasp from the pain.

Her lips trembled. Even so, she had to rise on her own, then bow respectfully and thank the consort.

“Is Miss Ning alright?” Consort Liang said casually, glancing at her nails. “You look as though you’ve suffered some grievance in my tent. Be careful not to let anyone get the wrong idea once you leave.”

Ning Zhaorou’s face was ghostly pale, and cold sweat dampened her back from the pain. She shook her head and quietly replied, “Your Highness is gracious toward your subject… I am not aggrieved.”