Chapter 11: Lively

Inside the Chaohui Hall, Consort Xian, who hadn’t slept the entire night, sat leaning on the luohan bed, staring blankly out the window.

It was a sunny day. The dazzling sunlight, however, stung her eyes.

“Elder Sister, I’ve come to see you.” The voice of Consort Lü, Lü Shuqing, entered Consort Xian’s ears. She didn’t turn her head. Lü Shuqing stopped behind her and also looked out at the swaying shadows of the trees as she slowly said, “I heard His Majesty was furious last night, stormed out of the Chaohui Hall, and issued a decree assigning the Empress of Virtue to oversee the Six Palaces. But Elder Sister, don’t be too sad.”

Those few words, supposedly meant to console, felt more like stabbing a knife into Consort Xian’s chest.

It was clearly intended to make her uncomfortable.

The young palace maids had already been dismissed. When Consort Lü entered, only Consort Xian’s chief palace maid, Suyu, was present.

Upon hearing Lü Shuqing’s words, Suyu immediately felt a surge of anger. “Her Highness is already deeply upset. Why must Consort Lü add fuel to the fire?”

As a maid, she wasn’t qualified to speak so brazenly.

But seeing even Consort Xian’s blood-related sister kick her while she was down, she couldn’t hold back her emotions.

Lü Shuqing shot her a cold glance. “Is this how Elder Sister usually indulges the people around her?”

“A mere palace maid dares to speak so rudely.”

Suyu clenched her teeth and could only bow deeply in apology. “This servant spoke out of turn. I beg Your Highnesses for forgiveness.”

Consort Xian finally turned to speak. “Suyu, you may go.”

Her tone was gentle as always. Suyu answered and withdrew from the hall.

Lü Shuqing gave a light snort.

Consort Xian slowly rose and looked calmly at Lü Shuqing.

Lü Shuqing didn’t dodge her gaze. Her eyes were filled with open mockery.

“It was you, wasn’t it?” Consort Xian said after a long silence, her voice calm but resolute.

A faint smile played on Lü Shuqing’s lips. “What is Elder Sister talking about? I don’t understand.”

“I once did a favor for that young eunuch. You used our sisterly relationship to coax him into smuggling two venomous snakes into the palace, intending to use them to harm Consort Yun. The Emperor favors Consort Yun highly. Whether or not she came to harm, His Majesty would surely investigate thoroughly. Once he ordered an inquiry, I would inevitably be implicated and punished.”

“But what good would that do for you?”

“Shuqing, if I fall, you will only end up in an even more pitiful state.”

These words only made Lü Shuqing laugh even more wildly.

Consort Xian frowned slightly and heard her grinding her teeth as she spoke, “When my mother was beaten to death, what good did it do you all?” Her eyes reddened, her voice cold and crazed. “I’m not after any benefit. I don’t care what becomes of me in the end. As long as you come down with me, even if I fall into the deepest hell, I don’t mind.”

They were both born into the Lü family, yet their fates were entirely different.

Because Lü Lanshuang’s mother was the main wife of the family head, while hers was a concubine who could be beaten to death at will.

From birth, she had lived in Lü Lanshuang’s shadow.

It was that way in the Lü family, and even after leaving it, nothing changed. Because of Lü Lanshuang’s presence, the Emperor was never willing to give her much favor.

How could she possibly be content? How could she not hate?

Winning the Emperor’s favor and stepping on Lü Lanshuang was no longer a feasible path.

But fortunately, they were sisters. In the eyes of everyone, their fates were intertwined. If she sinned, how could Lü Lanshuang be blameless?

Thinking of how the Emperor had now begun to distrust Lü Lanshuang and stripped her of power, and how she would become the joke of the Six Palaces for a while, Lü Shuqing felt elated. She suppressed her madness and tugged the corners of her lips. “Even if you’ve been cast aside, Elder Sister, don’t be too heartbroken. Take care of your health. I’ll be watching over you from now on.”

After Consort Lü left, a trace of bitterness appeared at the corners of Lü Lanshuang’s lips.

She turned her head once more to the blazing sunlight outside. After a long moment, she closed her eyes and swallowed all that bitterness.

With Consort Xian reprimanded by the Emperor, no one was more delighted than Consort De, who now held the authority to manage the Six Palaces.

Back then, Empress Dowager Zhou had praised Consort Xian for her poise and urged the Emperor to hand over palace affairs to her. As a result, Consort Xian gained power over the harem, and the other concubines had to greet her respectfully. Consort De had always been suppressed.

Now that Consort Xian had been scolded and stripped of power, clearly no longer trusted, how could Consort De not rejoice?

Yet beyond her joy, Consort De also felt some confusion.

“Consort Xian has always acted cautiously, never giving anyone a handle against her. How could she suddenly anger His Majesty?” Reclining on a beauty couch, Consort De had already calmed down after her excitement. She took a grape from a palace maid and asked in puzzlement.

Noble Consort Jiang gently waved a silk fan and smiled. “Your Highness may not know, but just two nights ago, two venomous snakes appeared out of nowhere at Qingzhu Pavilion.”

“Venomous snakes?” Consort De frowned.

“Exactly,” Noble Consort Jiang nodded. “Why would such creatures appear in the palace?”

Consort De immediately understood and also smiled. “They must’ve been smuggled in from outside. It seems Consort Xian is somehow involved. That’s why His Majesty reacted so strongly.”

“How strange.” After a few moments of thought, Consort De added, “Even if Consort Xian disliked Lady Yun, why use such a risky method? Whether or not it succeeded, just the presence of such creatures in the palace would already mark her failure. Where did all her usual caution go?”

Noble Consort Jiang agreed. “Indeed, there’s something suspicious about the matter.”

Consort De thought further and asked, “Why wasn’t the incident with the venomous snakes at Qingzhu Pavilion spread around?”

“That has to do with Consort Yun,” Noble Consort Jiang said with a soft laugh behind her fan. “She may be a bit foolish, but luck is on her side. Not only was she unharmed, she even managed to catch both snakes.”

“Not only that, she soaked them in wine and presented them to the Emperor.”

“That’s how His Majesty found out.”

With a smile playing on her lips, Consort De listened quietly, then gave a light hum. “That Yun girl does have luck on her side. And this time, it’s thanks to her that Consort Xian stumbled. What a pity it didn’t become a full-blown scandal—Consort Xian still got off lightly.”

Noble Consort Jiang lowered her voice. “With the Lü family backing her, it’s difficult to topple Consort Xian over just this one thing.”

“But it’s already great that His Majesty doesn’t trust her like before.”

Consort De nodded in agreement. “That’s true.” Then, smiling brightly, she said, “Enough of this. It’s a joyful matter regardless. Chanbing, come taste this new dessert from the kitchen with me.” She happily invited Noble Consort Jiang to join her.

However, as word of Consort Xian’s reprimand spread, the other concubines began to learn about what happened at Qingzhu Pavilion.

What Consort De found amusing, others saw quite differently.

Given all the recent events involving Yun Ying and the Emperor’s attitude toward her, it became increasingly clear that her favor might not be temporary. Especially since Empress Dowager Zhou had granted her free access to the Library Pavilion—a clear sign of special favor and trust. All this made everyone reassess Yun Ying and reconsider their relationships with her.

While the palace buzzed with gossip, Yun Ying remained quietly in her corner.

After Consort Xian’s fall, the number of concubines visiting Qingzhu Pavilion increased. Yun Ying claimed she was still recovering from the fright and refused all visits.

The Emperor hadn’t entered the harem for days, but this made no difference to her.

The next time Yun Ying saw Consort Xian was many days after the latter had been reprimanded by the Emperor.

Though Consort Xian had been stripped of her power, on the day of formal greetings, the concubines still gathered at Chaohui Hall as usual.

Once the palace maids announced her arrival, Yun Ying entered the main hall—neither early nor late. Several concubines were already present, and Consort Xian sat at the head of the hall, her expression no different than usual.

Yun Ying approached and bowed formally. “This concubine greets Your Highness, Consort Xian.”

“Consort Yun, rise,” Consort Xian said calmly, showing no sign of resentment. She then instructed her attendants to provide a seat and serve tea.

Yun Ying offered thanks and took her seat, sipping tea leisurely.

Soon, more concubines arrived, except for Consort De, who came last.

“Greetings, Elder Sister Xian,” she said with a smile, offering a shallow curtsy. Before Consort Xian could respond, she had already seated herself in the first chair below.

Then she looked at Consort Xian with feigned surprise. “It’s only been a few days, but you seem thinner. Are you not eating or sleeping well? If that’s the case, you should summon a physician.”

Her words, cloaked in concern but laced with mockery, were too obvious. Everyone in the hall caught the insult.

But this was a conversation between Consort De and Consort Xian—who else dared to interject?

Most kept their mouths shut. Yet someone dared to speak.

“Consort Xian must have been exhausted from managing the Six Palaces previously. Now that His Majesty has appointed Consort De to assist, she finally has a helping hand,” came a voice from near the hall’s entrance—it was Gu Zhenzhen.

Many in the hall were stunned and turned toward her.

She looked completely unapologetic.

Her tone clearly implied that Consort De had only been assigned to help Consort Xian.

This contradicted what had actually happened just days ago.

It sounded like she was mocking Consort De for thinking too highly of herself—if not for Consort Xian’s mishap, would Consort De have been given anything? Even if she did intervene, it was just assisting Consort Xian.

Consort De had never been spoken to like this before.

Her expression darkened instantly. She glared in Gu Zhenzhen’s direction and snapped, “Who just spoke?”

Yun Ying and Gu Zhenzhen were seated close together.

Yun Ying had heard every word clearly and couldn’t help but admire Gu Zhenzhen’s boldness.

“This concubine was rude. I beg Consort Xian for forgiveness.”

Gu Zhenzhen shot Yun Ying a glare for watching the drama, then stood and bowed deeply—but only to Consort Xian.

Consort De’s face grew even darker.

She sneered and stood up, walking over to Gu Zhenzhen under everyone’s gaze. She grabbed Gu Zhenzhen’s chin and forced her to look up.

“Beauty Gu, do you remember the punishment for defying your superiors under palace law?” Consort De narrowed her eyes and then flung her hand away coldly. “Beauty Gu has acted improperly and offended me. Shuanghong, slap her!”