Chapter 24: I Didn’t Even Live to This Day

After Helian Qi left.

Consort Shun cried tears of joy.

“Your Highness, why are you crying? His Majesty values you so much, this is a happy occasion!” Chunque said.

Consort Shun wiped away her tears, “I entered the mansion at the age of fifteen, I’ve known His Majesty for four years, he has never paid any attention to me. Back in the Prince’s Mansion, Consort Zhuang was favored, His Majesty even came to my courtyard, she said she had a headache and tricked His Majesty away…”

“You can now compete with her for his favor! No one can bully you anymore!” Chunque comforted her.

Consort Shun wiped her tears, remembering what happened today, she asked, “That Imperial Physician Sun today, was it thanks to Ning Meiren?”

“Yes. But she didn’t know you were pregnant, she invited her for herself, she said her leg ailment had recurred… I think she was just pretending to be sick… And she’s also suspected of attacking Noble Consort Li, maybe she was trying to deal with Noble Consort Li, and it affected you…” Chunque said.

Consort Shun shook her head, “It’s not about affecting me, it’s someone deliberately targeting me. Ning Meiren helped me by accident, but she offended Empress Dowager Xue, such a concubine who is an enemy to everyone, I dare not befriend her…”

…

咸福宫, right wing.

Tang Miaoling had deliberately drenched herself in cold water that day, she was sick and delirious, she had a fever for several days, the Imperial Physician came to see her, she was seriously ill, even Empress Dowager Xue exempted her from the greeting ceremony, for fear of catching her illness.

Now she had finally recovered, but to avoid sleeping with the Emperor, Tang Miaoling deliberately refused to take medicine, dragging it out so she wouldn’t fully recover.

“Mistress, something big happened today…” Qiu Xia walked in quickly and reported what happened in Jingxi Palace.

Tang Miaoling was shocked, “Consort Shun is pregnant? Noble Consort Li is dead?”

“Yes.” Qiu Xia nodded.

Tang Miaoling was a little confused, huh? As someone with memories from her past life, how come I don’t know that Consort Shun is pregnant?

Wait, today is the first day of April.

Then it’s fine.

In my past life, I didn’t even live to this day.

Tang Miaoling died on the last day of March in her past life.

As for Noble Consort Li, who was still alive in her past life, is now dead, Tang Miaoling was a little surprised, but then again, not really.

Noble Consort Li in her past life probably didn’t have much contact with her cousin, so she was spared.

But in this life, she actively offended her cousin, isn’t that like cutting in line to see the King of Hell?

It’s obvious that her cousin would send her away first.

What about the other two who were supposed to be sent away by my cousin in my past life?

What’s their situation now.

Tang Miaoling thought of her two friends in the underworld, she looked at Qiu Xia curiously and asked, “Do you know Lady Consort Wei? Is she… okay?”

“You’re talking about Lady Consort Wei, who entered the palace with you from the Four Great Marquisate families?” Qiu Xia asked.

Tang Miaoling nodded, “Yes…”

“Lady Consort Wei fell into the Yao Yue Pond in the Imperial Garden ten days ago, it is said that when she was rescued, she was almost out of breath… She’s really lucky to be alive… She’s recovering in the palace now…” Qiu Xia was well-informed, she answered.

Huh? Lady Consort Wei didn’t die?

Tang Miaoling recalled, in her past life, Ning Wanyin and Lady Consort Wei met by chance in the Imperial Garden, Lady Consort Wei always looked down on Ning Wanyin’s background, she made a few sarcastic remarks…

Lady Consort Wei drowned that day, it was said that she was pushed by her cousin.

Because there was insufficient evidence, and the Emperor protected Ning Wanyin, although Lady Consort Xue and others demanded that Ning Wanyin pay for her life, it ended up being dropped.

Ten days ago at the Yao Yue Pond, the time and place match perfectly with the past life.

But how is she still alive?

Did she drink two less sips of water this time?

What’s even more strange is that since she didn’t die, why didn’t she come out and accuse Ning Wanyin of pushing her down…

Qiu Xia continued, “I heard that Lady Consort Wei stepped on a cobblestone and slipped… Now the cobblestones by the Yao Yue Lake have been replaced with white sand. You should be careful when you go out in the future, Mistress, pay attention to your footing.”

Tang Miaoling was even more confused.

Huh? How did she fall into the water?

Wasn’t she pushed by my cousin?

Tang Miaoling couldn’t figure it out, she put it aside and continued to ask, “Is everything alright at Linlang Palace?”

Qiu Xia was even more puzzled, the main position of Linlang Palace was held by Consort Zhuang, the Crown Princess was raised by her.

Because Consort Zhuang disliked other concubines, only she and her daughter lived in Linlang Palace.

“Consort Zhuang is doing well, there’s nothing unusual in Linlang Palace.”

My cousin didn’t attack Consort Zhuang, and the Crown Princess is still alive.

Why is that?

Could it be because Noble Consort Li cut in line, my cousin was too busy and hasn’t had time to act yet?

That’s possible.

There’s a priority in death.

Noble Consort Li actively offended my cousin, it’s normal for my cousin to send her away first.

“Beauty, your illness is almost healed, why don’t you go out for a walk…” Qiu Xia persuaded.

“Cough, cough, cough…” Tang Miaoling immediately coughed, pretending to be weak, “I’m not well yet, I have a headache and a pain in my chest, I’m uncomfortable everywhere…”

Although my two friends in the underworld are still alive, didn’t my cousin send away a newcomer?

My cousin is still the same ruthless killer.

The people who die might be different, but the killing blade is always so fast.

I don’t want to face this terrifying world.

From today onwards, I’ll live a long life.

Pretend to be sick, lie flat, and stay out of the world’s affairs.

…

In Cining Palace.

“Did you instruct Noble Consort Li to harm Lady Consort Liu?” Empress Dowager Xue asked.

Lady Consort Xue was full of resentment, “Aunt, I didn’t even know Lady Consort Liu was pregnant…”

“Then it seems it was Consort Shu who did it…” Empress Dowager Xue pondered. Now the Emperor only has one son and one daughter, Consort Shu should be the one who is most unwilling to have a prince born.

Lady Consort Xue said angrily, “I didn’t take her seriously before, she’s quite clever, she even dragged me into this…”

Noble Consort Li was her follower, the Emperor would definitely suspect her of being behind it.

“Consort Shu has been in the palace for many years, her foundation is solid, the Cen family needs her and will protect her. Now is not the right time to deal with her, dealing with Ning Wanyin is the top priority.” Empress Dowager Xue looked at her and reminded her.

Lady Consort Xue said angrily, “I already have a good plan to kill two birds with one stone, but it involves some risks, and I thought Noble Consort Li was useful, so I planned to use her first. I didn’t expect her to be useless, Aunt, don’t worry, according to my original plan, I can make Ning Wanyin wish for death but not get it!”

Lady Consort Xue left with a confident air, she was full of anger and wanted to teach Ning Wanyin a lesson.

Empress Dowager Xue watched her leave, she couldn’t help but shake her head, she said to a senior maid who was serving her, “Yan’er is still young and impulsive, she’s not very careful in her actions. Go and serve her, don’t stop her, let her use Ning Shi to practice her skills, just let me know if anything happens.”

“Yes.” The senior maid bowed and left.

…

April arrived, it was the annual summer hunting season for the royal family.

Every year, the Emperor would go hunting in the royal mountains outside the capital for several days, accompanied by princes, ministers, and concubines from the palace.

Because there were few rooms in the mountain palace, the number of concubines who could go was limited, only about five.

Consort Shu drafted a list and presented it to Helian Qi, “Consort Zhuang loves hunting the most, she will definitely go. Lady Consort Xue, Lady Consort Cen, Ning Meiren are all your new favorites, and Consort Shun, she didn’t have this opportunity in the past, this year you should give her this grace…”

Because after concubines entered the palace, their families could not see them.

But during the summer hunting season, princes, ministers, and their families would accompany them. If their family members happened to be among those accompanying them, they could see each other, which was also a grace given by the Emperor to his favored concubines.

“Consort Shun is not feeling well, she won’t go.” The Emperor directly refused.

Consort Shu had already guessed that the Emperor wouldn’t let Consort Shun go out, but Consort Shun’s credit for being pregnant was there, she had to mention it first, she took over and said, “Then these four sisters will accompany Your Majesty this year?”

The Emperor glanced at the list, he remembered two people, “Add Lady Consort Song and Lady Consort Wen.”

Consort Shu was stunned, these two were the daughters of important officials…

“Oh, I forgot about these two sisters, they are also lovely people.” Consort Shu smiled and took over, she remembered both of them in her heart.