Consort Zhao was already accompanying the Empress Dowager in conversation.
Speaking of this Consort Zhao, she was quite a formidable figure.
Although Jing Guifei was the most favored consort in the rear palace, she wasn’t the one holding palace authority. The holder of palace authority was Consort Zhao.
She was a peace-marriage princess sent from the neighboring Jiang Country after Xiao Lin ascended the throne. However, since Jiang Country was merely a small state subordinate to their Great Xia Country, the peace-marriage princess naturally wasn’t qualified to become Empress.
Thus, Xiao Lin conferred her the position of Consort.
Logically, as someone from another country sent for peace-marriage, Consort Zhao only needed to remain quietly in the palace as a “hostage.” Yet not only could she contend for some favor with Jing Guifei, she even managed to securely obtain palace authority from Xiao Lin.
Consort Zhao had already finished serving the Empress Dowager her morning meal and was preparing to help her change clothes to receive the court ladies.
In these trivial yet solemn matters, Consort Zhao indeed performed more diligently.
After all, Jing Guifei’s background was somewhat lacking.
Liu Chan followed Jing Guifei forward to pay respects. “May the Empress Dowager enjoy boundless happiness and peace.”
After the Empress Dowager bid them rise, Consort Zhao then bowed to Jing Guifei, before Liu Chan finally bowed to Consort Zhao. “This humble girl pays respects to Consort Zhao.”
When she looked up, her gaze happened to meet Consort Zhao’s.
Consort Zhao possessed strikingly vibrant features, quite different from Jing Guifei’s delicate “pale-robed beauty” who appeared too frail to care for herself. She was tall and slender, typically dressing in bold, magnificent styles. Today she was particularly resplendent, with her hair piled high adorned with exquisite gold ornaments and gemstones, her makeup so captivatingly dignified and beautiful.
When Consort Zhao clearly saw Liu Chan’s face, a flash of admiration crossed her eyes, and she spoke bluntly, “The palace has been buzzing that Your Highness has hidden a beauty in Weiyang Palace, one even our Emperor adores. Seeing her today, this young girl is indeed worthy of being called a beauty, though still quite young. I wonder if she might truly become a palace beauty someday?”
Detecting the hidden meaning in Consort Zhao’s words, Jing Guifei responded somewhat sharply, “Thank you for your concern, sister. I merely missed my family and brought her here for companionship. She will be sent back today.”
Their exchange was pointed, seemingly about Liu Chan yet offering her no opportunity to speak.
She simply listened as entertainment.
As their conversation grew increasingly tense, the Empress Dowager finally spoke leisurely, “Enough.”
The Empress Dowager pointed at Liu Chan. “Come forward, let me have a look.”
Liu Chan properly performed the full ceremonial greeting to the Empress Dowager, appearing thoroughly obedient. She truly didn’t dare reveal too much, even having lived two lives. Those who could emerge victorious among countless women were not to be underestimated.
Actually, the Empress Dowager likely had little interest in her.
To the Empress Dowager, she was merely a peripheral pawn—soon to be expelled from the palace, a discarded piece.
“She does have lovely features,” the Empress Dowager remarked, glancing meaningfully at Jing Guifei beside her. “But appearance is secondary—what matters most is affinity.”
This was a reprimand for her failed scheme to have Liu Chan share the Emperor’s bed.
She had been given the opportunity but proved incompetent.
Jing Guifei meekly acknowledged the criticism.
Consort Zhao glanced at them thoughtfully nearby.
Seeing that Jing Guifei seemed to understand her meaning, the Empress Dowager finally spoke indifferently, “Attendants, fetch a fine bracelet from the treasury and reward her with it.”
Soon, a pair of translucent jade bracelets were brought and presented before Liu Chan.
Liu Chan promptly expressed her joyful gratitude to the Empress Dowager.
Shortly after, the Empress Dowager, supported by Consort Zhao, went out to receive the ladies from the former court who had come to pay their respects.
At that moment.
Chun’er hurried in from outside and whispered a few words into Jing Guifei’s ear. Jing Guifei’s face immediately darkened.
She took a few steps outward but then remembered Liu Chan, who was about to follow her.
“Take her elsewhere to wait,” Jing Guifei instructed.
Liu Chan was led by the palace maid to a side hall to rest, while Jing Guifei, appearing unhurried as if strolling leisurely, quickened her pace toward a certain place once she was out of everyone’s sight.
In a secluded corner at the northeast side of Shou’an Palace, a flamboyantly dressed young man with dark circles under his eyes leaned against the wall. He chewed on a withered blade of grass he had plucked from somewhere, his face brimming with confidence.
Soon, light footsteps approached, and the man’s expression brightened with delight.
“Your Highness, it’s been a while,” Meng Xun said, taking unsteady steps forward.
Jing Guifei looked at him coldly and asked, “Why did you send for me?”
As she finished speaking, she noticed the man’s lecherous hand reaching out to touch her face. Instinctively, she took two steps back. “Meng Xun, how dare you!”
She glanced subconsciously at Chun’er, who was standing at a distance keeping watch. Seeing that Chun’er wasn’t looking in their direction, she breathed a slight sigh of relief.
“This is the palace! What do you think you’re doing?” Jing Guifei hissed angrily.
Meng Xun didn’t advance further but gave her a lustful once-over. “Just a few days ago, you sent someone to find me for a love potion. Now you act like a chaste and virtuous woman. Have you fallen out of favor?”
Jing Guifei’s face darkened, and she turned to leave.
But before she had taken two steps, a lazy voice sounded from behind. “I heard you’re planning to send that Liu family’s illegitimate daughter out of the palace. It seems you failed to get rid of this problem for me. Now I don’t want to marry her. What should we do?”
He had initially thought Liu Chan, with her delicate beauty and slight resemblance to the woman before him, would be charming. To his disappointment, she turned out to be a dull and simple-minded blockhead—utterly uninteresting!
Marrying her would be worse than marrying the top courtesan from the Drunk Red Chamber.
At least the courtesan could appreciate romance.
“You have the nerve to say that! If the knockout drug you provided hadn’t failed, why would I need to send her out of the palace?!” Jing Guifei retorted, her anger flaring. “If you don’t want to marry her, have your family call off the engagement. What does that have to do with me?”
Her chest heaved with rage. “Meng Xun, don’t think I owe you anything!”
“Don’t owe me?” Meng Xun curled his lips and stepped closer to her again. “If it weren’t for me protecting you back then, do you really think you could have preserved your chastity in the Drunk Red Chamber, been chosen by the Liu family, and become the Emperor’s Guifei?”
His expression suddenly turned cold. “Jing Guifei, your current wealth and glory, your position above thousands, owe a part to me.”
Jing Guifei didn’t rebut. She clenched her fists, a flicker of murderous intent flashing in her eyes.
After a long pause, she spoke calmly, “Tell me, what do you want to do?”
Hearing this, Meng Xun laughed. “That’s more like it. I don’t need Your Highness to do anything too difficult. Just find an opportunity to put this into Liu Chan’s drink, coax her into drinking it, and then bring her to a room in the rear hall.”
He extended his hand, revealing a small paper packet in his palm.
“Understood.” Jing Guifei reached out to take it, casting a cold glance at Meng Xun. “I will only do what you have said. Whatever happens afterward has nothing to do with me. Consider this my repayment for the favor you once showed me.”
Meng Xun glanced at her and produced a slender box from his sleeve.
“The incense I gave you couldn’t possibly be faulty. Why not try it yourself with the Emperor?” He smirked lewdly. “With just this incense, nothing will be detected. Remember to sprinkle some Yilan Flower pollen on yourself.”
He tossed it into Jing Guifei’s hands. “Take it. May Jing Guifei enjoy undying favor—after all, the position of Empress remains vacant.”