Upon hearing the address “Qian Pin,” Liu Chan turned her head unhurriedly to look.
She had only two distinct memories of Qian Pin: first, that she lived up to her surname—extremely wealthy, hailing from a prominent merchant family in the capital that also held a nominal earldom. Her ancestors had once donated their entire fortune to the depleted state treasury, alleviating the court’s urgent crisis, for which they were granted a title of earl without real power.
The second memory was of Qian Pin’s fast and gossipy tongue, which even Xiao Lin detested, hence she held little favor.
Despite this, she had managed to bear a daughter after just a few nights of serving the emperor.
Moreover, she was Xiao Lin’s eldest daughter.
Because of this, even without favor, her position as a consort was secure, and she could even aspire to a higher consort rank in the future.
Noticing Talent Sun whispering into Qian Pin’s ear for a moment and then seeing Qian Pin scrutinize her with a disdainful gaze, Liu Chan nodded calmly in their direction before deliberately turning to step into Yanxi Palace.
“Liu Shi, wait,” Qian Pin raised her voice.
Liu Chan halted but did not turn around.
Supported by her palace maid, Qian Pin sauntered over and stood before Liu Chan, her pupils contracting involuntarily at the sight of such an exquisitely beautiful face!
Her first reaction was a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, the emperor had instructed the Office of Internal Affairs not to prepare a Green Head Placard for her. Otherwise, if someone like her gained favor, the dynamics of the rear palace would likely shift soon.
“Greetings, Qian Pin Niangniang,” Liu Chan curtsied, her face feigning innocence.
Beside her, Talent Sun gloated and deliberately provoked, “Qian Pin Niangniang, this Consort Liu relies on her connection with Jing Guifei to act arrogantly in the palace. She doesn’t even spare a glance for a lowly talent like me. You are the most esteemed consort after Jing Guifei and Zhaofei Niangniang. If you don’t put her in her place, she might even dare to step over you in the future.”
After saying this, she lowered her voice, “Think of how Jing Guifei has bullied you.”
At these words, Qian Pin’s face darkened considerably.
Over the years, relying on Jing Guifei’s immense favor, she had offended many in the palace. Even without direct confrontations, the servants of Weiyang Palace were a bunch of snobbish, domineering troublemakers.
“Talent Sun certainly has a tongue that can turn white into black,” Liu Chan lifted her eyes to look at her, lowering her voice. “Even without relying on Guifei Niangniang’s connection, I could still act arrogantly.”
She took a few steps closer to Talent Sun and said pointedly, “Care to test that?”
It was a blatant provocation.
Talent Sun’s eyes widened in shock, instantly fuming with anger, yet she still remembered to whisper to Qian Pin beside her, “Qian Pin Niangniang, you’ve witnessed it yourself!”
Qian Pin was also momentarily stunned by Liu Chan’s behavior—so audacious!
She clapped her hands, laughing in fury, “Well, well, well! What a fine Consort Liu! Daring to spout such insolence right in front of this consort. How could I possibly let you—”
“Jing Guifei Niangniang has arrived!”
Before Qian Pin could finish, the announcement of a eunuch echoed from nearby.
Everyone froze.
Qian Pin, who had been about to punish Liu Chan, instinctively fell silent.
No matter how much resentment they harbored toward Jing Guifei in private, she was the highest-ranking consort in the palace.
On the surface, everyone had to show her utmost respect.
Qian Pin shot a glare at Talent Sun beside her and whispered, “Why would she come here today?”
On ordinary days, Jing Guifei was the most favored in the palace, yet also the most aloof, rarely joining gatherings of the imperial consorts.
There was an unwritten rule in the palace: on the first, fifth, eleventh, fifteenth, twenty-first, and twenty-fifth days of each month, all consorts who had formally served the Emperor were to gather at Yanxi Palace to converse and strengthen sisterly bonds.
Jing Guifei was never seen at such occasions.
Given her aloof nature, even for today’s Minor New Year banquet, she went directly from her own palace to Deng Que Tower.
Talent Sun sneered, “She must have come because she couldn’t stand the sight of Consort Liu, that seductress, trying to lure the Emperor here.”
As Jing Guifei sat in her palanquin, she spotted Liu Chan being stopped at the entrance of Yanxi Palace from afar, and her heart stirred with delight. When the palanquin was set down, she decided to approach.
“What’s going on here?” she deliberately scolded.
Liu Chan glanced at Talent Sun’s fawning, sycophantic expression and suddenly understood: the hardships she’d faced recently likely involved Jing Guifei’s meddling.
She laughed coldly inwardly.
Trying to win her over? Not a chance!
Liu Chan bowed with the others but maintained a cold demeanor. “Greetings, Guifei Niangniang.”
Jing Guifei’s gaze swept over Liu Chan’s face, then noticed the robes Liu Chan wore were the ones she had gifted days earlier. Had she finally come to her senses?
Before she could secretly rejoice, she registered Liu Chan’s indifference and instantly felt displeased.
Had these days of hardship not yet made her face reality?
“Guifei Niangniang, this Consort Liu has shown disrespect to Qian Pin Niangniang. What do you think…” Talent Sun stepped forward to complain, testing Jing Guifei’s stance.
“A mere Da Ying disrespecting a Pin—deal with her as appropriate,” Jing Guifei said indifferently. “There’s no need to consider my feelings.”
With that, she stepped inside.
Talent Sun smirked triumphantly and turned to Qian Pin. “Qian Pin Niangniang, we can’t let her off!”
“Consort Liu, you have disrespected me,” Qian Pin declared haughtily, pointing her long ornamental nail toward a distant corner. “Kneel there for half an hour.”
Snowflakes continued to drift down. Liu Chan followed her gesture and saw accumulated snow in that spot.
Such deliberate torment!
Qian Pin had expected Liu Chan to argue, throw a fit, or spout more insolence, and was prepared to have her dragged over.
To her surprise, Liu Chan softly replied, “Thank you, Qian Pin Niangniang.”
She went directly to the spot.
Qian Pin stared in astonishment, her eyes following Liu Chan’s back until she saw her genuinely kneel there.
“Why isn’t she throwing a fit at me?” Qian Pin felt oddly unsettled.
How could someone so defiant moments ago change temperament so quickly?
Qian Pin grew wary.
“She probably thought Jing Guifei Niangniang would take her side. Now that her hopes are dashed, she has no grounds for defiance,” Talent Sun explained plausibly. “Qian Pin Niangniang, shall we leave her kneeling here?”
Flatteringly, she took Qian Pin’s arm and guided her inside.
Before stepping through the door, Qian Pin couldn’t resist looking back at where Liu Chan knelt. Seeing her obediently kneeling, Qian Pin recalled Liu Chan’s “thanks.”
“Then why did she thank me?” Qian Pin asked again.
Talent Sun’s eyes flickered with a trace of impatience, yet she said, “How could I not have heard? Perhaps Your Highness misheard.”
Thank her?
Only a fool would thank the one who punished her.