Seeing Liu Chan kneeling in the snow, Zhen Zhu couldn’t help but feel distressed again, “Mistress…”
She didn’t understand why her mistress had suddenly confronted Qian Pin Niangniang.
Clearly, these past days, her mistress had always spoken to her in a gentle tone, unlike someone reckless.
“It’s nothing.” Liu Chan glanced toward the direction of Taiji Hall, already spotting the approaching guiding eunuch. “Just kneeling for a while is nothing.”
Perhaps because she had suffered greatly in her past life, she felt indifferent even when using the “bitter flesh” strategy to catch Xiao Lin’s attention.
As long as it achieved the desired effect and purpose, it was enough.
“The Emperor is coming. This servant will go beg the Emperor to intervene,” Zhen Zhu couldn’t help but speak up. “They were the ones who couldn’t stand you from the beginning.”
With that, she made to stand up and go over.
But Liu Chan pulled her back, smiling with curved eyes, her tone helpless as she whispered so only the two of them could hear, “It’s not like I’m invisible in front of the Emperor. After the Emperor enters, he’ll definitely ask about me.”
She believed in her performance that night of climbing into bed, and she believed in her understanding of Xiao Lin.
Even if she couldn’t make Xiao Lin utterly infatuated, she had certainly left him wanting more. It was just that she had entered the palace unwillingly, and Xiao Lin was a lofty emperor who wouldn’t bother actively courting a woman.
So Xiao Lin was waiting for her to adapt to palace life on her own and take the initiative to seek favor.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said those words about waiting for her to understand that an emperor couldn’t devote himself to one woman forever.
She was kneeling in a hidden spot, so Xiao Lin didn’t notice her and quickly entered Yanxi Palace.
Sure enough, not long after.
Huang Jiu hurried out of Yanxi Palace, waving his horsetail whisk. His eyes darted around before finally settling on Liu Chan kneeling by the wall.
He almost jogged over.
Before even coming to a full stop, he immediately scolded the palace servants standing nearby, “Why haven’t you helped Consort Liu up yet? Are you all seeking death?!”
In just these few days, the Emperor had already asked about Consort Liu’s situation three to five times.
He had asked again just this morning.
For someone the Emperor cared about so much to be kneeling pitifully in the cold snow like this…
Huang Jiu watched as Liu Chan stood up, then quickly smiled and said, “Consort Liu, after the Emperor entered and found you weren’t inside, he asked about you. What do you say… will you follow this servant inside?”
What he didn’t say was that when Talent Sun complained about Consort Liu disrespecting her superiors and being arrogant, the Emperor remained unmoved.
But when he heard that Consort Liu was being punished kneeling outside, the Emperor’s face immediately darkened.
Probably everyone in the room now was too afraid to even breathe loudly!
Liu Chan felt full of gratitude toward Huang Jiu. “Alright.”
As she took a step to walk, she stiffened and stumbled, nearly falling forward and dragging Zhen Zhu down with her.
The mistress and servant looked somewhat disheveled.
“It’s nothing.” Liu Chan smiled apologetically and explained to Huang Jiu, “The ground is just a bit cold, and my legs have stiffened. They’ll be fine after some movement.”
Seeing how she remained magnanimous and unbothered despite clearly having been wronged, Huang Jiu nodded inwardly.
No wonder the Emperor favored this one.
All the other ladies in the palace were excessively delicate – only she was different.
Huang Jiu thought to himself, the more she was like this, the more the Emperor would dote on her. After all, only those who had been bullied too much would become accustomed to suffering injustices.
He had grown up by the Emperor’s side… and knew this was just how the Emperor was.
Liu Chan strode confidently into Yanxi Palace.
When the palace attendant led her to the doorway, she stepped inside without hesitation. As she walked forward, her bright eyes directly met Xiao Lin’s gaze, her small lips pressed together in a subtle smile.
Xiao Lin noticed her slightly uncomfortable gait, yet found himself momentarily captivated by her delicate charm.
For a fleeting moment, he thought, “This girl has grown much thinner.”
The deep maroon short sable coat she wore nearly enveloped her entire makeup-free face, yet it accentuated her fair complexion with a rosy glow. Combined with the delight in her eyes as she looked at him, he couldn’t help but curve his lips into a slight smile.
Liu Chan performed an elegant bow, greeting everyone with measured grace.
“Have you come to terms with it?” Xiao Lin deliberately adopted a stern expression.
“I have,” Liu Chan replied with natural composure.
The others exchanged puzzled glances, looking between the Emperor and Liu Chan standing in the middle of the room, wondering what exactly she had come to terms with.
Seated below, Consort Zhao raised an eyebrow, her thoughts churning as she glanced at Jing Guifei sitting opposite her.
Sure enough, she saw Jing Guifei’s knuckles turning white as she gripped the armrests of her chair.
Consort Zhao understood perfectly – if Liu Chan could speak to the Emperor with such ease, the palace was likely to gain another favored consort. This was indeed unfavorable for Jing Guifei, and… it appeared Jing Guifei was somewhat jealous.
While others might not know what happened that day at Shou’an Palace, she knew very well.
Seeing that her objective had been achieved, Liu Chan quietly turned and took the seat at the very back. After sitting down, she discreetly covered her knees with her palms.
She knew perfectly well that Xiao Lin’s gaze was still following her.
Consort Zhao soon began reporting recent palace affairs to Xiao Lin, including various expenditures. Several other consorts also brought up issues from their respective residences.
While others were speaking, Liu Chan fixed her attention on Talent Sun sitting across from her.
Talent Sun, already unsettled by the Emperor’s earlier attitude, grew increasingly uncomfortable under Liu Chan’s gaze, eventually resorting to glaring back fiercely.
Besides her, Qian Pin also appeared somewhat ill at ease.
Fortunately, Qian Pin held a higher rank and had more confidence. She only flustered momentarily when Liu Chan looked her way before quickly composing herself.
“Consort Liu, is there anything lacking in your residence?” Consort Zhao suddenly inquired.
Liu Chan rose as others had done before her. “In response to Zhaofei Niangniang, my maid went to collect the New Year garments two days ago, but the clothes were cut up with scissors by Talent Sun’s maid Xiao Su. Therefore, I would like to request a replacement set of clothing.”
Reasonable and justified – simply stating the facts.
It wasn’t even an accusation, just a request for replacement clothing.
“This happened two days ago?” Qian Pin finally seized the opportunity to speak, hoping to pin the earlier kneeling punishment on Liu Chan’s mistakes. She deliberately added, “If this occurred two days ago, why didn’t you mention it then? Why wait until you’re before the Emperor and all of us?”
She nearly outright accused Liu Chan of being calculating and seeking favor in public.
“Wasn’t it because Zhaofei Niangniang asked?” Liu Chan responded with an expression of pure innocence and bewilderment.
Xiao Lin watched her quietly from his elevated position. Coincidentally, she glanced up at him, the cunning in her eyes completely unabashed.
“Is this true?” Xiao Lin cleared his throat.
Consort Zhao stood to respond. “I am indeed aware of this matter, but I’ve been so busy these past few days that I forgot to inquire about the details.”
She looked at Talent Sun, her expression turning cold. “Xiao Su, you speak!”
Talent Sun was startled by the scolding, instinctively tightening her grip on her handkerchief.
Qian Pin beside her couldn’t hold back. “Zhaofei Niangniang, this Consort Liu…”
“I didn’t ask you,” Consort Zhao said mildly.