Jiang Ling felt as if everyone had become an enemy. Staring intently at the Ink Chrysanthemum for a long moment, she called out to Fang He who was about to leave: “Stop!”
Her voice was loud and urgent, startling Fang He so much she trembled all over. A Ruo, who was placing the tea jar, also jumped in fright.
“Come here, both of you!” Jiang Ling’s face darkened as she tried her best to adopt an imposing manner that could dominate all.
The two approached and stood before the couch. A Ruo shrank back, not daring to make a sound, while Fang He was so nervous she didn’t even dare lift her head.
“Who delivered the Ink Chrysanthemum? What did they say? Besides the Ink Chrysanthemum, what else did they deliver?”
Jiang Ling glanced sideways nonchalantly and saw the two exchanging looks, clearly guilty. She raised her voice and let out a cold laugh.
“It seems you won’t confess until you’re faced with dire consequences! Fine, if you won’t talk, this humble residence of mine is too small to accommodate two esteemed Bodhisattvas like you. I’ll send you to the Gong Zheng Si and let them deal with you!”
Though socially anxious, slow to react, and not particularly eloquent, she wasn’t foolish enough to be completely defenseless when Su Yue had already come knocking at her door. Even if she couldn’t counterattack, she still needed to defend herself somewhat.
The Gong Zheng Si was in charge of disciplinary orders, prohibitions, and punishments. It was the superior authority over the Six Bureaus and Twenty-Four Divisions, subordinate to the Shangshu Neisheng.
Typically, the Shangshu Neisheng was managed by the Empress who governed the six palaces. After the successive deaths of the Empresses, the rear palace was jointly administered by Consort Zhao and Consort Liu, assisting Imperial Concubine Lin. However, the authority of the Shangshu Neisheng remained in the hands of Yuan Mingdi and hadn’t been handed over to them.
Upon hearing “Gong Zheng Si,” A Ruo and Fang He turned deathly pale and involuntarily knelt down.
“Cai Ren…” they both urgently tried to plead, but Jiang Ling sharply cut them off.
“Silence!”
Jiang Ling had already warned them before. She had always treated them with utmost kindness, only requiring them to perform their assigned duties without any additional demands.
Having transmigrated into a book full of palace intrigue, if she were overly compassionate, she would be the one to die!
Though she didn’t know where the Gong Zheng Si was located, Jiang Ling remembered it had appeared in the book and thus invoked its name as a threat.
It seemed the name of the Gong Zheng Si was quite effective. Secretly pleased, Jiang Ling expressionlessly scanned the two and pointed at Fang He who remained in the Xie Fang Pavilion: “You answer first!”
Terrified, Fang He didn’t dare hide anything and truthfully recounted everything about Xue Yan’s visit: “Cai Ren, it was Xue Yan who came to find me. I had no choice!”
When Jiang Ling heard about the two taels of silver, she simply stared at Fang He without saying a word.
Fang He opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but found herself unable to speak.
After all, even a fool would know that gold doesn’t just fall from the sky.
“Cai Ren, here is the silver.” Fang He lifted her garment, took the purse from her waist, retrieved the silver ingot, and trembling, presented it to Jiang Ling.
Jiang Ling ignored the silver and turned to A Ruo: “How many benefits have you usually received from Su Cai Ren?”
Seeing that Fang He had already confessed, A Ruo didn’t dare conceal anything and disclosed all the rouge, face powder, hair ribbons, and other items Xue Yan had given them.
After listening, Jiang Ling felt utterly exasperated: “How utterly shameless! A bit of rouge and face powder, a few hair ribbons, and that’s enough for you to betray your own mistress?”
Most of the time, Jiang Ling was in a state of cultivating immortality and daydreaming, but she wasn’t blind.
“According to palace regulations, palace maids are not permitted to wear rouge or powder. While you all love beauty and secretly apply some occasionally, I turn a blind eye when I see it. As for hair ribbons—how much could a single ribbon cost? Consider the value of the snacks I regularly share with you. The fabric from my monthly allowance for undergarments and silk socks—I have far more than needed for my own underclothes, yet I’ve never questioned you taking the leftovers.”
Fang He instinctively pressed down her hem, having earlier revealed her undergarment while fetching her purse. The fabric of her undergarment was identical to what Jiang Ling wore.
A Ruo dared not utter a word either. Though Jiang Ling appeared indifferent to most matters, she noticed everything.
“With minds like yours, you still dare to scheme!”
A sudden thrill of intellectual superiority washed over Jiang Ling, though she quickly realized her statement was contradictory.
If the two were truly clever and could calculate, they wouldn’t have been ensnared by Xue Yan’s trivial favors.
Stupidity and malice were intertwined, inseparable. Who knew when fools might have a sudden stroke of “brilliance” and deliver a fatal blow?
Jiang Ling grew increasingly troubled, unsure how to dismiss the two. However, they weren’t her immediate concern. Staring at the box of Ink Chrysanthemum, Jiang Ling found Su Yue’s tactics utterly baffling. She simply picked up the box and headed to the West Side Courtyard.
Though uncertain how to deal with Su Yue, she had to make it clear: she knew what Su Yue was up to, and she wouldn’t succeed!
“Cai Ren, Cai Ren, they’re back, they’re back!”
Ming Cui lifted her skirt and rushed forward a few steps, then remembering Su Yue’s scoldings, quickly slowed her pace before entering to report again: “A Ruo was carrying a jar identical to the tea caddy Consort De gave you.”
Su Yue had already heard Ming Cui. Her expression darkened as she acknowledged, “Go. I know.”
Ming Cui curtseyed and withdrew, saying, “This maid will fetch your meal now.”
Xue Yan felt uneasy and asked, “Cai Ren, shall I go probe A Ruo for more information?”
Su Yue shook her head. “No need.”
The room was dim and unnervingly oppressive. Not daring to speak further, Xue Yan fetched a fire striker to light the lamps.
Su Yue sat motionless, her pale face looking ghastly white under the palace lanterns.
Just then, Xue Yan heard footsteps outside. Surprised—the kitchen was far, Ming Cui couldn’t return so soon—she lifted the curtain to look and was stunned to see Jiang Ling striding over. “Jiang Cairen is here.”
Jiang Ling nodded to Xue Yan. It was her first time in the West Side Courtyard, and she glanced around curiously.
The layout mirrored the main residence: a three-bay structure with side chambers, two pomegranate trees in the courtyard, and round vats on either side containing water lilies.
Though smaller, it was ample for one mistress and two maids.
Jiang Ling’s anxiety suddenly dissipated. Pride was trivial—even if ordered to move from the main quarters to this side courtyard, as long as she had food and clothing, it was merely changing locations to idle away time. She could still survive.
Hearing Xue Yan’s words, Su Yue slowly turned her head to find Jiang Ling already inside.
“Su Cai Ren.” Jiang Ling couldn’t bring herself to use affectionate sisterly terms, addressing her formally by title instead. “The Ink Chrysanthemum is too precious. I dare not accept it.”
She placed the box on the low table, then produced the silver ingot Fang He had surrendered. “No merits to receive such rewards—I return your silver ingot as well.”
Without waiting for Su Yue’s reaction, Jiang Ling turned and left.
Xue Yan stood at the doorway, watching Jiang Ling walk away without a backward glance, then turned to look at Su Yue’s unsettling expression. Her heart churned with anxiety as she asked uneasily, “Cai Ren, what does she mean by this?”
From beginning to end, Su Yue had not uttered a word. She took the Ink Chrysanthemum from the box, plucked its petals, and crushed them forcefully in her hand. The translucent tips of her fingers were stained with flower juice, resembling dried blood.
“Returning the Ink Chrysanthemum is her way of flaunting her power—she has the backing of Fu Ning Palace.”
Su Yue finally spoke, her voice hoarse, her gaze gradually turning frenzied: “I worked so hard, bending over backwards to please the Emperor, to curry favor with Zhao Defei. They only used me as an outlet, treated me like a dog.”
Xue Yan was so shocked her eyes nearly popped out. Su Yue continued tearing and crushing the petals, the precious Ink Chrysanthemums now littering the ground like mud.
“I come from a humble background, without an illustrious family lineage. No matter how capable I am, it’s useless. But why? Just why?”
Su Yue suddenly turned to Xue Yan, her eyes bloodshot, her thin lips as pale as her face, filled with boundless resentment and unwillingness.
“Why do they treat me like this? That fool Jiang—what gives her the right to put on such a superior air and flaunt her power in front of me!”
“Cai Ren…” Xue Yan mustered her courage, trembling as she said, “Cai Ren, don’t be anxious. The main chamber merely returned the Ink Chrysanthemum. How could Consort De possibly back her?”
“Zhao Defei gifted her tea—that was a slap in my face. She looks down on me, that’s why she dares to humiliate me so brazenly.”
Two Ink Chrysanthemums were torn to shreds by Su Yue. She ground them viciously under her foot, took a long deep breath, and gradually regained her composure.
“Flowers don’t stay red for a hundred days. It’s not the end yet—I won’t rush.”
Fu Ning Palace.
After Jiang Ling left, Huang Momo said softly, “Your Highness, shall this servant make inquiries about what exactly happened at Xie Fang Pavilion?”
“Why bother?” Zhao Defei examined her nails and chuckled. “Even if they break each other’s heads, it’s nothing more than minnows jumping about.”
Huang Momo paused, hesitating before saying, “It still concerns Your Highness. Since Your Highness is envied, it’s better to be cautious.”
“If what Su said is false, Jiang will settle scores with her—why should I lift a finger? If what Su said is true, there are plenty in this palace who envy me—one or two more make no difference. Besides, once Jiang finds out, she’ll be furious and will still cause trouble for Su. Su’s intentions are clear—she’s scheming to win favor, merely wanting to borrow my influence. I’ve already allowed her to borrow it once. Pity she has high ambitions but lacks the capability.”
Zhao Defei withdrew her hand, her expression icy. “In this rear palace, people like Su don’t last long. What’s the use of blaming heaven and earth? What isn’t yours will never be yours.”
Huang Momo pondered for a moment, then smiled obsequiously: “That’s true. Su Cai Ren may be somewhat clever, but whether her words are true or false, she ultimately wants to use Your Highness’s hand to deal with Jiang Cairen. Why should Your Highness take on trouble to help her? This servant observed earlier that Jiang Cairen, dressed plainly, has exceptionally fine features. If Your Highness were to present her before the Emperor, she might catch His Majesty’s eye even more than Su Cai Ren.”
Zhao Defei shot her a glance, sharp enough to send a chill down Huang Momo’s spine.
“Should I start presenting every fragrant and foul thing before others? Am I to become a madam running a brothel?”
Cold sweat broke out on Huang Momo’s forehead as she hurriedly said, “This servant misspoke. May Your Highness calm your anger.”
“Since you mentioned it, Lady Jiang is quite beautiful, but not particularly bright in the head—slow-witted and dull-witted. In the rear palace where clever people abound, fools are rare treasures. Being beautiful yet foolish makes one most likely to win favor.”
Consort Zhao sat up straight and said, “A gentleman does not stand beneath a precarious wall. Whether it’s Fu Ning Hall or Chong Hua Palace, bustling with activity or deserted and quiet, it all comes down to just one word from the Emperor.”
Her gaze darkened, and after a moment, she continued, “There’s been no movement from Chong Hua Palace so far, and Zhao Wanying continues her pretentious act, playing the role of the elder sister—kind and magnanimous. A Jue is the most important; we must keep a close watch on him and ensure nothing happens.”
Outside the room came Xiao Yunjue’s impatient cry: “Mother, Mother, I’m hungry!”
“The Second Prince has returned.” Granny Huang hurried out to greet him, and Consort Zhao also stood up, repeatedly calling for water and food to be prepared.
Fu Ning Hall was brightly lit, with Consort Zhao, Granny Huang, and a crowd of palace maids and eunuchs gathered around Xiao Yunjue, creating a lively scene.
Chong Hua Palace.
Like Fu Ning Palace, it was brilliantly illuminated, but the grannies and palace maids moved about quietly, and the palace was serene and tranquil.
Imperial Concubine Lin sat upright on the couch, carefully reviewing the schoolwork of the Eldest Prince, Xiao Yunrui. She had a slender figure and delicate features, with a cool, orchid-like elegance. Combined with her strictness, everyone in the rear palace feared her.
Granny Xu quietly approached and whispered, “Your Highness, there’s been a quarrel over at Xie Fang Pavilion, and the one from Fu Ning Palace has gotten involved.”
Without looking up, Imperial Concubine Lin said indifferently, “It’s a trivial matter. Go and pass the message to Consort Zhao.”