Ning Wanwan hadn’t realized she was so formidable; she just hadn’t expected Pei Jinxu to actually release Zhong Qing because of a single sentence from her.
“The Zhong and Lin families have contributed a great deal to the court during the Jiangnan water calamity. For the sake of my Esteemed Consort and the Zhong family, I will release her. We can consider restoring her rank once she shows better behavior,” Pei Jinxu said gently, holding Ning Wanwan’s hand.
These past few days, Ning Wanwan had been on her monthly courses, so Pei Jinxu had gone to other women’s quarters. Ning Wanwan still felt a little bothered by it.
Sometimes, things were just that strange. She clearly hadn’t wanted to be intimate with Pei Jinxu before, but after it happened, she had to console herself with the fact that this was just how the emperor was. She was just one of the many Imperial Concubines in his Imperial Harem, and an imperial concubine should have the self-awareness of one.
After Pei Jinxu left, Lüqiu entered to see Ning Wanwan looking completely distracted.
“Niangniang, while you’ve been on your monthly courses these past few days, His Majesty has been in the Hall of Mental Cultivation reviewing memorials,” Lüqiu said, trying to comfort her while suppressing a laugh.
“Is that so?” Ning Wanwan was a little skeptical.
“Eunuch Li told this servant. The Jiangnan water calamity has been giving His Majesty a headache lately, so how could he have the mind to dote on anyone else?”
Hearing this, Ning Wanwan’s heart was put at ease.
“How are things on Zhong Qing’s side?” Ning Wanwan asked. She hoped that by releasing Zhong Qing this time, she wouldn’t be disappointed.
“Zhong Cairen knows that Chan Meiren was inextricably involved in framing her and is already preparing to counterattack. However, after hearing about Zhong Cairen’s situation in the palace, the Zhong family is sending her half-sister into the palace to secure favor.”
Ning Wanwan couldn’t help but look over in surprise.
“Niangniang, you may have bet on the wrong horse. Get ready to pay up,” Lüqiu said.
“Who exactly is the master here?” Ning Wanwan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“Naturally, it’s Niangniang,” Lüqiu said with a grin.
Lüqiu walked over to massage Ning Wanwan’s shoulders and said fawningly, “I heard that Zhong Cairen and her half-sister are like fire and water. If she enters the palace and joins forces with Chan Meiren, tsk tsk tsk.”
“Then what should I do? I was counting on her to help me fight Chan Meiren and Consort Lin. Those two are hell-bent on dragging me down.” Ning Wanwan anxiously grabbed the hands on her shoulders.
“This servant has a plan, but I don’t know if Niangniang is willing to make the sacrifice,” Lüqiu said.
“What is there to be willing or not willing about? I’m willing to part with anything. If I don’t make a move soon, it will be even harder to deal with Chan Meiren after she gives birth.” Ning Wanwan was truly afraid; she was now being forced to engage in palace intrigue.
“Let me ask you first, is the Ning Family more important, or is His Majesty more important?”
“What do you mean?” Ning Wanwan was confused.
“The literal meaning.”
Ning Wanwan answered without hesitation, “The Ning Family, of course.” She wasn’t a fool. Without the great tree that was the Ning Family, she and Pei Jinxu would likely have never been connected in a million years.
“You’d better truly think that way.” Lüqiu was clearly unconvinced. In her eyes, Ning Wanwan was just a love-struck fool.
“Just tell me what it is,” Ning Wanwan said, her curiosity piqued.
“You can’t catch a wolf without sacrificing the child. First, you help Zhong Cairen regain favor and have her rank as a consort restored. The prerequisite is that you must be willing to let His Majesty go to her.”
“Once Zhong Cairen brings down Chan Meiren, wouldn’t it be even more logical for her child to be raised under your care? Not only will we eliminate those who intend to drag Niangniang down, but we’ll also get a child for free. It’s killing two birds with one stone, Niangniang.”
Ning Wanwan felt that Lüqiu’s proposal required further consideration. Unexpectedly, Lüqiu thought she was unwilling to part with Pei Jinxu’s exclusive favor and said, exasperated, “Niangniang, we must think more about the Prime Minister’s Manor! You are currently unable to conceive. Are you going to just stand by and watch those women give birth to His Majesty’s children one by one? When they rise in status because of their sons, we will have no chance left.”
“Mountains you rely on may run, and trees you lean on may fall. We can only rely on ourselves to stand firm in the Imperial Harem,” Lüqiu urged earnestly.
How could Ning Wanwan not understand? Having been here for so long, she felt her own way of thinking was being assimilated. In an era like this, for a consort who could not bear children, what was the difference between her and a cripple if she had no favor?
“Then let’s do as you say.” Ning Wanwan felt a little weary. Sometimes, one truly couldn’t use modern thinking to measure everything here. The environment in which one survived was also different.