【Did no one notice Consort Hua calling out An Lingrong? How does Consort Hua know about An Lingrong? And she seems to have a lot of hostility toward her.】
【I noticed that too. Consort Hua is annoyed and disgusted by the other three, but toward Lingrong, she’s utterly cold—like she wants to kill her right away.】
【There are more and more plot holes, and the show doesn’t explain their origins at all. Are we supposed to guess for ourselves?】
【The plot fell apart ages ago. This is nothing new. You get used to it.】
【Just watch it anyway. At least the dialogue is still pretty much the same as before.】
【The moment Xia Dongchun showed up and started acting up, I knew Consort Hua’s One Zhang Red was on its way. Tsk, tsk. She’s got some nerve. Doesn’t she know Consort Hua has the worst temper in the entire palace and is the most ruthless?】
【After Xia Dongchun gets One Zhang Red, Fuzi is drowned, and Zhen Huan is so frightened that she dares not accept the emperor’s favor. I wonder if the story will unfold the same way this time.】
【It’s fine if they change it. The scene of Fuzi drowning in the Imperial Garden really was frightening. After watching it, I couldn’t sleep for three days.】
The bullet comments were in full swing, and no one noticed that the Empress had drifted off.
Yixiu ran her fingers over the arm of her chair, engrossed in listening to the monster speak. She hadn’t noticed that the audience with the Empress had ended.
Only after all the imperial consorts had withdrawn did she belatedly glance toward the doorway.
Jianqiu noticed Yixiu’s strange behavior and walked over anxiously.
“What are you thinking about, Your Highness? You seem so lost in thought.”
“Jianqiu, go outside and see what Consort Hua is doing.”
“Consort Hua?” Jianqiu glanced out the door in confusion. Hadn’t Consort Hua just left Jingren Palace? What could she be doing now, other than on her way back to Yikun Palace?
“Yes. I think I heard Consort Hua speaking outside. Go see who she’s talking to and what they’re saying.” Yixiu was perfectly composed, as if she really had heard something.
Jianqiu looked outside and listened carefully, but heard none of the voices Yixiu had mentioned.
Puzzled, Jianqiu curtsied and left the hall, intending to look outside the palace gate.
As soon as she stepped out, she heard a faint commotion. Jianqiu hurried toward the sound and saw Consort Hua dealing with Attendant Xia.
“The maple leaves don’t seem red enough this year. Let’s bestow One Zhang Red upon Attendant Xia, to add some color to the scenery of the Imperial Garden.”
Jianqiu’s eyes widened in shock. She immediately turned and retreated inside the palace gate, then hurried back to the hall to report.
Yixiu stirred her teacup, and it gave a faint scraping sound.
“You said Consort Hua really bestowed One Zhang Red upon Attendant Xia?”
Jianqiu didn’t notice the word “really” in the Empress’s question. She nodded and said softly, “Zhou Ninghai just took Attendant Xia to the Court of Judicial Review. If Your Highness wants to intervene, there’s still time.”
“No need.”
Yixiu set down her teacup and calmly instructed, “Once word of the execution reaches us, have Jiang Fuhai go to Yikun Palace and ask about it.”
Jianqiu nodded and went to give the order.
Alone in the hall, Yixiu gave a soft laugh.
But when she heard the bullet comments, the smile froze on her face.
【The Empress sending Jiang Fuhai to question Consort Hua would be a wasted trip. Everyone in Yikun Palace is one of Consort Hua’s people, and she definitely won’t admit to it.】
Yixiu couldn’t help looking around again. Once she was sure nothing was actually amiss, her expression darkened.
That monster had found out what she was doing so quickly. Did that mean that from now on, everything she did would be right under its nose? How infuriating!
When Jianqiu returned after carrying out the order, she saw that Yixiu’s face had darkened again.
Back at the prince’s residence, Her Highness had never let her emotions show—not even in private. What was wrong with her now?
Jianqiu was very worried.
“Your Highness, why have you been so unhappy lately?”
Yixiu smoothed her expression and turned to Jianqiu.
Jianqiu immediately reached out to help her up.
Leaning on Jianqiu’s hand, Yixiu walked toward the Bedchamber and quietly instructed, “Tomorrow, discreetly send someone among the common people to find a few masters. I keep feeling that the room is rather cold and gloomy.”