“Consort Hua sent General Nian a letter, claiming to miss her brother.”
Yixiu smiled and waved a hand. “In this regard, Consort Hua has never disappointed me.”
Jianqiu looked at Yixiu through the mirror, still somewhat puzzled.
“Your Highness, even if this selected maiden enters the palace, she’ll only be a low-ranking consort. Why are you worried about her?”
Given An Lingrong’s background, even if she entered the palace, she could only become a Promise. A mere Promise was hardly worth worrying about in front of the Empress.
Yixiu was still smiling.
“It doesn’t matter whether there’s one more or one less low-ranking consort, does it?”
Jianqiu knew Yixiu didn’t want her to ask any more, so she wisely fell silent and arranged her hair.
Yixiu gazed into the mirror, smiling gently, but the smile never reached her eyes.
Nian Gengyao doted on his younger sister, Nian Shilan, most of all. As soon as he received a message from the palace, he immediately sent someone to take action.
One of his subordinates expressed concern. “General, I hear Lady An’s becoming a consort is already a certainty, and she’ll be entering the palace soon. If we act now, wouldn’t that be a slap in the Emperor’s face?”
Nian Gengyao snorted.
“She’s just a selected maiden who hasn’t entered the palace yet. Even if she does, what is there to fear? I’m the one who secured this empire for him. Even if the Emperor finds out, he won’t do anything to me!”
The subordinate nodded awkwardly. Although he knew the Emperor wouldn’t hear those words, a chill still ran down his back, and he couldn’t help offering a quiet word of advice.
“It would still be better not to let the Emperor find out.”
Nian Gengyao didn’t argue, merely waving his hand in irritation.
“Enough. Hurry up and take care of it. Don’t keep my sister waiting.”
The subordinate took his orders and hurried off.
As night grew deeper, assassins from the Nian Residence set out.
At the Zhen Residence, Zhen Huan noticed that An Lingrong didn’t even have a personal maid to attend her, so she quickly assigned two people from the residence to serve her.
An Lingrong was about to refuse, but Liuzhu said with a smile, “Lady An, you’ll be entering the palace to become the Emperor’s woman. You’ll have to get used to being waited on by many people.”
Zhen Huan first glared at Liuzhu, then patted An Lingrong’s hand.
“Don’t be upset, little sister An. My maid has a habit of speaking without thinking.”
Then Zhen Huan turned to Liuzhu and raised her voice. “Why don’t you come over and apologize to Lady An? What kind of thing was that to say just now? Have you no shame?”
Liuzhu obediently curtsied.
“Your servant was out of line. Please don’t take offense, Lady An.”
An Lingrong tugged at her lips and steadied Liuzhu.
“There’s no need for such formality, Miss Liuzhu. It was only sisterly teasing. You don’t need to be so distant with me.”
After chatting for a little while longer, An Lingrong finally returned to the room arranged for her to rest.
As soon as An Lingrong left, Zhen Huan reached out and tapped Liuzhu on the forehead.
“Try thinking before you speak. It’s a good thing Lingrong is generous and didn’t hold it against you.”
“Miss, I know I was wrong. I won’t do it again.” Liuzhu covered her forehead, looking aggrieved.
Huanbi pursed her lips. “Liuzhu didn’t say anything wrong. Lady An herself said there was no need to be formal when sisters were teasing each other.”
“You two!” Zhen Huan said helplessly. “You’d better learn to watch your tongues. You can’t talk like that in the palace.”
“Of course I know.” Huanbi lifted her chin slightly.
An Lingrong had no idea they’d talked so much after she left. Holding Concubine Xiao’s hand, she walked toward her quarters, her gaze occasionally falling on the exquisite buildings.
The two maids led the way, slowing their pace to match An Lingrong’s.
Before long, they arrived at An Lingrong’s room. One of the maids entered with a smile to straighten the bedding.
An Lingrong didn’t hurry inside. She sat in a shadowy corner of the courtyard, admiring the night scenery.
“It’s cold outside, Mistress. You should go in and rest,” the other maid urged.
An Lingrong smiled. “There’s no hurry. I’ll go in once Miss Qingyun has finished tidying up.”
But as soon as she finished speaking, a scream came from inside the room.
“Ah! Help—”
Before she could finish, the room fell silent. The faces of all three people outside went pale.