Red Chamber 16
【Ding dong—You have a new task.】
Just as she was lost in thought, the electronic tone suddenly exploded in her mind.
A Yuan snapped back to attention and immediately opened the System Interface at lightning speed. She saw that in the main quest bar, which originally only had two golden scrolls, another unopened scroll had appeared.
This is…
An additional main quest.
Opening the scroll, she saw the task description: 【Please find out the reason why Shui Hu indulges the Zhen clan.】
A very brief sentence, but its purpose was clear. However, A Yuan’s gaze fell on the two characters ‘Shui Hu’… So the Retired Emperor’s name is ‘Water Kettle’ (Shui Hu).
Looking at the rewards, A Yuan sat bolt upright in an instant.
Five thousand Points! Ten strands of Dragon Qi!
One hundred Consecutive Draws!!
A Yuan completely ignored the ‘Dragon Qi’ reward listed afterward, her eyes fixed greedily on the five thousand Points. Yet her hand didn’t hesitate for a moment as she accepted the task. With these hundred Consecutive Draws, securing another big guarantee wouldn’t be a problem.
Turning a gaze that could almost be described as ‘affectionate’ toward Aunt Jin, her tone brimming with excitement: “Auntie, quickly help me dress and do my hair!”
She couldn’t wait to meet that Consort Dowager Zhen!
“Mistress, Consort Dowager Zhen is deep and cunning. Going today might mean suffering some hardship.” Aunt Jin was filled with worry.
Her former master was the Retired Emperor, and over the years she had frequently visited Ningshou Palace. Naturally, she understood this Consort Dowager Zhen better than others. Consort Dowager Zhen appeared dignified, elegant, and refined, but in reality, the young eunuchs around her had been replaced quite frequently over the years.
It was said that those young eunuchs who were sent back didn’t have a single patch of unblemished skin on their bodies.
This revealed her cruelty.
“At most, she’ll make me kneel and listen to her lecture. Right now, I’m favored, so she wouldn’t dare punish me too severely. However…” A Yuan slowly pinned a hair ornament into her bun, examining herself left and right in the mirror: “She definitely doesn’t want me to have children. Perhaps today there won’t even be a lecture.”
At most, she might add a little something extra.
The tricks that can be used in the Imperial harem are just those few types.
“But there’s no need to worry too much. The boat will straighten itself when it reaches the bridgehead.” A Yuan’s smile held a subtle nuance.
Aunt Jin was an SSR Gold Card, having been bound by the system to several previous hosts. Those hosts had been clever, some foolish, but they all shared one common trait: they listened to the system.
But this one, who drove the system to run away from home… was the first.
Such a capable host probably had nothing to worry about… right.
Getting up to dress, as the weather grew warmer, her garments shifted to lighter, more breathable fabrics. Her current appearance naturally leaned toward delicate and graceful elegance. Changing into a lake-blue, thin gauze long gown embroidered with white magnolias, with a front opening, one could faintly glimpse the slender waist cinched by a belt inside. The whole person looked increasingly ethereal and fairy-like.
Aunt Jin handed over a gold-inlaid jade necklace.
A Yuan hurriedly refused: “Change it to that pink tourmaline necklace.”
The soft pink bead strands, interspersed with jadeite, looked exceptionally fresh and delicate.
Once properly dressed, A Yuan twirled once in front of the full-length mirror: “Alright, let’s go pay our respects to the imperial consort.”
A Yuan, accompanied by Aunt Jin and Bao Qin, headed to Ningshou Palace.
Ningshou Palace wasn’t just a single palace but a large architectural complex. At the front was the Huangji Hall for political discussions, the Yangxing Hall served as the Retired Emperor’s office area, the Leshou Hall at the back was the residential palace, and further behind, the Yihe Pavilion and Jingqi Pavilion were the residences of the imperial concubines.
At this moment, the grand court assembly of the previous dynasty had already concluded. Shui Cong returned to the Qianqing Gate to handle government affairs, while the important ministers with urgent matters in the court had gathered at the Huangji Hall, where the Retired Emperor was now presiding over a small court assembly.
Compared to the grand court assembly at the Taihe Hall, the small court assembly at the Huangji Hall carried far greater significance.
A Yuan went to Yihe Pavilion, which was Consort Dowager Zhen’s bedchamber.
“Please wait a moment, noble lady. The imperial consort is still dressing,” the palace maid who led her inside said very politely, not only guiding her to the reception hall to sit comfortably but also serving her a cup of tea.
However, as soon as the tea was placed on the table, A Yuan caught a strong whiff of Cooling Medicine.
Of course, apart from her, no one else could smell this scent of Cooling Medicine.
Just as Aunt Jin had thought, since she was able to intercept the system mid-journey and cross over, even grinding a complete and powerful system into a half-crippled state and forcing it to run away from home, she must have her own capabilities.
Cooling Medicine…
How difficult it must have been for Consort Dowager Zhen to go to such lengths for her.
Cooling Medicine itself does not cause significant harm to a woman’s body; at most, it may lead to irregular menstruation and severe abdominal pain after consumption, but it is not easy to damage a woman’s fertility. However, if combined with Musk… it becomes a catalyst for Musk. A small amount of Cooling Medicine paired with a small amount of Musk produces an effect greater than the sum of its parts.
In the future, it would be difficult for her to conceive.
She just didn’t know how Consort Dowager Zhen planned to deliver the Musk to her side—likely through someone else’s hands.
Cooling Medicine does not harm people, but Musk does.
So even if problems were discovered later, it would not implicate Consort Dowager Zhen, because she had already prepared a scapegoat from the start.
Tsk, who knows how many people she had harmed with such methods.
Pretending to be completely unaware, she picked up the teacup and took a sip, just as the young palace maid by the curtain at the entrance of the reception hall shifted slightly.
She had been under surveillance all along.
A Yuan moved, changing her angle to face away from the palace maid, then raised the teacup and took another sip. This time, however, most of the tea was poured into a small porcelain bottle in the system space.
This was a good thing—she would keep it for harming someone next time.
Only after Consort Dowager Zhen finished dressing was A Yuan taken to have an audience. After she left, the young palace maid by the entrance quietly lifted the lid of the teacup to check. Seeing that most of the tea was gone, she smiled with satisfaction.
As the highest-ranking imperial concubine in Ningshou Palace and the one acting in charge of palace affairs, Consort Dowager Zhen received daily morning greetings from the imperial concubines of Ningshou Palace.
By the time A Yuan arrived, the hall was already filled with people.
The main seat was empty at this moment, as Consort Dowager Zhen had not yet appeared.
As soon as A Yuan entered, she saw Chu Yunying sitting at the far end. Dressed in a dark-colored sheer gauze gown with dark velvet flowers adorning her hair, she looked several years older than her actual age despite being the same age.
Perhaps this was also to signify her status as a Tai Guiren.
Chu Yunying was very happy to see A Yuan, but since this was not the place for conversation, she blinked at A Yuan to show her closeness.
The hall was extremely solemn, with palace maids moving silently in and out, creating a highly oppressive atmosphere.
A group of women sat without speaking, each toying with the handheld objects in their hands. They paid little attention to A Yuan’s arrival, mostly giving her a faint glance before turning away.
They were not on the same battlefield, so she was not worth their attention.
“Consort Dowager Zhen has arrived—”
Following the announcement by the eunuch, a woman adorned with pearls and jade, exuding an aura of dignity and authority, was escorted out from behind the screen.
“Greetings to the imperial consort.” Everyone knelt together in salute.
Naturally, A Yuan obediently knelt at the very back.
Consort Dowager Zhen casually called for them to rise: “Rise.”
Only then did everyone stand up and take their seats, which made A Yuan stand out—after all, she had no stool to sit on.
Not that she felt embarrassed about it.
“So you are Noble Consort Lin?” Consort Dowager Zhen’s gaze fell upon A Yuan.
A Yuan stepped forward a few paces and saluted once more: “Your humble servant pays respects to Consort Dowager Zhen.”
This time, Consort Dowager Zhen did not immediately call for her to rise. Instead, she leisurely walked to the main seat, waited for the palace maid to serve tea, took a sip, and then lazily said, “Rise.”
A Yuan straightened up.
“Your etiquette is not lacking.” A Yuan’s salute was impeccable, and even if Consort Dowager Zhen had wanted to find fault, she could not have pointed out any flaws in her manners. “Lift your head and let this consort take a good look. What kind of beauty could have so captivated His Majesty that he dotes on you alone?”
“Your humble servant would not dare.” A Yuan immediately put on a look of trepidation.
“Yet you have done so regardless.”
Consort Dowager Zhen responded coolly, but her gaze remained fixed on A Yuan’s face. Indeed, she was a rare beauty.
Fortunately, such a beauty had entered the Emperor’s Imperial harem. If she had entered Ningshou Hall, she might have become even more favored than that wretched woman of the Chu family.
After scrutinizing her for a while longer, Consort Dowager Zhen spoke again: “Very well. The Emperor’s fondness for you is your good fortune.”
She pointed to the stool at the far end on the right: “Sit and speak. Let’s not give His Majesty the wrong idea that this consort is deliberately tormenting you.”
Her words were blunt, but her tone was still relatively mild, even carrying a hint of teasing. Immediately, someone nearby flattered her: “His Majesty is filial; how could he ever misunderstand the imperial consort?”
“You certainly know how to speak.” Consort Dowager Zhen snorted, clearly displeased with such flattery.
That person, having been snubbed, shrank back.
Well, it seemed the discord between Consort Dowager Zhen and the Emperor was now out in the open, with no effort made to save face.
Consort Dowager Zhen already knew that Noble Consort Lin had taken the Cooling Medicine, and her interest had waned. She proceeded directly to admonish: “The Emperor is steady by nature, and it has been rare for him to find joy in someone all these years. Since you have been granted such fortune, you must serve His Majesty well. Do not let favoritism breed arrogance. The imperial family selected you to enter the palace in the hope that you would soon bear children to continue the royal lineage.”
She had laid her cards on the table.
“From now on, on the first and fifteenth days of each month, an Imperial Physician will come to check your pulse. If you become pregnant, you must report it immediately. Should anyone foolishly conceal a pregnancy, if nothing goes wrong, all may be well. But if anything happens, it will be treated as an attempt to harm the royal heir.”
Consort Dowager Zhen saw that Noble Consort Lin below had turned pale, clearly frightened, and softened her tone: “This is an old rule of the palace. Not only must you abide by it, but the same rule applies here in Ningshou Palace.”
“Yes, I humbly accept Consort Dowager Zhen’s teachings.” A Yuan knelt once more to express her gratitude.
Having delivered this blow, Consort Dowager Zhen did not hesitate to offer a sweet reward. She instructed her personal maid, Cui’er, to bring out a box containing a complete set of hair ornaments, which she presented to A Yuan as a welcoming gift.
With her taking the lead, the other consorts naturally could not remain idle.
Before long, Aunt Jin and Bao Qin’s trays were filled with many fine items.
Those who were favored could afford it, but those who were not genuinely felt the sting.
Without even lifting her head, A Yuan could feel the piercing gazes fixed upon her.
That bastard, really knows how to stir up trouble for her!
Seeing that it was about time, Consort Dowager Zhen dismissed the gathering. A flock of chattering concubines rose to leave. A Yuan respectfully saw off these so-called concubine-mothers until nearly everyone had departed, then sighed and prepared to return to Yongshou Palace.
Stepping out of Ningshou Palace, the air felt fresher. A Yuan let out a long breath.
In the future, when the Emperor had more consorts, morning greetings like today would likely become routine. Thinking of the strictly hierarchical seating arrangement in the main hall… A Yuan pondered that even if she couldn’t sit in the main seat, she must strive to secure the chair on the left side.
“After returning, don’t rush to put away the gifts. I want to examine them personally.”
She also needed to check if any of these items contained musk: “Do you remember who gave each of these?”
Aunt Jin, drawing on her exceptional memory as a top-tier Matron, nodded calmly and composedly: “This servant remembers them all.”
“That’s good.”
At the time, she had been too busy keeping her head down and hadn’t even gotten a clear look at Consort Dowager Zhen’s face.
Passing by Jiangxue Pavilion, they arrived at the Imperial Garden.
Since entering the palace, she hadn’t visited the Imperial Garden yet. However, it was disappointingly small—a quick glance around was enough to see most of it. Her interest immediately waned, and without pausing her steps, she headed toward the direction of the Western Six Palaces.
At this moment, someone who had been waiting could no longer hold back and hurriedly quickened her pace to catch up.
“Noble Consort Lin, please wait a moment.”
A Yuan halted and turned to see Chu Yunying, whom she had just seen at Yihe Pavilion, rushing over.
Chu Yunying was still wearing that dull, old-fashioned dress. However, her fair complexion allowed her to carry off the somber color, making her skin appear even paler and gentler. Supported by her palace maid, she caught up to A Yuan. From walking quickly, two rosy clouds had bloomed on her cheeks.
“Greetings, Noble Consort Chu.” A Yuan performed a slight bow.
Chu Yunying now counted as a concubine-mother.
“Please, no need for such formalities.” Chu Yunying clutched the handkerchief in her hand, her inner anxiety showing on her face.
Seeing A Yuan looking at her with a somewhat bewildered expression, she hesitated for a long moment before finally asking: “Might I ask if Miss Lin can still contact your family outside the palace?”