On this day, Qing Luo received a visitor, and an uninvited one at that.
The visitor was Noble Lady Yi from Zhongcui Palace.
In terms of relation, Noble Lady Yi and Qing Luo were somewhat related; she was Qing Luo’s older female cousin.
Of course, they weren’t close cousins, but rather quite distant relatives, connected through many twists and turns.
Before the Original Owner entered the palace, she knew there was an Imperial Concubine inside who was her older female cousin.
The Original Owner’s family had repeatedly instructed her that once she entered the palace, the two sisters should support and take care of each other.
Initially, the Original Owner also wanted to get close to this older female cousin, Noble Lady Yi.
As a concubine-born daughter, she had been strictly controlled by the main wife in her family since childhood, making her very timid and submissive.
Her best hope was to marry a poor scholar or a small merchant and live a plain, ordinary life.
Suddenly being chosen to enter the palace, she was constantly terrified.
She thought having an older female cousin might help her, offering at least someone to confide in, making her less afraid.
But upon their first meeting, Noble Lady Yi somewhat disliked the Original Owner.
The reason was none other than jealousy, as she felt she was not as beautiful as the Original Owner.
Later, seeing that the Original Owner possessed beauty but failed to gain favor, Noble Lady Yi grew even more contemptuous and disdainful, even going so far as to kick her when she was down.
Because they never interacted, few Imperial Concubines in the palace even knew they were cousins.
Zhu Lan really didn’t want her Little Master to see this Noble Lady Yi.
One could guess with their toes what Noble Lady Yi was here for.
‘No one visits the temple without a reason.’ Now that her Little Master seemed about to gain favor, Noble Lady Yi couldn’t wait to come and claim their relationship, remembering her status as an older female cousin and wanting to stage a show of deep sisterly affection.
Truly, when one is down and out, everyone steps on you; once you show signs of success, everyone wants to cozy up to you.
“Noble Lady Yi, my Little Master is feeling a bit unwell today and is resting. I’m afraid it’s inconvenient for visitors,” Zhu Lan tried to send Noble Lady Yi away.
Who knew Noble Lady Yi was thick-skinned?
She pretended not to hear and barged in anyway, holding a handkerchief and simpering, “Cousin, if you’re not feeling well, why didn’t you send someone to tell your older female cousin? I have some acquaintance with Imperial Physician Zhang from the Imperial Medical Academy. I could ask him to come examine you.”
Seeing she couldn’t stop her, Zhu Lan could only quickly raise her voice and announce, “Little Master, Noble Lady Yi is here.”
Hearing this from inside the room, Qing Luo threw on an outer robe and came out to receive the guest.
Underneath, she was wearing modern-style pajamas.
Although only her arms and calves were exposed, in the strictly etiquette-bound ancient times, being seen dressed like this by an outsider was definitely inappropriate.
Ah, what a hassle.
She didn’t even have much freedom in what to wear, Qing Luo grumbled inwardly.
[Just hang in there, host. Let’s hurry and get this person out of here. After that, the host can have clothing freedom.]
Clothing freedom?
Qing Luo just wanted to scoff.
This set of pajamas she was wearing—she had to beg Zhu Lan for a long time before Zhu Lan agreed to make them for her, all the while muttering about how improper and unseemly they were.
Where was the freedom in that?
Although they were cousins, there was almost no resemblance between Noble Lady Yi and Qing Luo’s appearances.
One was tall and glamorous, the other delicate and exquisite.
It was really hard to tell from their looks that they were cousins.
“Cousin looks quite well. It seems there’s no need to summon Imperial Physician Zhang after all,” Noble Lady Yi said, a flicker of coldness in her eyes as she tightened her grip on her handkerchief.
Talking about being unwell was completely an excuse, a pretext—just not wanting to see her.
Looking at that rosy complexion, without a trace of makeup, she resembled a crabapple bud about to bloom.
There wasn’t the slightest hint of discomfort.
Unwilling to even see her own older female cousin.
So this was the upbringing of the Pei family.
Coming from a minor household after all, and a concubine-born daughter at that—just not presentable.
A sparrow is a sparrow; even if it flies onto a high branch, it can’t become a phoenix.
If it weren’t for Pei Qing Luo suddenly gaining favor, she would never have come to this shabby little place in her lifetime.
It practically lowered her status.
Qing Luo forced out a perfunctory smile.
“Just a bit dizzy and wanting to sleep. But now that Noble Lady Yi is here, I suddenly feel better.”
Her voice was so loud and sharp it scared away all her sleepiness.
Disturbing her beauty sleep was annoying because it would ruin her skin.
Hearing this, Noble Lady Yi’s expression shifted slightly.
“Why call me ‘Noble Lady’? Cousin, you’re being too formal. Have you forgotten our families are related? Just call me ‘older female cousin.’ We’re family, no need for such politeness.”
“Apologies. Entering the palace was rushed. My family never mentioned having any relatives in the palace. If there really were, we should have been looking out for each other long ago.”
Qing Luo felt this Noble Lady Yi and Attendant Zhou were cut from the same cloth.
When one was out of favor, they were ignored and treated coldly.
The moment there was a sign of rising fortune, they immediately turned around, trying to use past affection or family ties to mend the long-broken relationships.
They didn’t stop to think: how could it be mended?
Adding flowers to brocade is easy; delivering charcoal in snowy weather is what’s rare.
Wasn’t this blatantly coming to curry favor?
Anyone with a bit of intelligence could see and understand that.
Qing Luo couldn’t figure out why Attendant Zhou and Noble Lady Yi had such confidence.
When they chose to stand by and do nothing while the Original Owner was being bullied, what made them think they could still be forgiven?
Was it because they had a handle on the Original Owner’s timid nature?
Or did the Original Owner have some’saint complex’?
Unfortunately, she wasn’t that Original Owner who could be kneaded and shaped at will.
Noble Lady Yi was left speechless by Qing Luo’s words, momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
What a sharp tongue.
Falling into the water even made her more glib.
“Cousin is young. It’s fine if you didn’t know before. But now that you know, our two sisters should interact more often from now on. The palace isn’t an easy place to be. Having someone trustworthy by your side makes the heart more at ease.” This chapter is updated first at novelping.com.
“Come visit your older female cousin’s place often in the future. I’ll sweep the couch clean to welcome you.”
Noble Lady Yi smiled and extended an olive branch of friendship.
It had been a year since she last attended the Emperor.
The mistress of Qixiang Palace, Consort Hui, was formidable.
Her own situation in Zhongcui Palace was worsening day by day.
She had to find a way to make the Emperor notice her.
She didn’t seek great favor, just an occasional audience with His Majesty would suffice, to prevent Consort Hui from constantly finding ways to torment her.
Pei Qing Luo was the best aid.
With the identity of an older female cousin, as long as Pei Qing Luo mentioned her to the Emperor, His Majesty would notice her.
If Qing Luo knew, she would surely scoff.
Mention her?
How would she do that?
Wasn’t it just Emperor Zhangping asking and her answering?
If she brought up the topic herself and accidentally stepped on a landmine?
Isn’t there a phrase, ‘the Emperor’s will is hard to predict’?
Was she supposed to tell Emperor Zhangping, ‘I have an older female cousin in the palace, such and such’?
Wouldn’t that be strange?
Besides, Emperor Zhangping was the Emperor.
He had his own judgment.
Which Imperial Concubine he favored was entirely his own preference.
Who was she to give directions?
She was just a Little Concubine, the lowest rank among the Imperial Concubines.
What was she worth?
“So that’s how it is. older female cousin is more experienced, with richer life knowledge, unlike Qing Luo, am young and ignorant. If I have offended older female cousin in any way, I hope older female cousin will be forgiving.”
After a pause, Qing Luo added, “older female cousin clearly has a kind heart and a forgiving nature. You will surely forgive your younger sister’s careless words, right?”
With an expression of naive innocence and seeming cluelessness, Noble Lady Yi couldn’t even vent her anger if she wanted to.
Was she mocking her for being old?
Yes, she was indeed in her late twenties, not just past twenty.
But she was still young.
No woman liked to hear about being older, and Noble Lady Yi was no exception.
But Noble Lady Yi couldn’t very well lose her temper.
If she did, wouldn’t that prove her character wasn’t forgiving or kind-hearted?
Instead, it would show she was petty and lacked tolerance.