Jiang Yunshu tilted her head slightly. “She framed you? She’s only a mere Concubine. How could someone of her rank possibly harm you? Sister Jieyu, you shouldn’t say such things. People might think you’re questioning His Majesty’s judgment.”
Only then did Consort An realize the implication. Staring at Jiang Yunshu’s alluring face, hatred blazed in her eyes as though she wanted to tear her apart.
Her chest heaved with barely suppressed fury.
The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt.
Suddenly, she sprang to her feet and lunged straight at Jiang Yunshu.
Fortunately, Li Quan reacted quickly and stepped in front of her.
“Your Ladyship, please think carefully! Do you know the consequences of defying an imperial decree?”
Consort An whipped around and glared at him.
“What are you? How dare you stop me!”
Li Quan tightened his grip.
“This servant indeed amounts to nothing, and I would never presume to stop Your Ladyship. But if Your Ladyship dares to defy His Majesty’s command, then this servant dares to report it.”
As he spoke, he glanced at the young eunuch beside him.
The eunuch immediately understood and turned to leave.
With tears in her eyes, Xiangye hurriedly pleaded, “Your Ladyship! Two hours will pass quickly. Please endure it. This servant will kneel with you.”
Consort An shot her a look of utter disappointment.
“You stupid fool! Get out! Go slap that wretched Lin woman twice! That shameless little bitch actually dared to scheme against me!”
Even while forced to kneel, Consort An’s imposing presence remained undiminished. She looked ready to tear Consort Lin to pieces.
Watching the scene, Jiang Yunshu couldn’t help thinking that Lin Concubine probably wouldn’t survive much longer.
All the humiliation Consort An had suffered here would surely be taken out on her.
For a moment, Jiang Yunshu actually pitied Lin Concubine.
She could have lived quietly in the palace, with enough food to survive and eventually grow old in peace. Yet she had chosen to seek favor by standing beside a tiger, only to end up destroying herself.
Even if Jiang Yunshu hadn’t ordered Ziyan to act…
Consort An would never have spared her anyway.
The only difference would have been the ending.
Looking down at the words in her hand, Jiang Yunshu curled her lips into a faint smile.
It was around eight or nine that evening when Consort An finally left Anning Palace.
Supported by Xiangye, she staggered down the palace road, cursing nonstop the entire way.
What she hadn’t expected…
was to run into Ying Ronghua.
Born into a military family, Ying Ronghua had always been straightforward and had never been able to stand Consort An’s overbearing manner. Seeing her in such a disheveled state, she naturally couldn’t resist teasing her.
“This concubine greets Sister An. Were you out fighting a tiger? Why is your hair in such a mess?”
She covered her mouth and laughed softly.
Though Ying Ronghua ranked one level below Consort An, she dared to openly mock her.
How could Consort An possibly tolerate that?
Narrowing her eyes, she barked, “Xiangye! Slap her! Ying Ronghua has committed insubordination and offended me. Give her two slaps!”
Not the slightest fear appeared on Ying Ronghua’s face as she watched Xiangye approach.
“Sister An, I was only showing concern for you. How exactly have I been disrespectful or offended you?”
Ying Ronghua’s father was a Great General and one of Chu Yi’s newly favored court officials. Raised in a military household, she had practiced martial arts since childhood.
Consort An glared impatiently at Xiangye.
“What are you waiting for? Do it!”
Xiangye nervously stepped forward.
But before she could act, Ying Ronghua grabbed her wrist, twisted it effortlessly, then brushed gracefully past her.
Consort An’s eyes widened in fury.
“Useless thing! Come back here and support me!”
Truthfully, this wasn’t the first time.
Not once had Consort An’s attendants ever managed to lay a hand on Ying Ronghua.
Yet every single time, Consort An still insisted on ordering someone to punish her, refusing to lose face even if she couldn’t win.
And every single time, Ying Ronghua walked away triumphant.
After all, as the daughter of a general who had trained in martial arts since childhood, her skills far surpassed Xiangye’s. There was no way Xiangye could have touched her.
After returning to her palace, Consort An flew into a tremendous rage.
Everyone bullied her!
Everyone!
Especially that despicable Lin woman!
She deserved to die a horrible death!
After Consort An left, Ziyan entered.
“Your Ladyship, Consort An ran into Ying Ronghua on the palace road. Lady Ronghua mocked her quite thoroughly.”
Jiang Yunshu simply nodded.
After a moment’s thought, Ziyan asked, “Should we keep an eye on Qinghe Palace? There may be some movement there.”
Jiang Yunshu shook her head.
“No need. Even if she kills that one, it won’t matter much. His Majesty won’t mind.”
“But after today’s humiliation, she’ll surely hold a grudge. I’m worried she’ll try to trip you up in the future. I was thinking we should gather more evidence against her.”
Hearing that, Jiang Yunshu looked at Ziyan and smiled faintly.
“When soldiers come, we send generals to meet them. When floodwaters rise, we build dams. Don’t worry, Ziyan.”
Given Consort An’s impulsive nature, she might not actually accomplish much.
After thinking it over, Ziyan nodded.
“Your Ladyship is wise. She’ll never be your match.”
“Perhaps.”
Jiang Yunshu looked at the object in her hands, now finally completed.
“Ziyan, do you know how to kick this? Come, let’s play.”
Ziyan blinked in surprise before smiling.
“This servant doesn’t.”
Sometimes her mistress truly resembled an innocent child.
Jiang Yunshu fiddled with the little ball again.
“Tomorrow I’ll teach you.”
Ziyan acknowledged with a smile.
“Then this servant will fetch some water and help Your Ladyship prepare for bed.”
“All right.”
Jiang Yunshu set the small ball aside and gazed at the full moon outside.
Calculating the days, Noble Consort Wan’s confinement would end in just three more days.
So why was there still no movement from Consort De?
Had she guessed wrong?
That shouldn’t be possible…
These past few days she had been ill. Chu Yi hadn’t visited her, but he had gone to Ying Ronghua instead.
From what she remembered, Chu Yi had rarely visited the imperial harem before. Yet lately, he had been doing so far more frequently, probably for the sake of those newly promoted officials.
The tyrant emperor was becoming increasingly skilled at handling court affairs.
Unlike before, when he acted entirely on impulse.
Erya came in to help Jiang Yunshu prepare for bed.
Looking puzzled, she said, “His Majesty came to see Your Ladyship today. Why didn’t he summon you to attend him tonight?”
“Where did His Majesty go instead?”
“I heard… he went to Consort De’s palace.”
Disappointment was written all over Erya’s face.
After several days without being summoned, she worried the emperor might have forgotten her mistress.
Hearing that, Jiang Yunshu merely lifted her eyelids slightly.
“Soon.”
Erya blinked in confusion.
“Your Ladyship… what do you mean by ‘soon’?”
Jiang Yunshu simply shook her head without explaining.
Erya was left completely bewildered.
After lying down, Jiang Yunshu realized she had slept too much during the day and wasn’t sleepy.
So she pulled out a storybook to read.
It felt just like reading web novels in her previous life.
She became completely absorbed.
Seeing this, Ziyan worried she would strain her eyes and gently reminded her,
“Your Ladyship, it’s already late. You should rest. His Majesty probably won’t be coming tonight.”
Jiang Yunshu smiled.
“Just a little longer. I’m almost finished with this part.”
Ziyan had assumed her mistress was staying awake in hopes of the emperor’s arrival.
Only then did she realize Jiang Yunshu was simply engrossed in the most exciting part of the story.
Thinking about it…
Her mistress truly was difficult to understand.
When the emperor didn’t come, she never panicked.
She simply lived her life peacefully.
Perhaps such calm indifference was a good thing.
Jiang Yunshu didn’t go to sleep until around midnight after finishing her storybook.
Meanwhile, over in Consort De’s palace, Chu Yi also retired around midnight.
He glanced at Consort De lying beside him.
Not a single ripple stirred in his eyes.
His fingers tapped lightly against the embroidered quilt, as though calculating something.
Near the end of the midnight watch, in the Cold Palace…
Creak.
The door slowly opened.
Lin’s body trembled as she turned toward the entrance.
The room was too dark to make out the visitor’s face.
All she could see was a figure wrapped in a black cloak.
A chill ran through her heart.
Her voice quivered as she asked,
“Who’s there?”
Fear seeped across her face.