The Noble Consort kept a close eye on Lin Anran’s expression, trying to judge from the slightest change whether Lin Anran might also be someone who had transmigrated into the novel.
If Lin Anran were truly another transmigrator, then upon hearing the secret code, she should have reacted with shock and excitement.
But she didn’t.
There was confusion in Lin Anran’s eyes, even surprise, but not the slightest trace of the joy one would feel upon meeting a fellow modern soul.
The Noble Consort refused to give up and continued, “Imperial Jade Liquor…”
Lin Anran’s eyes widened. “…”
The Noble Consort secretly felt hopeful and continued again, “I love how you walk alone through dark alleys…”
She looked at Lin Anran expectantly, waiting for her to finish the next line.
Lin Anran opened her mouth, then suddenly sighed. “Noble Consort, in the future, it’s best if you refrain from singing. Especially in front of His Majesty—you absolutely must suppress the urge to perform songs, lest you lose the Emperor’s favor.”
Lin Anran meant it as sincere advice, but to the Noble Consort, it sounded like mockery.
Lin Anran thought her singing was terrible?
Noble Consort: “……”
Though annoyed, the Noble Consort finally reached a conclusion—for now at least, Lin Anran did not appear to be a transmigrator.
In this unfamiliar ancient world, if one suddenly encountered another soul from modern times, anyone would be excited and instantly bond with them.
Originally, the Noble Consort had thought that if Lin Anran were also a transmigrator, perhaps they could join forces. Then, like Empress Dowager Cixi ruling from behind the curtain, she could seize political power while allowing Lin Anran to peacefully enjoy her retirement in ancient times.
But since Lin Anran wasn’t a transmigrator, there was no need for caution anymore.
At that moment, a palace servant announced for the concubines to enter the hall.
Lin Anran walked calmly at the front, though her heart skipped a beat as she secretly thought:
Luckily, I stopped myself from blurting out the code phrase. Otherwise my identity would’ve been exposed.
Lin Anran was not a naïve three-year-old child. On the contrary, she had long since grown used to the coldness and fickleness of human nature, making her far more clear-headed than most people.
That saying about “when fellow townsmen meet, tears fill their eyes” was complete nonsense.
In reality, it was more like: when fellow townsmen meet, one shoots the other in the back.
And this was the imperial harem of ancient times.
Wouldn’t that mean getting shot twice instead?
Someone like the Noble Consort, who could even use a miscarriage to frame the original host, was clearly insane. She’d probably start with at least three metaphorical bullets and keep going without limit.
Lin Anran had no interest in participating in their workplace power struggles.
She only wanted to retire peacefully and raise her child.
…
Main Hall.
The Empress Dowager was already seated at the place of honor.
Lin Anran led the concubines in paying their respects before taking their seats.
The moment everyone sat down, the Noble Consort spoke in a soft, delicate tone:
“Princess Shengshi only returned to Fengyi Palace yesterday, yet by evening she had already fallen into the water in the imperial garden. Even now her fever hasn’t subsided. What a pitiful child.”
Wasn’t she blatantly implying that Luo Li had been perfectly fine while staying with the Empress Dowager, but the moment the Empress took her back, something happened? She might as well have directly accused the Empress of pushing Luo Li into the water.
After all, the Empress had abused Princess Shengshi plenty of times before. Pushing her into a pond would hardly be surprising.
After speaking, the Noble Consort expected the Empress Dowager to angrily reprimand the Empress.
Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager merely brushed the matter aside with a few perfunctory remarks.
The Noble Consort turned toward the Empress in surprise.
Since entering Cining Palace, the Empress had kept her head lowered the entire time, appearing cautious and timid before the Empress Dowager.
Sensing the Noble Consort’s gaze, Lin Anran subconsciously looked up.
Their eyes met, and Lin Anran offered a polite smile.
But the Noble Consort interpreted it as provocation, clenching the handkerchief in her hand in fury, unable to understand why the Empress Dowager had not punished Lin Anran.
In truth, Lin Anran had not done much.
The rewards she had given Nurse Jian were not for nothing, nor was her mix of kindness and intimidation wasted effort. All she had done was have Nurse Jian come before the Empress Dowager and tearfully recount how Luo Li had argued with the Second and Fourth Princesses in the imperial garden the previous night.
The Empress Dowager was no fool. Upon hearing it, she immediately understood that the Second and Fourth Princesses had pushed Luo Li into the water.
The Emperor had already reprimanded the two girls the night before, and this morning the Empress Dowager had heard they themselves had fallen into the water as well. Feeling heartbroken for the children, she had no intention of blaming them further.
However, she was deeply dissatisfied with Consort Xian for failing to discipline her daughters properly, and even more displeased that Consort Xian had skipped paying respects in order to comfort them.
“Why has Consort Xian not come today?” the Empress Dowager asked knowingly.
All the concubines instinctively looked toward the Empress, thinking she was about to poison Consort Xian’s reputation again.
The Noble Consort thought Consort Xian was still useful and intended to speak up for her. But before she could open her mouth, the Empress beat her to it.
“Replying to Mother Empress, just before dawn, the Second and Fourth Princesses suddenly fell into the water in their sleep and were badly frightened. Consort Xian was terribly distressed and has been busy comforting them in Jinghe Palace, unable to free herself. Therefore, she could not come pay her respects today. I ask Mother Empress not to blame her.”
The concubines were astonished.
The Empress was actually speaking on Consort Xian’s behalf?
But the Noble Consort nearly ground her teeth to dust in anger.
The Empress sounded like she was defending Consort Xian, but in reality she was lodging a complaint against her. Since when did comforting children excuse ignoring ancestral rules and failing to greet both the Empress and Empress Dowager?
And the Empress Dowager valued etiquette above all else.
Consort Xian was also a fool who couldn’t see the bigger picture. Thinking she was humiliating the Empress, she had instead personally handed the Empress a weapon against herself.
But the Empress over the past two days had become far too clear-headed.
According to the original novel, if Consort Xian skipped the greetings, the Empress would certainly have thrown a furious tantrum, and in the end, the one who suffered would have been the Empress herself.
Now, however, the Empress calmly spoke in Consort Xian’s defense, making Consort Xian appear ill-mannered instead.
The Noble Consort was unwilling to risk offending the Empress Dowager by speaking up further and could only remain silent.
After hearing everything, the Empress Dowager did not become angry. Instead, she said gravely:
“Since the Second and Fourth Princesses fell into the water and were frightened, then Consort Xian shall remain in Jinghe Palace these next few days to properly care for them.”
The Empress Dowager had effectively placed Consort Xian under house arrest.
Though she had not specified the exact number of days, it would surely be at least three or four. The punishment itself was not severe, but for someone like Consort Xian, it was immensely humiliating.
Given Consort Xian’s proud temperament, she would probably be furious enough to die of anger.
Thinking this, Lin Anran lowered her eyes once more and said nothing further.
To Lin Anran, palace intrigue was merely workplace competition.
Though she had no desire to fight and only wished to retire peacefully, if anyone provoked her, she did not mind baring her sharp claws.
The Second and Fourth Princesses had pushed Luo Li into the water last night.
So in the dead of night, she had gone to Jinghe Palace and thrown the Second and Fourth Princesses into the pond herself.
With her status as Empress, combined with the original host’s previously unstable and half-crazed reputation from depression, even the guards had not dared stop her.
Nor was she afraid that Consort Xian would find out.
And even if she did, so what?
Report her?
She had also ordered the guards to rescue the girls immediately, so their lives had never truly been in danger.
Meanwhile, Consort Xian knew perfectly well that it was her daughters who had pushed Luo Li into the water. Coupled with the Emperor’s reprimand the previous night, Consort Xian could only swallow this silent humiliation and use skipping the morning greetings as a voiceless form of protest.