Chapter 19: Shocking the Entire Rear Palace

The greetings continued. The Empress waited for Nian Shilan to say a few more words, but Consort Hua truly spared no further breath, not uttering a single word in her heart.

Helplessly, the Empress called each newcomer forward one by one. She praised them lavishly, so extravagantly that even she herself couldn’t bear to listen.

Sure enough, as soon as she began praising, Nian Shilan’s thoughts grew lively.

[If you have nothing to praise, don’t force it, alright?]

[Borjigit, who has barely shown her face a few times, is broad-shouldered, thick-waisted, strong, and robust—one punch could send your beloved Emperor gegei back to the Mongolian grasslands.]

Nian Shilan couldn’t bear to watch.

Since Borjigit couldn’t possibly compete for favor and posed no threat, the Empress, upon hearing this, simply moved on to someone else.

“Noble Lady Fucha.”

“Your servant is here.”

[Noble Lady Fuyibiao, together with Qi Erha, forms the pair of useless sisters. Fuyibiao and Erha are indeed of little use, but they excel at causing trouble. When these two join forces, they dominate the rear palace.]

[Oh, I remember now—they also slap faces.]

[The top sister of Long Street isn’t famous for nothing.]

[After becoming pregnant, she miscarried due to a cat pounce, and in the end, she was easily frightened into madness by a few words. Truly a fitting end for a useless person.]

Noble Lady Fucha couldn’t hear Consort Hua’s inner thoughts, so she naturally failed to grasp the deeper meaning behind the Empress’s increasingly radiant smile, assuming instead that the Empress was simply kind and benevolent.

Since she was useless, this person posed no threat. The Empress immediately waved her off and looked up to see the next one… She remembered Consort Hua had mentioned this person—

Bird Consort.

“Attendant An, step forward,” Jian Qiu said.

Though An Lingrong was nervous inside, she remained calm on the surface. She stepped forward, lifted the hem of her robe, knelt, and bowed.

“I remember you. On the day of the Palace Selection, you were cautious and respectful…”

[Coming from a humble background, if she weren’t cautious and respectful, wouldn’t she be worse off than a palace maid?]

An Lingrong expressed her fear, saying she didn’t deserve the Empress’s undeserved praise, but inside, she was truly terrified.

It seemed… it seemed she could hear Consort Hua speaking.

But from the corner of her eye, she saw that Consort Hua hadn’t opened her mouth. Was she so nervous that she was hearing things?

[Still, it’s quite remarkable for her—rising from the lowest rank of Attendant all the way to Bird Consort, even enjoying exclusive favor in the rear palace for a time. It’s just a pity that the sisterhood fell apart, and in the end, she was punished by the Emperor, forced to slap her face daily and poisoned to death with bitter almonds.]

[I always say, what sisterhood exists in this rear palace? It’s nothing more than the weak clinging to the strong, the foolish clinging to the clever. Smiling faces in front, knives in the back. Even if I’m gone, you’ll still fight and kill each other, drenched in blood. This time, I’ll strive to live until I die.]

[Don’t disappoint me.]

Consort Hua! It’s Consort Hua!

An Lingrong desperately wanted to confirm, but judging by the reactions of others, the palace ladies aside, even the newcomers showed no response.

No one else could hear it—only she could.

Only she could hear it!

Consort Hua’s voice was distinctive; even without looking, she knew it was her.

And this voice didn’t seem to come through her ears—it felt as though it poured into her mind from all directions.

It was her inner thoughts—it had to be!

Hearing someone else’s inner thoughts was no ordinary matter. If she spoke of it, no one would believe her, and if Consort Hua found out, she might even kill her.

Back during the Palace Selection, it was Consort Hua’s words that allowed her to enter the palace. Judging by her tone, she likely meant no harm. So, despite her fierce appearance, she wasn’t truly wicked inside.

An Lingrong did not believe she would harm her sisters, but Consort Hua’s words—”the weak cling to the strong, the foolish cling to the clever, smiles to your face, knives behind your back”—were indeed words of experience.

In the future, she must be cautious and careful in the palace. Yes! She must also visit Yikun Palace frequently to listen to Her Ladyship’s most sincere teachings.

She only hoped Her Ladyship would not look down on her humble origins.

Having just entered the palace, An Lingrong was still a timid girl who had never seen much of the world. Suddenly hearing Nian Shilan’s inner thoughts, her legs nearly gave way beneath her, held up only by sheer will.

But regarding the future, a glimmer of anticipation for exclusive favor stirred within her, alongside a dread of what seemed an inevitable dead end.

What exactly would she experience in this imperial harem?

The Empress was also curious. Hearing that Nian Shilan had fallen silent, she dismissed An Lingrong and summoned Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang forward.

[Shen Meizhuang is truly two-faced. Her personality really resembles Zhuan Fei’s—quiet on the surface but biting behind your back.]

[The first among the new consorts to receive favor, she rose from Noble Lady Shen all the way to Consort Hui. Changxi Hall became Cunju Hall. Although she fell out of favor due to a false pregnancy and was once demoted to Promise, she still enjoyed a period of great favor.]

[“Rather die clinging to fragrance on the branch than be blown down by the north wind”—she spoke of unyielding pride and noble bearing, yet this lady of high birth secretly consorted with a imperial physician.]

[Utterly hypocritical!]

[In the end, she died from hemorrhage during a difficult childbirth for that bastard child. Serves her right!]

Shen Meizhuang’s expression remained placid, but her hand clutching the handkerchief tightened:

Secret affair?

Bastard child?

Difficult childbirth?

Hemorrhage and death?

Zhen Huan, who could also hear, widened her eyes slightly: Sister Mei actually died in childbirth? She wondered if this could be believed.

Taking advantage of the Empress praising Shen Meizhuang, she glanced sideways at her: Judging by Sister Mei’s expression, she seemed to hear nothing.

Was Heaven intentionally warning her?

But why did Heaven’s voice sound so much like—Consort Hua?

Regardless of its truth, she would definitely find a way to protect Sister Mei.

Favor was not important, nor were heirs. What mattered was that they, as sisters, must support each other in this harem and survive well.

[Zhen Huan…]

It was her turn now. She felt a bit of anticipation.

She didn’t know her own ultimate fate, but she hoped for a good outcome.

Zhen Huan pricked up her ears to listen.

[That vile woman!]

Zhen Huan: “…”

Shen Meizhuang: “…”

Consort Hua seemed to hate her/Sister Huan deeply.

The intensity of Consort Hua’s inner voice even made Consort Jing tremble slightly. Fortunately, she was shielded by others, and no one paid her any attention.

The Empress had grown accustomed to it and remained composed.

[Her background isn’t particularly noble, yet she flaunts her sharp tongue and shows off her meager literary knowledge all day, opposing this Consort! As if afraid others wouldn’t know she’s read a couple of pretentious books.]

[Even before entering the palace, she dared gossip behind this Consort’s back, saying things like “How long can beauty alone please another?”]

[Read a few books and flaunts it everywhere, daring to say this Consort relies on looks to serve others?]

[If this Consort relies on looks to serve others, it’s because of natural beauty. What does that vile woman rely on for her future favor?]

[Nothing but a substitute’s face!]

[Hmph! So what if she gained favor? In the end, wasn’t she still…]

Nian Shilan recalled that Zhen Huan didn’t seem to die in the end and even became Empress Dowager, which made her even angrier.

In her anger, even her inner thoughts ceased.

Everyone was waiting for Consort Hua to reveal Zhen Huan’s fate when Nian Shilan yawned, suddenly feeling an intense, burning sensation all over her body and involuntarily looked up.