Chapter 20: Dying in Xia’s Place

Everyone noticed Consort Hua looking up and instantly averted their gaze.

Everything seemed normal.

Nian Shilan didn’t think much of it, but as she withdrew her gaze, she happened to catch sight of Noble Lady Chun. She hadn’t mentioned this one’s fate yet, so she began with a series of clicking sounds.

[Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk… Only fourteen years old, and that old lecher could still bring himself to do it!]

Though she didn’t name anyone, among this batch of Palace Maid Candidates, only one was fourteen years old.

And in the entire harem, the only one who could be called an old lecher was…

Consort Jing had now learned to remain composed, but her composure differed from the Empress’s.

The Empress inwardly rejoiced: Consort Hua’s insults toward the Emperor were becoming more and more effortless.

What a delightful sound—if only the Emperor could hear it too.

Consort Jing’s heart was shaken once again:

She had once thought Consort Hua was arrogant and domineering, yet deeply respectful of the Emperor.

Who would have thought she was so utterly deranged? Not only did she assign the imperial consorts and concubines to her Fourth Master, but she even cursed the Emperor without hesitation.

Her tone was certainly not one of affection for the Emperor.

Consort Jing suddenly understood why, in the past, when she was in Consort Hua’s chambers, Consort Hua would torment her with petty, meticulous methods.

A madwoman.

What reason could there be?

Perhaps in private, when Consort Hua went mad, she even cursed herself.

Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang, being newcomers, couldn’t believe Consort Hua was cursing the Emperor. Recalling that Consort Hua’s inner thoughts had mentioned everyone’s fates, they assumed it was some old lecher who would eventually kill Fangjia Chunyi.

But how could Consort Hua know everyone’s fate?

Was it credible?

After her private audience with the Empress, An Lingrong returned to the very back, her heart uneasy, so she didn’t clearly hear about Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang’s matters.

The Empress Dowager, under the pretense of devoutly practicing Buddhism, did not summon the newcomers. Once the joint palace audience concluded, everyone left Jingren Palace.

Nian Shilan had originally planned to leave first this time, staying far away from trouble, but she was stopped by the Empress.

Qi Erha affectionately took Fu Yibiao to her own Changchun Palace.

“Although the palace’s ceremonies are grand, Her Majesty the Empress is extremely lenient. You needn’t be afraid. From now on, with me in the palace, no one will dare to bully you.”

She seemed to have forgotten that she had just been rebuked by a newcomer.

Shen Meizhuang and Zhen Huan came out a step later, watching the retreating figures of Consort Qi and Noble Lady Fucha. Inwardly, they thought in unison:

Qi Erha, Fu Yibiao.

Were these… their maiden names?

Their nicknames were quite unique.

Though they didn’t fully understand and had only just met, they inexplicably felt that these names suited their temperaments perfectly.

“Sister.”

An Lingrong, preoccupied with her own worries, had lagged behind but now quickened her pace to catch up.

Strictly speaking, the three of them possessed maturity and emotional depth far beyond their peers. However, as newcomers to the palace and still young, despite their best efforts to conceal it, once they left Jingren Palace and were free from the most direct pressure, their fear became quite evident.

“The palace truly has such grand ceremonies,” Shen Meizhuang remarked.

An Lingrong spread her hands open. “Indeed, my palms are sweating.”

They tried to find reasons for their own nervousness.

“Huan’er, my teaching matron was strict and never spoke to me in detail about palace affairs. I wonder if your teaching matron mentioned the ladies of the palace to you?”

“She did say a few things. There are only three true masters in the palace: the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress. Beyond that, there’s Consort Hua, who was enfeoffed as a consort without bearing a child and holds exclusive favor in the harem.”

“Then, in this palace, is there…”

Is there a consort called “Consort Zhuan”?

Before entering the palace, Shen Meizhuang had learned many things, but none of them taught her to accept dying young from postpartum hemorrhage. She was willing to strive for honor and favor for her family, but she did not want to die so early…

Moreover, coming from a noble family, how could she possibly engage in an illicit affair with a court physician?

Utter nonsense!

She wanted to tell Zhen Huan what she had heard, but how could she explain to Huan’er that she would become such an unchaste woman in the future?

Shame prevented her from speaking plainly.

She changed the subject, “How many consorts are there?”

“Consorts?”

Zhen Huan also recalled Consort Hua’s mention of Zhuan Fei, counting on her fingers, “Besides Consort Hua of Yikun Palace, there’s Consort Duan of Yanqing Hall and Consort Qi of Changchun Palace. It seems there are only these three.”

If Sister Mei resembles Zhuan Fei, then who is she, as a substitute, replacing?

Is it also Zhuan Fei?

But who is Zhuan Fei?

Why would she be granted the title “Zhuan”?

It didn’t make sense.

They would never think of “Zhuan Fei” as “Brick Consort” rather than “Special Consort.”

Zhen Huan recalled Consort Hua’s inner hostility toward her, even though she had done nothing.

Strangers to each other, why such animosity?

Could it be possession by evil spirits?

Or perhaps, intimidated by Consort Hua’s imposing presence, she had heard phantom voices?

If phantom voices were unreliable, the phrase “Relying on beauty to please others, how long can it last?” was indeed something she had said herself back at home. Those who were present and heard it—

Huanbi and Liuzhu would never report it to Consort Hua.

Lingrong was also there. Could she have…? No, impossible, she had no opportunity.

Then it must have been Aunt Fangruo.

Consort Hua enjoyed exclusive favor and often visited the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Fangruo served before the Emperor, so she must have told Consort Hua?

The palace waters ran deep indeed. Zhen Huan had never intended to compete for favor, and now, she might as well avoid it altogether.

As long as she didn’t vie for favor, she wouldn’t stand in Consort Hua’s way and naturally wouldn’t be targeted by her, right?

“During today’s audience, only these three were mentioned,” Zhen Huan said.

An Lingrong nodded in agreement. Looking at her two elder sisters, her heart felt a mix of emotions.

After being selected, Sister Zhen had kindly invited her to stay at her home, sharing beautiful hairpins and jewelry to wear in turn.

After entering the palace, Sister Zhen had even intended to give her a maid, though it didn’t work out. Sister Mei had also given her many things.

People in the palace were adept at flattering the powerful and trampling the weak. Knowing her humble origins, they looked down on her, except for her two elder sisters, who treated her like a younger sister, especially Sister Zhen.

They were so close as sisters—how could they turn against each other in the future?

Each lost in their own thoughts, the three of them were somewhat distracted.

“Walls have ears. Let’s return and discuss this later.”

After careful consideration, Zhen Huan still didn’t dare mention to Sister Mei that she could hear Consort Hua’s inner thoughts. Lingrong was timid, so she was even less inclined to tell her.

Sun Miaoqing emerged from the Empress’s hall and saw… Fuzi in the courtyard?

Wasn’t she supposed to be floating in a well?

Why was she here watering flowers?

Sun Miaoqing rubbed her eyes, uncertain. She asked her maid Lvzhu to inquire and confirm.

Hongqu helped her out of Jingren Palace.

Standing at the entrance of Jingren Palace, Sun Miaoqing watched the retreating figures of Zhen Huan and the other two for a long time. Hongqu whispered:

“Miss, should we go greet them?”

Sun Miaoqing’s arrival had altered the plot, causing the originally selected Xia Dongchun to fall out of favor, while she herself entered the palace, taking Xia Dongchun’s rank and residence.

Just moments ago, she had offended Consort Hua in the hall. If she approached now, it would perfectly set the stage for the infamous punishment of Zhang Hong.

Replacing Xia to enter the palace, replacing Xia to die?