Chapter 4: Who Hasn’t Died Before?

Tea splashed out, and everyone guarding the palace knelt down.

“Your Highness, please calm your anger.”

Songzhi was so frightened that her hair buns seemed to stand on end. She immediately kowtowed and admitted her mistake.

“Your Highness, please be discerning. This servant dares not, this servant has always been thinking of Your Highness, never harboring even a hint of improper thoughts.”

Nian Shilan looked down at Songzhi kneeling at her feet.

Whether in poverty or wealth, in times of prosperity or decline, no matter how harshly she treated her, this girl had never left her side.

And Zhou Ninghai too.

“What does this have to do with you?” She reached out to help Songzhi up, and the others also stood up. “I know your loyalty. In a few days, I will have my sister-in-law find a good family for you outside the palace, so you can leave and marry.”

Songzhi had just stood up but immediately knelt down again.

“This servant doesn’t know what mistake I made. Please, Your Highness, make it clear. This servant will sincerely repent, but please don’t drive me away.”

“I’m not driving you away. I want to secure a good future for you and Zhou Ninghai…”

While the Nian family still stood strong, and Nian Shilan remained the Emperor’s consort, she couldn’t escape, but those serving her could.

There was no need for everyone to stay and die together.

Before she could finish, Zhou Ninghai also fell to his knees with a thud. “Your Highness, this servant hasn’t said anything. You cannot drive me away.”

“No, you…”

They had already died for her hundreds of times. Nian Shilan truly couldn’t bear to see such an outcome again.

She didn’t want a pure girl like Songzhi to serve that rotten old man, nor did she want Zhou Ninghai to suffer torture in Shenxing Si again.

“Get up first.”

“If Your Highness wants to drive this servant away, I would rather kneel here forever.”

Having died once, she had fewer taboos. Nian Shilan said, “But following someone like me will not lead to a good end.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, what nonsense is Your Highness saying? Your Highness is favored in the rear palace, the Grand General is powerful in the imperial court, with boundless glory—how could there be no good end?”

After Songzhi finished, Zhou Ninghai added:

“Is Your Highness feeling disheartened because the Emperor hasn’t visited recently? This servant will go invite the Emperor right away.”

With that, Zhou Ninghai stood up and limped toward the door.

“Come back!”

“Your Highness!”

“The Emperor will go to Jingren Palace tonight. There’s no need for you to make a wasted trip.”

“It’s fine. The Emperor has always cared for Your Highness. This servant will just say that Your Highness is unwell…”

Nian Shilan was so frightened she hurriedly said, “No, no, no!”

Whether the Emperor’s affection was genuine or feigned, she was favored during this period. If Zhou Ninghai said this, even if the Emperor was unwilling, he would have to come.

“Do you understand ‘words becoming prophecies’? The lies told now will all come true in the future.”

Nian Shilan coaxed, deceived, and threatened them in equal measure. “Surely you don’t want me to end up lying in bed, paralyzed, with a twisted face, eyes askew, and covered in filth, unable to move?”

“Your Highness, you… you must not speak such nonsense.” Songzhi was terrified. “Your Highness will surely be blessed with health, longevity, and a hundred years of life.”

Nian Shilan took one by the left hand and the other by the right, speaking from the heart:

“Flowers do not bloom for a hundred days, and people do not prosper for a thousand. One day, I will fall out of favor, and the Nian family will lose power. If you follow me, the outcome might… be tragic. Forget wealth and glory—you might not even keep your bodies intact. Aren’t you afraid?”

Songzhi was lost in her mistress’s gentle gaze, tears welling in her eyes, and whispered softly:

“I am not afraid. I have served Your Ladyship since childhood, and to speak out of turn, in my heart, you and I are the closest in all the world. Wherever Your Ladyship goes, I will follow.”

Zhou Ninghai’s hand, held tightly, was so tense he dared not move it, his throat choked with emotion. “In this life, I serve Your Ladyship, and in the next, I will still be your humble servant, without a word of complaint.”

Fate truly plays cruel tricks.

The man she had loved with all her heart, the one who shared her pillow, refused to see her even as he lay dying. Yet these servants she had ordered about were each more loyal than the last.

Enough. Now that she no longer needed to vie for favor and could not bear children anyway, as long as she avoided making enemies and advised her brother well, there would be no great danger.

If she could truly live out her days peacefully with these two until her natural end, that would be a blessing indeed.

Where one sits determines how one thinks. The comments all said Songzhi was clever, but only because she feared her, her mind following her mistress’s lead. This time, let her put that cleverness to use.

If it truly couldn’t be done, then she would just have to try harder.

After all, who hasn’t died before?

What was there to fear?

“Alright, alright, I know you are both loyal. Stop crying now, or word might get out that I mistreat those around me. Have the small kitchen prepare a meal.”

She remembered that the Emperor had drunk three bowls of duck soup today at the Empress’s palace. The Emperor had the most discerning palate—he could tell if tea meant to be served at eight-tenths hot had cooled to seven-tenths. That duck soup must have been truly exceptional.

“Stew a pot of duck soup.”

Nian Shilan wanted to taste it too.

Songzhi wiped away her tears and said softly, “Your Ladyship seems preoccupied with food these days.”

Nian Shilan glanced at her, but there was no sharpness of offense in her eyes, only complete indifference.

It wasn’t that she was preoccupied with food; it was just that, trapped in this cage with endless days, she needed something to occupy her time.

As for favor—

The Emperor’s favor toward her had always followed her brother’s achievements. With the Nian family standing strong, even without striving, favor remained. Without the Nian family, no matter how hard she tried, favor would not come.

The Consort Hua who once waited from dusk till dawn was already dead. She would not spare another thought for the Emperor.

The Emperor held the power of life and death; he could not be offended.

Just as he had deceived her in her past life, she could deceive him in this one.

They could all pretend. In the imperial family, there was no true affection—everyone just played their parts.

But she needed to take it slow. At the moment, she felt a physical aversion toward him.

Nian Shilan was certain the Emperor would come tonight, so she deliberately had her evening meal half an hour early and drank a large bowl of strong calming soup.

The Emperor had his evening meal at Jingren Palace, where the Empress advised him not to exceed three servings of any dish, leaving him displeased.

Even though no one from Yikun Palace had sent an invitation, he still went.

The Emperor stepped inside. “Where is your mistress? Why hasn’t she come out to greet me?”

Songzhi stepped forward and bowed. “Your Majesty, Her Ladyship is unwell and has already retired for the night.”

“So early to bed?”

The Emperor knew Consort Hua was fond of throwing petty tantrums. Today, she must be upset because he had dined at Jingren Palace.

Looking at the red gauze curtains, he deliberately raised his voice, confident. “If she is asleep, then I shall take my leave.”

“…”

No response.

“I should go see Consort Qi and the Third Prince—” the Emperor said loudly.

“…”

The chirping of crickets outside only made the hall seem quieter.