Chapter 7: Bird Consort Has Arrived
In her previous life, if Nian Shilan had received such news, she would have been overjoyed, beaming with delight, unable to contain her happiness.
But now…
Knowing full well that she was merely a side dish, why would she rush to play the supporting role? She wasn’t that lowly.
Rather than wasting an entire day sitting until sores developed under her buttocks, she’d much rather lie in Yikun Palace, listening to music, sipping tea, and enjoying snacks.
“Since the Empress, as the head of the inner palace, is not attending, how could I possibly overstep my bounds?”
Nian Shilan politely declined, without the slightest hint of feigned reluctance or false courtesy.
Su Peisheng was also somewhat surprised, feeling that Consort Hua seemed different. “In reply to Consort Hua, the Empress will also be attending.”
“…”
Wasn’t the Palace Selection only for the Emperor and the Empress Dowager? How come the Empress was attending as well?
Nian Shilan refused to give up. “Does… does Her Majesty the Empress Dowager know?”
“In reply to Your Ladyship, when His Majesty ordered this servant to deliver the message, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager happened to be present.”
There weren’t that many coincidences.
The news had reached Shoukang Palace, and the Empress Dowager had personally come to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to speak with the Emperor: “Your Majesty may favor her, but there must be limits. It is unheard of for a consort to accompany the Palace Selection.”
“And what did the Emperor say?”
“His Majesty said that Your Ladyship assists in managing the six palaces and stands first among all consorts. Since the Palace Maid Candidates will enter the palace under your supervision in the future, you should also take a look. If any catch your eye, they can be kept, making future interactions more harmonious.”
Who wanted to be sisters with his beloved Huanhuan?
Seeing that the message had been clearly conveyed, Su Peisheng bowed respectfully. “His Majesty originally intended to come in person, but just as he was about to leave, Minister Zhang Tingyu happened to request an audience. His Majesty’s intention is to visit Yikun Palace later to dine with Your Ladyship this evening. Please make the necessary preparations. This servant will take his leave now.”
In her previous life, she longed for him but he never came. Now that she found him bothersome, he showed up every other day.
Heaven truly loved to contradict people.
Nian Shilan curled the corner of her lips and said politely, “Thank you, Eunuch Su—Songzhi.”
Songzhi immediately slipped a money pouch into Su Peisheng’s hand.
Such a hefty weight—there was likely no other consort or lady in the entire harem who could offer such a sum.
“Well?”
In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Emperor saw Su Peisheng return and shook the memorial in his hand, pretending to be indifferent. “Upon hearing this news, Consort Hua must have been overjoyed, right?”
Su Peisheng thought of Consort Hua’s reaction—it seemed… she wasn’t as happy as the Emperor.
“Her Ladyship was so excited she could hardly believe it. She confirmed with this servant three times in a row and even asked about Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s opinion, fearing she might breach protocol.”
No one said excitement had to mean delight, anger, or anything else.
Su Peisheng was merely stating the facts. How to interpret them was entirely up to the Emperor.
“Did you hear any… strange sounds in Yikun Palace?”
Despite having confirmed many times in Yikun Palace that no one else could hear Consort Hua’s inner thoughts except himself, the Emperor still wanted to verify once more.
He wanted to double-check whether he, the true Son of Heaven, was the only one chosen by Heaven for such favor.
Strange sounds? Su Peisheng, though clever, couldn’t quite grasp the Emperor’s meaning at first.
“This servant is dull-witted. Could what Your Majesty refers to be… criticisms in Yikun Palace?”
Criticisms?
Consort Hua indeed had few kind words in her heart, which could be considered criticisms.
Did Su Peisheng mean he had heard them too?
The Emperor merely lifted an eyelid. “You heard them? Did she curse me again?”
“This servant is terrified. Your Majesty favors Consort Hua, and she is overjoyed. How could there possibly be any criticisms?”
Su Peisheng knelt down. “This servant dares to say something he shouldn’t—Consort Hua may have a bold and unrestrained temperament, but her devotion to Your Majesty is absolute. She would only sing Your Majesty’s praises—how could she possibly curse you?”
Her?
Sing my praises?
The Emperor snorted. “A woman who says one thing but means another.”
Su Peisheng suddenly understood: Her Ladyship was being duplicitous. Though she hadn’t appeared particularly pleased on the surface earlier, inwardly she must have been overjoyed.
Tiyuan Hall.
What was supposed to be a perfectly good holiday had been abruptly interrupted by this summons to work. To maintain proper decorum, she couldn’t eat or drink freely, and had to sit upright with her back straight.
Who would be happy about that?
Nian Shilan sat listlessly in her seat, her eyes vacant as she stared at the candidates kneeling by the entrance.
She didn’t understand—from this distance, what could one possibly see clearly?
But none of that mattered anyway. Whoever entered the palace was already predetermined.
Row after row of Palace Maid Candidates came forward and retreated. The Empress Dowager’s frown deepened. Several times she had glanced sideways, noticing that the Emperor kept stealing looks at Consort Hua, his attention completely diverted from the candidates.
He visited Yikun Palace whenever he had a spare moment, and now he’d even brought her along to the selection.
Such excessive favoritism would surely lead to endless trouble.
She wondered if any of these candidates would be outstanding enough to draw the Emperor’s gaze away from the Nian clan.
Nian Shilan propped her head up. Each time the eunuch at the entrance announced a name, she would idly mimic in her mind:
[Reject the plaque, bestow flowers.]
The Empress Dowager glanced left and right: Did someone just speak?
But Consort Hua was seated far from the Empress Dowager, with the Emperor and Empress between them. Moreover, the voice in her heart sounded lazy and listless, so the Empress Dowager couldn’t hear it clearly—it merely buzzed faintly in her mind like a distant hum.
Neither the Empress nor the Emperor showed any unusual reaction. The Empress Dowager began to suspect she was experiencing tinnitus from taking too much medicine lately.
Once this was over, she would have to have the imperial physician examine her thoroughly.
“An Lingrong, daughter of An Bihuai, Assistant Magistrate of Songyang County, aged sixteen—”
[Ah! Here she comes!]
Outside, An Lingrong was performing her obeisance. As Nian Shilan’s inner voice sounded, the Emperor immediately perked up. The Empress also glanced over from the corner of her eye, leaning as close as she could toward Consort Hua to hear more clearly.
[Bird Consort is here! The Emperor’s Rongrong!]
The Empress couldn’t help but straighten her posture, widening her eyes to look outside: What kind of consort?
Bird Consort?
Why would there be such a strange title? Could it have been conferred after my death?
The Emperor narrowed his small eyes to focus: The Emperor’s Rongrong? Did I really keep someone of this appearance in my past life?
[Her looks are naturally incomparable to mine, and she exudes pettiness inside and out. Her only advantages lie in some unorthodox skills—embroidery, incense-making, singing and dancing—and a personality as docile as an oriole. Oh, and that gentle oriole could also slice flesh and draw blood. Such ruthlessness truly makes her a perfect match for the Emperor.]
The Empress couldn’t suppress the upward curve of her lips: Consort Hua truly is a marvel. She praises this lowborn girl to the heavens, yet says she’s a perfect match for the Emperor—isn’t that just trampling the Emperor underfoot?
What a pity the Emperor can’t hear Consort Hua’s inner thoughts, otherwise his face would surely be green with rage by now.