Chapter 1

Chapter 1: People are More Complicated Than Dogs (Alternate Universe, Not Historical) "Summoning you at this hour, I must have disturbed your afternoon rest, sister." Nian Shilan looked at the Empress, who was seated and dressed in green with gold hair ornaments, her mind in a daze. It was as if she had just woken from a dream, her head still aching. She recalled the words Zhen Huan had spoken to her before she died... She thought about it carefully. It was too long to memorize. In any case, that bitch opposed me in everything and never had a decent word to say. But one thing she said was very true. People are far more complicated than dogs. To think of her, Nian Shilan, how wantonly and flamboyantly she had lived her life. Doted on by her brother, favored by her husband, she had dominated the inner palace with great satisfaction. It was just a pity that after a lifetime of loving, fighting, and striving, her love amounted to nothing, and her struggles were all for a dream. Everything had been a scheme orchestrated by the man she deeply loved. She, the ever-so-proud Nian Shilan, ended up as a proud joke in the mouths of others. She had slammed her head against the cold wall of the Cold Palace, thinking she could end her ridiculous life then and there. Unexpectedly, the heavens played an even bigger joke on her. She did not die; her soul was transported to a dark, confined space. A small tray table, a glowing screen, and lines of subtitles floating by. "...I heard that the most favored in the palace is Consort Hua..." "If you leave, don't ever step foot in Yikun Palace again... The Huan Yi Incense bestowed upon me by His Majesty, I use it every day..." "...Congratulations, Your Grace, you are nearly two months pregnant... Everyone can give birth, so why can't I?" "Shen Meizhuang left, and a Zhen Huan came. Zhen Huan left, and an An Lingrong came..." "...My life was never worth it to begin with... Did you think my sister truly loved you?... You venomous woman!..." One after another, women in magnificent, ornate robes bloomed like flowers, only to fall like them as well. She watched her own life unfold from others' perspectives. She had died, but the story was not yet over. She watched the Legend of Zhen Huan eight hundred times all by herself, not missing a single word, only to discover that despite her years of dominating the inner palace, she was nothing more than the small cup on the corner of the table, the green onion in the pork rib soup. A mere side dish at someone else's grand banquet. Nian Shilan couldn't believe she was just a villainous side character in someone else's life, doomed to die no matter what she did. She refused to believe it. She denied it, raged, and tried to negotiate with someone, anyone, but finally, in lonely despair, she accepted this reality, and then— She was reborn. Back to the very beginning. This time, she wouldn't fight. Everyone was a side character anyway, destined to die sooner or later. Even the Emperor had to make way for Zhen Huan. Who was nobler than whom? She no longer wanted the Emperor's love. That old, ugly man with phlegm in his throat—whoever liked him could have him. But! No matter how many times she was reborn, she still had to save the Nian family and her brother. Even if it was fate, she would fight against destiny to the very end. As for everything else, whatever. The great Qing dynasty could go to hell for all she cared. What did it have to do with a side character like me? "Consort Hua, I am speaking to you." The Empress, noticing the person below her was distracted, spoke again. Nian Shilan, annoyed at being disturbed, rolled her eyes inwardly: 【But I don't want to talk to you. You pretend to be virtuous all day long, aren't you tired?】 Why did that voice sound like Consort Hua? But she didn't seem to have opened her mouth. The Empress glanced left and right, suspecting that something unclean had entered Jingren Palace. 【It's a pity that no matter how virtuous you pretend to be, the Emperor has never truly looked at you. You think you are the Emperor's wife, but in his heart, he has never seen you as a wife, only as the Empress.】 【The Empress...】 【To put it bluntly, you're just the general manager of the inner palace. A mere housekeeper.】 【Poor little illegitimate daughter. You lived so cautiously in the women's quarters, only to be sent to the Prince's Mansion as a pawn by your family. You gave your whole heart to the Emperor, but the moment your legitimate elder sister arrived, all your previous efforts were wasted.】 【The position of primary consort that was within your grasp was gone. The dog Emperor demoted his wife to a concubine, and your perfectly legitimate son became an illegitimate son.】 【You've lived your whole life in frustration, and in the end, for the sake of his Wanwan, the Emperor wished to never see you again in this life or the next. To end up like that... heh. And even that outcome was thanks to the Empress Dowager's final edict. I really don't know what she's putting on this virtuous act for.】 【Truly the second biggest fool in the inner palace. What a pitiful person.】 Was Consort Hua talking about her? Who on earth told her about those old affairs from the Prince's Mansion? And what did she mean by her final end? Drink if you're thirsty, why "heh" at such a crucial moment? The Empress's gaze swept around. Everyone was calmer than the next, and Jian Qiu showed no reaction either. It didn't seem like they could hear anything. Could it be that the heavens could no longer stand Consort Hua's arrogant and domineering behavior and had specially chosen me to rid the world of this pest? Not sure. I'll listen a bit more. "How could I be as leisurely and blessed as Your Majesty? May I ask for what important matter Your Majesty has summoned me?" Nian Shilan said. 【Did the Empress grow a corn on her butt? Why is she so restless? Does she have any semblance of an Empress left?】 The Empress: "..." "The selection is about to reach the final round of the Palace Audience. How are your preparations coming along, sister?" 【It's a selection for the Emperor, not for me. What am I supposed to prepare?】 Nian Shilan couldn't hide the disdain at the corner of her lips. "Your Majesty can rest assured. Huang Guiquan already reported back this afternoon that everything has been properly prepared. In any case, the Emperor has decreed that the treasury is empty and everything must be done frugally. I can't conjure silver out of thin air, so everything will just be handled according to the rules." "The rules are, of course, of utmost importance." The Empress's voice was gentle, trying her best not to let anyone see anything amiss. She said with a smile, "If sister handles this matter well for the sake of the imperial family's dignity, His Majesty will be greatly pleased and will surely reward you again." Nian Shilan didn't reply, picking up the teacup beside her and taking a sip. 【He's taking concubines and wants me to pay for it? His abacus beads are really flying all over the place. How shameless.】 【People who share a bed are cut from the same cloth. They're all eyeing my bit of silver.】 【Rewards? I'll reward you with ten catties of Huan Yi Incense, how about it?】 【And imperial dignity? Whoever's dignity it is can earn it themselves. I don't have the leisure to bother.】 【This time, no one can even think of prying a single coin from me! Not a chance!】 She's drinking tea, so how is she speaking? But that is most definitely her voice. Am I seeing a ghost? The Empress inexplicably felt her own throat go dry and found it hard to remain seated. —Special Disclaimer— This book is set in an alternate universe, alternate universe, alternate universe, alternate universe, alternate universe, alternate universe. It is not related to history or reality. There is no Yongzheng Emperor, no Yinzhen! The synopsis states that the main characters, both protagonists and antagonists, can read minds, including the Emperor. This is mainly for face-to-face verbal takedowns. If it says the dragon will be slain, the dragon will be slain. If you want to see Consort Hua being the sole favorite, you can click on the author's homepage to see another book. All forms of discussion are welcome. Malicious attacks will be doubly reflected. And one last time: The synopsis is not lying