Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Throw Them All into the Well She frowned slightly and said, "How dare you bring me a Phoenix Through Peonies gown? How do you perform your duties?!" Old woman, trying to harm me with Chunyuan's old clothes? Dream on! "Your Highness, please calm your anger." Songzhi knelt to reply, "Your Highness, this is not a phoenix but a Luan Bird that complies with regulations. The flowers are not peonies but peonies, just crafted more exquisitely." When the Empress ordered this gown to be made, she indeed put thought into it. She wanted to fulfill Nian Shilan's subtle "covetous" heart, to please Consort Hua, yet worried about leaving evidence for others. Thus, the Luan Birds and peonies on this gown were more intricate than usual but did not reach the level of phoenixes and peonies. After all, no fault could be found. Songzhi even added specifically, "I had someone from the Imperial Household Department examine it, and there were no issues." It was good to have her own people in the Imperial Household Department. Unlike after Huang Guiquan was replaced, when they deliberately sent her Imperial Noble Consort Attire Regulations without even a hint, letting the dog Emperor laugh at her for nothing. Since it was confirmed there were no issues, Nian Shilan nodded. Songzhi helped her coordinate today's makeup and hairstyle. [Women dress up for themselves, looking beautiful again today~] Nian Shilan admired herself in the bronze mirror—not living for the dog Emperor brought happiness every day. Zhou Ninghai entered from outside, "Your Highness, Yu Ying'er has arrived." Songzhi: "Yu Ying'er?" "Yes, the Emperor granted her the title of Attendant again yesterday." This matched her previous life. Nian Shilan was not surprised. In her past life, after Yu Ying'er received favor, she immediately chose to side with her. Admittedly, this was flattery, and she had the arrogance of a petty person gaining power, but she was very respectful toward her. Moreover, she followed her orders without question. In her past life, Cao Qinmo strategized behind the scenes, and under her direction, Yu Ying'er went to poison that bitch Zhen Huan. From the incident to her execution, she never exposed her. Whether she was coerced or not, there was some loyalty there. Nian Shilan, reborn into this life, was not here to distinguish between good and evil or right and wrong in the harem. Whoever was loyal to her, she was happy to treat well. For Yu Ying'er's loyalty, in this life, Nian Shilan was willing to give her a few pointers. As for how much she would take in, that depended entirely on her own fate. "Let her in." Zhou Ninghai hesitated slightly, "Your Highness, Noble Lady Shen and Attendant An have also arrived." "..." These two, didn't they return very late last night? Coming again so early—they might as well live in Yikun Palace. "Let them all in," Nian Shilan said. Yu Ying'er did not visit as frequently as Shen and An; today, she came specifically to kowtow and express gratitude. Having served in the harem for many years, she knew that while the Empress appeared to be the Mistress of the Six Palaces, it was actually Consort Hua who decided matters in the harem. Thus, she came to Yikun Palace the day after receiving favor. To cling to the harem's thickest thigh. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your grace and support." "You are quite clever." Yu Ying'er also had a silver tongue, responding with flattering words. Nian Shilan glanced at An Lingrong from the corner of her eye, recalling Shen Meizhuang's words from her past life: [Others might be fine, but it's a palace maid whose status is ten times lower than hers, and now they are on equal footing. Naturally, she feels displeased.] [No, not even equal footing.] [In a few days, during the Lantern Festival, Yu Ying'er's song "Eternal Reunion" pleased the Empress Dowager, and the Emperor will grant her the title "Miaoyin Niangzi."] 【If anyone knows how to degrade people, it's that dog emperor. He has no self-respect, indulging with palace maids everywhere, even letting one ride over the heads of proper mistresses.】 【Not to mention An Lingrong's displeasure, which respectable young lady from a noble family could accept such a thing?】 An Lingrong secretly lifted her gaze to look at Consort Hua: Though the emperor did not treat her as a person, Her Highness was willing to consider her feelings. She even scolded the emperor for her sake. All her grievances melted into gratitude. 【After the Lantern Festival, An Lingrong finally received favor. Having seen little of the world, when she suddenly looked up and saw that withered old tree stump, how could she not be frightened?】 【He had no self-awareness, saying, "I'm not fierce." He wasn't fierce, but he was ugly.】 【A perfectly fine girl was made to cry by his ugliness, and then the dog emperor played the trick of "Return the Jade Intact to Zhao." That very night, he summoned Yu Ying'er instead.】 Made to cry… by ugliness? "……" Just how ugly was the emperor? An Lingrong had originally been indifferent to favor, but now she truly felt some resistance to receiving it. Though the emperor's appearance could not be called handsome, the idea that Lingrong was made to cry by his ugliness… was truly unexpected. Shen Meizhuang glanced subtly at An Lingrong from the corner of her eye: Who would have thought that the one who would later dare to drug the emperor could be so timid now. 【After the "Return the Jade Intact to Zhao" incident, there was much mockery in the rear palace. Those righteous voices criticized those who laughed at An Lingrong but forgot that the emperor was the true culprit.】 【Without him, who would dare mock An Lingrong?】 【If only An Bihuai's official rank had been higher, he would not have trampled on An Lingrong so thoroughly.】 【The dog emperor had his fun, but he turned these two women into enemies.】 Now both of them were here with her… Remembering An Lingrong's insecurity and sensitivity, and fearing that overthinking might lead to the betrayal and estrangement that had once belonged to Zhen Huan in the previous life now shifting to herself, bringing unnecessary trouble, Nian Shilan could not help but offer a few more words of caution: "Since you have entered the rear palace, you are all the emperor's imperial consorts and concubines. Whom the emperor favors more or less is his decision, not something any woman can control." "If you wish for more favor, compete by your own abilities. Do not resort to dirty tricks behind the scenes. The emperor sees clearly, and the Empress and I are not blind either." 【The emperor is adept at playing favorites, sowing suspicion among the imperial consorts and concubines to maintain balance. If you feel it is unfair, do not doubt it—it is the dog emperor stirring trouble behind the scenes.】 【If you must hate someone, hate the emperor, or at the very least, hate the Empress.】 "If you fight among yourselves and cause me trouble…" Nian Shilan's expression turned stern as she looked at the three through the bronze mirror, "I will have you all thrown into the well to soak!" Her words carried the same weight as "I will chop you all up and feed you to the dogs," enough to make anyone tremble.