Chapter 46

Chapter 46: A Narrow Encounter on Long Street No matter what favor he bestowed, that heartless man—she couldn’t care less about competing for his attention. If the Emperor wished to come, he would come; if not, so be it. Shen Meizhuang was the first to curtsy. “This concubine will respectfully heed Consort Hua’s teachings and will certainly not engage in petty jealousies that might trouble Your Highness.” A man who treated her like a cat, a dog, or a plaything—and she was supposed to return the jade intact to Zhao? She couldn’t care less about vying for favor. An Lingrong’s ability to read subtle cues was still somewhat lacking, but she understood the words well enough. She followed suit gracefully. “This concubine also respectfully heeds Your Highness’s teachings and dares not disobey.” Though both were Attendants, Yu Ying’er, in the midst of her peak favor, could indeed hold a higher status than An Lingrong. However, seeing how Consort Hua seemed to value Attendant An, Yu Ying’er dared not overstep. Yu Ying’er glanced left and right. “This concubine is the same.” [If everyone in the harem were this obedient, where would all these messy affairs come from?] Nian Shilan looked at the three women curtsying before her and couldn’t help but recall her days as the temporary Imperial Noble Consort in her previous life. [It was the same kind of reprimand, but that wretch Zhen Huan, knowing full well she was pregnant and aware of my fiery temper, deliberately provoked me at every turn, like a stubborn goose sticking out its neck, as if afraid I wouldn’t punish her. That wretch! If she had just lowered her head, softened her tone, and admitted her mistake, why would I have been used as a weapon and punished her so severely?] Thinking this, Nian Shilan knew she had been wrong that day. But the pride in her bones forbade her from admitting it. “Flowers do not bloom for a hundred days, and people do not remain fortunate for a thousand. Today’s favored consort may become a caged bird or a prisoner tomorrow. Such is the way of the harem. If you understand these truths early, you may suffer less.” Nian Shilan raised her hand, and An Lingrong immediately picked up the jeweled, kingfisher-feather-adorned golden nail guard beside her and helped her put it on. [She notices what needs to be done—quite likable.] An Lingrong smiled shyly. “Let’s go.” Nian Shilan rested her hand on Songzhi’s arm. “We shall pay our respects to the Empress.” The entourage left Yikun Palace. Nian Shilan boarded her palanquin, while Shen Meizhuang and the other two stood on either side of the sedan chair. Just then, Consort Li and Cao Guiren, who had arrived at the entrance of Yikun Palace, watched the procession depart with displeasure etched on their faces. “An and Yu come from humble backgrounds, so it’s understandable they’d seek Consort Hua as their patron. But why is Shen Meizhuang also rushing to climb the ladder?” Consort Li grumbled. Shen Meizhuang came from a military family—why would she also be so eager to curry favor with Consort Hua? Cao Qinmo couldn’t understand it either, but she showed no sign of it on her face. “Consort Hua dominates the harem. Even the Empress avoids her formidable presence and sends lavish gifts to please her, let alone Noble Lady Shen.” Consort Li wasn’t upset about others currying favor with Consort Hua; she was upset because these women had taken up all the space around Consort Hua, leaving her no room to step in. Behind them, Sun Miaoqing observed the scene from a distance. She saw an opportunity to win over Consort Li and Cao Qinmo. …Forget Consort Li. Aside from cursing eunuchs as “rootless things,” she was utterly useless. Not worth having. Just Cao Qinmo. After all, she was the key figure in bringing down Consort Hua. A destined traitor! That day, Long Street was covered in snow. Sun Miaoqing was returning from Suiyu Pavilion when she spotted Yu Ying’er approaching in a palanquin from afar. A few dozen steps away, the figure walking ahead was none other than Shen Meizhuang. Sun Miaoqing knew this scene: Yu Ying’er, arrogant in her favor, remained seated in her palanquin to greet Shen Meizhuang. A mere Attendant, yet she demanded that Noble Lady Shen make way for her. Utter disregard for hierarchy. She had only ever seen this through a screen before, but today she witnessed it with her own eyes. She couldn't help but stop in her tracks. Who would have thought that Yu Ying'er would step down from her sedan chair, respectfully bow to Shen Meizhuang, then step aside to let her pass first. "How could this be?" Sun Miaoqing briefly wondered if her eyesight was failing her. She took two steps forward, coming face-to-face with the approaching figure. It was indeed that spicy rabbit head. "Pay respects to Changzai Gong." Sun Miaoqing: !!! The rabbit head was actually sitting in a sedan chair, bowing to her. She never expected that a scene originally meant for Shen Meizhuang would be forced upon her instead. This was already the second time she had endured a plot twist meant for Shen Meizhuang. Damn it all! Last time, when she was delayed by a eunuch splashing water, everyone in the room held higher rank than her, so Sun Miaoqing dared not speak up. But now! Yu Ying'er was merely a Promise— A cannon fodder who would have her title of nobility stripped come spring and be executed not long after. Enduring for a moment leads to ovarian cysts, stepping back invites breast hyperplasia. She would never be like that weakling Shen Meizhuang, allowing Yu Ying'er to bully her. "The Emperor has always favored those with proper etiquette. Sister Yu, having served in the palace since childhood, surely understands basic hierarchy?" Sun Miaoqing said. Petty people who rise too quickly are most prone to forget their place. In this lifetime, Yu Ying'er was polite to Shen Meizhuang because they were both under Consort Hua's wing, and Consort Hua had given her instructions. But toward Sun Miaoqing—there was no need. Consort Hua did not like her anyway. Besides, how dare this wretch bring up her origins as a palace maid? Who did she think she was? "The weather is cold and the ground slippery. The Emperor, fearing I might fall, specially granted me this sedan chair. Surely, Sister wouldn't dare defy the Emperor's will?" Using the Emperor to pressure her? Would Sun Miaoqing be afraid of her? "Oh? So Sister means—" Sun Miaoqing stood her ground, needle against wheat awn, "that the Emperor ordered you not to step down from your sedan chair or bow when encountering someone of higher rank?" Yu Ying'er avoided answering directly. "Changzai Sister, I have just come from Consort Hua's palace and am on my way to pay respects to the Empress. Might Sister allow me to pass first?" Sun Miaoqing saw her as nothing but an NPC, with only a few lines of dialogue no matter what she said. "And if I say no?" Yu Ying'er, seated in the sedan chair, widened her eyes in anger and shrilled: "Proceed directly!" The Long Street was wide enough for both to pass side by side. The palace attendants obeyed, carrying the sedan chair past Sun Miaoqing. "Yu Ying'er." Yu Ying'er raised her hand, and the sedan chair halted. "Don't forget how you came by your current glory." "My glory today is naturally bestowed by the Emperor." As the sedan chair moved away, the maid Lvzhu spat toward Yu Ying'er's retreating figure. "A petty person intoxicated by success! Without you, Miss, where would she be today? Repaying kindness with ingratitude! She'll get her comeuppance sooner or later. Miss need not waste anger on such a lowly creature." "Why would I be angry with her?" Sun Miaoqing glanced sideways at Yu Ying'er. "Cannon fodder always have such temperaments. I'll wait for the day she falls from that sedan chair!" But her pride was wounded, and she couldn't swallow this grievance. Recalling how Zhen Huan, after returning from Ganlu Temple, had nearly fallen from a sedan chair and cleverly reported the incident to the Emperor, Sun Miaoqing decided to follow suit. After all, Yu Ying'er was just a palace maid—how could the Emperor possibly side with her?