Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Being a Coward When Zhou Ninghai returned from outside, a maid was massaging Nian Shilan. With her eyes closed, she said, "I understand." The rest was left to Yu Ying'er. In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Yu Ying'er had her clothes removed, revealing a long, slanted green bruise running almost the entire length of her back, accompanied by a shorter red mark. These were injuries Zhou Ninghai had helped her inflict in advance—before she boarded the Phoenix and Luan Spring Favor Carriage. The Emperor had a habit of keeping a mental tally of grievances, and tonight was specifically prepared for Sun Miaoqing. "What happened to your body?" The Emperor asked, looking at Yu Ying'er's bare back. Yu Ying'er shook her head in fear. "This lowly one's life is worthless; it's nothing serious." "Lowly one?" The Emperor frowned slightly. "Has someone mistreated you?" "This lowly one was merely a small palace maid in Yimei Yuan. Suddenly gaining favor has made many people resentful. This minor injury hardly counts as mistreatment." The Emperor had always been tender-hearted toward women. The more understanding they were, the more willing he was to stand up for them. "You were once a palace maid, but now you are a Promise, a mistress of the palace. Who would dare to mistreat you so freely?" If it were up to Yu Ying'er herself, she would have long been unable to resist telling the events of the night—not only telling but embellishing them and even urging the Emperor to have Sun Miaoqing executed immediately. However, Consort Hua had warned her in advance: no matter how the Emperor asked, she must not say a word. She must insist it was her own carelessness and blame no one else. Though she didn't understand why she had to do this, she dared not disobey the Consort's orders. The Emperor was now certain that someone had mistreated her because of her lowly origins as a palace maid, and he felt even more pity for her understanding nature. The next day, he ordered someone to send her several precious ointments. Sun Miaoqing was deeply worried about Lvzhu's situation, but her current rank was simply not high enough to visit her own Lvzhu in Shenxing Si. "If that rabbit-headed woman had imprisoned me, even if the Emperor didn't intervene, the Empress Dowager would have stepped in. But she imprisoned Lvzhu instead." Even in a society governed by law, the powerful could find loopholes. In feudal times, servants had no human rights. The Emperor would never punish a mistress for the sake of a maid. Cao Qinmo had tried to maneuver on her behalf, only to end up doing more harm than good. "Matters in the rear palace are, to put it bluntly, all decided by the Empress. No matter how powerful Consort Hua is, she cannot surpass the Empress. Why doesn't the mistress go and plead with the Empress now?" Hong Qu suggested. Indeed, apart from using Consort Hua to extend an olive branch to the Emperor, she had not offended anyone else in the rear palace. Especially not the Empress. Moreover, the Empress had always wanted to catch Consort Hua's weaknesses. Now that she was handing this weakness over, wouldn't the Empress be delighted? No sooner said than done. Sun Miaoqing took Hongqu to Jingren Palace. "What brings you to Jingren Palace today, sister?" [It's been a while since I drank moldy tea. I came to reminisce about the taste from my past life.] The Empress's barely curved lips straightened again. Nian Shilan didn't bend her knees. Standing briefly before the Empress was considered a barely acceptable gesture of respect. Without waiting for the Empress to speak, she sat down on her own. "It's been a while since I saw the Empress, so I came specifically to visit." Had she and the Empress already reached the point where a day apart felt like three years? They had just seen each other the day before! What did she mean by "a while"? She couldn't even bother to lie convincingly. The Empress also felt like rolling her eyes. Huichun served tea, while Jian Qiu walked to the Empress's side and quietly informed her of the events from the previous night. The Empress glanced at Nian Shilan, her eyes shifting slightly. She already had a rough idea of Consort Hua's purpose for coming here. How difficult it must have been for her—planning such a small matter all by herself for so long? Wouldn't it be better to visit Jingren Palace more often? Just say a few more words in your heart, and wouldn't I handle it for you with a wave of my hand? Nian Shilan had only taken a sip of tea when she saw two figures enter the courtyard through the gauze window. She set down her teacup. [They're here.] [The little thing is quite clever, knowing to seek help from the Empress.] [It's just a pity that I'm even cleverer and anticipated this move of yours long ago.] Nian Shilan leaned back, resting her hand on the armrest, calm and composed. [Yu Ying'er is my person, and I will protect her!] [If that wretch Sun Miaoqing dares to speak insolently, I'll throw her into Shenxing Si as well!] Whom she wanted to punish—could she do it beyond ten paces from Jingren Palace? She had her brother to protect her, but as a concubine-born and unfavored daughter, could I rely on my own family to defend me? I'm afraid that the moment something happens to me, the Empress Dowager will immediately look for someone new to take this position of Empress. The Empress had her own difficulties, and based on her understanding of the Emperor, if he intended to use the Sun Family, he wouldn't easily move against Sun Miaoqing. Dealing with Sun Miaoqing now was not feasible, but if Consort Hua wanted to protect that Yu Ying'er, the Empress could certainly accommodate her. She gave an instruction to Jian Qiu, deliberately raising her voice to cover it up: "I'm a bit hungry. The small kitchen has prepared some Hunan Lotus Seed Bird's Nest. Go and bring it. I'll share some with Consort Hua." Jian Qiu withdrew with a respectful response. [Hunan Lotus Seed Bird's Nest? What a pitiful person.] The Empress couldn't help but disagree. Nowadays, the food in her palace was also of the finest quality. How could she be considered pitiful? [In my previous life, I prepared Hunan Lotus Seed Bird's Nest and eagerly went to complain to that dog Emperor, saying I had killed Fuzi.] [And what was the result?] [The Emperor said he couldn't bear to blame her and fed her a spoonful of the bird's nest he had eaten himself, and she immediately became as happy as could be.] [She really was too easily satisfied.] The Emperor feeding her bird's nest he had eaten himself... feeding me... ugh~ I really was too easily satisfied. The Empress frowned slightly, feeling disappointed with her past self's lack of ambition. [They say the Empress is cunning and ruthless, but in truth, she is also a simple woman. If the Emperor hadn't treated her so dismissively, why would she have caused so much trouble?] [In the end, women have to bear the consequences of men's mistakes. Sigh.] The Empress couldn't help but glance at Consort Hua a few more times: after all, women understand women best. Nian Shilan suspiciously touched her face: [I know I'm beautiful, and you're jealous, but you don't have to stare so openly, do you?] [If I didn't know better, I'd think you had taken a fancy to me.] Such familiar narcissism. It seemed there was a reason she was favored by the Emperor. The Empress looked toward the door. Sun Miaoqing entered the hall and, seeing Nian Shilan there, felt her heart sink. It's over. It would have been better to go directly to beg the Emperor. Even if he was angry, there would still be a sliver of hope. With Consort Hua here, Lvzhu was surely doomed. She tried to steady herself. "May the Empress enjoy boundless blessings and peace, and may Consort Hua enjoy boundless blessings and peace." The Empress, knowing the situation well, naturally adopted a more composed demeanor. "Attendant Gong, what brings you here at this time? Is there something important?" Sun Miaoqing did have an excuse; she hadn't come empty-handed. "His Majesty rewarded this concubine with two bolts of fabric a couple of days ago. I specially came to present them to the Empress. I didn't expect Consort Hua to be here as well." "Was my presence ill-timed?" Nian Shilan looked at her with leisurely composure. "Just a couple of bolts of fabric—Yikun Palace is hardly lacking. For Changzai Gong to carry on like this is rather petty." Ancient people! Paper characters! And she dares to call me petty! I’ve seen finer things than you’ve ever used! If this were modern society, Sun Miaoqing would have argued with Nian Shilan for three days and three nights, showing her what’s what. But now, as a mere Attendant, what could she do? A higher-ranking consort could crush her to death. Be a coward and endure it, then. At this moment, Sun Miaoqing felt some resentment toward fate. Since she had crossed over, why couldn’t she have been made Consort Hua instead? "Consort Hua’s reprimand is justified. This concubine was reckless." Seeing that she didn’t even dare to raise her head, Nian Shilan curled her lips and snorted through her nose: [Little wretch, daring to oppose me and even trying to drag the Nian Family down with you—you should weigh your own worth.] The Empress twirled her handkerchief around her fingers and gently pressed it to her cheek: [Scold her, but don’t scold me anymore.]