Chapter 420

Chapter 420 After Consort Shen finished her wailing at the mourning hall, she took advantage of a break to run over to Zhaohua Palace to find Xie Run. Her eyes were still red and swollen, but she was full of energy. She still didn't know the inside story, and only complained to Xie Run: "Talented Lady Xue is so ostentatious. The Retired Emperor has just passed, and she's still wearing gold hairpins in her hair." "Among those kneeling before the mourning hall, whose rank isn't higher than hers? Even Consort Jingshu is dressed in plain mourning clothes, yet only she is this foolish and arrogant." "Her intentions are easy to guess—she just wanted to dress up prettily to catch the Emperor's eye." "Now the Emperor has indeed noticed her, but this punishment—it would have been kinder to just order her death directly." Talented Lady Xue had entered the palace less than a year ago and had served the Emperor only twice. Her good days hadn't even begun before she was stripped of her rank, branded a criminal, and cast into the Cold Palace. Like a rising sun that never got to rise, her life was already shrouded in darkness, leaving her to live out her days in misery and solitude. Xie Run sat quietly to the side, listening, already clear in her mind about how Talented Lady Xue had come to be punished. She asked softly, "Was Talented Lady Xue always this ostentatious? Wearing gold hairpins in the Retired Emperor's mourning hall—was there no one to rein her in?" Consort Shen thought carefully for a moment: "Actually, she was just unlucky." "Although mourning rites forbid gold and jade, the Empress Dowager up top was the first to break the rules, so the consorts below always had those who harbored thoughts of getting away with it." "Before, as long as people didn't dress up in full finery, occasionally wearing one or two pieces of gold or jade jewelry wasn't something anyone called out." "The obedient ones in the palace naturally followed the rules, but she had a flashy temperament and loved to dress up—that's why the Emperor caught sight of her." The Empress Dowager had never accepted her age. Even during the mourning period for the Retired Emperor, she dressed up every day, just not as lavishly as before. But for her to go without a single gold or jade hair ornament—that was absolutely impossible. There was no shortage of court officials who had opinions about it, but when it was brought to the Emperor's attention, he could hardly dictate what jewelry his own mother wore. Moreover, the Emperor had already expended tremendous effort just to keep the Empress Dowager in place at the Retired Emperor's funeral—he had no desire whatsoever to deal with her further. In both court and harem, subordinates always followed the example of their superiors. Since the Empress Dowager didn't follow the rules, the consorts below grew even more restless. Up until now, Consort Shen and the others all believed Talented Lady Xue had been punished because the bird that stuck its head out got shot—the Emperor was making an example of her to warn the rest. Xie Run knew the truth but only glossed over it. She asked, "I heard Noble Lady Xi is ill. Have you been to see her?" Consort Shen shook her head: "When would I have the time?" "With two major mourning periods back to back, these past days I've been going between the Retired Emperor's mourning hall and Consort Hui's mourning hall, running back and forth until I'm dead tired." "I've never had dealings with Noble Lady Xi anyway. Unless she's on her deathbed, I'd hardly set foot in her palace." Consort Shen said idly, "Sister Xie, you're too kind-hearted, still having the mind to worry about her." Xie Run smiled. "If you have time, keep an ear out for the State Duke of Su's household. If you hear anything, don't go gossiping about it to outsiders." Consort Shen's expression turned somewhat serious. "Sister Xie, has something happened?" "I can't tell you just yet." Consort Shen was clever enough not to press further. Many in the harem shared Consort Shen's thoughts. Noble Lady Xi wasn't a favored consort anyway, and with two funerals happening in the palace, no one really had the time to visit her—at most, they'd send a close attendant to deliver a gift. Only Bai Fu, who lived in Fanghua Palace, felt uneasy, sensing that Noble Lady Xi's illness had come on too suddenly. Caiyue advised, "Mistress, Talented Lady Xue was just punished. The Emperor probably doesn't want to see anyone stirring up trouble. If you go to visit Noble Lady Xi now, it might be noticed by those with ulterior motives." Bai Fu furrowed her brows slightly, seeming lost in thought, not hearing a word Caiyue said. After a long moment, she pushed herself up from the table. "No, I must go see her." "Noble Lady Xi has always treated us well. Now that she's fallen ill, how could I not go visit her?" These words were what Bai Fu told herself to feel better. Caiyue stood beside her, utterly bewildered. Since when did her mistress have any connection with Noble Lady Xi?! Bai Fu caught the look on Caiyue's face and gently took her hand. "Caiyue, I know you have many doubts and many objections." "But now that we're in the palace, our fortunes are tied together. No one can stop me from doing what I want to do. Rather than agonizing and being afraid, devote yourself wholeheartedly to following my orders." "After all, if I make a mistake, do you think you could escape the consequences?" Caiyue's face turned pale with fright at Bai Fu's words. She should have known long ago that her mistress wasn't the gentle, composed person she appeared to be—her every action concealed ambition. Caiyue was both terrified and flustered, not knowing what to say. Bai Fu said in a gentle voice, "Noble Lady Xi's illness might not be so strange, but Talented Lady Xue being suddenly cast into the Cold Palace—do you truly believe it was because she wore gold hairpins and was too ostentatious, earning the Emperor's disgust?!" "At the mourning hall that day, I quietly observed—there was more than one person wearing gold hairpins present." "Talented Lady Xue and Noble Lady Xi have always been close. One of them running into trouble could be coincidence, but for both to run into trouble in such a short span of time—that's no coincidence!" Bai Fu was extremely perceptive, and suspicion had already taken root in her mind the moment Noble Lady Xi suddenly fell gravely ill. Now that something had happened to Talented Lady Xue, she was already a hundred percent certain that the two of them had done something to incur the Emperor's disgust. Caiyue understood, "But mistress... what does this have to do with you?" "If they've committed a grave offense and the Emperor is preparing to deal with them quietly, then it's even more reason for you to stay away, mistress?" "It has nothing to do with me." Bai Fu lowered her eyes. "I just want to confirm one thing—the nature of Noble Lady Xi's illness." Ever since her rebirth, Bai Fu had been nothing but obedient, never once overstepping her bounds. But in this harem, the obedient never got their chance to rise. She had endured for so long, watching the Empress's funeral rites come to an end, only for the Retired Emperor to die as well. When the Empress died, the Emperor wasn't necessarily required to observe mourning. But with the Retired Emperor's death, both the Emperor and all the concubines of the Six Palaces had to observe mourning! After a year or more of that, where would her chance to rise be? In truth, Bai Fu could endure it. But this endurance was different from her previous life. In her past life, her forbearance had been accompanied by hope—by countless unknown possibilities. Now, however, she could see no hope at all. Instead, she felt herself slowly sinking into the harem, growing numb, becoming a useless shell. When she suddenly heard that Noble Lady Xi had fallen ill, that hidden chord within Bai Fu was struck, and she involuntarily thought of herself in her previous life. But she didn't dare dwell on it. It wasn't until Talented Lady Xue was punished that Bai Fu was abruptly jolted awake. She could no longer deceive herself! How exactly had Noble Lady Xi fallen ill? Bai Fu had to find out! After speaking with Caiyue, Bai Fu went straight to Yongning Palace. When Consort Jingshu heard the attendant's report that Noble Lady Bai of Fanghua Palace had come to visit Noble Lady Xi, her eyes flickered. "This one's a cunning fox, skilled at steering clear of trouble and seeking good fortune. Why would she rush over to Noble Lady Xi's place to court bad luck?"