Chapter 428

Chapter 428 This Lady of Beauty Kong was something else—she actively sought out lively places, as if afraid her pregnancy was too secure. "With her invoking filial piety at every turn, it makes the rest of us who advise her seem unfilial by comparison." Honest people were easy to deal with, but they didn't know how to speak or handle matters, and they easily offended others. After Consort Jingshu finished her complaints, she added unhurriedly, "Noble Lady Bai has been visiting Lady of Beauty Kong quite frequently these past few days." Xie Run's gaze sharpened slightly, and she smiled. "They entered the palace together, so it's only natural they'd be closer." Consort Jingshu: "Oh? But sister, I rather feel that you, Sister Xie, seem somewhat concerned about Noble Lady Bai? That's why I came specifically to inform you." "Sister originally thought you didn't like Noble Lady Bai associating with Lady of Beauty Kong, worried she might take advantage of the situation to gain influence. I wanted to help you, but now it seems I was overthinking." Indeed, everyone in this palace was a sharp one. Xie Run had only ever revealed a hint of her feelings back then, yet Consort Jingshu had truly picked up on it. It was likely no coincidence that Lady of Beauty Kong had been arranged to move palaces as soon as she became pregnant. Now Consort Jingshu had come again to remind her that Bai Fu frequently visited Lady of Beauty Kong—her scheming heart hadn't died. Given this, Xie Run found it hard to keep concealing things. Xie Run smiled faintly. "I find Noble Lady Bai to be someone with deep thoughts. Lady of Beauty Kong is too honest. If their relationship grows too close, I fear it might end up like Concubine Lian and Concubine Wan back then, stirring up more trouble." "Though the palace is stable now, unlike the prince's residence of old, one can never be too careful." "Right now, Lady of Beauty Kong is the only one pregnant in the palace. If anything were to happen, the Emperor would likely blame you, sister." Consort Jingshu smiled. "I must thank you, sister, for considering my interests. Noble Lady Bai may appear inexperienced, but she's an exceptionally smooth and resourceful person. If she truly harbored ill intentions, she'd be truly difficult to guard against." That was what she said, but Consort Jingshu didn't believe a word of it. However, she had only brought this up today to show her stance to Xie Run. First, to indicate that she had noticed Xie Run's displeasure with Noble Lady Bai, and that bringing up the matter of arranging Lady of Beauty Kong's palace move back then had been helping Xie Run. Second, to proactively extend goodwill, showing she was willing to help Xie Run deal with Noble Lady Bai. Xie Run naturally understood. She accepted with a smile, exchanged a few pleasantries with Consort Jingshu, and then saw her off. As soon as Consort Jingshu left, Dantao set down tea before Xie Run and asked softly, "Your Highness, what was Consort Jingshu's intention in bringing up Noble Lady Bai just now?" Xie Run paused in place, thought for a moment, then shook her head. "She didn't state her purpose, and I can't guess it either." Xie Run: "Everyone in this palace is sharp. It seems I truly cannot harbor even the slightest other thoughts." If she developed any dissatisfaction or jealousy and moved against Noble Lady Bai, the whole palace would probably know within days. No wonder they said honest people shouldn't do bad things. She hadn't even done anything yet, and others could already discern her intentions. If she actually did something, who could she hide it from? She'd probably have guilt written all over her face. But this incident did serve as a warning to Xie Run—she could no longer show her likes and dislikes on her face or reveal too much to those around her. Otherwise, she'd easily become a target. Xie Run: "Consort Jingshu bringing this up is likely also trying to sell me a favor, to extend goodwill." Xiaoshu clicked her tongue in amazement. "Times really have changed. In the past, Consort Jingshu had her eyes on top of her head—when did she ever truly respect you, mistress?" "Now that she's raised two princes and has ties to you, she's actually coming to curry favor." Xie Run: "Nothing in this palace stays the same forever." When Xie Run had argued with Consort Jingshu at Fengyi Palace back then, she never imagined she'd one day sit and chat with her. After Consort Jingshu left Zhaohua Palace, her palace maid Tao Yao was equally puzzled. "Why did you suddenly extend goodwill to Noble Consort Zhao, mistress?" "Don't you usually... not quite approve of Noble Consort Zhao?" Tao Yao was usually somewhat arrogant, but she knew her limits, and lowered her voice for the latter part, genuinely confused. She was Consort Jingshu's confidante, so she understood her mistress better than most. Consort Jingshu came from a distinguished noble family and carried some pride. Combined with her intelligence but somewhat blunt temperament, she had never liked all that roundabout scheming. From the time she first entered the prince's residence, Consort Jingshu had never quite approved of Xie Run, always feeling that Xie Run was putting on an act. Back then, both inside and outside the prince's residence, everyone praised Xie Run for her good temper, gentleness, and intelligence—a rare and excellent mistress. But the moment Consort Jingshu came into contact with her, she felt this could not be Xie Run's true nature. Unfortunately, after two years of digging, she still hadn't uncovered Xie Run's "true face." Consort Jingshu glanced sideways at Tao Yao. "Do you know the saying, 'times have changed'?" Tao Yao was frightened by her mistress's gaze and immediately shut her mouth. "I do think Xie Run hides herself too deeply, but whether she's truly pretending or not, from these two years of cold observation, she truly isn't someone with ill intentions." "There are only so many high-ranking positions in the palace now. I have no chance at them, and the others..." Consort Jingshu carefully counted on her fingers and discovered that above the Nine Concubines, there were remarkably few high-ranking positions. One Noble Lady Xi had harmed Consort Hui, harmed the Empress, and even harmed herself, leaving the high positions in the rear palace vacant. Consort Jingshu said with some disdain, "In the palace now, who do you think can still handle matters?" "Consort Wen? Or that fool Hua Yu?!" Tao Yao: "..." "I do not know whether the Emperor intends to establish an Empress, but the others in the palace are not competitive. She alone sits firmly in a high position, with favor and two princes by her side." "Your mistress will sooner or later have to ask something of her in the future. If I don't make preparations now, am I supposed to wait until later and go begging with a shameless face?!" As Consort Jingshu spoke, thinking about how she would have to be under Xie Run's management in every way in the future, she truly found it somewhat hard to adapt. If she were still the reckless person she used to be, she could naturally ignore Xie Run and even the Emperor. But with one major event after another happening in the palace, Consort Jingshu had long lost the courage she once had to defy everything. She wanted to live, to live well, and that meant she had to change. Consort Jingshu was also able to come to terms with it. A person cannot go through life with their head held high forever. When one is outmatched, one accepts defeat willingly. By preparing herself mentally early on, she could avoid suffering later. "The Emperor seems quiet and unassuming now, but I know that some days ago, he transferred Noble Consort Zhao's elder brother from the Ministry of Personnel to the Ministry of Rites." "This is not a lateral transfer. It seems the Emperor intends to groom him, letting him gain experience across the Six Ministries so that he can be promoted later." For a normal person to be promoted, they either achieve great merit or endure years of seniority. Seniority can be interpreted as time, or it can be interpreted as experience. If the Emperor wanted to elevate Xie Jing, he naturally would not leave him in the Ministry of Personnel to grind away for years before promoting him. By then, who knows how old the Fifth Prince would be. So the only option was to enrich Xie Jing's experience. Let him train across the Six Ministries and accumulate more experience before being promoted. Originally, such treatment was reserved for princes. But in his later years, the Retired Emperor had held tightly onto power, unwilling to share authority with the adult princes, and so this custom had gradually been forgotten by everyone. Consort Jingshu knew these things only because she had been raised from childhood under the tutelage of Duke Yingguo. ... I see that many readers do not like Tao Yao by Consort Jingshu's side, feeling that she always stirs up trouble and suspecting that Tao Yao will cause problems. But in truth, many times, the words spoken by the maidservant by a mistress's side are a reflection of the mistress's own nature. Consort Jingshu is clever and knows her limits, but she has never had a good temper. She is even somewhat arrogant and proud, just not in the same way as Noble Lady Xi's arrogance. Sometimes Tao Yao is not stirring up trouble, but merely voicing the hidden thoughts in Consort Jingshu's heart that she would never speak aloud. Just like Dantao and Xiaoshu, they can also be said to represent two sides of Xie Run's nature—one steady, one lively and fond of gossip.