Chapter 467

Chapter 467 Everything Concubine Han did was merely to make Ju Zi take the fall for her, and in passing, drag Concubine Xie down with her. That woman was far too calculating! Ju Zi had been outmaneuvered with no way to fight back, and could only use her own life to carve out a path for her mistress. But Ju Zi didn't bite down on Concubine Xie. Instead, she changed her testimony to implicate Concubine An, hoping to secure a measure of protection from Concubine Xie for Concubine Shen. When Concubine Shen saw the letter in Concubine Xie's hand, she completely broke down. But she was a heartless sort, and after a month of anguish, she slowly managed to pull through. No favor, no children, and her rise had been anything but honorable. Though she was a concubine, the household staff avoided her like the plague because of how she'd crawled into the master's bed and stolen from her mistress. As if she were some filthy object—one glance at her and you'd need to wash your eyes out. Thankfully, Concubine Xie was kind and beautiful, willing to show her some kindness, which made her days a bit more bearable. Later, the rear courtyard rose and fell with countless incidents—many people died, and new faces kept arriving. Then Prince Jing became the Crown Prince, and then the Emperor. She went from being a shameful concubine who'd crawled into bed to becoming the Emperor's Lady of Beauty. The day the edict of ennoblement arrived, she almost thought she was dreaming. Cuiniao was the same—she got so excited she pinched her hard, making her eyes well up with tears. "We've made it through!" "We've finally made it through!" "You're a lucky one, and I had the sharp eye to follow you." The two of them giggled and laughed together. Concubine Xie, who had shown her kindness, had leapt up to become the highest-ranking Bright and Pure Consort in the palace. The very thigh everyone wanted to cling to—she'd actually managed to grab hold of it! From now on, during festivals and holidays, she'd burn more paper money for Ju Zi. Riding on the Bright and Pure Consort's influence, her days became easier, and she could even throw her weight around from time to time. For instance, when those dog-slaves in the palace looked down on people and Cuiniao couldn't win a verbal fight, she'd lift her chin and stride in to help, declaring: "So this is how you handle matters, Eunuch? When I next see Sister Xie, I'll go to her palace and ask whether what you've said is true!" As long as she trotted out that line, even the most arrogant person would have to behave themselves. Some people called her a fox borrowing the tiger's might, throwing her weight around. She'd say with great pride, "Is it because you don't want to borrow the tiger's might? Is it because you're too noble to throw your weight around?" "Of course you want to—you just can't!" The smug look on her face was so insufferable even she found it annoying. She didn't compete for favor, had no children, and her reputation wasn't good. The people in the palace schemed against each other, but none of them paid her any mind. In the end, she was the one who survived to the very last. Then one day, Noble Consort Xie summoned her for a chat, and in the middle of their conversation suddenly said: "Have you never thought about raising a child of your own?" Concubine Shen was stunned. Her mind immediately flew to Consort Wen, who had been demoted to Lady of Handsome Fairness and was no longer among the Nine Concubines. The two princesses she was raising probably weren't in accordance with the rules. Her heart pounded wildly, as if it might leap out of her throat. How could she not have thought about it? As she'd grown older, watching the lively, adorable children in the palace, she couldn't help but harbor some extravagant hopes. But her rank was low, and she was barren—she'd never be able to raise a child of her own in this life. She'd originally thought that watching the Fifth Prince and Tenth Prince grow up would be enough to make her life complete. She never imagined that by simply enduring, she could actually have a child of her own?! After the Emperor's edict came down, she became Consort Shen. A heaven-sent pie had fallen right onto her head, knocking her dizzy. If Sister Xie hadn't guided her, she would have lost all composure long ago. Sister Xie was truly a good person—a truly wonderful person. The Emperor certainly had good judgment, to have spotted Sister Xie among a crowd of demons and monsters, and to have doted on her for a lifetime.