Chapter 130: Palace Intrigues — Who Is Plotting Against Whom
“The malevolence value just dropped by 2 points and is now at 23,” Little Eight reported excitedly. “Say, if you forgive him right away, do you think his malevolence value would swoosh straight down to zero?”
Nan Xun replied decisively with two words: “No way.”
The next day, news that the emperor had stayed overnight at Punyue Palace spread throughout the harem.
All the concubines were shocked.
Everyone knew that the emperor never spent the night in any concubine’s palace—after bestowing favor, he would always leave. Yet this time, he had actually stayed the night at Consort Qin’s Punyue Palace?
Some consorts with informants, such as Consort Li, received even more detailed news. On that day, Consort Qin had shown the emperor no courtesy at all—she had told him to get lost right to his face and had even slapped him. Yet not only had the emperor not taken offense or grown angry, he had tolerated it completely. To Consort Li, who prided herself on knowing the emperor best, this was no different from being slapped hard across the face herself.
How could this be possible? The emperor was known for his brutal nature—how could he be so indulgent toward a woman?
Being told to get lost by a woman? Being slapped by a woman?
What a joke—such things were absolutely impossible!
Yet the fact that the emperor had stayed overnight at Punyue Palace could not be fake.
Now all the women in the harem knew that Qin Buyao, that wretched woman, had not only been brought out of the Cold Palace overnight but had also moved into the most luxuriously renovated palace, Punyue Palace.
And now, the emperor had granted this wretched woman a level of favor and grace that no one else possessed!
Consort Li was driven mad with jealousy. The scissors in her hand had already ruined a perfectly fine potted plant.
Jealous and uneasy, Consort Li finally could not sit still. She decided to go to Punyue Palace to meet this Consort Qin. If the emperor had once sent Consort Qin to the Cold Palace for her sake, then it could happen a second time!
However, the moment Consort Li arrived at Punyue Palace, she was stopped at the entrance.
“How dare you! A bunch of dog slaves—how dare you block even this consort!” Consort Li raged.
In the entire harem, who dared to treat her without respect? Even Consort De, who was of equal rank, had to yield to her somewhat. Who did Qin Buyao think she was, to dare keep her outside the gate?
The two eunuchs at the entrance exchanged glances. One of them said respectfully, “Please return, Consort Li. Our mistress has been in a poor mood recently and is not receiving visitors.”
“You dog slave! Don’t you even look at who my mistress is—can Consort Li be compared to others?” the senior maid behind Consort Li cursed angrily.
The eunuch on guard grew displeased upon hearing this. He sneered and said, “Consort Li, it is out of respect for your status that I explained so politely. These days, even before entering, His Majesty must ask whether Consort Qin is in a good mood before deciding whether to go in. What status do you think you have—can you compare yourself to His Majesty?”
Consort Li’s expression changed again and again. She dared not respond to that remark—agreeing would mean admitting she was more powerful than the emperor, a charge she could never bear.
After thinking it over, Consort Li finally forced a polite smile and swallowed her anger.
Master and servant left with their tails between their legs. But they had not gone far when someone called out to them.
Cui Huan came out from the courtyard and smiled smugly. “Consort Li, please stay. My mistress invites you in.”
In the courtyard, a group of young maids and eunuchs were playing a game of hawk catching chicks. Nan Xun sat to the side watching, eating nuts as she did.
Little Eight was puzzled. “Why do you want to see that bad Consort Li? She’s full of schemes.”
Nan Xun replied, “Because I’m too idle—and because I really want to throw a tantrum for once.”
Little Eight: “……”
When Consort Li entered and saw the maids and eunuchs playing noisily in the courtyard, she could not help frowning. How did this Consort Qin manage her servants, letting them behave so recklessly?
Nan Xun, munching on nuts, saw the graceful beauty approaching and suddenly smiled at her. “I was just feeling bored, and here you are, sister. Come, come.”
Consort Li had eaten poorly and slept badly these past few days, her complexion not very good despite her heavy makeup. Looking at the gently smiling beauty before her, jealousy rose uncontrollably in her heart.
Several months had passed, yet Qin Buyao had become even more beautiful than before—her face fair and rosy, glowing with health.
Suppressing the myriad emotions in her heart, Consort Li smiled and said, “I heard the plum blossoms in the Plum Garden are in full bloom. I wished to invite elder sister to admire them together—would elder sister be willing to grant me the honor?”
Nan Xun agreed readily.
The two beauties walked side by side toward the plum grove, followed at a distance by two maids.
Consort Li’s senior maid tried to strike up a conversation with Cui Huan. Cui Huan chuckled and said, “All the news you’ve heard is true. These days, His Majesty dotes on our mistress like nothing else—cradles her in his hands for fear she might fall, holds her in his mouth for fear she might break. The favor is intense.”
The flaunting expression on her face made the senior maid’s eyes ache—she desperately wanted to slap her.
While the two maids chatted, the two consorts ahead had already turned a corner along the corridor.
When Cui Huan could no longer see her mistress’s back, panic set in and she quickened her pace. Unexpectedly, the senior maid beside her suddenly grabbed her hand. “Sister Cui Huan, the two consorts just said they don’t like servants following too closely.”
“Let go of me!” Cui Huan ignored her words and shoved her aside.
“Hey, you’re being too much! I was only kindly advising you. If you get blamed by your mistress later, don’t say I didn’t warn you!” the senior maid said, wearing the expression of someone whose good intentions had been spurned.
“My mistress treats me like a sister—what the hell do you know!” Cui Huan snapped crudely and ran forward.
The senior maid froze for a moment, then spat. “Sisters? What a pipe dream. Which mistress in this harem doesn’t order servants around?” If she herself weren’t clever, she wouldn’t have risen to become a senior maid and Consort Li’s trusted aide.
The two maids hurried forward one after the other, just in time to see Consort Qin and Consort Li standing by the corridor. Suddenly, for some unknown reason, a dispute broke out, and Consort Qin pushed Consort Li into the water.
Cui Huan’s eyes widened.
“Help! Help! I can’t swim!” Consort Li cried out loudly.
The senior maid’s expression changed. She immediately ran back, shouting all the way, “Something terrible has happened! Consort Qin pushed my mistress into the water! Quickly, someone come—Consort Li has fallen into the water!”
There were already many errand maids and eunuchs nearby. Hearing this, they rushed over to save her.
Just as two young eunuchs were about to jump into the water, the seemingly unhurried Consort Qin standing by the water suddenly shouted angrily, “Stop! Today, no one is allowed to save Consort Li!”
All the servants were stunned.
What did Consort Qin mean by this? Was she going to watch Consort Li drown with her own eyes?
Consort Li had once been the most favored first-rank principal consort in the harem! Was Consort Qin actually going to drown Consort Li in broad daylight?
