Chapter 12

Page (1/3)

==Chapter Twelve==

The spectacle of Consort Yu was not one to be enjoyed lightly. Seated high upon her ceremonial carriage, she cast a sidelong glance over the crowd, and everyone instinctively avoided her eyes.

Chu Qingwan had been dawdling along with the other consorts, but the moment she witnessed this, she immediately changed her mind and chose to distance herself from the trouble.

She left at exactly the right time.

The farce unfolded before Peaceful Harmony Palace. Noble Consort Zhou was quite content to sit back and watch the tigers fight, but Lady Rong was no fool. Unable to stop Consort Yu directly, she quietly instructed one of the palace servants to summon Noble Consort Zhou.

With the matter laid plainly before her, Noble Consort Zhou could no longer pretend she knew nothing.

When Chu Qingwan returned to Jade Serenity Court, she heard that every consort present had been reprimanded by Noble Consort Zhou, though Noble Consort Yang had ultimately been punished as well.

At that, Chu Qingwan’s brows drew together slightly. She could not understand how Consort Yu and Noble Consort Yang had come to make such an ugly breach between them.

In her eyes, with the Second Prince as their bond, Consort Yu and Noble Consort Yang ought to have been natural allies.

Thoughtfully, Chu Qingwan summoned Songxia.

“When Lady Rong was at Peaceful Harmony Palace, she said that what happened back then was not something Noble Consort Yang had done deliberately. Do you know what she was referring to?”

Songxia froze for a moment. It was not that the matter was particularly secret; almost no one in the palace was unaware of it. Then she remembered that her mistress had only just entered the palace, and it was perfectly normal for her not to know.

Since the matter involved an imperial heir, Songxia chose her words carefully.

“Actually, it is no great secret. In the beginning, Consort Yu and Noble Consort Yang did not regard each other with such hatred.”

“One day, when Noble Consort Yang went to visit the Second Prince, she somehow came into contact with something unclean. As a result, the Second Prince nearly lost his life. Consort Yu became convinced that Noble Consort Yang had used underhanded means to seize custody of the Second Prince again, while Noble Consort Yang believed that Consort Yu had deliberately framed her. After that, things became what Your Ladyship sees now.”

Chu Qingwan was stunned. She had not expected such a story behind it. Yet whichever side one looked at it from, it seemed that neither of them had truly been in the wrong.

Songxia removed the elaborate ornaments from her mistress’s coiffure and sighed.

“This actually happened last year. Noble Consort Yang nearly harmed an imperial heir. In principle, even as the child’s biological mother, she should have been punished. But Lady Rong, who was pregnant at the time, pleaded on her behalf, which was why she received a lighter sentence.”

Chu Qingwan suddenly raised her head and looked at Songxia through the bronze mirror.

“What did you say?”

Songxia did not understand. After a moment’s hesitation, she repeated her words.

Chu Qingwan’s eyes darkened with uncertainty.

“You mean that the rift between Consort Yu and Noble Consort Yang occurred not long after Lady Rong’s pregnancy was announced?”

Chu Qingwan did not know whether she was overthinking things, but upon hearing this, a thought had risen instinctively in her mind—

Could it truly be nothing more than a coincidence?

Her question left Songxia stunned as well. Clearly, she had guessed what Chu Qingwan was thinking, and she too began to hesitate.

“Lady Rong and Noble Consort Yang have always been close. Without Lady Rong’s protection, Noble Consort Yang might not have safely given birth to the imperial heir. Besides, whether Consort Yu and Noble Consort Yang were on good terms should not have had any effect on Lady Rong’s pregnancy.”

Chu Qingwan neither agreed nor disagreed.

No effect?

She remembered Noble Consort Yang’s present situation in the palace. Her child had been taken from her, and she was being targeted by those of higher rank. Anyone who saw it would naturally feel pity for her.

And if that person were Lady Rong, who had been close to Noble Consort Yang from the very beginning, would she not lower her guard even further?

Even if the discord between Noble Consort Yang and Consort Yu had truly been accidental, Noble Consort Yang was the Second Prince’s birth mother. Could she really have harbored no other thoughts toward the pregnant Lady Rong?

Chu Qingwan suddenly recalled the information Lady Lu had once revealed to her. She did not know Lady Rong well, but from the few words she had heard from Xie Hechi, she could surmise that Lady Rong was a cautious person. When she first learned the truth behind Lady Rong’s miscarriage, she had felt that Lady Rong should not have been so careless.

But what if Lady Rong had not been careless?

After all, she and Noble Consort Yang had been inseparable.

Page (1/3)

Page (2/3)

Chu Qingwan remembered what Consort Yu had said at Peaceful Harmony Palace: one must never judge a person by appearances.

She slowly rolled the jade hairpin between her fingers. She knew her suspicion had no real basis, but that did not stop her from keeping a closer eye on Noble Consort Yang from then on.

An enemy in plain sight might not be frightening. The one most capable of delivering a fatal blow was the venomous snake hidden in the shadows.

******

Consort Yu’s punishment of Noble Consort Yang caused no stir in the palace. Apart from Lady Rong, no one else cared in the slightest.

Nor could Chu Qingwan keep watch over Noble Consort Yang at every moment.

Consort Yu was indeed favored. The Emperor remained at Sweet Spring Palace for three days in succession before gradually summoning the other women to attend him.

By the time Chu Qingwan saw Xu Yanheng again, half a month had passed.

The Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching. Noble Consort Zhou had conveyed the arrangements for the festival banquet, and everyone had the matter on their minds. No one felt inclined to linger outside.

After all, for some of the consorts, the Mid-Autumn banquet was a rare opportunity to see the Emperor. No one would be unwilling to distinguish herself on such a day.

There was only one exception.

Through the crowd, Chu Qingwan gazed from afar at Lady Gu, her expression somewhat peculiar.

Songxia followed her gaze and could not help clicking her tongue. With an embarrassed smile, she said, “Lady Gu truly knows how to enjoy herself.”

Indeed. There was probably no one in the palace more carefree than Lady Gu. She seemed utterly unconcerned with whether she received the Emperor’s favor, spending her days devising new ways to amuse herself.

The new consorts had been in the palace for over a month, yet Lady Gu had still never been summoned to attend the Emperor. She showed not the slightest disappointment. One day she was chasing butterflies; the next, flying a kite. It was enough to make anyone wonder why she had entered the palace at all.

Even from some distance away, Chu Qingwan and Songxia could hear Lady Gu instructing the palace servants to prepare a boat. She intended to tour the lake while the lotus blossoms had not yet completely faded.

Chu Qingwan was also passing by Long Kite Lake, and the two happened to come face-to-face. Lady Gu seemed somewhat embarrassed. She lowered her eyes slightly, too shy to meet Chu Qingwan’s gaze.

When Chu Qingwan was about to salute, Lady Gu hurriedly waved her hands.

“Lady Chu, please rise.”

After Chu Qingwan straightened, she glanced at the boat the servants had prepared on the lake. For a moment, she did not know whether she ought to envy Lady Gu’s tranquil state of mind.

Just then, a palace servant reported in a low voice that the boat was ready.

Lady Gu was about to board when she noticed that Chu Qingwan was still there. After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, “Lady Chu, would you like to come along?”

Chu Qingwan glanced over the surface of the lake. It was not that she suspected Lady Gu, but such a scene was precisely the sort in which accidents occurred most easily. Without hesitation, she politely declined with curved eyes.

“There are matters awaiting me at Jade Serenity Court. I shall not disturb Lady Gu’s pleasure.”

With that, she curtsied and prepared to leave.

Before she could finish her farewell, Lady Gu’s gaze passed over her shoulder. Her expression changed, and she muttered gloomily, “Why did he have to come across us?”

Confused, Chu Qingwan turned in the direction of Lady Gu’s eyes. There, she saw Xu Yanheng walking alongside a beautiful woman. Chu Qingwan’s expression grew somewhat strange. What had Lady Gu meant by that?

She rose as though she had heard nothing.

Speaking of the beauty accompanying Xu Yanheng, Chu Qingwan knew her as well.

It was Lady Jiang, who had entered the palace alongside her. When she recalled where Lady Jiang lived, Chu Qingwan could not help concealing the faint surprise in her eyes.

Lady Jiang resided in the Scenic Auspice Pavilion of Sweet Spring Palace—the very palace of Consort Yu.

Page (2/3)

Page (3/3)

Lady Jiang had actually managed to win the Emperor’s favor under Consort Yu’s watchful eye. It seemed that none of the new consorts who had entered the palace alongside her was simple.

Perhaps their little group was too conspicuous. Xu Yanheng led his companions directly toward them, leaving Chu Qingwan and Lady Gu no choice but to curtsy in greeting.

“Your Majesty.”

Standing behind Xu Yanheng, Lady Jiang also curtsied to the two of them.

Xu Yanheng turned his head and glanced at Chu Qingwan. She was wearing a crimson gauze dress that suited her perfectly. Her posture as she curtsied was graceful, her slender waist bending until it seemed scarcely wider than a handspan. The warm sunlight fell across her face, lips, and neck, making her fair skin appear tinged with a delicate flush—as though she had deliberately set out to draw the eye.

Xu Yanheng had to admit that although there were other consorts present, none could keep their gaze from her.

He extended a hand.

“Why are you here?”

His palm appeared before Chu Qingwan’s eyes. She paused, the corner of her vision sweeping over Lady Gu and Lady Jiang. But that was all. She would not let any opportunity pass her by. After only a moment’s hesitation, she placed her hand in Xu Yanheng’s palm.

She lowered her head slightly. The flush she had been suppressing finally spread across her cheeks, and even the roots of her ears turned red as though they might drip blood.

Xu Yanheng’s gaze flickered over her ears.

He was no saint. Looking at her, he could not help remembering that night, when a secret tide had risen within him.

Chu Qingwan said softly, “I was just about to return to the palace. I happened to meet Lady Gu along the way, so we stopped to chat for a while.”

Xu Yanheng also noticed the boat upon the lake. He looked toward Lady Gu.

“You certainly have a leisurely life.”

The two of them had known each other since they were young, and compared with the other consorts, his tone with her was far more familiar.

A person’s attention was limited. While speaking with Chu Qingwan and Lady Gu, he unconsciously neglected Lady Jiang behind him.

The smile on Lady Jiang’s face faded almost imperceptibly.

Lady Gu did not care. After Xu Yanheng had gone so long without summoning her, she had understood why her mother had given her such instructions before she entered the palace.

She was merely a little anxious. She did not know how long Xu Yanheng intended to remain there, or whether he would delay her outing on the lake.

Hearing his words, Lady Gu only lowered her head, her breathing becoming lighter as she answered in a soft voice.

“I am too fond of play. I have made a spectacle of myself before Your Majesty.”

She kept her head bowed and did not dare look at Xu Yanheng. Her tone held not the slightest intimacy. She knew her own limits. If she relied on their relationship as cousins to act familiar with him, the only result would be humiliation.

She was clearly somewhat afraid of Xu Yanheng.

He knew it perfectly well. His cousin had been born into nobility and privilege. From childhood, she had watched men scheme and maneuver to approach her, which had left her instinctively resistant to the opposite sex. Little by little, she had become the way she was now.

Otherwise, his aunt would never have sent her into the palace.

Xu Yanheng paid her no further heed. In any case, the imperial palace could afford to support one little girl.

He did not speak to Lady Gu again, instead turning to Chu Qingwan.

“Would you like to play?”

Chu Qingwan blinked.

“If Your Majesty accompanies me, then of course I would.”

Xu Yanheng narrowed his eyes, his meaning inscrutable.

“It seems I cannot disappoint such a beautiful lady.”

Someone hooked a finger around his beneath the cover of his sleeve, utterly lacking in restraint.

Page (3/3)