Chapter 453 Olive Branch

Huo Lin stood outside the palace gate in a daze for a while before he came to his senses. He shook his head helplessly and turned to go to the imperial study.

Inside the hall, a moment later.

Jiang Huan had just stepped out of her palace and hadn't even had a cup of hot tea when a palace maid announced that Consort Li had arrived.

She raised an eyebrow slightly; she had just seen off one who exuded coldness, and now another one with trepidation had arrived.

Tsk, she's practically a president in this harem!

"Let her in."

Consort Li wore a light purple palace dress today, which was not as bright and dazzling as usual, but instead added a touch of elegance.

She walked in, bowed respectfully, and her eyes, unlike last time, no longer held the same fearless look, but rather a hint of apprehension.

"This humble servant greets Your Majesty."

"Rise, sit down." Jiang Huan gestured for her to sit down and had a maid serve tea and refreshments. "Is Consort Li here today because she has something to discuss?"

Consort Li pursed her lips and said in a low voice, "I came today to...to ask Your Majesty whether Your Majesty and the Emperor have made a decision regarding the matter I mentioned before?"

She was referring to the deal in which the Empress Dowager was identified in exchange for the safety of her family.

Jiang Huan understood perfectly; this was both a probe to gauge someone's intentions and a demonstration of loyalty.

She picked up her teacup, gently blew away the foam, and spoke in a calm but meaningful tone.

"Consort Li, rest assured, since you are sincerely repenting, the Emperor and I have our own considerations. However, the current situation is delicate, and some things cannot be rushed. We must wait and see how things develop."

She put down her teacup and looked calmly at Consort Li.

"Moreover, a large tree has deep roots, which are intertwined. If you want to uproot it, you have to loosen the soil around it first and see clearly where the roots are going. Don't you think so?"

Consort Li was a clever woman and immediately understood the implication in Jiang Huan's words.

The Emperor and the Imperial Noble Consort have begun to believe her to some extent, but they are still strategizing. To completely bring down the Empress Dowager, they need time and evidence, and they may need her to continue to play a role.

She felt a little more at ease and quickly said, "I understand. I will follow Your Majesty's and His Majesty's arrangements."

Seeing that she understood her meaning, Jiang Huan smiled slightly.

Well, the reaction was pretty quick, and the comprehension was acceptable.

Simply putting pressure on people and making empty promises isn't enough; we also need to offer tangible benefits.

"It's good that you understand. Speaking of which, you've been working hard these days."

As she spoke, she instructed the maid beside her, "Go and pack some of the newly made pastries from the small kitchen, as well as that jar of fine acacia honey, for Consort Li to take back and try."

Upon hearing this, Consort Li's eyes lit up slightly.

Snacks, and fresh honey?

I thought I would never taste this flavor again in my life, but now it's back in my mouth?

She's been living in fear these days, avoiding Jiang Huan. Heaven knows how long she's been craving this!

Jiang Huan took in her reaction, chuckled inwardly, and continued speaking gently.

"This honey has a sweet taste and is very calming. Drinking a cup of it diluted with water in the evening may help you sleep better."

Consort Li smiled sincerely: "Thank you for your generous gift, Your Highness. It would be impolite of me to refuse."

She returned to her palace carrying a food box filled with pastries and honey, dismissed her attendants, and eagerly picked up a small lotus-shaped pastry and put it in her mouth.

The flaky crust melted in her mouth, and the filling was sweet and refreshing, making her squint her eyes in satisfaction.

I opened the jar of honey again and took a sniff; the delicate fragrance of acacia blossoms was refreshing and delightful.

That evening, as Jiang Huan had instructed, she mixed a small spoonful of honey with warm water and drank it.

Whether it was a placebo effect or the honey truly had a miraculous effect, or perhaps she had temporarily relieved some of her psychological burden, she slept exceptionally well for several nights in a row, and the nightmares that had plagued her for so long about her family's fate and past sins seemed to have faded considerably.

However, just as Consort Li was enjoying a few days of comfort, things started to get uneasy in Cining Palace.

Although the Empress Dowager had suffered a series of blows and her mental state was not as good as before, sometimes clear-headed and sometimes confused, her desire to control the palace had not diminished in the slightest.

Inside the Cining Palace, the atmosphere was even more gloomy and oppressive than usual, filled with a strange odor that was a mixture of stale medicine and strong sandalwood, making one feel suffocated.

The Empress Dowager, dressed in a dark purple casual robe, leaned against the phoenix couch, her eyes dark and swollen.

As she listened to her confidant's whispered report on the recent movements of the various palaces, a cold light suddenly flashed in her cloudy eyes when she heard that Consort Li had repeatedly visited Weiyang Palace.

"That vile Consort Li has been frequenting Weiyang Palace quite often lately, hasn't she?" The Empress Dowager's voice was hoarse, filled with a chilling coldness. "What, does she think that by climbing the social ladder, she can kick her old master aside? Dream on!"

She grew angrier as she spoke, her chest heaving violently. She suddenly slammed the teacup in her hand to the ground, the sound of the porcelain shattering particularly jarring in the silent hall.

"Go, bring her here to me. I want to see how much courage she has!"

Consort Li received the summons and arrived at Cining Palace with trepidation. As soon as she entered, she felt the almost tangible malice emanating from the palace.

The Empress Dowager stared intently at her, her eyes like poisoned hooks: "Consort Li, I have treated you well, haven't I? What, now that you see I'm old and useless, you want to find another wise ruler?"

Consort Li was so frightened that her legs went weak, and she knelt down to plead: "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, please understand, I dare not! My loyalty to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is as clear as day and night! I was only following the Emperor's orders to assist in handling matters concerning the concubines, and it was inevitable that I would have to deal with and discuss matters with the Imperial Noble Consort. I have absolutely no disloyal intentions, please Your Majesty the Empress Dowager see the truth!"

The Empress Dowager sneered, then struggled to her feet, dragging her faltering steps to stand before her. Her withered fingers, icy cold, almost poked Consort Li's face.

"Tsk, look at that little face, it's been taken care of so well and it's become more and more delicate. There are few people in the palace who can match its freshness."

Her fingertips were icy cold as her long nails brushed against Consort Li's skin, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Those beauty pills I bestowed upon you, weren't they quite effective? When a person receives a great benefit, they must know how to be grateful, remember where they came from, and who gave them their bones. Those who betray their masters and forget kindness never have a good end!"

Upon hearing this, Consort Li trembled all over, her inner garments soaked with cold sweat.

"Go back and think this through!" The Empress Dowager suddenly shouted, her voice sharp and piercing. "If you dare to play any tricks or act two-faced, I have plenty of ways to make you wish you were dead!"

Consort Li left Cining Palace in a state of utter panic. When she returned to her own palace, her face was ashen.

However, before she could catch her breath, Wang Degui arrived.

"Your Highness, the Emperor summons you to the Imperial Study."

Consort Li's heart leaped into her throat again. She had just been warned by the Empress Dowager, and now the Emperor had summoned her?

She followed Wang Degui nervously to the Imperial Study.

Huo Lin sat calmly behind the dragon desk and pushed a list directly in front of him.

"Take a look. This is the first list of concubines I have drawn up, who are granted permission to leave the palace and return home."