Chapter Twenty-Four: The Legend of Zhen Huan - Fang Jiachunyi 24

“If we had been a step too slow at that time, it would have been too late. But wouldn’t it have been better if Consort Xiang had offered to let my sister raise her?”

"How...how is this possible?" Consort Jing asked in surprise.

"Sister, you don't need to worry about that. Leave everything to your younger sister, and I guarantee you'll get what you want."

Fang Jiachun smiled coquettishly, her brows carrying an alluring, bewitching quality.

Feeling dizzy as she left Yongshou Palace, Consort Jing was awakened by a gust of wind and only then realized that Fang Jiachun's naivety was all a pretense.

No, perhaps it's a mixture of truth and falsehood.

Having a cunning mind is good; only with a cunning mind can one survive longer in the palace.

Jingyang Palace —

"Don't you find it strange? Why has your health been getting weaker and weaker ever since you agreed to the death sentence?"

“No matter what, Nian has done you a favor. To repay kindness with enmity and betray you is something that is taboo in the eyes of those in power.”

"When the emperor commands death, the subject has no choice but to die. Consort Wan is so clever, how could she not know that? I've heard Consort Duan is quite fond of Wen Yi~"

"After all, Wenyi was raised under the Empress's care. How much of her affection do you think is genuine and how much is feigned?"

...

Recalling Songzhi's words, Consort Xiang felt a chill run down her spine.

Yes, if the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die. She was ultimately doomed; she needed to find a way out for Wen Yi.

Among the high-ranking concubines, only Consort Duan, Consort Jing, and Consort Tian had no children.

Consort Tian comes from a good family, but she is young and may have children in the future, so she may not treat Wenyi as her own child.

Consort Duan... Songzhi is right. Who knows if Consort Duan will take her anger out on Wenyi because of Imperial Noble Consort Dunsu?

Moreover, his friendship with Consort Wan alone is absolutely unacceptable.

Using one's own daughter as a bargaining chip for one's enemy to curry favor with Consort Duan? Don't even think about it!

Consort Jing! Consort Jing is on good terms with Consort Ru, who has a son named Hongxu, the Sixth Prince.

The only prince in the palace whose mother is a Manchu bannerman is still considered an auspicious dragon and phoenix.

The Third Prince was foolish, the Fourth Prince came from a humble background and was disliked by the Emperor, the Fifth Prince was weak, and the Seventh Prince had a heart ailment.

The Sixth Prince is very likely to sit on that throne in the future, so how could the princess raised by the concubines who are on good terms with her not live a bad life?

Consort Jing was her best choice, and her only choice.

As long as she, as the mother, takes the initiative to suggest that Wenyi be raised by Consort Jing.

Even though Consort Wan was deeply favored by the Emperor, the Emperor could not refuse his own mother's suggestion and forcibly give the child to Consort Duan!

Perhaps... I should?

Thinking of Songzhi's suggestion, she agreed. Just in case, Consort Duan must die!

Yongshou Palace —

"Your Majesty, the one in Jingyang Palace and the one in the Cold Palace have joined forces."

"That's good. Consort Duan has overstepped her bounds. It's not worth getting her hands dirty. It's best to use someone else to do the dirty work." Fang Jiachun leaned against the couch with a cold face.

She truly deserves to be called someone who endured years of torment from Consort Dunsu and was able to recover quickly after her death.

Perhaps because of the presence of Hongxu, Jingshu, and Hongyang, Princess Wenyi was no longer special, and the Emperor's favor towards her faded.

Therefore, Consort Duan actually set her sights on Hongxu and Jingshu.

It's true that Consort Duan wanted to raise Wenyi, but it was also because Wenyi had the Emperor's favor.

She was blamed for the abortion pill incident, and the emperor felt guilty.

However, she also became wary of the emperor because she learned about his dark side.

Therefore, she was destined to be unloved, but she did not want to live a life comparable to being in the cold palace again, as the emperor's guilt would eventually wear off.

Having a child who is deeply loved by the emperor raised by one's own parents is the best choice.

The Emperor's favor was limited; it was divided among Hongxu and the other two, leaving Wenyi with less.

{To explain, Consort Duan believed that even if Fang Jiachunyi got into trouble, the twins would not be raised by the Empress, because the Empress had intervened when Fang Jiachunyi was pregnant.}

Once Fang Jiachun found out, she would never hand the twins over to the Empress. Consort Duan had other plans, but they were discovered as soon as they began.