"Who did this? This move can target both the young mistress and Consort Yu, killing two birds with one stone! It's truly vicious!" Xun'er gritted her teeth in hatred.

Mi Shan remained silent.

In this palace, who dares to oppose Consort Yu?

not much.

I've heard that Consort Ling and Consort Yu are on good terms, so it probably isn't her.

Could it be?

She remembered the day of the audition, and the gentle voice behind the beaded curtain, as soft as a spring breeze in February.

A chill ran through me.

Empress Rouci?

Could it be her?

“Whoever it is, this person’s rank and power are probably above Consort Yu’s. I think that since we have just entered the palace, it would be best to be patient and observe the situation.” A-Chan said.

Xun'er was the first to object: "No! Today is the first day that Your Highness has entered the palace, and someone dares to harm Your Highness. If we give in all the time, won't we be treated like a pushover in the future? We should report to His Majesty and let him make a decision!"

"Stop arguing, I have my own plans."

Mi Shan accepted the jade-eyed toad; it was arguably the most valuable gift he had received that day.

As for the person behind this murder...

Mi Shan had her own way of making her reveal her true colors.

Before this, she was able to leverage the situation to achieve her goals.

"Listen to me, go and secretly fetch some skin wax, latex, cotton, toner, and red ink..."

Xun'er didn't know why her young master had come all this way, so she exchanged a glance with Shangguan Chan and went to do as she was told.

He returned a moment later.

Everything was prepared and quietly delivered to Mi Shan's room.

Mi Shan closed the door and stayed inside for two hours before opening it again. She looked completely unchanged, quietly tucking her sleeves together.

"My lady, what have you been doing in the room for so long?"

"fine."

Mi Shan knew they were worried about her.

"You all go about your business as usual."

She glanced at the room full of gifts, then had Xun'er take some and distribute them to the palace servants.

That night.

Mi Shan sat quietly in the room.

They heard the eunuch's high-pitched voice coming from outside the door.

"Where is Consort Jieyu?"

"Please wait a moment, sir. My mistress is resting. I will go and inform her."

After Xun'er finished speaking, she walked in and saw that Mi Shan had already put on a pink light gauze, with a strapless plain dress underneath, the long sleeves of which hung to the ground, and her hair was tied up in a high bun. She walked in gracefully and quietly.

Upon seeing Mi Shan, the chief eunuch Xu Ninghai's eyes lit up, and he bowed obsequiously.

"Congratulations, Your Highness. Tonight, His Majesty has issued an edict summoning Consort Jieyu to the palace to serve him. I have come here specifically on His Majesty's orders to invite Your Highness to bathe and change."

After saying that, he bent down and made a gesture of reaching out his hand.

"Please, my lord."

Mi Shan's beautiful face remained calm, as if she had already guessed that she would be chosen.

But she lowered her head, adopting a sorrowful expression, and gently bit her lip.

"Your Majesty's favor is deeply appreciated by your concubine, but please convey to me that I cannot comply tonight."

"Your Highness, what makes you say such a thing? Do you know that this is defying the imperial decree?" Xu Ninghai was shocked and greatly puzzled.

On his first night in the palace, he was summoned to serve the emperor.

This is an opportunity that countless women would kill for.

Just now, as he passed by Consort Qin's side hall and led his men toward Consort Mi, he even saw Consort Qin turn around in anger and go back into her room, smashing things all over the floor.

Mi Shan's actions were naturally well-considered.

The concubines who were favored by the emperor in their previous lives but did not bear children were all buried in the imperial mausoleum.

Those who were not favored by the emperor survived and became palace maids.

Therefore, before she could ascertain the emperor's physical condition, Mi Shan decided to avoid serving him in bed.

"I did not do this willingly, but had my reasons. If Your Majesty had seen it with your own eyes... I doubt you would have summoned me again." Mi Shan's eyes were filled with tears, making her look pitiful.

Xu Ninghai was stunned by her pitiful appearance, and his heart softened. He also softened his tone: "What grievance does Consort Jieyu have? Why don't you tell me, and I will convey it to the Emperor on your behalf?"

Mi Shan just shook her head and remained silent.

Bloodstains were faintly seeping from her chest, staining the outermost layer of light gauze red.

"Ah, my lady, you're injured?" Achan exclaimed, instinctively tugging at her collar.

A shocking scar appeared on her snow-white, soft skin, catching the eye.

"What...how did this happen?!" Xu Ninghai exclaimed in shock, covering his eyes.

Mi Jieyu's chest had large areas of festering sores.

It looked like she was in a lot of pain. No wonder Consort Mi had been looking uncomfortable and refusing to serve the emperor. It turned out that she was injured there!

"Quickly, summon the imperial physician!"

"You all stay here and take good care of Consort Jieyu. I'll go and report to His Majesty right away!"

In less than fifteen minutes.

Three or four academicians from the Imperial Medical Academy then arrived.

But the emperor did not come to show any concern.

He only sent Xu Ninghai to explain that the Emperor was too busy with official duties to visit Consort Mi, and wished Consort Mi a speedy recovery.

After saying that, he walked away with a glint in his eyes.

Mi Shan later learned that the emperor had indeed come that day.

However, as they walked towards the side hall of the Jade Hibiscus Palace, they passed by the door of Consort Qin next door.

I was captivated by her graceful figure, clad in light gauze and dancing.

He immediately changed his mind and summoned Consort Qin to his bedchamber.

Qin Miaomiao was overjoyed. After bathing in the clean water pool with Xu Ninghai, she was wrapped in a quilt and sent to the emperor's bedroom.

She shyly submitted to the Emperor's advances, remaining awake all night.

Mi Shan's Jade Lotus Palace was also brightly lit.

The Empress herself, accompanied by Imperial Physician Guo, came to treat her.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!