Chapter 19 Consort Zhuang's Test
Chapter Nineteen: Consort Zhuang's Test
However, Su Su kept her eyes lowered, her long eyelashes casting a shadow under her eyes, concealing any emotions that might be revealed.
She even slightly turned her body to avoid Consort Zhuang's direct gaze, her tone as calm as if discussing the weather: "Thank you for your concern, sister. It was merely a moment of leisure, an attempt to emulate the ancients' observation of the hardships of farming, a way to calm the mind and cultivate one's character. When the Empress Dowager heard of it, she simply said it was a matter of self-cultivation and did not blame me." She casually invoked the Empress Dowager's name, both striking back and leaving no room for criticism.
Li Qianche's expectations were dashed, and the anger in his heart inexplicably intensified. Was she really this stubborn? Would she rather endure it herself than show him the slightest weakness? His knuckles, gripping the teacup, turned slightly white, but he ultimately remained silent. He wanted to see how long she could hold out.
Seeing that Li Qianche remained silent, Consort Zhuang assumed he tacitly approved or even endorsed her suppression of Su Su, and her arrogance grew even stronger. She took a few steps closer, almost touching Su Su, her gaze licking at her like a viper's tongue: "Sister, what you're saying makes me seem like I'm meddling. But it's true, sister, your status is different now; you're a proper concubine, so naturally you can do whatever you want. However, sister, you mustn't forget the rules of the palace. After all, some stumbles are enough once, but if you stumble again, it might not be as simple as being demoted to a low-ranking concubine." Her words were laced with threat, directly referencing the old case of the Prince of Ning's heir.
These words were extremely malicious, almost a curse that if Su Su were to commit another crime, she would be doomed forever.
Su Su's fingertips trembled slightly inside her sleeve, not from fear, but from the surge of anger and painful memories of her past life. But she still suppressed it tightly, telling herself that she could not get angry, could not lose her composure, and could not give anyone any leverage.
Mu Hanyan, who had been quietly observing, frowned slightly. Although she was naturally aloof and disliked gossip, Consort Zhuang's aggressive and harsh words were really unsettling. Seeing Su Su being bullied like this while the Emperor remained silent, she understood the Emperor's thoughts and felt a pang of sympathy for Su Su.
Just as Consort Zhuang was about to say something even harsher, Mu Hanyan's voice rang out, carrying an undeniable calm power: "Sister Consort Zhuang."
Consort Zhuang was interrupted and looked at her with displeasure.
Mu Hanyan met his gaze calmly, her tone indifferent: "The Imperial Garden is a delightful place. His Majesty rarely has the leisure to sit here and enjoy tea, presumably to relax and unwind. Although what you said earlier was out of concern for Consort Su, your words brought up past events and rules, which were rather heavy and disturbed the tranquility. Moreover, now that Consort Su has been promoted, His Majesty and the Empress Dowager will have their own judgment on past matters. We concubines should be careful with our words and actions and prioritize harmony."
Her words were impeccable, pointing out that Consort Zhuang had ruined the atmosphere, implying that she had overstepped her bounds by discussing matters already decided by the Emperor, and finally bringing up the noble principle of "harmony is of utmost importance."
Consort Zhuang was choked, her face turning red and then pale. She hadn't expected that Wanpin, who was usually quiet, would stand up for Su Su and speak so sharply that she couldn't find the words to refute her. She glared at Mu Hanyan, but the other party still looked calm and collected, as if she had just stated a very simple fact.
Su Su's lowered eyelids trembled slightly, a hint of surprise flashing through her mind. She hadn't expected Mu Hanyan to speak up for her at this moment, and with such tactful words, resolving her predicament while saving face for both of them. This composure and thoughtfulness in the face of conflict, this dignified and unyielding demeanor...
Su Su suddenly understood why Li Qianche treated her differently. Being with such a woman was indeed much easier than dealing with her previous unreasonable behavior. A sense of enlightenment crept into the complex emotions she felt from her past life. Although she was grateful for her help, she knew that Li Qianche was his favorite concubine, and given everything she had experienced in her previous life, she could not truly open her heart to her in the future.
After this interruption, Consort Zhuang realized that she had been blinded by her jealousy of Su Su and almost forgot her main purpose. Her main purpose in coming here today was to test Mu Hanyan!
She quickly adjusted her expression, forcing a smile again, as if the harsh and vicious person from just moments before was not her at all.
“What Consort Wan says is true. It was I who was too straightforward and didn’t think things through.”
As she spoke, she gestured to her, and her personal maid immediately brought over an exquisite food box. Consort Zhuang personally took out a cake decorated with bright red candied fruit from it. The cake was small but exquisitely made, quite different from the pastries in the imperial kitchen. She handed it to Mu Hanyan with a smile: "This is a hawthorn cake specially made by my small kitchen. It is made using the secret recipe of the Zhuang family. It is sweet and sour and is very appetizing. Consort Wan seems to be a little weak lately, so she should try this."
Su Su stared intently at Mu Hanyan, her gaze carrying a barely perceptible scrutiny and tension. Pregnant women should absolutely not eat too much hawthorn cake; it could easily lead to unforeseen complications! Although she wasn't an expert in medicine, she had heard rumors of Consort Wan's medical skills. In her eyes, Consort Zhuang's actions were utterly presumptuous, and she could even foresee how Mu Hanyan would cleverly refuse.
Consort Zhuang's actions were abrupt. Why would she suddenly care about the Emperor's favorite concubine? She had previously made things difficult for Consort Wan. She clearly wanted to test whether Mu Hanyan was pregnant.
Li Qianche's gaze sharpened. Mu Hanyan came from a family of doctors, so there was no need for him to stop her from doing such a common taboo.
Mu Hanyan looked at the cakes offered to her, her expression unchanged. She simply raised her hand slightly to gently block them, a perfectly timed apologetic smile on her lips: "Thank you for your kindness, Consort Zhuang. It's just a pity that the imperial physician came to take my pulse this morning and advised me that my spleen and stomach are weak and cold these days, so I should avoid raw, cold, sour, and sweet foods. This hawthorn cake... I'm afraid I can't enjoy it. I appreciate Consort Zhuang's kindness."
Her refusal was perfectly reasonable and watertight.
Consort Zhuang's hand, which was offering the cakes, froze in mid-air, and the smile on her face could barely be maintained. The imperial physician's advice? What a coincidence! Her spies in Shuning Palace clearly reported that Mu Hanyan had not changed her clothes since entering the palace.
"Ah, no wonder the Emperor couldn't wait to bring her back to the palace and immediately bestow upon her the title of Consort after his tour. It turns out they had already made their plans outside the palace, and she was already pregnant!" A flame of anger mixed with being deceived and sharp jealousy instantly burned through her entire being. She was certain that Mu Hanyan was just making excuses! She must be pregnant!
This realization gnawed at Consort Zhuang's heart like a venomous snake. She hadn't even completely suppressed the desire for Su Su when another woman, Mu Hanyan, who might be carrying the emperor's child, appeared! She absolutely could not allow this child to be born!
She reluctantly withdrew her hand, placed the cake back on the plate, and forced a smile, saying, "I see. I was being presumptuous." Her eyes darted around, and she already had a plan in mind.
Now that we've made up our minds, we must act quickly! The plum blossom viewing banquet in a few days will be the perfect opportunity!
Consort Zhuang put on her elegant mask again, her gaze sweeping over Su Su and Mu Hanyan, her tone carrying an unyielding tone: "Speaking of which, in a few days the Empress Dowager will be hosting a banquet in the Plum Garden to appreciate the last bloom of the plum blossoms. The Empress Dowager has specifically instructed that since we are the highest-ranking women in the palace, and Consort Su has been promoted, and Consort Wan is a trusted confidante of the Empress Dowager, you two must both be present to keep the Empress Dowager company and have a good chat with her, so that we sisters can get closer. If anyone is absent, the Empress Dowager will blame us for not knowing etiquette and disrespecting our elders, which would be terrible."
She deliberately brought up the Empress Dowager and emphasized "rank" and "etiquette," directly elevating "absence" to the level of "disrespecting the Empress Dowager." This reason left Su Su, who was eager to escape the world, and Mu Hanyan, who had a cold personality, with no suitable excuse to refuse.
Su Su's heart sank. The worst had happened. Consort Zhuang was determined to make her move at the plum blossom banquet and wipe her and Mu Hanyan out in one fell swoop!
Upon hearing this, Mu Hanyan simply nodded slightly: "Your Majesty, I obey."
Under Consort Zhuang's piercing gaze and Li Qianche's invisible pressure, Su Su knew there was no room for maneuver. If she insisted on refusing now, in Li Qianche's eyes, she would merely be relying on her newly restored favor to relapse into her old ways, being unreasonable and ungrateful, only provoking his annoyance and giving Consort Zhuang more excuses to attack her. Weighing her options, she could only suppress the turmoil in her heart, forcing all her unease and resistance deep inside, and whispered, "Your Majesty... I understand."
"That's good." Consort Zhuang smiled with satisfaction, but that smile concealed a poisoned icy edge.
"At that time, I will be waiting for my two younger sisters." After she finished speaking, she turned to Li Qianche, her face instantly switching to a gentle and charming expression, and her voice softened a bit: "Your Majesty, it is getting late. You have worked hard all day. Would you like to have some dinner in my palace? The small kitchen has specially prepared your favorite yam and pigeon soup, which is very nourishing..."
"No need." Li Qianche interrupted her calmly before she could finish speaking, his gaze never leaving his teacup. "I still have state affairs to attend to."
Consort Zhuang's smile froze slightly, like a crack suddenly appearing on a fine porcelain piece. Although the smile remained, a hint of embarrassment and gloom flashed deep in her eyes.
"Yes, then I will not disturb Your Majesty any longer." She maintained her proper demeanor, bowed again, and then, with the help of the palace maid, turned and left Qinfang Pavilion. However, compared to her previous smugness, her back view was now somewhat stiff and forced.
Inside the pavilion, as the glaring magenta disappeared, an even more eerie silence descended.
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