Chapter 155 If the Emperor finds out about the two of you....
The following day, the morning and evening prayers returned to normal.
Even when you're away from home, you still can't forget the rules of daily life.
It happened to be the turn of the imperial concubines to pay their respects to Consort De. Shui Xian got up early to dress up and took Ting Lu to Consort De's Plum Shadow Hall.
Meiying Hall and Lanxiang Pavilion are not close to each other, and they are both important courtyards in Wanfang Garden.
Although the season for plum blossoms to bloom has passed, the scenery inside the Plum Shadow Hall is still quite elegant and charming.
Because Shui Xian was pregnant, she would not arrive at Consort De's residence too early.
If it were too early, her body would feel heavy, and sitting for too long would make her feel a drag in her stomach and a bit of back pain.
Consort De knew her habits; she had always been indifferent to worldly affairs and had even mentioned that if Narcissus was too heavy-set, she would not have to participate in the morning and evening greetings.
Shui Xian had to admit that Consort De was an excellent partner in managing the six palaces.
She arrived a little late, about an incense stick's time before the official start time.
As soon as she stepped into the main room, Shui Xian immediately saw Yi Guichun sitting next to Consort Wan.
Emperor Zhaoheng has restored her to her rank as a concubine. According to the order of entry into the palace, she should indeed sit next to Consort Wan.
The conversation inside fell silent when Narcissus stepped into the main room.
Yi Guichun's smile faded slightly as he met the gaze of Narcissus, who had just turned to look at him.
Shui Xian calmly withdrew her gaze, took Ting Lu's hand, and walked towards the seat of honor next to Consort De.
Consort De remained calm and composed, seemingly oblivious to the gossipy gazes burning within the room.
Before everyone had fully arrived, Consort De instructed Mo Hua to show Shui Xian some of the account books from the Flower Festival celebrations.
As Shui Xian flipped through the account books, the concubines faintly resumed their conversations.
Consort Wan turned her head, scrutinized Yi Guichun beside her, and suddenly smiled:
"Consort Yi, you have fully recovered! I feel that you look even more beautiful than before."
Yi Guichun touched his face, seemingly unaware of what was happening.
"Yeah?"
She smiled slightly, but it was not the confident smile she had before her madness; instead, her smile contained a hint of bitterness.
"I don't want anything right now, I just want to be quiet."
As Yi Guichun spoke, he rubbed a string of Buddhist prayer beads that had appeared on his hand at some point.
As Shui Xian closed the ledger, she overheard Yi Guichun's words and naturally noticed the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand.
Yi Guichun? A Buddhist?
She had been by Yi Guichun's side since childhood, and this was the first time she had seen him so detached and indifferent to worldly desires.
Narcissus's gaze was deep, and she felt a little amused.
No one can be as detached from worldly desires as Yi Guichun could be.
Ever since she saw through Yi Guichun's true colors, she knew that only a rotten heart was beating in her chest.
Yi Guichun couldn't stand seeing others do well, especially those who were less fortunate than him in terms of background, family, or appearance...
Narcissus always believed that jealousy was human nature, but those who harmed others because of it were rotten to the core.
She looked calmly at Yi Guichun, who seemed oblivious, focusing only on his conversation with Consort Wan.
Consort Jing noticed that Shui Xian was staring at Yi Guichun for a long time. She seemed a little puzzled, glancing at Yi Guichun and then at Consort Jin, who was in a high position.
After waiting for another half incense stick, when Yi Shuyao arrived looking slightly busy, everyone was finally gathered.
Now that Yi Shuyao is a Noble Lady, when she went to stand in the back row, all the concubines except for the two Noble Consorts exchanged glances and spontaneously stood up.
"Your humble servant respectfully wishes Consort De and Consort Jin good health!"
The concubines curtsied in accordance with etiquette, creating a neat and magnificent scene.
All the ladies, dressed in their finest attire, stood in the room, each with impeccable posture and graceful manners.
Receiving their bows was once a privilege enjoyed only by the empress.
Now it is accepted by both imperial concubines.
"rise."
Consort De spoke softly; this was an unwritten rule between her and Narcissus: in whose palace, it was the one who would call out first.
The concubines slowly straightened up and sat down again.
Narcissus seemed a little out of sorts today. Sitting in her seat, her gaze slowly swept over everyone.
Consort De, as was customary, said some very ordinary things...
"It's getting chilly today, ladies, please remember to wear a cloak."
"Now that we are far outside the palace, although we are not in the palace, I still hope that everyone will be careful with their words and deeds. If there is anything you are unsure about, you can report it to me or Consort Jin first."
"......"
Similar remarks were made at almost every morning meeting, to the point that every concubine was tired of hearing them.
However, due to their hierarchical status, the concubines all had to adopt an expression of receptiveness, each wearing a sincere face.
Narcissus was quiet today, and her complexion was somewhat dark. She also spoke much less in the morning.
This behavior led many people below to believe that it was because Yi Guichun had returned to the harem and even regained her status as a concubine.
After all, he was her former master, even without mentioning the grudges between the two.
The fact that he is the former master is enough to make people unhappy.
Many of the concubines below the steps had this thought in their minds.
Who doesn't know that the now highly respected Consort Jin was once a maid?
It would be one thing if Yi Guichun didn't appear in the harem for a day, but now that he has returned, every time Yi Guichun appears, isn't it just a reminder to everyone that Shui Xian was once a slave?
Moreover, she was the lowest-ranking slave, born into a life of hardship and destitution.
The expressions on everyone's faces varied. Some, like Tuoba, were angry for Shuixian; others, like Consort Wan, were looking around, eager to see what would happen; and still others, like Consort Jing, seemed out of it...
Narcissus raised her eyelids slightly, looked at the various expressions below, and suddenly found it amusing.
Yesterday, because of my pregnancy, I got up more often during the night, and for some reason, I couldn't sleep soundly even after lying back down.
Such a simple reason, look at the wild imaginations they've come up with...
Narcissus thought this to herself, but she was really tired from last night. She had no energy to fight with this group of people and just wanted to hold out until the morning session was over so she could go back to her Orchid Fragrance Pavilion and catch up on some sleep.
The Flower Festival celebrations have ended, and there's nothing important to do at Wanfangyuan anymore.
She was finally able to relax a little and rest properly in the Orchid Fragrance Pavilion.
After a long wait, the morning service ended. Shui Xian, holding Ting Lu's hand, walked slowly towards Lanxiang Pavilion in the perfect sunlight.
Tinglu wanted to summon the sedan chair, but the morning air was exceptionally clear and the weather was just right.
Shuixian didn't rest well yesterday and felt sore and tired all over. She thought it would be better to take a walk back to Lanxiang Pavilion in the daylight.
After walking for a while and breathing in some fresh air, I felt less sleepy.
"Consort Jin, please wait."
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind.
It is Yi Guichun.
Narcissus seemed not to hear and continued walking forward.
The people behind quickened their pace, and in the blink of an eye, Yi Guichun, accompanied by an unfamiliar maid, strode up to Shui Xian.
"Your Majesty, this concubine greets Consort Jin."
Consort Yi curtsied to the narcissus.
Shui Xian stopped in her tracks. Ting Lu, who was standing to the side, had never witnessed the feud between her mistress and the man in front of her.
But she had already heard about the two's animosity.
It is said that when Consort Jin was pregnant with Princess Yongning, the seemingly simple and gentle Consort Yi once lunged at Consort Jin with a silver blade in her hand.
If the emperor hadn't intervened on the spot, who knows how much bigger things would have gotten!
The thought of those past events, which were not exactly secrets within the palace, made Tinglu's gaze become somewhat wary.
She moved even closer to Narcissus's side, so that if Consort Yi had another attack, she could protect her mistress immediately.
Consort Yi noticed Tinglu's wariness, and she bowed to the narcissus while holding her Buddhist prayer beads.
Let bygones be bygones.
"From now on, I only wish to devote myself to Buddhism and spend my days with the ancient Buddha and the dim lamp. I will never again be involved in the slightest strife in the harem."
"As for what happened before, it was all my past foolishness. Today I have come to beg for forgiveness from Consort Jin..."
At this point, Yi Guichun bowed deeply to the narcissus again.
Shui Xian coldly observed Yi Guichun, who was dressed in a plain palace gown and had Buddhist prayer beads in her hand. She seemed to have seen through the world and had no desire for conflict.
But......
A hint of sarcasm flashed in Narcissus's eyes, and she suddenly smiled and said:
"Please forgive me... I don't know if I've misunderstood or..."
Her gaze slowly moved down to Yi Guichun's straight legs; when she bowed just now, her legs hadn't even bent.
"It's easy for Consort Yi to apologize."
Yi Guichun suddenly gripped the prayer beads tightly and looked up at Shui Xian in surprise.
It should be noted that this was the end of the morning service, and there were one or two concubines coming and going; she and Shui Xian were not alone here.
Didn't Shui Xian always pretend to be gentle and magnanimous in front of Emperor Zhaoheng?
How dare she! How dare she make Yi Guichun kowtow to her!
Yi Guichun gripped the prayer beads tightly, and her fingertips turned white from the force.
Standing opposite her, Narcissus clearly caught a glimpse of anger flashing in Yi Guichun's eyes.
That vividness is not the detached indifference of someone who has renounced worldly affairs.
really.
Shui Xian curled her lips slightly, revealing undisguised mockery towards Yi Guichun.
"How have you been? Consort Yi is still the same as I remember... hypocritical."
The last two words were spoken by Shui Xian in a low voice, as if she were grinding them between her teeth.
Yi Guichun was utterly enraged by Shui Xian. Seemingly forgetting the Empress Dowager's instructions, she gritted her teeth and spoke in a voice only she and Shui Xian could hear:
"Don't refuse a polite toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!"
So easily, and you got angry?
Shui Xian almost instantly withdrew her mocking expression and coldly stared at Yi Guichun, whose eyes and brows were filled with anger.
"Tinglu, let's go."
She disdained to get entangled with Yi Guichun any longer.
This time, she only wanted complete revenge and didn't care about minor punishments.
However.
Narcissus's indifference was like a thorn, piercing Yi Guichun's heart.
She only felt that the narcissus's calmness made her look even more pathetic.
Yi Guichun strode forward, and just as Tinglu reached out to block him, Yi Guichun chuckled in a very low voice:
"My brother is about to return in triumph. If the Emperor finds out about your affair..."
"How could the Emperor possibly still want you!"
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