Chapter 21 Imperial Concubine
Inside Changxin Palace.
"You bitch! You bitch!!!"
Accompanied by hysterical screams and the ear-piercing sounds of porcelain and jade shattering, Consort Yi's bedchamber was in complete disarray.
Regardless of its value, anything that could be grabbed was smashed to the ground by Consort Yi, scattering fragments everywhere.
Her hair was disheveled, and her eyes were bloodshot; there was no trace of her usual gentle and dignified demeanor.
He was confined to his quarters! And this happened at the New Year's banquet, in front of all the concubines and imperial relatives!
This was an unprecedented humiliation she had never suffered since entering the palace!
She had painstakingly cultivated her position for many years to climb to the rank of Imperial Concubine, and even hosted the most important New Year's Day banquet of the year. She was only one step away from becoming a Noble Consort...
All of this was ruined by that lowly maid, Narcissus, whom she had never taken seriously!
"You lowly servant! How dare she!!!"
Yi Fei's chest heaved violently, and she didn't even notice that her crimson-gold armor had cut her palm.
Her schemes to please the Empress Dowager, her plans to raise the heir apparent... were all shattered by Shui Xian's few careless words and a child as stupid as a pig!
What terrified her even more was that the narcissus seemed to have completely escaped her control, and even bit her back!
"Your Majesty, please calm down! Your Majesty, please take care of yourself!" The palace maid Xuemei knelt amidst the mess on the ground, trembling as she pleaded.
"Calm down? How can I calm down!"
Yi Fei turned around abruptly, her bloodshot eyes, filled with the commotion of the entire night, fixed intently on Xue Mei.
"That vile woman! She climbed into the Emperor's bed! She moved into Chengming Palace! The Emperor trampled my dignity underfoot for her sake! I have become the laughingstock of the entire harem!"
The thought that Consort Li might be laughing at her behind her back made Consort Yi tremble with anger, and she almost vomited blood.
With nothing left to smash, Consort Yi slumped down on a soft couch, panting heavily.
She sensed something was slipping completely out of her control, heading in an unpredictable direction...
Narcissus... this lowly maid whom she personally brought into the palace, has now managed to plunge her into such a miserable state with just a few words!
No! We absolutely cannot sit idly by and wait to die!
Yi Fei took a deep breath and gradually calmed down.
She was indeed too eager for quick success this time, underestimating the threat posed by the narcissus, and even more so, underestimating the emperor's resistance to adoption.
"Xuemei!" Consort Yi's voice was as cold as ice. "Grind the ink!"
Xuemei quickly got up, carefully cleaned up the broken pieces on the table, and spread out paper and pens.
Consort Yi picked up her brush, her wrist trembling slightly with excitement, but her strokes were exceptionally clear.
After writing, she carefully sealed the letter and handed it to Xuemei: "Find a way to deliver this letter to my father personally, away from the Emperor and Consort Li's spies! No one else must know about it!"
"I understand!" Xuemei took the letter and hid it in her sleeve.
Watching Xue Mei leave, Consort Yi slowly stood up and walked to the window.
Her gaze seemed to transcend the layers of palaces, turning ominously toward the direction of Chengming Hall.
Narcissus...you just wait!
The lockdown is only temporary.
As long as Yi Guichun lives, and as long as her father is still in court, she still has a chance to turn things around! Once she regains the Emperor's favor... she will make that lowly servant pay back a thousandfold for the humiliation she suffered today!
She wanted to show Narcissus who the true master of Changxin Palace, and even the entire harem, was! She wanted to make her die a horrible death!
A more intense storm is brewing beneath the brief calm...
......
Unlike the oppressive atmosphere of Changxin Palace, Chengming Hall presents a warm scene at this moment.
As dawn broke, the light shone through the window lattice onto the smooth, mirror-like blue brick floor, reflecting the bustling activity within the room.
Shui Xian stood in the center of the main hall, watching Yin Zhu and Xiao Chuanzi direct the newly assigned palace servants to orderly place the imperial gifts throughout the hall.
The tables and chairs made of rosewood, the shimmering glass screens, the brocade curtains from the southern border... each piece reflects the emperor's favor.
Moving from the cramped and gloomy west wing of Changxin Palace to the spacious and bright Chengming Hall changed not only their residence but also their status and circumstances.
Although her rank was that of a Noble Lady, according to the regulations, she was not qualified to manage a palace on her own. However, the fact that the Emperor allowed her to live in Chengming Hall was a clever way to circumvent the rules.
Although this place is not a major palace garden, it is well-equipped and close to the Qianqing Palace, which is tantamount to telling her that she no longer needs to depend on any concubine, nor does she need to be controlled by Consort Yi.
Narcissus naturally understood this intention.
"Your Excellency, do you think this colorful glass screen would be suitable to be placed here?" a young eunuch asked respectfully.
Narcissus nodded: "Very good. Place it by the window in the west wing. When the light shines in, it will surely appear even more radiant."
The palace servants received clear instructions and their movements became even more efficient.
She made a special arrangement regarding the accommodations of those around her.
Yinzhu and Xiaochuanzi, the only two partners she could somewhat trust at the moment, were both arranged to have separate rooms.
Although the room is small and can only fit a few pieces of furniture, it is quiet and private, and once the door is closed, it becomes your own little world.
While tidying up her little house, Yinzhu's usually calm face showed a rare, faint smile.
Ogawako's cheeks flushed with excitement as she touched the small bookshelf again and again, as if she owned the whole world.
Looking at them, Narcissus felt a long-lost sense of peace welling up inside her.
The loneliness of fighting alone in his past life and dying tragically in a brothel seemed to be somewhat dispelled by the orderly busyness before him.
Although the road ahead is still full of thorns, at least for now, in this new world that belongs to her, she is no longer a helpless servant.
She had found a partner she could somewhat trust, and a place to truly settle down.
Sunlight streamed in, dancing on her light green skirt.
Narcissus squinted slightly, savoring this hard-won sense of security.
Just then, a palace attendant's voice came from the entrance of Chengming Hall:
"Your Excellency, Fangfei, a young lady from the side of Consort Li of Zhaoyang Palace, requests an audience."
Narcissus's eyes flickered slightly as she turned around.
A palace maid dressed in a light green palace dress walked in through the palace gate.
The palace maid was slender with delicate features and a perfectly gentle smile on her face.
Her overall demeanor contrasted sharply with that of her arrogant and domineering mistress, Consort Li.
This person is none other than Fangfei, the most capable head maidservant of Consort Li.
"This servant, Fangfei, greets Your Excellency. May Your Excellency enjoy boundless blessings."
Fangfei bowed gracefully, her voice as sweet and gentle as she was.
"Please rise, Miss Fangfei."
A polite smile appeared on Narcissus's face, but she thought to herself:
Her favor at the New Year's banquet indeed caught the attention of Consort Li.
Fangfei's arrival at this moment is by no means a simple greeting.
Fangfei straightened up, her smile as gentle as ever: "My lady was very happy to hear that Your Highness had moved to Chengming Palace. This is a small token of my lady's congratulations on your new home."
As she spoke, she presented a delicate sandalwood box with both hands.
Yinzhu stepped forward, took the box, and opened it only after holding it in her hand.
Inside was a pair of jadeite bracelets with excellent clarity and translucency, clearly of considerable value.
Consort Li was quite generous.
"I am deeply grateful for the kindness shown to me by Consort Li. I will definitely visit her in person another day to express my gratitude."
Narcissus slightly bent her knees, adopting an extremely humble posture.
Fangfei's smile deepened, and she took a step forward, her expression conveying a sense of closeness:
"You're too kind, Your Excellency. Actually... I've come today not only to deliver a congratulatory gift, but also on the orders of Her Highness the Imperial Concubine."
Narcissus chuckled inwardly, but remained outwardly docile: "Please speak, Miss Fangfei."
"My lady said that the noble lady is intelligent and quick-witted, and has won the emperor's favor. She likes her very much."
Fangfei's voice was as soft as silk, "Now that Consort Yi is reflecting on her mistakes in Changxin Palace, she feels particularly compatible with you in the harem."
"Therefore, we would like to invite Your Excellency to visit Zhaoyang Palace when you have some free time. Her Majesty would like to have a chat with Your Excellency, so that Your Excellency will not feel lonely in your new residence."
Invite her to visit Zhaoyang Palace?
Consort Li, Ruan Huan?
That arrogant and domineering enemy who saw all the women in the harem as thorns in his side and who almost caused her to miscarry and die in her previous life now feels that he is compatible with her.
This apparent affinity is a pretense; the real purpose is to test each other!
Consort Li held the power to assist in managing the six palaces and was at the height of her influence.
Shui Xian was able to bring down Consort Yi with just a few words at the New Year's banquet, and even persuaded the Emperor to make an exception and stay overnight. This favor was enough to make Consort Li wary.
She wanted to see for herself whether this newly appointed benefactor was an ally she could win over, or a threat she needed to eliminate as soon as possible.
Or perhaps she wanted to take this opportunity to teach her a lesson, to make her understand that in this harem, even if Consort Yi falls, it is not her turn to be the only one in power, and Consort Li is the most sought-after person right now?
Narcissus showed no outward expression, but countless guesses flashed through her mind in an instant.
She curtsied and said, "I am humbled by the favor shown to me by Consort Li! It is my greatest blessing that Consort Li, of such noble status, would be so kind as to summon me for a talk."
"Please inform Your Majesty, Miss Fangfei, that I will make some arrangements and then go to Zhaoyang Palace this afternoon to pay my respects and receive Your Majesty's instruction."
She agreed readily and humbly.
Fangfei's smile became even more sincere: "You flatter me, Your Excellency. Then this servant will go back and inform Her Highness that I will be waiting for Your Excellency's arrival at Zhaoyang Palace this afternoon."
She curtsied again and respectfully withdrew.
Fangfei's figure disappeared at the palace gate, and Shuixian turned and went back into the inner room. Yinzhu followed her.
“My esteemed guest…” Yinzhu turned and closed the door, her brows furrowed with worry.
Although she was unaware of the grudges from her past life, everyone in the harem knew of Consort Li's domineering reputation, and she instinctively felt that Zhaoyang Palace was a den of dragons and tigers.
Narcissus raised her hand, stopping Yinzhu from speaking.
Consort Li, Ruan Huan...
She has never forgotten the "pregnancy-preserving medicine" that almost cost her and her child their lives in her past life!
In this life, before she was even pregnant, Consort Li eagerly came to her door. Had she sensed a threat?
Or do they want to take advantage of her unstable foundation and bring her under their control or nip her in the bud?
Regardless of the reason, she absolutely had to go to Zhaoyang Palace.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com