"Consort Chen is truly kind-hearted." Yan Zhaqiu said with disdain, "If everyone had their own unavoidable difficulties and did this, wouldn't the world be in chaos?"
“How could it be chaotic? The concubine is exaggerating,” Hailanzhu retorted.
"Alright." Yan Zhaqiu waved her hand. "Everyone acts differently. Since Consort Chen says so, I will obey your command and spare this lowly servant this time." As it was getting late, she didn't want to argue with Hailanzhu any longer.
"Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Consort Chen!" Upon hearing this, the palace maid kowtowed repeatedly to express her gratitude, especially towards Hailanzhu, where she kowtowed three times heavily.
"Go down. You're lucky this time," Yan Zhaqiu said coldly.
"Yes." The palace maid bowed and withdrew.
Seeing that the matter had been resolved, Yan Zhaqiu asked Hailanzhu, "It's rare for Consort Chen to visit my palace. What brings you here this time?"
Hailanzhu glanced at Yanzha Qiurong, then looked away and said, "I heard about Yanzha Qingcheng's affair and you were very angry, so I came to comfort you."
Yan Zhaqiu gave a bitter smile. "At first, I was indeed angry. But then, thinking from Qingcheng's perspective, it's understandable that she did this. After all, she's only fourteen years old. How could she willingly spend her life in the cold palace? If it were me, I might not be willing either."
Hailanzhu nodded, "Now that the concubine thinks this way, I can finally rest assured."
"Your Highness, there is no need to worry. I am fine." Yan Zhaqiu bowed again. "It is getting late. My palace is far from Guanju Palace. I hope you can go back soon. Your health is weak. You must not catch a chill. Otherwise, I will be guilty if the Emperor blames you."
Hailanzhu understood the order to leave perfectly well, but since she had already achieved her goal, there was no point in staying any longer. "Alright, then take good care of yourself."
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty." Yan Zhaqiurong rose and respectfully saw Hailanzhu off.
Despite being pregnant, Hailanzhu walked quite quickly and arrived at Guanju Palace in no time.
Back in her palace, once Qingluan was alone, she quickly closed the doors and windows.
"Your Majesty, is there anything you need me to do?" Qingluan is becoming more and more clever these days, and she can tell just by looking at Hailanzhu's every move.
Hailanzhu nodded. "That's right. I want you to get close to the palace maid who was just punished."
"Why?" Qingluan asked, puzzled.
"Perhaps we can find something to use against Yan Zha Qiurong through her," Hailanzhu said, narrowing her eyes.
She didn't save the palace maid for no reason. Judging from the maid's clothes, she was a first-class palace maid. Such people serve their masters every day and would know some things about their masters.
"But will she tell me?" Qingluan asked, puzzled.
“I wouldn’t have before, but after this incident, who knows?” Hailanzhu’s tone was confident.
“Very well, for Your Majesty, this servant is willing to give it a try.” Qingluan solemnly agreed.
Hailanzhu nodded in satisfaction. With more help, she wouldn't be so tired. However, she was still worried that Qingluan was too naive, so she instructed her, "Don't ask her directly. Instead, focus on showing her concern and gradually gain her trust so that she will tell you herself."
"This servant understands." Qingluan accepted the order and bowed as she withdrew.
After Qingluan left, Hailanzhu had no free time. With the help of the system, she went to Chengxi Palace again.
She crouched against the wall, intently observing everything inside the hall.
Yan Zhaqiu sat in the main seat with a livid face, her eyes fixed on the door, as if waiting for someone to arrive.
"It's almost midnight, and that bitch Yunxian still hasn't arrived. Is she trying to play me for a fool?" Yan Zhaqiu shouted angrily.
The palace maid lowered her head and replied tremblingly, "Your Majesty, there is no need to be anxious. The deposed concubine must have been preoccupied with important matters, which has delayed her for some time."
Upon hearing this, Yan Zhaqiu's expression turned even more unpleasant. She glared at the palace maid and snorted coldly, "Wen Yuan, are you Yunxian's person? How dare you speak up for her."
Wen Yuan was so frightened that she knelt down and explained, "This servant is loyal to you and would never dare to have any disloyalty. This servant said this to advise Your Majesty not to be too hasty, lest you fall into the trap of the deposed concubine."
Wen Yuan's words calmed Yan Zhaqiu down a little, but she was still unwilling. "Get up. I understand your loyalty, but if I hear you defend Yunxian again, even if that's not your intention, I won't let you off so easily as I did this time."
The threat wasn't explicitly stated, but it still made Wen Yuan tremble. She couldn't help but curse herself for being foolish. If she really angered Yan Zha Qiu Rong because of her loose tongue, she would be doomed to die a hundred times over.
She hurriedly kowtowed and said, "This servant dares not do it again." Then she slowly got up and stood beside Yan Zhaqiurong.
Seeing that Yunxian hadn't arrived, Yan Zhaqiurong felt a little bored and asked, "What are your thoughts on Hailanzhu's arrival tonight?"
Fearing she might say something wrong again, Wen Yuan shook her head and said, "This servant is foolish and does not understand what Consort Chen means."
Yan Zha Qingcheng scoffed, "What could she possibly mean? She just wants to tell everyone that she is a kind and generous person, completely different from my strict and harsh nature."
“Your Majesty is absolutely right.” Wen Yuan quickly echoed, “Consort Chen is an extremely hypocritical person. I can’t stand her behavior the most. Even though the Emperor wanted to stay overnight at Guanju Palace, she insisted that the Emperor’s favor be shared equally. Afterwards, when the Emperor really didn’t go to her palace, she complained that she was old and could no longer keep the Emperor’s heart.”
Hearing this, Hailanzhu shook her head helplessly. People in the palace really believe everything they hear. She had never complained about herself, yet the rumors had spread like this.
"Hmph!" Yan Zhaqiu snorted disdainfully, "She's a whore, hypocritical and hypocritical, but the Emperor is a man, so naturally he likes this kind of thing."
"You're the bitch!" Hailanzhu cursed inwardly, wishing she could sew Yan Zhaqiurong's mouth shut with a needle and thread. It was the first time she had been cursed like this. If she didn't have a mission, she would have rushed in and cursed back immediately.
Just as he was glaring angrily at Yan Zhaqiu, he suddenly heard footsteps outside the door.
Upon seeing that it was Yunxian who had arrived, she withdrew her gaze and focused intently on everything in the hall.
"What a high and mighty concubine you are! You've kept me waiting for so long, do you still think you're the former Grand Consort?" Yan Zhaqiu said sarcastically, her words sharp and sarcastic.
Upon hearing this, Yunxian calmly raised her eyes, her gaze devoid of any emotion: "I will remember my current identity, so there's no need for you to remind me."
"Good to know. I thought you had forgotten." Yan Zhaqiu raised an eyebrow and sneered. "Speak, how exactly do you plan to deal with Hailanzhu?"
Yunxian looked around and, seeing Wenyuan there, gave her a meaningful look.
Yan Zhaqiu understood and dismissed Wen Yuan, allowing Yunxian to speak with peace of mind.
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