Shi Lan looked up at the King of Zhao's frivolous expression and was speechless.
But I was curious, wondering what he had dreamed about that made him so preoccupied with the events of last night.
However, Shi Lan feigned a shy and coquettish expression, turning away and pouting, "Your Majesty, please don't tease me."
King Zhao embraced Shi Lan and laughed heartily, tilting his head back.
The night was slightly cool. Shi Lan glanced at the King of Zhao, who was smiling and lost in a sweet dream, then turned her head to stare at the layers of curtains, processing the series of news she had just heard.
Previously, Shi Lan was in a coma, so she did not know that King Zhao was furious after ordering a thorough investigation into the medicine, which turned out to be a drug that could cause sterility. He ordered all the palace maids in Yiling Palace to be beaten to death, especially Xi, who died pitifully after enduring nearly a hundred blows. Duan Yang not only lost most of her confidants from Jiang Kingdom, but was also demoted two ranks to Bao Nu, while she was promoted to Gui Ren by special privilege, taking Duan Yang's position and being granted residence in Linquan Palace.
As dawn approached, King Zhao was escorted by his eunuchs to the main hall to handle state affairs. Shi Lan lazily got up from the bed.
The palace maid Rong straightened her robes and, seeing her downcast expression, said, "Yesterday, a frost fell, and the leaves of the trees outside the palace turned red, which is quite beautiful. Why don't you go for a walk in the woods, pick a few red leaves, and add some color to the palace?"
Rong was a palace maid assigned by the King of Zhao to serve Shi Lan personally. Although Shi Lan was too lazy to move, since Rong had spoken so frankly, she had to give her some face.
"Alright, I entered Linquan Palace in a daze yesterday, so I can take a stroll around today."
Seeing that she agreed to his suggestion, Rong smiled slightly on his handsome face and quickly took out a light blue cloak and draped it over her shoulders. "The weather has been a bit chilly these past few days. Your health is not good, so please take care."
Shi Lan nodded slightly, raised her hand to adjust the sash at her collarbone, and stepped out of the palace gate.
As soon as she stepped out of the palace, the fiery red sunset clouds immediately caught her eye. Shi Lan was stunned. When she checked in here last night, it was already dark. When she was half-embraced and half-carried by the Prince of Zhao, she did not pay attention to the scenery around her.
She thought it would just be an ordinary walk, but she never expected there would be a surprise waiting for her here.
Seeing her shocked expression, Rong pursed his lips and secretly praised himself.
Shi Lan dismissed the maids and strolled alone through the leaf-strewn woods, breathing in the cool air. Her mind was at peace and increasingly clear.
Now that Duan Yang has lost all her support, her status has plummeted. She is also disliked by the Prince of Zhao and is practically banished to the cold palace. Yuan Yun made some outrageous remarks a couple of days ago and was severely beaten, which also implicated her master. Life in Yingxia Palace is not easy for her either.
Compared to the original owner who died under a hail of blows, these two suffered far less and lived far too easily.
Shi Lan frowned and rubbed the rough bark of the tree beside her, wondering if she should find a way to get Yuan Yun out. After all, there were still two or three beautiful concubines living in Yingxia Palace, and she didn't want to give Yuan Yun the opportunity to get close to them.
A faint, sparse sound came from behind her, and Shi Lan felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She quickly turned around and looked over warily.
A few steps away, a woman dressed in a partridge-red robe walked unsteadily toward her. Her disheveled hair obscured her face, and Shi Lan could only vaguely see her fair skin and her cold, icy eyes that gleamed with a chilling light.
"Who are you?" Shi Lan shouted, leaning against the tree trunk.
The woman paused for a moment after being called out by her. She turned her head and saw that the palace maids standing respectfully a few feet away did not notice anything amiss, so she continued forward until she was two steps away from Shi Lan before stopping and saying, "Who am I? Noble Lady Shi, you have quite a bad memory. You have just been promoted to Noble Lady and you don't even recognize your former mistress."
The woman's voice was hoarse and dry, but Shi Lan still recognized her as Duan Yang. "So it's Jiang Bao Nu. May I ask what brings you here, Jiang Bao Nu?"
Not far from Linquan Palace is Ganchen Palace, where King Zhao resides. Concubines from other palaces are not allowed to enter or leave Ganchen Palace without being summoned, and consequently, few concubines come to Linquan Palace.
Duan Yang was ordered to move to Youling Palace next to the Cold Palace yesterday. It's at least half an hour away from here. Shi Lan is not naive enough to think that he just came to see the scenery.
"Can't I come here if there's nothing wrong? Consort Shi, you have quite the grand style. This Yanye Forest is a place for the King and his concubines to enjoy. Does Consort Shi mean I'm not allowed to come? Or has the King ordered this place to be reserved exclusively for Consort Shi?"
Duan Yang's words were very tricky, setting a trap for Shi Lan. If Shi Lan said yes, and this reached the ears of the King of Zhao, it would be considered that she was a cunning accuser. If she did not admit it, it would be considered that she was being arrogant.
Although Shi Lan was not good at palace intrigue, she knew she shouldn't respond to that question. So she looked up at the rising sun, ignored her question, and turned away haughtily.
Duan Yang looked at Shi Lan, who had transformed from aloof and cold to elegant and noble simply by changing her robes, and a surge of jealousy and hatred rose in his eyes.
Upon seeing her contemptuous gaze and disdainful demeanor again, Duanyang gripped the sharp hairpin hidden deep within her sleeve and hurriedly stepped forward.
At this moment, Duan Yang's mind was clearer than ever before. Shi Lan was originally her concubine. Although she had been granted the title of Noble Lady, it had not yet been announced to the world. If Shi Lan were to be assassinated now, she could argue that it was the disposal of her dowry. She was extremely favored in the Jiang Kingdom. Although King Zhao was fond of martial arts, he was not muddleheaded. He would certainly not execute Shi Lan for the sake of a dead woman, thus causing a diplomatic dispute between the two countries.
Of all the women in the palace, besides Shi Lan, Duan Yang is the most beautiful. King Zhao is fond of beautiful women, so if she can restrain her domineering nature and lower her status, she will surely regain King Zhao's favor. Then we'll see who can rival her in glory.
As Duan Yang pondered this, a smile involuntarily appeared on his lips. He held a long, sharpened hairpin and thrust it towards Shi Lan's back with a whooshing sound.
At this moment, Shi Lan had reached the edge of the woods, and the palace maids waiting outside the woods came to greet her.
Shi Lan lazily tugged at the drawstring of her collarbone, waiting for Rong to come forward to serve her, but saw Rong's expression change drastically, her hands outstretched, and her eyes widening as she looked behind her, gasping for breath.
Shi Lan's expression hardened, and she quickly dodged to the side, turning her head to look back in an instant.
"Watch out!" A shout rang out as a figure lunged straight at her from behind. When Shi Lan looked over, she saw a palace maid lying on the ground, with Duan Yang groaning in pain beneath her.
Rong quickly pulled Shi Lan behind him, and the others rushed forward to help the palace maid up. Two strong men lifted up the wailing Duan Yang, looking as if they were obeying Shi Lan's orders.
Shi Lan raised her hand to her chest, looking at Duan Yang whose clothes were soaked with blood, and turned to Rong to ask, "What happened?"
Rong recounted in a low voice what Duan Yang had just done and what the palace maid had done.
After hearing this, Shi Lan glanced at the gold hairpin that had fallen to the ground, and a cold sweat broke out on her back.
After turning her head and seeing the palace maid's appearance clearly, Shi Lan choked, not knowing whether to say that she was shrewd or that she was as strong as a cockroach.
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