In Xifu Palace, Consort Jeong and Consort Gil lived in the east and west side halls respectively. Because of their low birth and rank, the maids around them were all original people from Xifu Palace.
After observing for a period of time, Zhen'er noticed that Runhe, who was beside her, seemed to have a rather distant relationship with Huang San and the others.
She understood that to accomplish anything, she needed at least one trusted confidant who could act on her behalf and keep her secrets.
The rise and fall of palace maids depended entirely on the masters they served; to rise in rank, their masters had to rise first. However, most of the palace maids in Xifu Palace did not think this way; they simply did not want to advance.
Furthermore, serving in a remote palace had its unspeakable advantages. Far from the emperor's reach, they were unrestrained, and some, like Huang San, lived even more carefree and comfortable lives than their masters. Given this, many were no longer willing to strive and curry favor with their superiors for advancement.
Therefore, in such an environment, it would be extremely difficult for Zhen'er to find someone who could serve her.
After observing for several days, she finally found Runhe to be a viable candidate.
To confirm her thoughts, Zhen'er took an opportunity to deliberately reveal to Runhe that she had been driven to the brink of collapse by Huang San and could no longer hold back.
After waiting a few days, they found that Huang San remained the same, not becoming any more demanding. This confirmed that Runhe was at least not one of Huang San's people.
"Runhe, do you want to leave this palace with me someday?"
Zhen'er knew that she had no resources and could not make any promises, so she could only promise Runhe a future.
Runhe was taken aback by her words. Initially, Runhe had assumed Zhen'er was truly going to give in to Huang San.
Now she suddenly said such a thing, and Runhe could clearly see a resolute look in Zhen'er's eyes.
"This servant is willing to serve you, Lady!"
After a moment's thought, Runhe understood Zhen'er's meaning. Overjoyed, she immediately knelt down to show her sincerity.
It's good that the master is ambitious. She's just afraid that Zhen'er will be like the master she used to serve, weak and frail, unable to stand up to anyone, not even Huang San.
"When did you start working at the West Fortune Palace?"
The process of winning over Runhe was going smoothly, but Zhen'er was still not at ease and chatted with her again.
“I was transferred from the Laundry Bureau to Xifu Palace in the thirty-sixth year of Jianwu. At that time, a palace maid went to Xifu Palace, and my cousin Rouxin and I were transferred from the Laundry Bureau to take her place.”
Zhen'er frowned slightly, feeling that Runhe's words were somewhat ambiguous, but before she could ask, Runhe's eyes welled up with tears.
"After entering Xifu Palace, we learned that my cousin had long been coveted by Huang San, the head eunuch of Xifu Palace. As soon as she arrived, she fell into his clutches. Not two years later, she couldn't bear it any longer and died. Fortunately, I am ugly and didn't catch anyone's eye, so I escaped this fate. Over the years, I have watched Huang San and his gang bully men and women, but no one could stop them, so I could only endure it. I just want to make him pay for my cousin's life one day!"
Runhe's tears fell in large drops to the ground, her voice filled with suppressed resentment and hatred. Zhen'er sighed and helped Runhe up.
"Don't worry, once I gain power, I will definitely not let Huang San, that scum of a beast, get away with it!"
Because of Huang San's powerful backing and the large number of his followers, even if they exposed his actions, no one would testify for them; instead, they would be falsely accused. Only when she gains power can she truly subdue this wicked servant.
"This servant also knows that Feng Qicai in the Yellow Gate is not one of Huang San's men."
To demonstrate her loyalty, Runhe found Zhen'er another reliable helper. She was willing to serve Zhen'er, even if the worst that could happen was that she would stay in the hellish Xifu Palace.
If Zhen'er stands up, she can not only escape the palace and Huang San's oppression, but also avenge her cousin.
Having finally acquired two capable assistants, Zhen'er's plan could proceed. Still somewhat uneasy, she secretly instructed Ji'er to inquire about Runhe's information from the palace maids around her, until everything matched what she said, before daring to assign Runhe any tasks.
Zhen'er knew that Baili was the Empress's helper, so she didn't stand on ceremony. The next time Baili came to her palace, she gave Baili a purse and carefully explained how to use it.
"Your Majesty's great kindness is something I will never forget. As a lowly concubine, my initiative to go to your Liuan Palace will only attract more attention, and my plan may be guessed by those with ulterior motives."
Zhen'er bowed deeply to Baili Shi and even offered her tea as an apology.
"Is your plan safe? If you come to Liu'an Palace, you'll attract attention, but if I come to your Xifu Palace, no one will notice? Don't act recklessly, or I'll be dragged down with you!"
Clutching the purse, Baili was still extremely worried, and disregarding her previous feeling that Zhen'er had disrespected her, she repeatedly asked her to make a promise.
"This matter has nothing to do with Your Highness, so you can rest assured! Everyone in the palace knows that you have never relied on your status or looked down on us because of our low rank. You have always been willing to teach us newcomers with little experience. In addition, you have often come to our Xifu Palace before, so it is reasonable for you to come here."
Zhen'er was also a little impatient with Baili's hesitant attitude, but still tried her best to reassure her.
Privately, Zhen'er complained to Ji'er that Baili Zhaorong was indecisive by nature and destined to fail. If you want benefits, you have to take risks. Now that the plan is already halfway done, there's no way she can back down.
"Is this really going to work? If you make a big fuss, that person might not be happy either."
Jill still felt that Zhen'er's plan was not very reliable. After all, this kind of thing was always sensitive, and if it was not handled well, it would be regarded as evil magic.
"I can't think of a better plan. His Majesty is a diligent official and doesn't usually come to the inner palace, and we can't just rush into the Zhengqing Hall. Last time, even with the Empress's introduction, we still couldn't succeed, so there's no chance for a next time."
Although Zhen'er appeared calm on the surface and had made up her mind, she was actually quite uneasy inside.
She took a sip of tea and tried to calm herself. There was no way out; if this plan failed, she would die no matter what.
Huang San was pressing her harder and harder, and her heart was pounding. No matter what lay ahead, whether it was swords and guns or a fire, she was determined to break through.
Consort Lü's illness worsened rapidly, progressing from occasional coughing up of blood to daily coughing up of blood in just a few days. After being diagnosed by the imperial physicians, it was determined that there was no cure.
Just when Lü Liangdi was also despondent and resigned to her death, Baili finally went to see her.
Not only Lady Baili, but in fact, during the time that Consort Lü was ill, everyone in the harem except for Lin Yuqiao and the Empress visited her.
Lü Liangdi was one of the more senior members of Liu Heng's harem and had known everyone for many years. Seeing her fall into such a predicament, everyone couldn't help but feel a sense of sorrow, like the plight of a rabbit mourning the death of a fox.
"It's one thing to be out of favor, but we're still doing alright. Someone like Consort Lü, stuck in a remote palace, dragging around a sickly body, is even more torturous."
Chen Xiaoyi had privately lamented to Han Ronghua after seeing Lu Liangdi. Han Ronghua wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, her heart heavy with sorrow.
Back then, Consort Lü was gentle and affectionate, with a delicate appearance. She served Liu Heng around the same time as Consort Chen. However, after the Empress married into the family, she, like everyone else, became increasingly neglected. Eventually, she could no longer even see the hem of Liu Heng's robe, let alone eat meat, she couldn't even get a sip of soup.
Illness originates from the heart, and gradually Lü Liangdi's health deteriorated. What had previously been a chronic cough suddenly flared up, and it seemed her life was nearing its end.
In their younger days, the relationships among the people were shallow, and they would secretly scheme against each other for the emperor's favor. However, the Empress and Consort Lin successively cut off the hopes of the others, and as they grew older, they no longer had any other thoughts, and their relationships became closer and closer.
Just like Chen Xiaoyi and Han Ronghua, everyone spontaneously formed groups of two or three with like-minded people to look after each other and alleviate their loneliness.
Among these people, only Lady Baili and Consort Ning did not have any particularly close friends, but they also did not have any grudges against the others.
For relationships to last, people need to be in similar circumstances so that they can easily understand each other and connect on a deeper level.
Consort Ning did have a son, and although she hadn't received much favor in recent years, Liu Heng still had to give her some face. Her circumstances were different from others, so she didn't have any particularly close friends.
As for Baili, everyone looked down on her personality. After realizing that they had no hope of advancement, they all calmed down.
She, however, remained constantly jumping around, doing things haphazardly without accomplishing anything. So, while everyone watched the spectacle, no one wanted to get close to her.
It was not unusual for Lady Baili to visit Consort Lü, but what was unusual was that within two days, Consort Lü's illness began to improve day by day, which even surprised the imperial physicians.
"Wasn't it said that she had tuberculosis? Could the imperial physician have made a mistake?"
Inside Yanqing Palace, Granny Jiang and Lin Yuqiao were discussing the recent rumors about Consort Lü's illness.
"Lady Lü's rank was not prominent, so she was misdiagnosed by a quack doctor with little experience in the Imperial Medical Academy."
Life is certainly not pleasant for those who are not favored; in this world, status matters everywhere. For concubines in a poor position within the palace, medical care at the Imperial Hospital would undoubtedly be perfunctory. Even in modern times, she frequently heard of doctor-patient disputes and misdiagnosis—it was all too common.
"I heard..."
Mang Xia had always been responsible for gathering information from all sides around Lin Yuqiao, and the information she found out about this matter was far more explosive than the misdiagnosis by the Imperial Hospital.
When Granny Jiang and Lin Yuqiao looked at her together, Mang Xia felt a little pressured. She swallowed hard before speaking.
"Ever since Lü Liangdi's condition improved, her mind has been somewhat erratic. She talks nonsense all day long, and one day, when the palace maids were cleaning the room, they found that ants under her bed had actually spelled out words. Many people saw those words, and what's even stranger is that when they went to check again that night, the ants and the words had all disappeared by themselves."
"What word?"
Lin Yuqiao, who was holding her son and amusing him, asked Mang Xia's question with interest.
"The son of Qiao shall be established."
With a snap, Granny Fang, who was about to bring in a cup of milk, was so startled by Mang Xia's words that she dropped the cup on the ground.
Meanwhile, in Xifu Palace, Zhen'er's heart pounded wildly when she heard Runhe tell the prophecy about ants spelling out words.
Why is it different from what she arranged?
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