Sharing a husband
Consort Chen lowered her head and focused intently on her needlework, a smile playing on her lips as she said, "I come from a commoner background. My mother made a living washing clothes for others, and my father came from a farming family. He fought valiantly on the battlefield, risking his life, before finally rising to the rank of centurion, but he died on the battlefield not long after."
Her tone was calm, as if it were not her own business, but she had already answered A-Qiu's question.
That was Consort Li, the renowned head of the Imperial Flying Phoenix Guard, also known as "Golden Goblet Moonfall," who knew how to mend clothes.
She said calmly, "I was able to enter the military camp at that time because of my father's heroic deeds. Later, I met His Majesty in the camp. He promoted me step by step, and I eventually got the position of Left General of the Imperial Guard. Later, His Majesty ascended the throne, and as the head of the Flying Phoenix Four Guards, I was the head of his Imperial Guard. Only after the Flying Phoenix era passed did I enter the palace and become his concubine."
In just a few words, she explained how she met Xie Lang and how their relationship changed.
Ah Qiu also sensed the difference between her and the other three members of Fei Feng.
Zhao Lingying, known for her "exquisite writing skills," came from a prominent family in Wu County; Sikong Zhao, known for his "silver saddle and white horse," came from a family that migrated south from the Central Plains and had been high-ranking officials for generations. Mu Huaying, known for her "fair-handed Yama," also came from a family of legal professionals; her father and grandfather were both former heads of the Court of Justice.
Li Lanxiu herself had no background, and everything she did in the palace seemed to serve Xie Lang alone, whether as his personal guard captain in the past or as the Consort Chen managing the inner palace now. Sikong Zhao held military power, Zhao Lingying was now the head of the civil officials and had a certain reputation, and Mu Huaying was the former Minister of Justice. If she had not resigned from her post back then, the Dayan Imperial Prison would still be under her control.
After finishing mending her clothes, Consort Chen said easily, "I've been sorting through and repairing my old clothes and belongings lately, and I've realized that I don't actually have that many. If I were to leave the palace, all my things would just be a single bundle."
Caught off guard, A Qiu and Xie Tiao exclaimed at the same time, "Your Majesty is actually leaving the palace?"
When Consort Chen turned her gaze to them for the first time, she seemed to sense their genuine shock, surprise, and disbelief. A bitter smile appeared on her lips as she said, "It shouldn't be that fast, right?"
A Qiu's mind raced through a series of thoughts, and he suddenly couldn't help but ask, "Is it because His Majesty wants to establish an empress?"
Consort Chen was surprised that A Qiu would ask her such a direct question, and even with her composure, she was speechless for a moment.
After she was confined to the Vermilion Bird Palace, she had heard some of the whispers among the palace servants. Xie Lang's plan to introduce a powerful maternal relative to replace the Shangguan clan in supporting the imperial power and assisting in government affairs was not entirely unexpected.
As Xie Lang said, after so many years as partners, how could she be completely unaware of his thoughts?
Ah Qiu thought to herself, "But Xie Lang certainly didn't expect that Consort Chen didn't intend to support and help him as before, but instead decided to leave the palace."
Even A Qiu was surprised that the usually gentle and magnanimous Consort Chen would react so strongly.
Seeing A-Qiu's hesitant expression, Consort Chen said nonchalantly, "Are you trying to say that since I'm in this position, I should be mentally prepared for this?"
A-Qiu quickly lowered her head and said, "How dare A-Qiu teach Your Highness how to behave! But Your Highness is so intelligent, have you never considered that His Majesty might eventually establish an Empress, and have you never thought of yourself even for a moment?"
She had managed the palace for many years, but now she had neither children nor power. If she were to resign and leave the palace, she would truly be leaving with nothing, penniless and without any benefits. For her own sake, she had gained nothing.
Consort Chen smiled and said, "Of course I had thought of that, but I never imagined that the person was Ling Ying."
A-Qiu gradually came to understand.
If Xie Lang had chosen a daughter from another powerful family as his consort, Li Lanxiu might have continued to be his imperial concubine. But if it were Zhao Lingying, that would be impossible.
He could use his position to win over anyone, but the idea of sisters sharing a husband was Li Lanxiu's bottom line.
Ah Qiu, having come to her senses, felt a sense of relief that spread through her heart.
She said softly, "Consort Zhao thought so too. Just now, I heard her refuse His Majesty in the Yunlong Palace."
Consort Chen showed no surprise and said gently, "I knew Lingying wouldn't agree. However, that doesn't change my mind."
Ah Qiu understood the second thing.
The reason Consort Chen became a member of the Flying Phoenix Guard and later Xie Lang's concubine was not driven by power or self-interest, nor was it due to being blinded by love. If such a person were to decide to leave, it would not be through power or emotional manipulation that she could be easily kept.
She would decide to leave because Xie Lang planned to make Zhao Lingying empress, but she would not stay just because Zhao Lingying refused and because she saw that no one would be willing to sit on the empress's seat.
Xie Lang did indeed break Consort Chen's heart.
Consort Chen said casually, "Speak, what brings you here? There's not much I can do for you now, but I'll do my best." Her tone was relaxed and her manner humorous, and because of this, A Qiu couldn't utter a single word she was about to say.
When Consort Rong led them here, he asked them to consult Consort Chen for advice. He explained that Zhao Lingying was now wielding power in the palace, and Xie Lang was gravely ill. He suggested that if Consort Chen expressed support for the return of the Junior Tutor's successor to the capital, and the Crown Prince took charge, they could find a way to remove Zhao Lingying and invite Bai Shi and Gongye Fusu to the palace to treat Xie Lang.
But Consort Chen's current stance is that she has no intention of interfering in anything anymore.
At this point, Ah Qiu couldn't help but think to himself that Xie Lang had made a fatal mistake by acting recklessly.
Whether the rebellion in Wu can be quelled is uncertain; his life now rests entirely on Zhao Lingying's decision. He wants to help but can't, and he still thinks the situation is under control.
After hesitating for a long time, A Qiu finally spoke up: "Zhao Zhaorong is controlling His Majesty in this way, trying to seize power. Doesn't Your Majesty intend to do something for the Xie family?"
She had intended to say, "Your Majesty has no intention of doing anything for the sake of the world," but then she suddenly realized that Zhao Lingying's actions were merely a power struggle, not a rebellion. Even if there was unrest in Wu, it was only to maintain the original local order and to prevent the interests from being diluted by outside aristocratic families. In the end, as Rong Yu said, this matter was nothing more than a power struggle within the court, and there was no need to appeal to the public justice system.
Even if Zhao Lingying decides to expel her and Xie Tiao, it's not Consort Chen's business; they are not Consort Chen's relatives. And Consort Chen has only done good deeds and no wrongdoings in the Xie family over the years. To ask her to do anything more at this moment would be asking the impossible.
Ultimately, the current state of the palace is entirely Xie Lang's own doing.
Xie Lang must have had his own reasons for dismissing Shangguan Yuqi, confining Consort Chen, and deciding to make Zhao Lingying empress, but all the choices he made were his own.
Consort Chen draped the old clothes over her arm and quietly looked at them, saying, "Is power really such a good thing? I manage more than three thousand palace servants and eunuchs in the inner palace, and I have only ever felt tired, but I have never felt the satisfaction of holding great power. And this is still the case when your father only had me and you as his son in the inner palace."
Ah Qiu was speechless.
Consort Chen continued, "Why does Lingying want to fight for power? Is it to become the next Shangguan family? For the benefit of the local aristocratic families of Jiangdong?" As she said this, she suddenly showed an exhausted look and said in a hoarse voice, "The Shangguan family's example is still fresh in our minds. I don't think Lingying is really that interested in becoming a powerful minister. She just... has her own principles."
She looked at A-Qiu one last time, her gaze filled with an indescribable tenderness and heartbreak, and said, "You... let her go. If she accomplishes what she wants to do, she will naturally return the power to you."
A Qiu never expected that Consort Chen, the most powerful woman in the six palaces, would give such a suggestion.
Don't worry about Zhao Lingying. Let her do whatever she wants.
Xie Tiao was about to argue when he said, "Your Majesty, we are not fighting for our own power. We just feel that the current situation is very inappropriate." He couldn't find the right words for a moment, and finally said, "We just feel that the current situation is very inappropriate."
After closing her eyes for a moment, Consort Chen opened them again, her tone softening as she gently said, "No matter what, it's none of your business. What you need to do now is to stay away from the eye of the storm. Once everything is over, things will return to calm."
She added, "I think this is also how the spirit should respond to your views."
Xiao Chang'an took A Qiu back from Sikong Zhao's command and then sent her to the East Palace. All of this could not possibly have escaped Zhao Lingying's notice. But at least until now, since A Qiu returned to the East Palace, Zhao Lingying has not further expelled or reprimanded her, but has allowed her to stay in Xie Tiao's East Palace.
This is also an attitude.
Having said all that, A Qiu and Xie Tiao had nothing more to say.
A Qiu cupped her hands and said, "In that case, Your Highness, please take care. We'll be heading back now." She and Xie Tiao then prepared to leave.
Just as they were about to leave the hospital, Consort Chen suddenly spoke up, asking from behind, "How is he now...?"
The question is obvious; it asks about Xie Lang's situation.
Consort Chen is currently confined to the Vermilion Bird Palace and has probably not seen Xie Lang for many days. I wonder how his condition is.
As soon as A Qiu mentioned that she came from Yunlong Palace, Consort Chen naturally guessed that she had gone to visit Xie Lang with Xie Tiao.
After a slight hesitation, A Qiu replied tactfully, "His Majesty's life is not in danger, but it will be difficult for him to recover."
Consort Chen remained silent for a moment, then said, “His Majesty’s headaches are a long-standing ailment, and also… a source of heartache for him. Now, due to the shock, they have relapsed, and the onset is quite fierce. Although there are imperial physicians in the palace, they have never been able to cure it completely. In the past, when it flared up, he often relied on the Junior Master to use Xuanmen True Qi to clear the blockages in his brain, which would give him some relief for a while.”
Only now did A Qiu realize that Gu Yi's abandonment of Xie Lang had had a profound impact on Xie Lang.
He also understood why Xie Lang had written only five words to Gu Yi in his letter: "I understand, reply quickly."
She felt a vague sense of guilt towards Xie Lang.
She did inherit Gu Yi's Xuanmen True Qi, but if Zhao Lingying refused to allow her to enter the hall for treatment, there was nothing that could be done.
Consort Chen muttered to herself, "Although I am under house arrest, I heard from the palace servants that Lingying has invited two great shamans from other places to the palace to pray for His Majesty's health. I don't know if it will work, or if the situation will get worse."
Upon hearing this, A-Qiu immediately remembered something important.
Back in Dawanshan, Bai Shi told them with a worried expression that she had come to the Hidden World Sect to find the whereabouts of her master and her senior master, two sorcerers.
Then, Xiao Yu of the Hidden World Sect frankly told us that the two great witches, Qi Luo and Qi Shang, had indeed been refining pills for Gu Yi in place of her master, Li Wujiu, in the Desolate Cloud Marsh of Dawan Mountain, but they had been taken away by envoys from the capital a few days ago.
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