The system let out a series of strange howls, clearly revealing all its deeply hidden secrets.
Xu Wanying, who was originally ready to watch the show, immediately fell silent, and indeed could no longer be smug.
[Host, are you mute? Have you been scared out of your wits?]
The system waited for a long time without her speaking, clearly feeling uncertain, and finally couldn't help but urge her on.
"Heh, when did you find out this information? Why did you keep it to yourself until now?" Xu Wanying asked with a cold laugh.
[Just a few days after the investigation, this Consort Yue suddenly appeared, framing Xiao Ya and almost stealing the lead role. I was worried, so naturally I investigated who she was and from which nook and cranny she came from. What I found was shocking – she's done a whole host of bad things.]
[She was truly ambitious and ruthless. By occupying the positions of the concubines and using her knowledge of the novels she had read, she ruthlessly eliminated rivals and suppressed other favored concubines. Many concubines who would have shone brightly in the books failed miserably in the selection process because of her. Countless people died because of her; she was practically a heartless killer.]
The system had a lot to say about Consort Yue, clearly having found a great deal, but it had been keeping it all bottled up inside. Judging from its unending chatter, it was obviously bursting with pent-up emotions.
"So, host, you should be hoping Xiaoya wins. She wouldn't want to kill anyone anyway. Yuefei is the real ruthless one. Don't get the real enemy wrong." The system concluded with a rather earnest tone.
Xu Wanying couldn't help but frown, her tone hard as she said, "Come on, Consort Yue wants to target the Jiang family simply because in the book, the Jiang family is Xing Xiaoya's powerful backer, Jiang Chengli is Xing Xiaoya's number one protector, and the Jiang family played a crucial role in the Third Prince's ascension to the throne. Eliminating the Jiang family is tantamount to cutting off Xing Xiaoya's left and right arms."
Ultimately, Consort Yue and the Jiang family have no vested interests. From the very beginning, her target was Xing Xiaoya, and the Jiang family was merely a collateral damage. As for these two female leads, I won't take sides; watching them fight from the sidelines is the best course of action.
She didn't believe a word the system said, and she wouldn't be easily brainwashed.
The system was clearly biased towards Xing Xiaoya, both overtly and covertly, intending to get Xu Wanying on Xing Xiaoya's side and influence the Jiang family to help Xing Xiaoya.
She wouldn't do something so stupid. When the female leads are fighting, she'd rather stay far away than risk getting dragged into it.
The two women, now in complete isolation and ignoring each other, were a different story. The man sitting opposite them narrowed his eyes, his mind racing with countless schemes targeting Xing Xiaoya and Yue Fei, clearly just waiting to be implemented.
***
Xing Xiaoya became a Consort Ming and enjoyed undiminished favor thereafter. Even the Emperor's beloved niece, Princess Zhaoyang, was scolded because of this.
Originally, when Xing Xiaoya and the Third Prince were flirting, Princess Zhaoyang was happy to see it happen and even acted as a matchmaker. However, after the protagonist became the Emperor's uncle, Princess Zhaoyang could no longer tolerate it.
She always protected Xing Xiaoya and treated her like a sister, but Xing Xiaoya wanted to be her aunt, which she couldn't tolerate at all. She felt betrayed.
Princess Zhaoyang led the way in causing trouble every day, and the Princess's attempts to persuade her were to no avail. With Consort Yue adding fuel to the fire behind the scenes and Consort Chen openly fanning the flames, the entire harem was as lively as a vegetable market.
The emperor stayed in Xing Xiaoya's palace for several days in a row, and was summoned by the Empress Dowager every time. Xing Xiaoya became the target of everyone's hatred, and everyone wished her a terrible death.
Yet she lived a very good life, and even gained the emperor's favor, making her appear even more radiant, beautiful, and alluring.
The Emperor openly visited her less often, but in reality, he secretly had her brought to the Longgan Palace. It was clearly the Emperor's way of showing favor to his concubine, but it was done like a secret rendezvous, which was becoming increasingly improper.
Xing Xiaoya's rank also skyrocketed, rising from the fifth rank to the third rank, becoming Consort Ming, the same rank as Consort Chen, the birth mother of the Third Prince.
Two women who almost became mother-in-law and daughter-in-law now serve the same man, and even have the same status. Logically, they should address each other as sisters when they meet. That would be quite a show.
Xu Wanying leaned back in her chair, listening to the man's methodical explanation, her heart pounding like a cat's claws.
"My husband, let's read some storybooks together today and learn some of the witty remarks. Such exciting palace dramas sound so bland and tasteless to you. It's making me uncomfortable!"
She was suffering from the gossip and had been holding it in for many days, but in the end she couldn't help but complain softly.
The man stopped talking, looked up at her, raised his eyebrows slightly, and even though he didn't say anything, the meaning was clear.
I'm already being nice by telling you, and you've gone and picked out a bunch of things.
"There are many affairs in the inner palace, and the Emperor is too busy to come. He no longer summons me to the palace. This information is hard to come by, so you should cherish it, Madam."
He spoke slowly and deliberately, clearly telling her to stop while she was ahead.
"Okay, I was so ignorant." She was genuinely remorseful.
The man told her such private things, which shows he trusts her a lot. If he makes these unreasonable demands, he really doesn't know how to appreciate it.
"I'm not good at witty remarks, but if Madam has anything you'd like to know, please feel free to ask. I will answer to the best of my knowledge." The man paused for a moment, then coughed lightly and spoke in a softer tone.
It was obvious that he still wanted to make her feel better.
Xu Wanying was slightly taken aback, and couldn't help but raise her eyebrows, a slight smile playing on her lips, a feeling of relief and comfort welling up inside her.
Is this really true?
"really."
Xu Wanying couldn't help but rub her hands together. She didn't stand on ceremony anymore and immediately asked, "You know about the Emperor's secret meeting with Consort Ming. Surely the noble ladies in the palace couldn't have been completely unaware of it?"
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