Yan Ning stepped onto the stone steps of the pavilion, the pink and white, pale yellow bouquet in her hand tumbling down the steps, adding a touch of desolation to the summer day. Her face was as white as the brocade dress she wore, and her eyes shone with a somewhat wavering trust in Consort Rong. "Your Majesty, may I ask you, Yan Ning, if the reason you've kept me in the palace all this time is to have me keep Heshen in check?"
A chill ran through her. If today's events were orchestrated by Consort Rong, then the mutual respect she had shown Consort Rong over the past two months was merely Consort Rong's way of finding an opportunity to use someone else to do her dirty work. Among the Grand Ministers, Consort Dun could only trust and rely on Heshen, and anyone with eyes could see Heshen's feelings for her, let alone the intelligent and discerning Consort Rong.
For two months, Consort Rong treated her with complete honesty and care, as well as Dexuan and Yunwan, with meticulous attention. But now, thinking back, Yan Ning felt a chill run down her spine. Beneath Consort Rong's gentle and virtuous smile lay a chessboard, constantly plotting to frame Consort Dun and drag her down to control Heshen.
With Consort Rong keeping Yan Ning by her side, Heshen couldn't definitively accuse Consort Rong of the murder today. As the Emperor's concubine, she could easily pin the blame on Yan Ning. If Heshen wanted to protect Yan Ning, he could only protect Consort Rong.
The pavilion was sheltered from the wind on all sides. Consort Rong's hair was adorned with many pearl hairpins, but the central phoenix shone brightly in the twilight. The wind carried pearls, and pale yellow tassels adorned the lower sections. Even though the Empress Dowager had secretly approved Consort Rong's status as a de facto empress, she could not wear bright yellow since there was no empress in the palace.
She possessed the bearing of an empress, yet lacked her blessings, constantly being overshadowed by Consort Dun. Unlike Consort Xun, who was younger and had more time to weather the storm, Consort Rong's beauty and age could no longer withstand the test. Consort Rong looked at Yan Ning, her eyes and expression devoid of any guilt. Her tone remained unchanged as she said, "As the wife of a general, how could you not know my predicament! Fukang'an's affection for you is the envy of countless women in the capital. But if you didn't possess such captivating beauty, would he still treat you so well? In this deep palace, if you and I wish to remain standing, we can only support each other. This time you helped me, and I will remember this kindness and ensure your position in the Fucha family remains secure!"
Yan Ning was shocked by Consort Rong's outburst. She unconsciously took a few steps back, her flowerpot shoes slipping as she fell down the stone steps, leaving marks on the carved dragon-carved vermilion wooden pillar where she had scratched herself as she tried to escape. Yan Ning's forehead hit a stone block, drawing blood. Consort Rong and the women in the pavilion were all startled. She immediately ordered Fei Yun to fetch the imperial physician, fearing that Yan Ning's appearance would be further damaged.
Upon receiving the letter from Jingyang Palace requesting the imperial physician, Consort Dun rushed to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to meet the Emperor. She seized the opportunity to accuse Consort Rong of murdering Yuan'er, attempting to frame her. Yan Ning must have known Consort Rong's secret, which is why Consort Rong injured her in a moment of panic. This was inherently absurd, but the timing of Yan Ning's injury and Yuan'er's death was too coincidental, causing the Emperor to waver.
Thus, the Emperor, Consort Dun, and Consort Xun, each with their own agendas, arrived at Jingyang Palace. They ordered the imperial physician to attend to Yan Ning with far more care than he would to a concubine. The stone steps were only six tiers high; Yan Ning only suffered minor abrasions, her skin was chafed, but her bones were not injured. Her most serious injury was the small, bloody hole on her forehead from hitting a stone block, about the size of a fingertip.
The imperial physician carefully bandaged Yan Ning's wound and then timidly left. Without the physician and palace maids busy around, the side hall became deserted.
The Emperor sat upright, his face stern and unreadable. Consort Xun had only come to watch the showdown between Consort Dun and Consort Rong. Consort Dun still clung to the claim that Yan Ning was injured because she had learned Consort Rong's secret.
Consort Rong remained calm. "If Your Majesty truly does not believe me, then you and my two sisters can wait in my palace for Lord He to bring the autopsy results!"
Yan Ning, in the side hall's sleeping quarters, couldn't see the Emperor's expression in the outer hall, only hearing his deep voice say, "Good!" Yan Ning also couldn't see Consort Rong's expression, but she imagined it was the same dignified and virtuous demeanor as usual. Regardless of whether Consort Rong had committed the act, the Emperor's unhesitating "good" shattered Consort Rong's years of affection for him. Although Consort Rong was old and not yet faded in beauty, she couldn't compare to Consort Xun's youthful beauty, much less to Consort Dun, who was favored because of having ten princesses.
The hall was silent as if no one was there. The indistinct figures on the screen and the wisps of smoke drifting out of the hall were blocked. If it weren't for these things, Yan Ning would have truly thought that no one was in the hall.
During this time, Heshen came to report that Yuan'er had been beaten to death, and fearing that her body would decompose in the summer and defile the masters of the Forbidden City, he had sent her family to take the body away.
Although Consort Dun did not believe it, she had no choice. If she continued to pester him recklessly, it would only make the Emperor tire of her. The summer breeze swept across the lightly dusted stone slabs, but Consort Dun's knees, which were kneeling, were burning hot. She bowed her head, loosened her hairpins, and willingly accepted the Emperor's demotion of her to the rank of Consort.
Yan Ning lay on the bed, quietly listening to the conversation between her and those separated by a screen. Whatever punishment Consort Dun received was irrelevant to her; she was a pawn who had already played this game of chess with Consort Rong to the very end.
After the Emperor and his entourage left, Consort Rong finally had a proper talk with Yan Ning, as she didn't want Yan Ning to become estranged from her. She gently touched the bloodstains on Yan Ning's forehead that had seeped through the white cloth, her voice filled with concern, "If your appearance were harmed, I truly wouldn't be able to explain it to General Fucha!"
Yan Ning desperately wanted to tell Consort Rong that Fukang'an's feelings for her were different from those between the Emperor and his concubines. He treated everyone equally, leaving some untouched. Fukang'an no longer cared about her looks; how could someone who relied on beauty to serve their husband last? But Yan Ning knew that even if she told Consort Rong, she wouldn't truly understand, and it would only needlessly wound her lonely heart. She had thought Consort Rong was different from others, but she had forgotten that Consort Rong was a concubine locked away in the Forbidden City. For decades, she had only learned to fight and scheme. Looking into Consort Rong's worried eyes, she said, "My relationship with Your Highness ends here!"
A gentle night breeze blew as Consort Rong walked alone within the palace. The cries of De Xuan and Yun Wan were gone, as were Yan Ning's comforting words.
Seeing that Consort Rong was only wearing her nightgown, Fei Yun feared the cool night breeze would chill her. She took a light gauze cloak and draped it over Consort Rong. The shadows of the trees swayed gently, lightly sweeping across their forms. Consort Rong gripped Fei Yun's hand tightly, her face showing some weariness. "Fei Yun, was I wrong? I am no longer the beautiful and talented woman from another tribe who could sing and dance, captivating the Emperor. Now I am old and my beauty has faded. If I don't fight now, I won't even have the chance to fight in the future. Yan Ning is also a woman; how could she not know my situation? Little does she know that my day is her day."
After two months of bustling activity, Jingyang Palace fell silent as Yan Ning returned to the Fucha residence to recuperate. Fei Yun, also feeling the pain of parting, comforted Consort Rong with a somber tone, "How could Lady Fucha not know Her Highness's situation? She is merely young and, like those newly arrived mistresses in the palace, harbors only illusions!"
Consort Rong let out a soft sigh, which shattered on the bricks of Jingyang Palace. "I only wish that General Fucha would treat Yan Ning differently from other women!"
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