Chapter 19
The silent dance lasted for an unknown amount of time until Qi Nian'an stumbled and almost fell, but was steadily supported by Shao Sizhi.
The two looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh. The previous heaviness and estrangement seemed to dissipate in the laughter.
"It's late, go back and rest." Shao Sizhi's voice carried a gentleness that even he himself didn't realize.
Qi Nian'an nodded, her face still flushed from exercise: "Then... about the flowers?"
Shao Sizhi glanced at her helplessly, then flicked her forehead lightly with his finger: "I'll have the Imperial Household Department come up with an explanation tomorrow. This is a one-time exception."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Qi Nian'an immediately beamed, performed an awkward bow, and took her leave with light steps. Watching her disappearing figure in the moonlight, Shao Sizhi stood there for a long time before withdrawing his gaze, his fingertips still seemingly lingering with the cool touch of her sleeves as she danced.
The next morning.
Qi Nian'an had a rare good night's sleep. In her dream, there were no formalities or intrigues, only a pair of smiling eyes and a warm palm under the moon.
She was in a good mood as Zhiyang did her makeup, and even hummed a tuneless little tune.
"Your Majesty looks radiant today." Zhiyang smiled as she placed an elegant jade hairpin in her hair.
"That's right, it's solved a major problem." Qi Nian'an winked at the bronze mirror. Although Shao Sizhi didn't say exactly how to deal with it, since he had agreed, the unfortunate flower should be fine.
However, the peace in the harem is always short-lived.
She had just finished breakfast and was about to take a stroll in the Imperial Garden when she heard a commotion outside the palace.
"Consort Su has arrived—" The eunuch's high-pitched announcement instantly dampened Qi Nian'an's good mood.
Consort Su, dressed in an elaborate and gorgeous palace gown, walked in gracefully, supported by a palace maid, with her usual smile that seemed gentle but was actually arrogant.
"Sister Qi, you're in such high spirits, getting up so late in the day. It seems you had a good rest last night?" Consort Su's words were loaded with meaning, her gaze seemingly casually sweeping over Qi Nian'an's slightly flushed cheeks.
The news that Qi Nian'an was summoned to the study last night and then spent the night with His Majesty under the moon has obviously already spread throughout the palace.
Qi Nian'an was too lazy to engage in pleasantries with her, and simply said, "Sister Su Fei, what brings you here so early?"
Seeing her cold attitude, Consort Su stopped beating around the bush. Her smile faded, and her tone became clearly challenging: "I dare not offer advice. But I heard that yesterday, you were too quick and accidentally plucked the 'Jade White' tribute flower from Jiangnan that Consort Ling cherished most? Do you know that His Majesty himself praised that flower as an auspicious omen, to be admired by all the noble ladies of the imperial family at the grand banquet? Now that one is missing, what kind of decorum is this?"
Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but it was loud enough for everyone in and around Yonghe Palace to hear clearly.
For a moment, the palace maids and eunuchs standing around held their breath, carefully observing the expressions of their two masters.
Qi Nian'an sneered inwardly; so it was for this very reason.
She feigned surprise: "Oh? Sister, you're really well-informed. But you must have misheard. The flower was perfectly fine, how could one be missing?"
Consort Su raised her eyebrows: "Qi Nian'an, you still want to deny it now? I have witnesses! The eunuch on duty outside Consort Ling's palace yesterday saw it clearly: you personally plucked the most beautiful flower! What, you dare to do it but not admit it?"
"A witness?" Qi Nian'an slowly picked up her teacup and took a sip. "Which eunuch is Sister referring to? Why don't we call him out and confront him face to face? Let me see which servant is so bold as to gossip about his master behind his back."
Her tone was calm, but her eyes swept sharply behind Su Fei.
That gaze caused several palace maids behind Consort Su to involuntarily lower their heads.
Consort Su was caught off guard by this counterattack. She had indeed bribed the eunuch, but if they were to confront each other face to face, there was no guarantee that things wouldn't get complicated.
"You..." Consort Su was speechless with anger, but then, as if remembering something, she sneered, "Fine, even without mentioning witnesses, the fact remains that one flower is missing! The Dowager Consort Ling was so upset about this that she had a chest pain and summoned the imperial physician early this morning. Qi Nian'an, you have ruined the auspicious omen and made the Dowager Consort sick; what is your punishment?!"
If this serious accusation had been leveled against Qi Nian'an yesterday, she might have felt a little guilty.
But at this moment, she remembered Shao Sizhi's words, "This is the last time," and inexplicably felt more confident.
She put down her teacup, stood up, and walked up to Su Fei, so close that she could almost smell the strong fragrance of perfume emanating from her.
She was slightly taller than Su Fei, and when she looked down at her, she exuded a sense of pressure.
“Sister Su Fei,” Qi Nian’an said clearly, word by word, “First, it’s still inconclusive whether the flowers are missing. You’re insisting that I did it. Did you see it with your own eyes, or… do you wish it were me?”
Consort Su was speechless at her question.
Before she could answer, Qi Nian'an continued, "Secondly, Consort Ling is unwell, and instead of attending to her at her bedside, you came to my Yonghe Palace early this morning to demand an explanation. What kind of filial piety is this? If word gets out, those who don't know the truth will think that you are using the title of Consort Ling to suppress the concubines!"
"You're talking nonsense!" Su Fei's expression changed, and she shouted sharply.
“Whether I’m lying or not, my sister knows perfectly well.” Qi Nian’an pressed on, her voice becoming even softer. “Thirdly, and most importantly—His Majesty already knows about that pot of flowers.”
She emphasized the last four words.
Su Fei's pupils contracted slightly, and a look of disbelief flashed across her face.
His Majesty is aware?
How is that possible?
His Majesty values rules above all else. If he knew that Qi Nian'an had damaged such a precious tribute, how could he easily let her off the hook?
Why should we let her stand here and give a sharp rebuttal?
"Impossible!" Consort Su retorted instinctively, "If His Majesty knew, would he allow you to..."
“His Majesty not only knew,” Qi Nian’an interrupted her, a meaningful, even slightly smug, smile appearing on his face, “His Majesty also said that this matter would be handled by the Imperial Household Department, and that I no longer needed to concern myself with it. What, does Consort Su think that His Majesty’s handling of the matter was inappropriate? Or does he think that the Imperial Household Department needs your approval before it can act?”
These words are truly scathing!
Questioning the emperor's decisions and interfering with the affairs of the Imperial Household Department were not things that Consort Su could bear.
Su Fei's face turned deathly pale instantly. She looked at Qi Nian'an's bright and flamboyant face, her chest heaving violently. She was clearly furious, but she couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.
The palace servants behind her were all silent with fear.
Qi Nian'an had had enough of Su Fei's disheveled state before slowly taking a step back, dusting off non-existent dust, and saying in a relaxed tone, "If you have nothing else to do, please go back. I still need to pay my respects to Consort Ling, and also... check on her 'illness'."
She deliberately emphasized the word "illness," her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Consort Su gripped the handkerchief tightly in her hand, her fingernails almost digging into her flesh.
She glared at Qi Nian'an fiercely and squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth: "Let's go!" After saying that, she turned and left with a group of palace servants, looking disheveled and embarrassed. Her back view looked somewhat flustered.
Watching Consort Su and her entourage disappear through the palace gates, the palace servants of Yonghe Palace finally breathed a sigh of relief, their gazes towards Qi Nian'an filled with admiration and joy.
When did my lady become so powerful?
Zhiyang stepped forward and whispered, "Your Highness, your direct confrontation with Consort Su is probably..."
"What's there to be afraid of?" Qi Nian'an waved her hand dismissively. "She's already come knocking on our door, do you expect me to greet her with a smile? Besides," she smiled slyly and lowered her voice, "didn't you see the look on her face just now? Like she'd swallowed a fly. So satisfying!"
Zhiyang couldn't help but laugh when she saw her mistress's smug expression.
Although I was worried about the trouble that would follow, I have to admit that seeing the usually arrogant Su Fei get her comeuppance was... quite satisfying.
Qi Nian'an was in a great mood and hummed a song as she prepared to go out: "Let's go, Zhiyang, let's go pay our respects to the Dowager Consort!"
She wanted to see who would dare to make a fuss about that broken flower after what happened this morning.
Shao Sizhi's tiger skin is actually quite useful when you try to pull it off!
Thinking of this, the smile on her lips deepened even more.
Life in the harem didn't seem so unbearable anymore.
After that, Shao Sizhi came a few more times. Each time she chattered to him about the exciting things happening in the palace, which would elicit a light laugh from him.
She felt that Shao Sizhi had gone a bit mad.
Just like that day.
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