Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

“You…”

Noble Lady Fu Cha was so furious she choked on her words, staring at the person in front of her, not knowing what to say.

“Attendant Xia, the Empress is the Empress, and you are you.”

Li Si Qi could not help rolling her eyes. She said irritably, “Please use your brain, alright? The Empress might protect you for a moment, but she can’t protect you for life. Any consort with palace authority can deal with you, and Consort Hua has palace authority.

If you violate palace rules, Consort Hua can punish you on the spot. When that happens, our ‘fair and selfless’ Empress won’t cover for you either.” If she had not been too bored and wanted to keep two amusing people around, and also add a little trouble for everyone in the harem, Li Si Qi would not have bothered pointing out anything to this silly, clueless girl.

“I’m the Empress’s person.”

Xia Dong Chun said righteously, “Even if Consort Hua has palace authority, she still can’t refuse to give the Empress face.”

“Who do you think you are?”

Li Si Qi looked down on her with open contempt. “If Consort Hua wants to deal with you, it’s easier than pinching an ant to death. Consort Hua’s natal family has a first-rank high official. If she wants to deal with a lower fourth-rank minor official’s daughter like you, does she need to pick an auspicious day?

Even if she beats you to death or cripples you, Consort Hua will still be fine. If you don’t believe me, try it.”

“I…”

Xia Dong Chun almost spat blood from anger. “You…” She opened her mouth, but she could not find a single word to refute. In the end, she could only jump up in a rage, fling her sleeve, and storm off.

“She really is an idiot.”

Noble Lady Fu Cha could not hold back anymore. Anger showed on her face as she said, “She doesn’t know a shred of etiquette. From now on, don’t care whether she lives or dies.”

“It’s fine. Stupid is stupid.”

Li Si Qi did not care at all. “We don’t need to be too smart either. There are plenty of smart people in our palace. A few idiots showing up is normal.”

“…”

Noble Lady Fu Cha stared at her, speechless. After they returned from the main hall, the Empress’s rewards arrived. Sure enough, it was Jian Qiu, the senior palace maid from Jing Ren Palace and the Empress’s personal servant. She said a few “guiding” words, accepted a light little sachet, and left.

After she delivered rewards to everyone in Yan Xi Palace, she departed. Zhou Ning Hai, the head eunuch by Consort Hua’s side, arrived in high-profile fashion with rewards. This time, Xia Dong Chun did not say anything suicidal. When the day came to pay morning respects, who knew whether she could escape disaster.

“Young Mistress, these things…”

He Xiang looked at the rewards, not knowing what to do with them. With her rank, they naturally would not be anything of good quality. Of course, Consort Hua was rich and bold. Her rewards were a bit more than the Empress’s, and a bit more lavish as well.

“Register them and put them into storage.”

Li Si Qi swept her eyes over them. “When we need to give gifts later, we’ll send them out.”

“Yes.” He Xiang answered and carried the items away.

“Master, the things the Empress sent were soaked in musk. If you give them away, you’ll definitely take the blame later.”

Little Teapot’s voice sounded in her mind. Li Si Qi did not answer and instead asked, “How many things in this room were soaked in musk?”

“Quite a few. The bed curtains, the bed board, the pillows, the quilt, the board on the couch, the writing desk…”

“No wonder she’s called the leader of the miscarriage squad.”

Li Si Qi laughed in anger. “She’s trying to pickle me in musk until I’m soaked through. Noble Lady Fu Cha and Xia Dong Chun have plenty of musk-made junk over there too, right?”

“Yes, the same as your side. Actually, every palace has quite a bit.”

“The more the Empress doesn’t want others to have babies, the more I won’t do what she wants.”

Li Si Qi smiled sweetly. “Little Teapot, work hard tonight and absorb all the musk from every palace, including all the musk on Consort Hua too. If I don’t stir up some trouble for them, what will I have to watch?”

“Master, didn’t the original host say she wanted revenge on Consort Hua? Why are you helping her instead?”

“Who said I’m helping her?”

Li Si Qi said with a bright smile, “Getting pregnant might not be a good thing for her. I really want to see whether our Empress Dowager, the Empress, and that dog emperor will strike again after they learn Nian Shi Lan has a child. If Nian Shi Lan gets pregnant again and loses it again, do you think she’ll go crazy? That would be very interesting.”

“Heh heh, Master. That’s you, alright.”

“Remember to do it tonight.”

“No problem, Master. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure there isn’t a speck of musk left in the palace.”

“Also absorb all the safflower in Consort Jing’s body, and feed her a Jian Yuan Pill while you’re at it.”

Li Si Qi said lazily, “Once her body recovers, everyone can get pregnant together and lose the babies together. So, our harem really has to be ‘warm and harmonious.'”… Three days later. She rose at the Mao hour and washed up. Li Si Qi ate a few cakes to line her stomach.

She came out with Lu He and saw Xia Dong Chun walking over with her palace maids. Lu He bowed to her. “Attendant Xia!” Xia Dong Chun’s expression was a little unnatural.

“Why are you being so polite?”

“Courtesy never hurts.”

Li Si Qi glanced at her and spoke as they walked. “Someone with low status might not stay low forever. Someone with high status has the right to punish a consort of lower rank. If you don’t want to suffer or be punished, it’s better to have more etiquette.”

“You…”

Xia Dong Chun vaguely heard the kindness in her words. For once, she did not say something stupid to snap back. When they reached the front of the main hall, Noble Lady Fu Cha happened to come out. Seeing the two of them paying respects, she nodded.

“Let’s go. We can’t be late.” With her leading, the three of them walked toward Jing Ren Palace, where the Empress resided. After entering the side hall of Jing Ren Palace, all the new consorts were gathered there.

The dazzling Zhen Huan and Shen Mei Zhuang were talking. While everyone else stood quietly, these two always stood out. Soon, a young palace maid appeared. She said, “Please enter the hall, ladies!”

Li Si Qi and Xia Dong Chun stood together. Behind them were two other Respondents so transparent they did not even deserve names. Sure enough, Shen Mei Zhuang and Zhen Huan stood in the first row. They truly did not treat Noble Lady Borjigit and Noble Lady Fu Cha as anything.

The Empress was already seated in the place of honor. She seemed not to have noticed anything improper. Consort Hua, of course, was late. She had not appeared yet.

Li Si Qi’s eyes turned. She raised her hand high and said, “Your Majesty the Empress, this concubine has something to say.” Everyone’s attention snapped to Li Si Qi. Their expressions varied.

Li Si Qi looked innocent, as if she wanted to speak but dared not. The Empress looked at her with a strange gaze and asked with a smile, “Are you Respondent Xin?” Li Si Qi bowed obediently. “This concubine, An Ling Rong, pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress.”

“Respondent Xin has something to say?”

The Empress nodded, her tone incomparably gentle. “If it isn’t urgent, why not say it later?”

“It is urgent.”

Li Si Qi pointed straight at the two in the first row. “Your Majesty the Empress, they’re Han Banner too, just like me. How can they stand in front of Noble Lady Fu Cha and Noble Lady Borjigit? Isn’t it said that Manchu and Mongol…” She stopped mid-sentence and shut her mouth.

The Empress’s smile froze. Everyone else suddenly understood, as if they had only just noticed it. Consort Qi truly lived up to her nickname. She spoke up without the slightest politeness.

“Where did your rules go? Han Banner standing in front of the Manchu and Mongol Banners – how can you have the nerve?” The moment she said that, muffled laughter broke out. Just a moment ago, Zhen Huan and Shen Mei Zhuang had been smiling happily.

Now their faces turned deathly pale. They were proud and thought themselves exceptional. They never imagined they would make such a huge mistake in public.

“What’s going on here?”

A questioning voice rang out. Consort Hua entered with majestic poise. Arrogant as always, she rolled her eyes and swept the new consorts with a disdainful glance. Her gaze landed on Zhen Huan and Shen Mei Zhuang.

A mocking smile appeared. “Newcomers who just entered the palace already have quite the ambition. Are you planning to step on Noble Lady Fu Cha and Noble Lady Borjigit to climb higher? How ridiculous.

Don’t you even look at what status you have?”