Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

“This concubine would not dare.”

Shen Mei Zhuang was full of shame. With a hint of unease, she explained, “This concubine only failed to notice for a moment and stood in the wrong place. This concubine is willing to accept punishment.”

“Shen Noble Lady, at least you’re a Noble Lady.”

Consort Hua ignored Shen Mei Zhuang’s explanation. Her sharp gaze pinned itself on Zhen Huan’s stunning face. “Attendant Wan, you’re only an Attendant. You dared to leave Noble Lady Fu Cha and Noble Lady Borjigit behind you.

Are you planning one day to snatch the Empress’s seat too?”

“Consort Hua!”

The Empress stopped watching the show. What belonged to her was something no one could covet. Her tone carried displeasure. “Baseless talk.

Don’t say nonsense. Besides, Attendant Wan isn’t that kind of unruly person.”

“How do you know Attendant Wan isn’t coveting the Empress’s seat?”

Consort Hua lifted her right hand and admired the jeweled nail guards on her slender fingers. Every word she spoke stabbed into the Empress’s heart. “Could it be that the Empress thinks you don’t deserve your position and intends to yield it?” The Empress’s face turned livid.

“Consort Hua, you are insolent!”

“If this palace wasn’t allowed to be insolent, it wouldn’t have been insolent so many times already. One more time won’t make a difference.”

“You!”

The Empress was so choked up she could not speak. Then she looked at the newcomers before her, all frightened like quails. The Empress quietly drew a breath. She was the principal wife.

Every concubine should be paying respects to her, the Empress. She forced a smile. “It’s getting late. Sisters, perform the salute.”

She did not give Consort Hua a chance to speak again. Jiang Fu Hai raised his voice and shouted, “Ladies, please perform the grand kneeling salute to Her Majesty the Empress!” Noble Lady Fu Cha and Noble Lady Borjigit led the other new consorts. They knelt properly before the Empress and completed the ritual of one kneel and three bows.

The Empress, feeling much more satisfied, smiled slightly. “Sisters, rise.” After everyone stood up, the higher-ranking consorts were introduced. Consort Hua wanted to give them a show of force, so she ignored their salutes.

Xia Dong Chun, with the worst etiquette of all, nearly collapsed. Fortunately, Li Si Qi lent her support. The delicate new consorts held a deep curtsy. As time dragged on, each one began to sway.

Seeing that many were about to give out, the Empress feared they would embarrass themselves in Jing Ren Palace and spread ugly rumors. Once more she put on a merciful face and told Consort Hua to let the new consorts rise. Consort Hua’s mood instantly turned foul, and she and the Empress played out another round of verbal blades. The Empress was so angry her migraines nearly flared up.

She quickly dismissed everyone. After they walked out of Jing Ren Palace’s doors, Li Si Qi saw Zhen Huan and Shen Mei Zhuang glaring at her with hostile looks.

“What, you have a problem?”

Li Si Qi walked up to them and sneered. “You made a mistake, and you won’t even let people point it out?”

“Respondent Xin.”

Shen Mei Zhuang’s face was proud. “Our rank is higher than yours. You should salute us.”

“Noble Lady Shen is right.”

Li Si Qi nodded in agreement. She saluted them openly and properly. “This concubine pays respects to Noble Lady Shen, Attendant Wan.” The two women’s eyes flashed with satisfaction at once.

Before they could say anything, Li Si Qi straightened and added, “This concubine heard that after Noble Lady Shen entered the palace, you went to visit Attendant Wan immediately, without putting the palace’s principal lady in your eyes at all. A Noble Lady currying favor with an Attendant is truly something unheard of!”

“I…”

Shen Mei Zhuang’s expression changed. She opened her mouth, but she could not refute it. Only then did she realize how rash that had been. At the very least, the charge of disrespecting the palace’s principal lady would stick.

But she did not believe she had been currying favor with Sister Huan. Li Si Qi ignored her. Her bright gaze shifted to Zhen Huan. “This concubine heard that Attendant Wan not only moved into the main hall of Sui Yu Pavilion, but even took Sui Yu Pavilion’s steward Auntie into your service?

If I remember correctly, only a Concubine has the right to live in the main hall and command a steward Auntie. Attendant Wan, when were you promoted to Concubine? How is it that nobody knows your rank was raised?”

“…”

Zhen Huan’s face went ashen. She could not speak at all now.

“Look at that.”

Li Si Qi’s face filled with mockery. “I spoke out again. I’m truly sorry. My biggest flaw is that I love blurting out hard truths.

I hope you two won’t take offense. If you don’t like it, then I’ll try not to say your ‘hard truths’ in the future, alright? Since you’re not speaking, I’ll take it as your agreement. This concubine takes her leave!”

She turned cleanly and walked to Noble Lady Fu Cha and Xia Dong Chun. She smiled sweetly at them. “Let’s go. I’m hungry already.

Let’s head back.” With one hand, she dragged one dazed girl, and with the other, another. They left a group of stunned onlookers behind and returned to Yan Xi Palace. When the others finally came back to themselves, they all stared at Zhen Huan and Shen Mei Zhuang in disbelief.

The two of them were flushed with shame. They did not dare meet anyone’s eyes, and they wished they could vanish on the spot. Supported by their personal maids, they stumbled away. What happened here spread through the entire harem like a gust of wind.

Since it happened within Jing Ren Palace’s sphere, the Empress was the first to hear the news.

“This An Ling Rong…”

The Empress could not help murmuring, “Could she be another idiot like Xia Dong Chun?”

“From the looks of it, she really doesn’t seem smart.”

Jian Qiu smiled. “Your Majesty, whether she’s truly stupid or pretending to be clever, she’s only an eighth-rank minor official’s daughter. She isn’t worth Your Majesty spending any effort on.”

“You’re right.”

The Empress smiled. “In Yan Xi Palace, only Noble Lady Fu Cha is worth watching a little. As for Xia Dong Chun and An Ling Rong, let them make trouble for now. Our palace should be lively too.”… Yi Kun Palace.

“Good!”

Consort Hua flew into a rage. “I knew it. Zhen Huan is ambitious and scheming. She just entered the palace and she already dares to live in the main hall, and even dares to take the steward Auntie into her service.

She truly doesn’t put palace rules in her eyes. Someone come!”

“This servant is here!” Zhou Ning Hai answered and entered.

“Zhou Ning Hai, go to Sui Yu Pavilion and kick Zhen Huan into the side hall.”

Consort Hua sneered. “And that steward Auntie of Sui Yu Pavilion – drive her off to somewhere else. Every last one of them thinks nothing of this palace. How hateful!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Zhou Ning Hai saluted and immediately left to carry out the order.

“Hmph!”

Consort Hua leaned back in her chair. She picked up the jade roller on the tabletop and rolled it along her cheek. Then she said, “This An Ling Rong – this palace thought she was so smart. And yet she dares to shout and make a scene in the palace.

Isn’t she afraid the Empress, that old woman, will deal with her?”

“Your Highness, the Empress probably can’t wait for someone to turn the palace upside down.”

Song Zhi frowned as she replied, “As long as someone makes trouble, Your Highness will definitely be displeased. As soon as Your Highness moves to deal with them, the palace will spread rumors that Your Highness is bullying newcomers, so His Majesty will misunderstand Your Highness.”

“That old hag Empress.”

Consort Hua rolled her eyes in anger. “She wants His Majesty to misunderstand this palace? As if she can have her way.”… Yan Xi Palace.

“Ling Rong, your nerve is too big.”

Noble Lady Fu Cha could not help getting angry. “Right now in the harem, who doesn’t know you’re a fool who dares to say anything?”

“I said the truth. What is there to fear?”

Li Si Qi replied as she ate cakes. “Zhen Huan’s rank is lower than yours, and she’s Han Banner too. What right does she have to stand in front of you? She’s slapping the Fu Cha clan in the face and trampling your dignity, understand?”

“An Ling Rong is right.”

Xia Dong Chun took over. “Just look at her fox-spirit face. She’s definitely not a good person. And that Shen Mei Zhuang looks down on people too.

I think they believe they’re the favored consorts, and the rest of us are just their backdrop.” That was a sharp remark. Li Si Qi could not help looking at her again. She had not expected the girl everyone called an idiot to see through people so quickly.

“I heard they’re both from proper noble families, legitimate daughters raised with great care.”

Noble Lady Fu Cha frowned and said softly, “Even if they’re arrogant and spoiled from childhood, they couldn’t possibly not know palace rules. Didn’t the instructing Auntie teach them? How could they do something like this?”