Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

“She’s just full of herself.”

Li Si Qi curled her lip and added, “I heard Zhen Huan calls herself a female Zhu Ge Liang, like no one is smarter than her.”

“What female Zhu Ge Liang? Her grasp of palace rules is a mess.”

Noble Lady Fu Cha looked scornful. “She isn’t afraid people will laugh at her if it gets out.”… Sui Yu Pavilion.

“Attendant Wan, if you refuse to move, this servant can only call people to help you move.”

Zhou Ning Hai sneered. “The main hall isn’t a place an Attendant can live. You’re overstepping.”

“Fine, I’ll move!”

Zhen Huan ground her teeth in hate. She had no choice but to order the people at her side, “Pack everything up and move to the side hall.”

“If Attendant Wan had any self-awareness, you wouldn’t have had to make such a fuss this time.”

Zhou Ning Hai shot her a contemptuous look. Huan Bi was so furious she wanted to fight him to the death. Zhou Ning Hai then fixed his gaze on Cui Jin Xi and gave a sinister smile. “Consort Hua has ordered that Chief Palace Maid Cui Jin Xi, the steward of Sui Yu Pavilion, violated palace rules.

She is to be demoted to sweeping in the Imperial Garden and is no longer allowed to serve any consort.”

“Yes, this servant obeys!”

Cui Jin Xi sounded helpless. When she looked at Zhen Huan, a trace of reluctance flashed in her eyes. But she had not given up in her heart. She believed she would return to Zhen Huan’s side.

Zhen Huan was driven to the side hall, and Cui Jin Xi left. The already quiet Sui Yu Pavilion became even more bleak and desolate…. Imperial Study. The emperor bent over the imperial desk, reviewing memorials.

“Your Majesty, it’s getting late.”

Su Pei Sheng stepped forward with a slight bow. “Eunuch Xu from the Service Bureau has been waiting a long time.”

“Hm!”

Only after a long while did the emperor set down his vermilion brush. He rubbed his aching wrist and asked casually, “The new consorts paid their respects to the Empress today. Did anything happen?”

“Replying to Your Majesty.”

Su Pei Sheng’s lowered lashes hid the odd look that flashed past. “The rear palace was very lively today.”

“Oh? How was it lively?”

The emperor was in the mood and was willing to hear a little gossip. Su Pei Sheng did not dare hide anything and recounted everything that happened today. He repeated each person’s words almost word for word. As he spoke, he did not take anyone’s side.

With so many eyes watching, everyone already knew what happened. Of course he dared not deceive the emperor or seize this moment to poison his ears against someone.

“An Ling Rong, Answerer Xin?”

The emperor did not expect his harem to produce such an interesting blockhead. He could not help laughing. “I remember Answerer Xin looked quite pretty. How is her temperament so honest and simple?”

“Answerer Xin is the daughter of an assistant county magistrate, so she probably wasn’t restrained much from childhood.”

Su Pei Sheng smiled and said a few kind words. “It’s normal for her to be a bit simple.”

“That makes sense.”

The emperor nodded with a grin. “A pure heart is rare. But…” His brows knit at once. “How could Noble Lady Shen and Attendant Wan be so foolish?

Among the Eight Banners of Manchu, Mongol, and Han, Manchu and Mongol have always been honored above all. How dare they humiliate Manchu and Mongol consorts like that. It seems they lost their sense of proportion and still haven’t learned palace rules properly.” As he spoke, he looked at Su Pei Sheng.

“Did the Empress issue any punishment?”

“Replying to Your Majesty, the Empress likely felt the new consorts had just entered the palace and did not want to dampen Your Majesty’s interest.”

Su Pei Sheng replied respectfully. “Consort Hua sent people to make Attendant Wan move to the side hall of Sui Yu Pavilion, and demoted the chief palace maid in charge of Sui Yu Pavilion to sweeping in the Imperial Garden.”

“Consort Hua did well.”

The emperor looked satisfied, and his smile deepened. “Consort Hua likes to be petty and jealous, but when it comes to managing palace affairs, she does it quite well.”

“Consort Hua has always been considerate and will surely satisfy Your Majesty.”

Su Pei Sheng praised her, then said, “Your Majesty, shall this servant summon Eunuch Xu from the Service Bureau?”

“No need.”

The emperor stood up and waved a hand. “Go to Yi Kun Palace to see Consort Hua.”

“Yes!”

Su Pei Sheng immediately called out, “His Majesty is departing for Yi Kun Palace!”… Jing Ren Palace.

“His Majesty went to Yi Kun Palace?”

The Empress’s face looked awful. “The new consorts can already serve in bed. Why didn’t His Majesty summon any of them? What is the Service Bureau doing?”

“Your Majesty, it must be Consort Hua throwing a tantrum again.”

Jian Qiu stepped forward and kneaded the Empress’s temples. “This servant thinks this is good. The new consorts were waiting for His Majesty’s summons, but Consort Hua cut them off. In their hearts, they will definitely stew in resentment and hate that Consort Hua is favored.”

“You’re right.”

The Empress’s expression gradually improved. She waved a hand to signal Jian Qiu to stop rubbing her head. “The new consorts all suffered grievances tonight. Tomorrow, I must comfort them properly.”

“Your Majesty is benevolent.”

Jian Qiu smiled as she replied. “With Your Majesty standing up for the young ladies, they will surely be very happy.”… That night, Yi Kun Palace was filled with laughter. The new consorts who had hoped to serve in bed were bitterly disappointed. Of course, that did not include Li Si Qi.

She knew very well that with An Ling Rong’s status, even if the emperor remembered someone like her, she would be the last to be summoned. Now that Consort Hua intercepted him, she was not surprised at all. Who didn’t know Consort Hua was the true favored one! Li Si Qi went to bed early.

“Master, Cui Jin Xi is Su Pei Sheng’s sweetheart. Aren’t you afraid of offending him?”

“Afraid of what? Isn’t that what you’re for?”

Li Si Qi did not care. “In a bit, go out and feed Su Pei Sheng and Cui Jin Xi a Loyalty Pill. I don’t want to get stabbed in the back by these two old schemers.”

“No problem.”

… Nothing happened that night. Li Si Qi walked out and found Xia Dong Chun waiting for her. She flashed a bright smile, bowed, and said, “I pay my respects to Attendant Xia.”

“Let’s go.”

Xia Dong Chun muttered, “Everyone says I like offending people. I think you’re the one who likes offending people to death.”

“Yeah.”

Li Si Qi nodded with a smile. “If I don’t like someone, I will offend them to death.”

“If you want to die, don’t drag us down with you.”

“I won’t. We’ll die together.”

“In your dreams. This young lady isn’t as crazy as you.”

“It’s fine. Other people will still lump us together.”

“Living in the same palace as you is such bad luck.”

“So far you haven’t had bad luck. When you do, we can talk again.”

… The two of them bickered as they walked.

“What are you arguing about?”

Noble Lady Fu Cha was a little unhappy. “You still have the mood to bicker. Hurry up.” Li Si Qi blinked.

“Noble Lady Fu Cha, did you have a nightmare?” Noble Lady Fu Cha was stunned. “Nonsense. How could this young lady have a nightmare?”

“You look so upset. I thought you had a nightmare last night.”

Li Si Qi wore a smile. “Your complexion is so awful, like you want to take it out on us…”

“Shut up!”

Noble Lady Fu Cha snapped. “One day, that filthy mouth of yours will bring you disaster.” Li Si Qi beamed. “I’m not afraid.

You’ll be keeping me company.” Noble Lady Fu Cha:… Xia Dong Chun:… Neither of them paid her any more attention. Li Si Qi did not care either. The three of them arrived at Jing Ren Palace, where other consorts had already come earlier.

After paying their respects, everyone found seats and sat down. Xia Dong Chun sat in front of Li Si Qi. Having escaped death, she finally had a seat in Jing Ren Palace. Not long after, Shen Mei Zhuang and Zhen Huan arrived with their maids.

The first thing their eyes did was land on Li Si Qi. Li Si Qi immediately gave them a huge smile. The two women nearly choked with anger and forced themselves to look away. Just then, the graceful Consort Hua entered, supported by Song Zhi.

Seeing how radiant and arrogant she looked, and how she did not put anyone in her eyes, the consorts present all looked a bit unhappy. Still, everyone rose and bowed to her.

“All right, sit.”

Consort Hua was in a very good mood and did not take it out on anyone. Then she asked, “Which one is Answerer Xin?”

“Replying to Consort Hua.”

Li Si Qi rose and bowed. “This concubine is Answerer Xin.”