"Eldest Sister," Jiang Dan spoke hesitantly, her tone tinged with grievance, "Dan'niang is not someone with ulterior motives. What could I possibly do with such information?"
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "If Fourth Sister insists on knowing these matters, it's not difficult. In three days, it will be time to enter the palace." Her smile carried a deeper meaning. "Fourth Sister will naturally hear much there. If you gain His Majesty's favor, you might even learn more intimate news. By then, perhaps I'll be the one seeking information from you."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Dan's expression became unreadable—neither happy nor sad—as she gave a strange smile. "Eldest Sister teases Dan'niang too much. The palace is filled with women of exceptional talent and beauty. Dan'niang is merely a concubine's daughter." She looked at Jiang Ruan. "If it were Eldest Sister instead, that would surely be a blessing for the Jiang family."
"Enough," Jiang Ruan chuckled. "Since Father has chosen you to enter the palace, it means you possess unique qualities. Once inside, you'll rise to prominence. No matter how noble others' backgrounds are, once you gain favor, they'll all have to step aside. Besides, you have the Jiang family behind you, with Father supporting you." In her past life, when she learned she was to enter the palace, these so-called relatives had comforted her with these very words. Now, she returned them all to Jiang Dan, wondering how they tasted to her.
Her words carried a semblance of sincerity, leaving Jiang Dan momentarily unsure of Jiang Ruan's true thoughts. She forced a smile and said, "Eldest Sister, did you know? Madam has gone mad. The eldest young master took her out of the estate to recuperate in the countryside. Second Sister also went to the Marquis Xia's residence, saying the Marchioness was unwell and she went to visit her."
"Second Brother is thoughtful," Jiang Ruan replied. "The Marchioness has always been frail. It's only right for Second Sister to return home."
Jiang Dan frowned, disappointed by the lack of reaction she had anticipated. After a brief pause, she continued casually, "But why choose the countryside for recuperation? The journey there is so rough. I wonder if she can endure it..."
"Second Brother has his reasons," Jiang Ruan cut her off, refusing to engage further. Realizing Jiang Ruan's disinterest, Jiang Dan had no choice but to stand up after a few more idle remarks. "Dan'niang must return to prepare for the palace visit. I won't trouble Eldest Sister further. I'll come visit again later."
After seeing Jiang Dan off, Luzhu came to pour tea for Jiang Ruan, muttering, "Playing the fool to deceive the tiger. Now that she's gained some advantage, she acts as if she's above everyone." In the maids' eyes, Jiang Dan's visit to Ruan Residence was nothing more than a show of arrogance and an attempt to kick Jiang Ruan while she was down. Such behavior epitomized the pettiness of a small-minded person.
Jiang Ruan, however, was not focused on Jiang Dan. The latter's words had inadvertently revealed something—a long-hidden prey had finally stepped to the edge of the trap. Should she wait for it to fall in or give it a push?
Jiang Dan wanted to use her hand but mistakenly thought everyone else a fool. Yet, it seemed the first to lose patience was actually Jiang Chao?
She took a slow sip of tea and said, "Tianzhu, investigate which estate Xia Yan is recuperating in. Jiang Chao is about to make his move."
...Early autumn had passed, and the flowers in the palace gardens seemed to bloom even more luxuriantly, especially the large chrysanthemums, resplendent in hues of purple and red, their petals layered and curled into graceful arcs—a sight to behold. Fragrance wafted everywhere, and in recent days, the palace eunuchs and maids had been bustling about in preparation for the arrival of a new batch of candidates for the imperial selection. Every year brought fresh faces, and every year, the depths of the palace would claim another group of unknown souls, nourishing the seemingly flourishing flowers in the soil. Though it sounded chilling, there was never a shortage of new fertilizer—there were always those who dreamed of soaring to the highest branches and becoming phoenixes.
Shu Fei reclined lazily on her chaise lounge, her exotic features accentuated by the soft glow of candlelight. She was well aware of her allure, dressed in a short golden-threaded silk blouse with a delicate gemstone headband across her forehead. Beneath her long sapphire-blue gauze skirt, her toes peeked out, delicate and fair as if carved from jade.
This was a beauty whose every inch exuded natural charm, a testament to why the imperial selection never lacked candidates. Even now, her beauty remained unyielding.
Shu Fei idly examined her fingernails as she popped peeled purple grapes from a crystal bowl into her mouth one by one. The grapes were plump and lovely, her cherry lips small and delicate, her pink tongue nimble—even eating grapes became an artful display.
From the crane-beak bronze incense burner rose the heady fragrance of a Western Region incense, bold and passionate, mingling with the warm candlelight to transport one to distant lands.
Since Noble Consort Chen had been consigned to the cold palace, Shu Fei's days had grown increasingly comfortable. De Fei and Noble Consort Chen had been locked in a lifelong rivalry, but now that Noble Consort Chen had fallen from grace, the Fourth Prince and the Fifth Prince were still locked in a deadly struggle for the throne.
Shu Fei herself had only given birth to Princess Heyi and had no sons, so she harbored no delusions about the succession. The battle for the throne was far removed from her concerns. In the harem, Shu Fei's focus was on winning the Emperor's heart.
When Noble Consort Chen had been around, the Emperor's attention had been largely devoted to her. No matter how many tricks or charms Shu Fei employed, she could never compete with Noble Consort Chen's gentle smile or a simple, colorful tassel. In the depths of the palace, Shu Fei's greatest hatred was reserved for Noble Consort Chen—everyone knew they were natural enemies. Now that Noble Consort Chen had no chance of recovery, Shu Fei, freed from her greatest rival, thrived like a fish in water.
Yet the fading of beauty was a common fate in the palace. Though Noble Consort Chen had fallen, it was inevitable that among the new candidates, a second or even a third Noble Consort Chen might emerge. These candidates were all in the bloom of youth. Shu Fei might have been fortunate enough to outmaneuver Noble Consort Chen in her middle age, but she could never hope to compete with a young Noble Consort Chen.
Even so, these days, Shu Fei's life was far more pleasant than before.
Before the music had even ceased, a petite figure stormed in angrily, heading straight for the chaise lounge without a glance. The newcomer's voice carried a sharp edge: "Mother!"
Dressed in golden skirts and adorned with jade pendants—who else could it be but Princess Heyi?
Shu Fei frowned slightly and waved her hand. The maids playing the instruments hastily stopped and scurried out of the hall.
Princess Heyi leaped onto the chaise lounge without a second glance, only to notice that the musician had been wearing a red dress. Suddenly, the red seemed glaringly offensive. "Stop right there," she commanded.The palace maid, unaware of what was happening, quickly stopped and knelt down, kowtowing. Princess Heyi raised her chin and declared, "This maid looks utterly detestable. Drag her away and behead her."
"Your Highness, spare me!" The maid was horrified, still clueless about her offense, yet knowing full well that reasoning with this domineering princess was futile. She could only kowtow desperately, begging for mercy.
Watching the pitiful sight of the girl in red robes kneeling and kowtowing before her, Princess Heyi felt a faint thrill of satisfaction. Suddenly, she smiled cruelly. "This princess has always been merciful. Since you beg for your life and are one of my mother’s people, I shall grant you an exception—you won’t die. Drag her away and chop off both her hands instead."
The maid, momentarily relieved by the first half of the sentence, nearly fainted upon hearing the latter. Losing both hands would ruin the life of a palace musician who relied on playing the qin for survival—death would be preferable.
Princess Heyi showed no sympathy for the maid’s despair, merely waving her hand. Guards immediately dragged away the unfortunate victim.
The other palace maids and eunuchs in the hall lowered their heads, pretending not to witness the scene. None wished to become the next plaything of this capricious princess.
Throughout it all, Consort Shu reclined on her chaise lounge, watching with a faint smile, making no move to intervene. Her expression, serene yet chilling, suggested she found such cruel games amusing—even enjoyable. Such a look on a beautiful woman was truly terrifying.
"What’s the matter?" she finally asked Princess Heyi. "Who has provoked you this time?"
The question only darkened Princess Heyi’s expression further. Gnashing her teeth, she spat, "Mother, kill Jiang Ruan for me!"
The words were shocking, yet Consort Shu merely frowned. "Princess of Great Peace? What has she done to upset you?"
"Upset me?" Princess Heyi seethed. "Never mind how she defended that bastard Ye Pei and threatened me last time—now I’ve heard from the imperial study that Jinying Wang has requested the Emperor’s permission to marry that wretch! The eunuchs outside all heard it. Mother, how can I swallow this insult?"
Princess Heyi’s resentment toward Jiang Ruan had festered since their first meeting. Jiang Ruan’s bewitching beauty had left a shadow in her heart, and to make matters worse, she had somehow become the Princess of Great Peace. In Heyi’s eyes, Jiang Ruan was nothing more than an unloved daughter of a minister—how could she compare to a true noble like herself? Though Consort Shu had warned her not to stir trouble, she had grudgingly let the matter with Ye Pei slide. But Xiao Shao’s proposal to marry Jiang Ruan crossed a line. The mere thought of it made Heyi wish she could slice Jiang Ruan into a thousand pieces and condemn her to eternal suffering!
"Xiao Shao wants to marry the Princess of Great Peace?" Consort Shu paused. "Is this true?"
"Absolutely!" Princess Heyi whined. "Mother, how can such a lowly wretch be worthy of Jinying Wang? Why should he marry her? Mother, please kill her for me!"Shu Fei gazed at Princess Heyi, whose features resembled her own, naturally exuding an exotic allure. Yet at this moment, that beautiful face was twisted with emotion, utterly marring its charm. Though a daughter could not serve as a pawn in the struggle for the throne, Princess Heyi had been cradled in her palms all her life. No one understood the princess's feelings for Xiao Shao better than Shu Fei.
The Emperor's regard for Xiao Shao was evident to Shu Fei. Though the Emperor doted on Princess Heyi, Shu Fei knew full well he would never bestow her upon Xiao Shao in marriage. The princess's desires were likely doomed to remain unfulfilled.
Now that Xiao Shao had found someone he favored, Princess Heyi was indeed this agitated. Shu Fei's crimson lips curled slightly—Xiao Shao's chosen was none other than the Princess of Great Peace. She glanced at her daughter and sighed inwardly. This was a matter she ought not interfere with, and should have kept Princess Heyi far away from. Yet seeing the princess's expression, she found herself unable to voice those words.
For she had once felt exactly as Princess Heyi did now. Watching the one she loved fly away with another, while she remained alone in her embrace. That swelling mix of jealousy, despair, madness, hatred—the urge to drag them all down together—had nearly burst from within her.
She had endured it then. Must her daughter now walk the same path?
"Even without the Princess of Great Peace, there will be others," Shu Fei reminded Heyi. "He will marry eventually, and that person will not be you." As a mother, rather than weaving an impossible dream for Princess Heyi, Shu Fei preferred to tear the truth bare before her.
"Then I'll kill them all. Whoever he likes, I'll kill them," Princess Heyi declared, her expression flashing with terrifying madness. "His consort can only be me."
Shu Fei studied her daughter silently for a moment before smiling mockingly—though at whom, it was unclear. In a honeyed voice, she said, "You do care for him deeply."
Princess Heyi bit her lip without reply. She had fallen for that handsome youth the moment she first saw Xiao Shao. All these years she had followed in his footsteps, yet he never once glanced back at her. As the Emperor's beloved princess, a golden branch and jade leaf, peerlessly beautiful—how could she compare less to some unfavored minister's daughter? What did Jiang Ruan have that Xiao Shao would choose her? The mere thought of Xiao Shao and Jiang Ruan together drove Princess Heyi mad with jealousy, wishing she could tear Jiang Ruan's face apart and trample her into the dust.
"No need for such despair," Shu Fei said, toying with her nails. "Though that old crone the Empress Dowager protects her, it's not without recourse. The Princess of Great Peace has risen too high—when one reaches the peak, the only path left is down."
"Mother Consort..." Princess Heyi's eyes brightened.
"Isn't this the perfect opportunity?" Shu Fei's lips curved. "Jiang Xin Zhi's defeat and disappearance—if he's truly been captured, the Princess of Great Peace's days are numbered. Her position at court is already precarious. Now is the best time to strike."
"Mother Consort, what should we do?"
"Collusion with the enemy. Treason." Shu Fei smiled broadly at the grapes in the crystal dish before her. "That's no small crime."
...Ye Li's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, causing a few drops to splash onto the table before him.
"Xiao Shao requested His Majesty for a marriage decree?" he exclaimed loudly.
"Reporting to Your Highness, it's absolutely true," the subordinate replied with bowed head.
"What an impressive Jinying Wang!" Ye Li snorted coldly, slamming the teacup down heavily on the table as an inexplicable rage surged in his chest. This stifling frustration came without reason—even when Jiang Ruan had rejected him earlier, he hadn't felt such fury. He had originally thought Jiang Ruan was simply too young and naive at the time, but after repeated rejections of his goodwill, he found it strange. Considering himself the most gentle and outstanding among all the imperial princes, why did Jiang Ruan always treat him with such coldness? Now it seemed she must have been secretly involved with Xiao Shao all along!
The mere thought that Jiang Ruan and Xiao Shao had already been intimate made Ye Li's heart knot with resentment. In truth, if he could use Jiang Ruan to gain Xiao Shao's support—perhaps by speaking a few words to help facilitate the marriage request—Xiao Shao might owe him favors in the future. He always acted with maximum benefit in mind, and this was the optimal approach. With Xiao Shao's support, what would he have to fear from Ye Hua?
(End of Chapter)
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