CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 49: THE OVERBEARING LADY FALLS FOR THE LITTLE ATTENDANT LADY

Yun Jiao pondered all the way, unable to understand why Lady would want to help her.

Unable to figure it out herself, she brought it up for discussion with the two palace maids. Gong Mei mused, "Concubine Jiang is the Empress Dowager’s person. Lady doing this might offend the Empress Dowager. Why bother? If she wanted to befriend the lady, she could just intervene and smooth things over. This is openly offending Concubine Jiang!"

Xue Ya recalled the last time the lady caught Lady Shufei attacking Consort Ji:

"Could it be that Lady Shufei is repaying the favor for the little lady not exposing her last time?"

"Lady Shufei sent jewelry afterward; I thought the matter was settled."

The more Yun Jiao thought, the more frightened she became. Her initial joy in enjoying the chestnut pastry turned into eating it with trepidation. After eating three pieces in succession, her heart settled a bit, and she reached for the lotus leaf cake.

Xue Ya optimistically said, "Maybe Lady Shufei likes our little lady and can’t stand to see Concubine Jiang bully her!"

Upon hearing this, Yun Jiao was so shocked she choked on the lotus leaf cake.

One offered her water while the other gently patted her back to ease her breathing. Once she recovered, she glared at Xue Ya: "Spouting nonsense will only harm your little lady."

"I misspoke!"

Although she didn’t know what "spouting nonsense" meant, Xue Ya was still anxious and admitted her mistake.

"It wasn’t intentional."

Yun Jiao waved her hand and let it go.

The trope of the overbearing Lady falling for a little Attendant Lady was something she hadn’t even considered.

Having crossed paths with Lady Shufei twice, although she hadn’t been the direct target, she couldn’t help but feel afraid—

Lady Shufei’s expressions were more than those of the Emperor. She smiled, and also pondered, but her long and enchanting eyes were as calm and dark as the sea, hiding undercurrents. When her gentle and sweet voice sounded at one’s ear, it gave the illusion of compassion, yet her words were exceedingly cruel.

In this harem, there’s no love or hate without reason.

Lady Shufei stepping in to save her must have another cause behind it.

"Let me think about it."

After finishing the lotus leaf cake, Yun Jiao wiped her mouth and closed her eyes in thought.

After a while, Xue Ya couldn’t help but ask, "Have you figured it out, my lady?"

Yun Jiao: "zzzZZZ..."

She slept straight until they returned to the palace.

Because the carriage designated for an Attendant Lady couldn’t fit a bed, Yun Jiao slept sitting up, waking up with a sore body. During the ride, the Emperor sent someone to ask if she wanted to join him in his carriage, but with Lady Shufei’s smile on her mind, she felt it was fine to sleep sitting in her own carriage.

One’s life is foremost; we can’t get greedy for that little comfort!

Upon the Emperor and Empress’s return to the palace, countless people gathered at the gates to welcome them, kneeling in a vast crowd, leaving only the Empress Dowager standing.

After a display of familial affection, the Empress Dowager didn’t forget to express concern for the Empress:

"The Empress has worked hard, looking thinner than before departure. Perhaps not used to the food at the hunting ground? Be sure to nourish yourself well upon returning."

Then, she specifically pointed to Concubine Jiang: "I fear the Emperor had no one close to know his needs, and I entrusted many matters to Concubine Jiang before departure. Have you taken good care of the Emperor?"

This trip to the hunting ground, the Emperor and Concubine Jiang hadn’t exchanged more than twenty lines.

Concubine Jiang wanted to care for the Emperor but had no avenue to do so.

Yet in front of everyone, the Emperor still gave face to his mother, responding coolly, "Concubine Jiang has been considerate, which greatly comforts me."

The Empress Dowager, hearing this, took off a string of beads and placed it on Concubine Jiang’s hand.

Concubine Jiang’s face was so pale that not even makeup could cover it; after being publicly protected by the Empress Dowager, her eyes reddened further: "Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your award. I am unworthy." Saying this, tears fell, and the Empress Dowager simply took it as her being moved, praising her thrice and having a nanny help her up.

Among those who came to greet them, Concubine Wei was trying to catch the Emperor’s eye while whispering to Consort Xu behind her: "Strange, since when did Concubine Jiang become so good at acting? She cried on cue, making the scene oddly moving."

As for the senior figures in the palace, well, the emotionally detached Emperor who only handled political affairs need not be mentioned.

The resentful Empress had eyes only for the Emperor and the seductive woman stealing her man; Lady Shufei’s expressions were highly deliberate, and her relationship with the Empress Dowager was mediocre. Thus, the emotionally stirring atmosphere had to be carried by Concubine Jiang.

Consort Xu remarked, "Seeing Concubine Jiang’s complexion, she likely didn’t win favor at the hunting ground."

Concubine Wei pursed her lips, looking past the Emperor’s entourage.

Behind them were only Concubine Li, Consort Ji, and Attendant Lady Xi, serving as mere backdrops.

"She actually returned unharmed," Concubine Wei remarked in surprise.

It’s easier to dispose of someone outside the palace than within, and Concubine Wei had assumed that among those traveling together this time, someone would not be able to resist taking action. Surprisingly, everyone returned intact and in high spirits, even better than Concubine Jiang.