CHAPTER 440: CHAPTER 408: UNWILLING TO BECOME THE ELDEST PRINCE’S WOMAN? (26TH UPDATE)

"Who insulted you?" Consort Qing was both amused and exasperated by her.

"His Highness."

"..." Consort Qing suddenly didn’t know how to respond.

Adjusting her demeanor, she said, "His Highness would never insult someone unprovoked. You must have done something."

Xue Yinhuan pursed her lips and told Consort Qing everything about her leaving the palace in the morning.

After listening, Consort Qing looked enlightened, "No wonder His Highness was so angry that he said such things about you in public. In this matter, you are obliviously being used as a pawn."

"Pawn?" Xue Yinhuan considered herself very careful, not understanding how she fell into these women’s traps.

"Do you think the Empress just happened to appear when you were about to be sent to the Ministry of Punishment? Clearly, those two had planned it earlier. Although I can’t figure out their exact motive in using you, it’s a fact that you owe the Empress a huge favor because of this. In the future, whatever she asks you to do, or even the Xue Family, you can’t forget this debt."

Hearing this, Xue Yinhuan suddenly sat up from the bed.

Consort Qing swiftly placed a soft pillow under her waist, fearing she’d overthink, and gently advised, "Huanhuan, the most important thing right now is to heal your wounds. Then your aunt will find someone to safely take you out of the Imperial Palace. You absolutely cannot stay here any longer."

Having been here only a few days, first tormented by Princess Consort Qi, then trapped by Talented Lady Deng and the Empress.

Xue Yinhuan felt a deep-seated fear of the secluded palace.

She prided herself on her intelligence, yet here, it was of no use at all.

Here, the women seemed like wolves or leopards, appearing kind on the surface, but revealing fangs that could leave nothing of a person in an instant.

...

Empress Su returned to Kunning Palace, her dowry maid asked, "Did Your Highness accomplish what you were planning?"

Thinking of Emperor Guangxi’s ruthless mocking of her in front of the Eldest Prince, Empress Su’s expression darkened.

The dowry maid sensed something wrong and hurriedly dismissed everyone else from the hall.

When only the two of them remained, the dowry maid said, "This servant guessed His Highness wouldn’t be easy to deal with."

Empress Su tossed a chess piece into the fire, its crackle accompanying her voice, "I never expected Zhao Xi to be so capable at such a young age, assisting the Emperor outside and deftly navigating the concubines’ plots within. Such a nearly perfect prince, how could the Emperor not be inclined to make him the Crown Prince?"

This thought filled Empress Su with jealousy, her eyes reddening.

Even if she conceived now, and bore a prince, Zhao Xi had already impressed Emperor Guangxi first. No subsequent prince would necessarily catch his eye.

Unless they could surpass the Eldest Prince in excellence.

Yet contemplating it, a prince who from the age of six adhered to strict discipline, pushed his own limits, remembered everything after seeing it once, multitasked effortlessly, astounded contemporary scholars with his literary talents, and defeated his master in competitions, what effort would later princes need to even attract the Emperor’s attention?

The answer was impossible.

A prince like Zhao Xi, surely no woman in the harem didn’t wish he were their own.

Over the years, many concubines, out of jealousy towards Princess Consort Qi, had plotted against her, trying to replace her as the Eldest Prince’s foster mother.

But all ended miserably.

Princess Consort Qi was not one to be trifled with, and when plotted against, she would never be indifferent.

Empress Su sighed.

The plan was flawless, but it was ruined by that foolish Talented Lady Deng’s inability to adapt, allowing Zhao Xi to seize the initiative, leading to her complete defeat.

Talented Lady Deng.

The malice in Empress Su’s eyes deepened, "Find a way to make Talented Lady Deng ’commit suicide out of guilt’ so that her mouth doesn’t ruin my grand plan."

This meant silencing her, and the dowry maid understood immediately, "Rest assured, Your Highness, we will ensure her death is clean and doesn’t implicate us."

——

The news that Talented Lady Deng had accused the Eldest Prince before the imperial court quickly reached Princess Consort Qi’s ears.

Upon hearing that the woman was banished to the Cold Palace, Princess Consort Qi would not let it go at that and was preparing to personally visit the Cold Palace to find out the truth when she learned of Talented Lady Deng’s alleged suicide out of guilt.

Gu Yu remarked, "It’s too hard to believe that Talented Lady Deng would commit suicide in just one night."

"What’s so hard to believe?" Princess Consort Qi sneered, "Only the dead can keep secrets, isn’t it?"

"Is that what you mean, Your Highness?"

"Talented Lady Deng was just a scapegoat, the real ones pulling the strings are still lurking beneath the surface!"

Gu Yu was shocked, "Then what should we do?"

"No need to panic," said Princess Consort Qi. "The Eldest Prince is almost fifteen. It is not I who should panic, but those higher-ranking than I, who have no offspring to support them."

Above the Imperial Concubine, is there not the Empress?

Gu Yu felt a chill in his heart.

Princess Consort Qi’s smile deepened, "As long as she doesn’t conceive an Imperial Heir, she won’t give up. Sooner or later, she’ll make a mistake. We’ll just wait and see."

Gu Yu suddenly laughed, "I have to say, it’s only because our His Highness is so exceptional that he’s drawing attention. Otherwise, why would the one in Kunning Palace not think to deal with Princess Consort Duan but instead target you, Your Ladyship?"

Speaking of her son, Princess Consort Qi felt honored, "Xixi is indeed the pride of this palace."

"Also the pride of the Emperor," Gu Yu added with a smile, "Though the Emperor doesn’t express it, everyone in the Imperial City knows how much he favors our His Highness. The master is honorable, and the servants respect him. Every time the servants from Xianfu Palace go to the Imperial Household for something, which eunuch there doesn’t treat them with reverence, fearing to offend you, Your Ladyship? Even during the festivals, they actively bring gifts to our Xianfu Palace. Other palaces may not enjoy this treatment."

Princess Consort Qi casually smiled. After a while, thinking of something, she instructed Gu Yu to prepare a gift, "Let’s take a trip to the Rose Pavilion."

Gu Yu quickly said, "Your Ladyship is an Imperial Concubine. How could you trouble yourself with such a place? Let this servant go instead."

Princess Consort Qi insisted, "I have my reasons."

Gu Yu said no more. She quickly selected some suitable supplements from the storeroom and followed Princess Consort Qi to the Rose Pavilion.

Xue Yinhuan had been bitten by a dog and was poisoned. Previously at Kunning Palace, the Imperial Physician had already treated her wound, stopped the bleeding, and cleansed the poison, but had not alleviated the pain.

On the way back, Xue Yinhuan walked for a while, pulling at the wound. Now, she lay on the bed, her face drained of color from the pain.

When Princess Consort Qi arrived, Consort Qing, accompanied by palace maids and attendant women, went out to greet her, smiling warmly, "Why has the Imperial Concubine suddenly come over?"

"I heard that Miss Xue was injured, so I came specifically to have a look."

As she spoke, she had already entered the inner chamber, her gaze falling on Xue Yinhuan, "Miss Xue, is your wound serious?"

A tone and smile so gentle and lulling.

But Xue Yinhuan felt a cold sweat break out on her back.

As if the elegant and dignified beautiful woman before her might suddenly flick out a snake’s tongue at her.

Seeing this, Consort Qing frowned slightly, "Huanhuan, the Imperial Concubine is asking you a question. Why don’t you respond?"

Xue Yinhuan returned to her senses, supporting herself to get off the bed and salute.

Princess Consort Qi pressed down on her shoulder, preventing her from moving, "We all live in the same palace, and since you’re seriously injured, there’s no need for those empty courtesies. Taking care of your health is what’s important."

Xue Yinhuan lay back down again.

Consort Qing personally brought a stool for Princess Consort Qi.

After Princess Consort Qi took her seat, she looked at Xue Yinhuan with concern, "I heard that when Talented Lady Deng made a scene at the imperial court, Xixi was present. That child, truly, doesn’t know how to be considerate or say a few words in your defense."

Xue Yinhuan hurried to dissociate herself, "This humble girl is not acquainted with His Highness. He has no reason to speak for me."

"Hey, your words aren’t quite right," Princess Consort Qi said kindly, "In a few years, the Emperor will have to arrange for him to choose a concubine. By then, many daughters of high-ranking court officials will be listed as candidates. Perhaps Miss Xue will be among them. If he had been the hero to save the beauty today, and you happen to become his woman in the future, wouldn’t that be a wonderful thing?"

To happen to become his woman.

Merely one among many women in the rear court, and not the main wife.

Let alone Xue Yinhuan who had no such thoughts, even if she was truly interested in Zhao Xi, she would never enter the palace to become a concubine.

Bowing her head, Xue Yinhuan said, "This humble girl lacks beauty and talent, unworthy of His Highness."

Princess Consort Qi asked, "Miss Xue is not willing to become the Eldest Prince’s woman?"

Consort Qing quickly interjected, "Your Ladyship, Huanhuan is already engaged."

Hearing her aunt come to her rescue, Xue Yinhuan timely showed a blushing and shy demeanor.

Upon hearing this, Princess Consort Qi suddenly understood, "I see. No wonder Miss Xue was hesitant to speak the truth. So, she is already engaged. Then I must offer you my early congratulations."

"This humble girl thanks the Imperial Concubine."

The expression in Princess Consort Qi’s eyes was inscrutable.

Of course, she could not actually allow Xue Yinhuan to become Xixi’s woman. What she said earlier was merely to test whether Xue Yinhuan had that inclination towards the Eldest Prince.

How could a woman who had just entered the palace and already caused such chaos be worthy of the Eldest Prince?