Walking in a daze for some time, her mind empty, she suddenly kicked a stone, her toe aching. Only then did she notice guards had increased ahead, and the magnificent palace before her was Murong Ci’s territory.
She sighed silently, holding the lantern as she turned away. Walking about thirty meters, she found herself at the Imperial Garden. Under moon and frost, guards were dense, dutifully keeping night watch. Not wanting to encounter people, she turned into the dim, shadowy woods.
Feeling somewhat weak, she found a tree and sat leaning against it. Soon, hurried footsteps came from outside. Thinking it was Imperial Guard patrol, she heard a female voice whisper: “Madam, entering the palace late at night—won’t we disturb Consort Ci’s rest?”
“You silly girl don’t understand. I’m entering the palace to send Consort Ci information against Li Huaisu. Opportunities are fleeting—how would Consort Ci blame me?”
The other voice wasn’t as gentle as the first—much hoarser and extremely… familiar. The speaker said little more, the raspy voice suppressing deep secrets.
Wuyan listened with secret alarm. Why did she encounter troubles on the eve of leaving the palace…
And they were all enemies!
She peeked out, seeing two graceful figures gradually departing. Not daring to hesitate, she immediately emerged from behind the tree. About to pursue, she reconsidered and quickly walked into the Imperial Garden, commanding nearby guards: “All come with me.”
“Greetings, Consort Wei.”
After recognizing her face and paying respects, they immediately followed. Wuyan couldn’t walk fast, so she pointed ahead: “Just now I saw two suspicious women disguised as palace family members pass by, heading toward Consort Ci’s chambers. They might be assassins—quickly pursue!”
Hearing this, the guards were alarmed. If Consort Ci were harmed, that would be terrible. Without question, they swiftly pursued.
Wuyan called from behind: “The assassins are cunning—don’t trust them easily. First bring them to me for personal interrogation.”
“Yes.”
The guards responded in unison and quickly disappeared.
Within half a tea’s time, they brought two women before Wuyan. Both were tightly held by guards—indeed Wuyan’s old acquaintances: Wuxia and her servant.
Wuxia had been shouting angrily: “Do you know who I am? How dare you seize me?”
The lead guard slapped her hard, sternly scolding: “Behave yourself—Her Majesty wants to question you.”
“Your Majesty?” Wuxia felt pain, struggling wildly, both panicked and angry. Hearing “Your Majesty,” she paused slightly, hastily looking up. Seeing clearly, her eyes quickly lost their panic, replaced by intense hatred and malice: “Wei Wuyan, it’s you! You did this on purpose, didn’t you? What do you mean? Wait till father knows.”
She spoke “Wei Wuyan” through gritted teeth, wanting to bite and tear this half-sister apart.
Wuyan remained calm, glancing at her lightly: “Who are you, appearing here sneakily at night? What’s your purpose? Speak! Otherwise I’ll throw you in prison for severe punishment.”
Wuxia’s eyes nearly split with fury: “You dare?”
Her hair had come loose as she roared at the two guards holding her: “Bastards, just because Wei Wuyan says something doesn’t make it so. I’m Mrs. Chao, Grand Secretary Wei’s daughter, Consort Ci’s close friend. Release me immediately! If those people find out, you’ll suffer for it.”
“That’s right, our miss has Consort Ci’s written permission to enter the palace anytime to keep Her Majesty company. You blind fools dare commit insubordination. I heard Consort Wei is ill—probably confused and can’t recognize people. She’s leaving the palace tomorrow for recuperation, but our mistress is still here. How dare you treat our miss this way? Can you bear the consequences?”
Wuxia’s maid Qiuchan was also clever, reading the situation and following Wuxia’s lead.
This intimidated several guards. Not everyone recognized Wei Wuxia, and the one who had struck her was especially frightened. The guard captain lowered his voice: “Consort Wei, how should we handle this? Since these two could enter the heavily guarded palace gates, they might have legitimate reasons. Should we verify with Consort Ci to be safe?”
Wuyan laughed coldly: “Don’t you know that Mrs. Chao is my sister? Can’t I recognize her? Are you saying because I’m leaving the palace tomorrow, you won’t listen to me anymore?”
Having lived long in the palace with stunning beauty, Wuyan naturally possessed inviolable authority. The guard captain, scolded thus, panicked: “This servant wouldn’t dare.”
Wuyan glanced coolly at Qiuchan: “You claim to have Consort Ci’s written permission—dare you produce it to prove your innocence?”
Qiuchan was Wuxia’s head maid, having served beside her since childhood and often feuded with Wuyan. Hearing this, she immediately pulled out the written permission and threw it over. But Wuxia, realizing something, cried out: “Qiuchan, don’t—”
Here, Wuyan glanced quickly at the document before casually tearing it to shreds and dropping it on the ground, then mockingly curving her lips: “Fake documents dare cause trouble here!”
“You dare tear up Consort Ci’s written permission?! Wei Wuyan, what audacity!”
Qiuchan stared at Wuyan in disbelief. Though Wuxia had known the other wouldn’t let them pass after seeing the document, she never imagined Wuyan would dare tear it to pieces!
The guards were also shocked, watching silver fragments dance in the night sky—one piece, two pieces, all flying into bushes and disappearing. What to do now?!
“Consort Wei is leaving the palace tomorrow—go wild then! If you immediately take this madam to see Consort Ci, this madam might overlook past wrongs!”
Wuxia, seeing opportunity quickly, suppressed her anger and immediately told the guards.
The guards were torn. After all, if this “assassin” truly was Mrs. Chao, they’d offend Murong Ci. Offending any palace mistress meant trouble, especially the equally powerful Consorts Wei and Ci. But still… Consort Wei was leaving tomorrow, making future imperial favor uncertain. The guard captain looked at Wuyan, pretending difficulty: “Consort Wei, perhaps this subordinate should go disturb Consort Ci, so these criminals will be convinced.”
Wuyan remained silent momentarily while Wuxia returned an equally contemptuous look.
Unexpectedly, Wuyan showed no anger, saying lightly: “In my opinion, no need to see Sister Ci—let’s see His Majesty instead.”
“Let me ask His Majesty directly whether my palace departure means even my consort position is being usurped.” In the deep night, the woman’s red lips moved like fire: “I originally thought that today His Majesty even offended the Empress Dowager and Princess Imperial for me, showing I still have some place in his heart. Who knew it would be so quickly ‘when people leave, tea grows cold.’ Fine, let’s all go together.”
Hearing this, the guards’ faces went deathly pale. How dare they say more? With crashing sounds, they all knelt: “This subordinate wouldn’t dare!”
The guard captain spoke decisively: “Please instruct how to handle these two criminals, Your Majesty.”
Wuxia’s face was deathly pale, her teeth nearly shattered: “Wei Wuyan, well done, well done!”
“I’m currently ill and shouldn’t commit killing, hoping to accumulate virtue. Thus, take these two outside the palace and release them. Inform the gate guards not to allow them entry again. Understand?”
After Wuyan’s light instructions, she leaned close to Wuxia’s ear and whispered: “Sister, virtue rises one foot, vice rises ten. Sister, go slowly—it’s best not to harbor harmful intentions.”
Wuxia’s eyes blazed with fury, wanting to tear her apart. She hissed: “Wuyan, how much longer can His Majesty’s favor for you last? Marquis Huo has abandoned you too. Just wait and see your own miserable end…”
Before she could continue, the guards forcibly covered her mouth and dragged her away.
Wuyan’s heart was also racing. That had been quite dangerous. She hugged her arms as if cold and walked back, murmuring: “Huaisu, sister has finally repaid all she owes you, hasn’t she?”
After brief thought, she didn’t return to her own chambers but headed toward Lian Yu’s. Though uncertain of Wuxia’s palace purpose, she should tell Lian Yu to be safe, so he could protect Huaisu just in case.
As Wuxia and Qiuchan were being escorted to the palace gates for expulsion, someone emerged from dark shadows, slowly saying: “Wait.”
All guards drew swords in alarm. Wuxia looked up to see red palace walls and green-tiled eaves. An elegantly beautiful woman stood still, followed by a maid carrying a tray with a stew pot and two small bowls.
The guards naturally recognized this person, hastily bowing: “Greetings, Lady Gu.”
With special status as the Empress Dowager’s adopted daughter and imperial consort, though not yet formally titled with unknown rank, palace staff addressed her as “Lady.”
Shuangcheng had personally prepared soup with Mei’er tonight, intending to send it to Lian Yu’s palace. Passing the Imperial Garden, she unexpectedly witnessed this interesting scene. She spoke gently: “All rise.”
Looking at Wuxia once, her gaze was calm and unruffled. Wuxia was suspicious and uncertain. They’d feuded earlier this year through Murong Ci’s relationship—Wuxia and Murong Ci had once severely punished Shuangcheng. Who knew they’d meet again today.
The guard captain naturally knew this new lady was one His Majesty had taken from Minister Quan, not to be offended. Seeing the silence and uncertain of her intentions, he smiled placatingly: “Does My Lady have instructions?”
Shuangcheng smiled slightly, charmingly saying: “How did you arrest Mrs. Chao? If General Chao and Grand Secretary Wei knew, how anxious they’d be.”
The guards were shocked again. The captain’s heart sank as he stammered: “This… this is really Mrs. Chao, the Grand Secretary’s daughter? But Consort Wei said… couldn’t release them.”
Actually, he had some idea of these women’s identities. Hearing Lady Gu’s words made it clearer, but he dared not disobey Consort Wei’s orders. After all, serving in the palace, Consort Wei was more untouchable than Grand Secretary Wei or General Chao.
Shuangcheng covered her mouth laughing: “Let Shuangcheng put it this way. Like a math problem—who’s greater, Consort Wei or Mrs. Chao? Naturally Consort Wei. Then, who’s greater, Consort Wei or Shuangcheng? Still Consort Wei. But setting aside outsiders, Consort Wei has His Majesty above her. Shuangcheng, though unworthy, benefits from His Majesty’s favor. Mrs. Chao has Consort Ci behind her, and Consort Ci has the Empress Dowager.”
Shuangcheng seemed to see into his heart. The captain grew more troubled and anxious: “This…”
Shuangcheng suddenly patted his shoulder, her smile deepening: “Sir, Consort Wei’s favor must naturally be honored. However, sometimes criminals are cunning and might escape—that’s not impossible, right? You have patrol duties and can’t watch constantly. If subordinates are incompetent, what does that have to do with you? Even if Consort Wei investigates later, Consort Ci would be understanding, and Shuangcheng could testify.”
The captain wasn’t stupid—he understood this lady’s meaning. Even if truly investigated, they could find a scapegoat while earning favor with this new lady and Consort Ci.
Night deepened. Though it was July, crows occasionally flew over palace walls crying mournfully. Starlight was dim, making hearts feel cold.
Wuyan woke holding her aching forehead, staring at the surroundings in shock: How was she here? She had clearly been—
But her mind seemed fragmented, temporarily unable to remember previous events.
“Xiang’er, help me rise and dress.”
She called softly, but the entire room didn’t respond. Strange—she heard low, urgent footsteps approaching from the outer room.
This day, as light barely touched the horizon and the entire sky remained overcast, Suzhen had left home for court. Because she’d returned injured yesterday, Leng Xue and others worried, accompanying her today.
According to palace rules, ministers’ attendants or servants could wait in a side hall outside the Golden Throne Hall.
However, since entering the palace, Suzhen felt the atmosphere was wrong. Along the way, many colleagues seeing her avoided like plague, their expressions extremely strange.
Everyone found this very odd. Even the alert Little Zhou was completely puzzled, poking her: “Li Huaisu, has something happened in the palace?”
Suzhen was also confused, feeling her eyelids twitching severely and unusually uneasy. Suddenly someone approached, putting an arm around her shoulder and saying quietly: “Li Huaisu, leave the palace immediately. I’ll request leave from Yan Da for you. Something’s wrong in the palace today.”
He then instructed someone nearby: “Chao Huang, immediately find our people to discover what happened.”
Suzhen’s heart jumped heavily as a handsome, enchanting face came into view. His eyes were ink-dark, brows rarely slightly furrowed.
For the remaining days, I’ll either update continuously until the 30th, or update on even dates, or continuously until the 27th with the last three days off for adjustment. I’m not certain now—just keep this in mind, and I won’t announce separately.