Concubine Hua sat to one side without making a sound. Imperial Concubine Fu was quite pleased. “This palace believes everything the Great Priestess says. After all, she’s someone who knows Heaven’s mandate.”
Shen Hanlu smiled slightly. Originally she hadn’t liked Imperial Concubine Fu, even harbored resentment over the drowning incident and wanted revenge. But now the wind had changed direction, and she wasn’t so inflexible. If National Uncle Wen wanted her to support Imperial Concubine Fu to the position, that wasn’t impossible either.
She’d originally worried the Emperor would hold her accountable, but National Uncle Wen protected her extremely well. Her ability to “know Heaven’s mandate” was capital that should be properly utilized to secure herself a way out.
“Wanqing, see the Great Priestess out.”
“Yes.”
Shen Hanlu rose and followed the palace maid out. Many benefits were pressed into her hands. In others’ eyes she was still a lofty immortal—how could she be interested in such worldly objects? So she very haughtily refused them.
Coming to help Imperial Concubine Fu—there were special channels to pay her salary anyway.
Imperial Concubine Fu still didn’t know Shen Hanlu was playing mystical tricks. She simply thought Heaven’s mandate had truly changed, which was why Shen Hanlu was being so polite to her. Inviting her to speak like this today was clearly for Concubine Hua to hear.
Earlier she’d made a mistake, actually allying with Shen Guiyan who was far stronger than herself to deal with Concubine Hua who had nothing. Now that Shen Guiyan’s pregnancy was exposed, she naturally regretted it and wanted to join forces with Concubine Hua again.
Fearing Concubine Hua still held a grudge, she’d invited her today.
“Did elder sister hear?” Imperial Concubine Fu asked with a smile.
Concubine Hua nodded slightly. “Yes.”
Seeing her cold demeanor, Imperial Concubine Fu’s eyes rolled and she knew—she definitely still harbored resentment.
“Not to hide from elder sister, inviting elder sister here this time is to discuss the matter of Noble Consort Yan falling in the water last time.” Imperial Concubine Fu dismissed the palace attendants and sat very obediently beside Concubine Hua, holding her hand. “Younger sister knows elder sister suffered injustice in that matter, but younger sister had no way to help elder sister. His Majesty issued the decree demoting elder sister’s rank right there in Yonghe Palace. At that time, this palace was still changing clothes in Hehuan Palace.”
Meaning: that had nothing to do with me. It was Shen Guiyan who informed on you.
Concubine Hua snorted lightly and turned her head away.
Imperial Concubine Fu circled around her with an apologetic smile. “Elder sister mustn’t direct your anger at younger sister. Haven’t younger sister and you always been of one heart? If our relationship soured over this matter, wouldn’t that just let Consort Yan profit?”
“Your Ladyship need not say more.” Concubine Hua’s face was cold. “That day the boatman was clearly your person, yet somehow it was framed as being at this concubine’s instigation, which made His Majesty angry. If Your Ladyship hadn’t interfered, why would Consort Yan think it was this concubine’s fault? Your Ladyship was on the boat too.”
“Aiya, elder sister, you’ve misunderstood.” Imperial Concubine Fu smiled. “The one who framed you definitely wasn’t younger sister. Consort Yan now wants to ascend to the empress position. She won’t let anyone in the rear palace go. Harming you is only natural. Younger sister was just afraid elder sister wouldn’t say anything and would misunderstand me, so I specially invited elder sister here today.”
A misunderstanding? Concubine Hua laughed coldly in her heart, though her face showed confusion. “You have no intention to harm me?”
“How could I want to harm you?” Imperial Concubine Fu feigned anger and patted her lightly. “You and I have always been on good terms. You’ve already given up the empress position. Why would I still target you? Rather, it’s Consort Yan who used this move to both suppress you and drive a wedge between us, leaving me isolated and helpless, unable to compete with her anymore. What an excellent plan to kill two birds with one stone!”
Concubine Hua pressed her lips together, somewhat deflated. “Saying anything now is useless. This concubine has already lost the consort rank and is powerless to do anything.”
“How could you be powerless to do anything?” Imperial Concubine Fu, seeing the person taking the bait, became even more sincere. “Elder sister just heard—the Great Priestess said this palace is destined by Heaven and very likely to sit on the empress position. As long as elder sister continues helping younger sister, once younger sister ascends, giving elder sister a hand won’t be difficult.”
Concubine Hua looked at her with some interest. “Your Ladyship’s words are true?”
“True.” Imperial Concubine Fu nodded. “Elder sister has no other choice anyway, right?”
Indeed so. Concubine Hua lowered her eyes and asked in a low voice: “What does Your Ladyship want this concubine to do?”
Imperial Concubine Fu looked left and right, then said in a low voice: “Now that you’ve been demoted, your movements are no longer so conspicuous. You can just think of a way for this palace to eliminate the child in Consort Yan’s belly. Best would be to eliminate her along with it.”
Concubine Hua paused, then looked up at her. “Whatever frame-up is used, His Majesty won’t easily punish Noble Consort. The child in her belly is a life-saving talisman. It won’t be easy to deal with.”
“This palace knows.” Imperial Concubine Fu narrowed her eyes. “So it’s best to act directly.”
Concubine Hua nodded and said softly: “Noble Consort’s surroundings are also heavily guarded. We can only use poison. But most items in her palace are silver, and ordinary poisons will be exposed.”
“This palace has a method.” Imperial Concubine Fu said: “This palace’s family has a type of Yellow Spring Powder that won’t be detected by silver implements.”
Concubine Hua froze.
That substance was the poison the former Crown Prince had used to kill the Late Emperor. Half a packet had once been found when searching the Crown Prince’s residence, then disappeared without a trace.
So it had been taken by the Fu family.
“Having the substance makes things much easier.” Concubine Hua said: “Your Ladyship just needs to obtain the item. This concubine is willing to handle matters for Your Ladyship. But there’s one thing.”
Pausing, Concubine Hua looked seriously at Imperial Concubine Fu. “Once bitten by a snake, one fears ropes for ten years. This concubine risks her life for Your Ladyship. If Your Ladyship betrays this concubine, this concubine has nowhere to cry. So if this concubine is to do this, please have Your Ladyship write a contract.”
Imperial Concubine Fu was startled. “A contract?”
“A contract known only to you and me. This concubine eliminates Consort Yan and the dragon child for Your Ladyship. After Your Ladyship ascends to the empress position, you must grant this concubine the consort rank.” Concubine Hua said: “Only then will this concubine dare to proceed with confidence.”
Such tactics did fit Concubine Hua’s image of being deeply scheming. Imperial Concubine Fu restrained her smile and began pondering.
Concubine Hua had desires and cherished her own life. Such a contract concerned both their lives. She wasn’t afraid of Concubine Hua betraying her, because then she herself couldn’t escape either.
Originally she thought Concubine Hua might not cooperate with her, but now it seemed Concubine Hua was intelligent, knew how to protect herself, and had things she wanted. This made her much easier to control.
One contract—at worst, after the deed was done, she could think of other ways to erase it.
Raising her head again, Imperial Concubine Fu smiled. “This palace agrees.”
Concubine Hua immediately turned around, brought over the writing implements from the desk, and placed them before herself and Imperial Concubine Fu. “This concubine will write one copy, Your Ladyship will copy one, each pressing our own handprint and seal. That will make it official.”
Imperial Concubine Fu pressed her lips together, hesitated briefly, but still complied.
The two contracts were exchanged. Imperial Concubine Fu felt reassured and carefully put away the contract. “You should also hide it carefully. This is our lives.”
“Don’t worry, Your Ladyship. This concubine is very afraid of death.” Concubine Hua finally smiled.
Gu Chaodong entered the palace very quickly. Because rear palace matters had been entrusted to Shen Guiyan by the Emperor, he quietly took a carriage through the West Yong Gate into the palace, and no one noticed.
Stepping into Yonghe Palace, Gu Chaodong’s breathing became somewhat uneven, his heart beating fast, just like when he was young and would arrange to meet her.
“This subject pays respects to Noble Consort.”
Kneeling to bow, her voice from above was warm and smiling. “Minister Gu, please rise.”
Gu Chaodong looked up with great excitement. What he saw was Shen Guiyan wearing form-fitting palace robes, her large belly protruding.
These past two days he’d been confined at home seeing no one. The news of Consort Yan’s pregnancy had spread like wildfire outside, but he didn’t know about it. Now seeing this at a glance, it was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head. His entire person froze.
“Minister Gu, please sit.” Seeing him staring fixedly at her mistress without reacting, Baoshan simply went up and pulled him, helping him to a chair on the side.
The palace hall doors were tightly closed. Inside were only Baoshan and the two of them. Shen Guiyan had nothing to worry about and looked at Gu Chaodong, saying: “Summoning the minister this time, I wanted to ask—does the minister still remember Shen Guiya?”
Gu Chaodong looked up at her blankly. The person he thought of day and night was this close to him, yet in palace robes she seemed separated by nine layers of palace walls.
“I remember.”
How could he not remember? If she hadn’t suddenly appeared and interfered, he and Yan’er should now be living peaceful days in mutual respect.
“Then has the minister seen Consort Shen, that is, the later Great Priestess?” Shen Guiyan asked again.
Gu Chaodong paused, then nodded. “I’ve seen her several times at banquets. She looks quite similar to Ya’er. I also saw her before at the Crown Prince’s residence. If this subject hadn’t personally placed Ya’er in the coffin, this subject would suspect she’d come back to life.”
He’d carefully observed the former Crown Prince’s secondary consort, the later Consort Shen. Whether her features or demeanor, both were very similar to Shen Guiya. Even Lady Bao had come to ask him if Ya’er was still alive.
But how could that be? Ya’er had indeed drowned in the pond. Among people in the world, there were bound to be resemblances.
“The minister’s suspicions aren’t excessive.” Shen Guiyan had Baoshan pass over the rice paper Xu Mengdie had brought. “Does the minister still remember back at the Gu residence, when Scholar Fu visited and had everyone write poetry?”
Gu Chaodong nodded. “That time Your Ladyship didn’t put brush to paper.”
“This palace didn’t, but Guiya did.” Shen Guiyan said: “Moreover, she wrote very seriously, but in the end didn’t show it to everyone. Where that writing went, no one knows.”
Gu Chaodong frowned. Taking what Baoshan passed over to look, his pupils contracted slightly. He looked it over repeatedly several times before saying: “This… this can’t be possible, right?”
“This matter, this palace feels the minister can go ask Yuwen Houde.” Shen Guiyan said: “The one who sent Shen Guiya to burial was him.”
Whether there were incidents like corpse reanimation midway, no one knew.
Gu Chaodong stood dazed for a long while, looking at Shen Guiyan and asking: “If that person truly is Shen Guiya, what will Your Ladyship do?”
Shen Guiyan smiled slightly. “What does the minister want to do?”
Before Shen Guiya’s death, she’d had an affair first. The resentment between her and Gu Chaodong had only been suppressed with her death.
So what if this person hadn’t died after all?
Gu Chaodong’s eyes darkened.