“What audacity! How dare you speak to this princess like that!” Princess Tana pointed at Qin Yining, furious beyond measure. “Someone come! Arrest her for this princess!”
“Your Ladyship, this…”
Several palace servants looked at each other, but ultimately knelt down and said, “Your Ladyship, this… we dare not.”
“Dare not? This princess commands you, yet you dare to disobey orders! Don’t you want to live anymore!”
“Your Ladyship, please forgive us, but, but the Princess Consort is a noblewoman, this…”
“Consort Shun need not make things difficult for the palace servants.” Qin Yining chuckled lightly. “This subject’s wife has neither violated palace rules nor acted against Consort Shun’s interests. This is not a sudden malicious incident, and only the Imperial Clan Court can determine this subject’s guilt. Now, this subject’s wife merely offered a few words of advice—to put it plainly, this subject’s wife is following imperial decree to teach Your Ladyship the proper conduct of the Great Zhou. Yet you immediately call for violence against this subject’s wife. This puts not only this subject’s wife in a difficult position, but the palace servants as well.”
“You!”
“Your Ladyship should rest well. Tomorrow morning you must still pay respects to the Empress Dowager and Empress—don’t delay important matters. This subject’s wife takes her leave first.”
After saying this, regardless of Princess Tana’s expression, Qin Yining turned and walked toward the side hall.
Princess Tana hurried after her for two steps, stamping her feet in anger and cursing like a string of pearls in the Tatar language.
Qin Yining acted as if she hadn’t heard and went straight back to the side hall.
Only then did Princess Tana realize how undignified her behavior had been. Even if no one understood what she was saying, everyone could see that she had been scolded by a subject’s wife—moreover, this was the same subject’s wife she had personally requested by imperial decree to come and teach her proper conduct.
The cold air of the first month gradually calmed Princess Tana down. She returned to her bedchamber with a stern face, waving to dismiss the several eunuchs who had been prepared in the hall.
The days ahead were long.
His Majesty currently favored her—she was in no hurry.
When Qin Yining returned to the side hall, Ji Yun and Bingtang had been waiting for a long time.
“How was it, Princess Consort? What exactly is wrong with that Tatar princess? Tomorrow you must report to the Empress!”
Qin Yining patted Bingtang’s hand soothingly and said, “The Empress is already overwhelmed with her own troubles. She doesn’t have the means to protect me. Moreover, this kind of thing has no evidence—if I speak up, I’ll instead be accused of sowing discord between the imperial consorts.”
“How is there no evidence? This servant saw everything.” Bingtang’s face flushed red with anger.
Ji Yun shook her head, frowning, “The Princess Consort is right. We can testify, but we’re the Princess Consort’s confidants—our words aren’t sufficient as evidence. The palace servants of Chuxiu Palace must make their living under Consort Shun. Who among them would dare stand up and testify against Consort Shun? They’d never be able to survive in the future.”
“Then we just let her torment the Princess Consort like this? How can the Princess Consort’s body endure such treatment? Not letting people sleep in the middle of the night, summoning people to stand beside her and listen to her talk for no reason—she can’t even speak Great Zhou language fluently, where does she get so much to say!”
Qin Yining was amused by Bingtang’s adorable complaints, and all the irritation caused by Princess Tana vanished.
“Alright, don’t be angry.” She took Bingtang’s hand and smiled, “She harbors resentment toward me, so she tries every way to torment me. Actually, this is still a good thing for me.”
“A good thing?”
“Yes, at least she’s not someone with deep scheming. If she harbored hatred in her heart while wearing a smile on her face, that would be much harder to guard against. Now that she’s willing to directly show her disgust toward me, she’s not so frightening anymore.”
Bingtang thought about it carefully and realized this was indeed true. She smiled and said, “Princess Consort always manages to see the bright side of everything. We servants want to help you, but when trouble comes, it’s you who ends up comforting us instead.”
“What talk is that.” Qin Yining took Ji Yun’s hand with her other hand, having them sit on either side of her, and said sincerely, “If not for me, how would you have been implicated and brought into the palace? Palace life requires constant caution everywhere. Even if one makes no mistakes, troubles still find their way to you. I’m actually quite worried.”
“I’m being targeted because I’m Zhixi’s wife—it’s our status that has led to the current situation. But you are innocent.”
“What words are these, Princess Consort?”
Both Ji Yun and Bingtang shook their heads.
Bingtang said, “How many hardships have we endured together? How many difficulties have we overcome? When have we ever been afraid? And why mention being implicated or not? If the Princess Consort hadn’t stepped forward back then, the demon empress’s people would probably have already infiltrated Xiangu Temple and secretly harmed me. Would I still be living peacefully today? Not only do I think this way, Ji Yun thinks so too.”
“That’s right.” Ji Yun also said, “The Princess Consort is a good person, and His Highness also saved this servant’s life. If not for His Highness taking me in back then, this servant would have starved to death long ago. Moreover, when we were enjoying all the glory following the Princess Consort, we servants didn’t express gratitude, yet when troubles come we show resentment—what kind of people would that make us?”
Bingtang nodded repeatedly.
Qin Yining sighed, spreading her arms to embrace both their shoulders and pat them. “I know your hearts. Rest assured, I will definitely protect you all. We will all leave the palace safely.”
“Yes, we servants all know this.”
Though the three were nominally master and servants, at this moment when their fates were controlled by others, they depended on each other like true sisters.
Sometimes Qin Yining felt she was truly very fortunate.
Though her youth was difficult, when she was small she had a foster mother to raise her. When her foster mother fell gravely ill, “Beautiful Brother” extended a helping hand. When she went up the mountain to survive by herself, making a living by digging wild vegetables and herbs and hunting, most of the hunters and doctors she encountered were good people.
She was like a wild grass in the fields, yet who could have imagined she would be encountered by one of her father’s advisors, and found and brought back simply because her appearance resembled her father’s?
In her life, there were hardships everywhere, but everywhere there were also hidden unexpected joys.
Perhaps this palace journey was very dangerous, but who could say there was no hope within it?
The three let down their hair and slept fully clothed through the night.
Fortunately, Princess Tana had also exhausted herself with her antics. She slept deeply and had no other inclination to torment others, so the palace servants and Qin Yining all managed to catch some sleep.
Early the next morning, Princess Tana changed into a light green narrow-sleeved long robe, wearing a hat adorned with pearl tassels and feathers, her hair neatly pinned up. Her Tatar attire stood out remarkably in this palace where court dress was everywhere. Combined with her tall figure and exotic beauty, she was truly quite a sight.
No wonder Li Qitian was fond of her.
Qin Yining smiled when she saw her.
Princess Tana glanced sideways at Qin Yining: “What do you mean? What are you smiling about!”
“Replying to Consort Shun, Your Ladyship is elegantly dressed with beauty that could topple cities.”
Princess Tana was delighted to hear this and rolled her eyes at Qin Yining. “At least you have some taste.”
Qin Yining smiled, “Your Ladyship’s beauty is evident to all.”
Only then did Princess Tana smile and say, “You shall accompany this princess to Ci’an Palace.”
“Yes.”
Qin Yining replied with lowered brows and compliant manner, bringing Ji Yun and Bingtang to follow behind Princess Tana.
Princess Tana was accustomed to the grand and rugged palaces of the Tatars. Even though she had been in the Great Zhou for some time, every time she saw the delicate and magnificent imperial palace of the Great Zhou, and the imperial garden that remained scenic everywhere even in winter, she couldn’t help slowing her pace to admire it carefully.
She even felt in her heart that no wonder her father and ancestors had always wanted to invade southward. Who wouldn’t want to possess such a rich and beautiful place? If the Tatar people could all come to the Great Zhou to graze their herds, wouldn’t there be larger, more abundant, and lusher pastures?
Princess Tana’s eyes sparkled brightly, her heart full of envy.
This expression was caught perfectly by Consort Yun, who was dressed in light blue court attire with a white fox fur-trimmed cloak.
“Oh my, this palace wondered who it was—isn’t this Sister Consort Shun?” Consort Yun approached with graceful steps, her charming eyes looking Princess Tana up and down, feeling quite disdainful in her heart.
Just a barbarian, look at that strange and ugly outfit! Though her appearance was passable, her skin was too coarse, and she looked crude overall—where was there even half the appearance a woman should have?
Consort Yun mentally criticized Princess Tana’s appearance once again, while also despising her thoroughly.
Confident in her beauty and status, Consort Yun didn’t even respect the Empress in the palace. Now a barbarian princess had arrived and gained His Majesty’s favor. Apart from despising her every time they met, she could find no other outlet for her frustration.
Consort Yun couldn’t stand Princess Tana, and Princess Tana likewise disliked Consort Yun.
Especially since her Great Zhou language comprehension wasn’t very smooth, but this Consort Yun spoke like a bird that had eaten too many sunflower seeds—always speaking urgently and quickly with a chattering voice that annoyed her greatly. If not understanding her words wasn’t bad enough, she was also so arrogant. Wasn’t it just because she had an Empress Dowager as a grand-aunt? Acting so pleased as if she’d received an imperial decree to become Empress!
Princess Tana snorted coldly and ignored Consort Yun.
But Consort Yun’s gaze bypassed Princess Tana and fixed on Qin Yining.
“Princess Consort Zhongshun?”
“Yes. This subject’s wife pays respects to Consort Yun.” Qin Yining smiled and curtsied.
Consort Yun sneered, her gaze alternating between Princess Tana and Qin Yining, then laughed coldly: “You really are remarkable—whoever gains favor, whoever is powerful, you fawn over them. Previously you were like a dog flattering the Empress, and now what? You also find the Empress’s pathetic appearance unbearable and have switched to rely on Consort Shun instead?”
Consort Yun sneered as she leaned closer, whispering, “This palace advises you to rely on this palace instead. Perhaps when this palace is in a good mood in the future, I might spare you a way to live. Following either a useless waste or a savage—aren’t you afraid of being dragged down to be buried with them!”
Qin Yining lowered her eyes, “Thank you for Consort Yun’s concern. If Consort Yun has the inclination, you should study palace rules more.”
Consort Yun gritted her teeth and said nothing.
Ever since Qin Yining had “falsely accused” her of trying to scratch the imperial prince, she had been forced to reflect in isolation for many days and compelled to learn many rules. She had finally regained imperial favor with great difficulty, yet Qin Yining dared to mock her to her face!
“Don’t be so smug! This palace will just watch how long you can remain smug!”
“That need not trouble you.”
“Are you two annoying or not? Are we still paying respects to the Empress Dowager or not!” Princess Tana was furious, scolding them in Great Zhou language with strange accent and imperfect fluency, then strode first through the gates of Ci’an Palace.