The Daqiu inner palace had been very unsettled these past two days. Consort Xiang was severely injured, and the King was holding his great wedding—one sorrow and one joy placed together created a double dose of strangeness.
Those princesses who had entered the palace not long ago, after repeated deliberation, came to find the English Consort, who ranked below Consort Xiang but was first among the nine consorts and was also Consort Xiang’s younger sister.
Although these princesses all held extremely high status as young ladies in their own families, Consort Xiang had not yet assigned them ranks in the palace, and Wu Yanqie couldn’t possibly manage such matters, so until now they were merely palace ladies.
“English Consort, how exactly did Consort Xiang get injured? She won’t even let us go in to pay our respects. I only saw several basins of bloody water carried out—it nearly scared my younger sister into fainting.” The speaker was the legitimate eldest daughter of the Mar family, clearly holding the highest status among the palace ladies.
The English Consort glanced over indifferently, seeing how timid the Mar family’s concubine-born younger sister’s complexion appeared, yet her eyes told a different story. She secretly laughed to herself. Where in this palace were there truly sisterly bonds? “This, I really cannot say.” The English Consort raised her willow-leaf eyebrows. “Moreover, to be honest with you all, even I haven’t been able to see my elder sister yet. The imperial physician said it was the King’s decree—no one is to disturb elder sister’s recovery. I cannot disobey royal orders either.” Compared to Consort Xiang’s domineering tyranny, the English Consort’s smooth handling of all sides made her easily win people’s hearts.
The Mar family lady confided in her. “English Consort, I received news from outside the palace saying it was Song Mo Zi who stabbed her.”
Several princesses who didn’t yet know looked shocked and lost color. Which woman in this inner palace didn’t know of Song Mo Zi? Although just a name, this name was the King’s heart’s flesh, was Consort Xiang’s thorn in the bone, and was the primary obstacle to their future competition for favor.
The English Consort didn’t show a surprised expression. She couldn’t pretend not to know—that would be too fake. What she showed the princesses was gravity and helplessness.
“We can talk about it here, but absolutely don’t mention it before the King. Otherwise, my elder sister is only severely injured, but your lives won’t be spared.” Her sister’s struggle for favor and power had reached the point of tearing off all pretense with Song Mo Zi, but she wouldn’t be so foolish. She absolutely wouldn’t do things that would make the King detest her. “Elder sister Mo Zi will soon become empress. Sisters, don’t think about unnecessary things. Sisters working together with one heart to serve the King is the proper principle.”
The Mar family’s legitimate eldest daughter snorted coldly. “The English Consort is too gentle and kind. If Song Mo Zi can severely wound Consort Xiang, will she show us mercy? Working together with one heart is right, but not with her. A Han woman relying on her beauty to bewitch the King—a crime deserving ten thousand deaths. I’d like to see how long she can remain empress!”
“I also heard news that these past days, royal ministers and officials have been submitting memorials impeaching the King for marrying Song Mo Zi as empress. Whether she can even enter this palace gate is still unknown.” Another clan’s princess said.
The English Consort thought to herself: This group of women truly believes they carry weight? The King holds military power in his grasp—impeachment and such are utterly useless. Currently he still fears losing popular support, but if he’s determined to tear off all pretense, nobles can also be demoted to commoners. Unable to see the situation clearly, they’re all short-sighted fools just like her sister.
At this moment, a young eunuch hurried in. Seeing so many people present, he hesitated slightly.
“Is there something concerning Consort Xiang?” The English Consort asked this to tell her confidant that if it concerned Consort Xiang, he could speak freely.
“Your Grace, Song Mo Zi has entered the palace and is heading toward Consort Xiang’s quarters.” The young eunuch’s eyes, looking at the ground, rolled around.
All the princesses were shocked. The timid ones lost all color.
“How did she enter the palace?” The Mar family lady couldn’t sit still. “Is she afraid circumstances will change, so disregarding wedding propriety, she’s moving into the palace first? Truly not a shred of upbringing—how shameless!”
The English Consort looked troubled. “If the rumors are true and she’s going to see my elder sister, who knows what unpleasantness will occur. But her entering the palace must have the King’s consent, otherwise how could she enter? Whether to go look or sit here—both are wrong. In any case, we cannot offend her.”
The Mar family lady indeed took the bait. “The English Consort underestimates herself too much. Regardless of who came first or later, all our families have made illustrious military contributions to Daqiu. Should we fear a small Han woman? If she becomes empress and wants to make an example of us, she’ll have to ask our fathers and brothers first. I don’t believe that even if the King dotes on her and tolerates her injuring Consort Xiang, he would let her kill us all? Without fault or error, on what grounds? If you won’t go, I’ll go look myself. After all, she hasn’t yet become Daqiu’s empress! If we show weakness today, our days ahead will truly be bitter.”
She took the lead, and several proud and haughty ones followed her outside.
Only then did the English Consort call them back, then reluctantly and unwillingly stepped forward. “Fine, fine. With elder sister fallen, I must lead you all, lest the situation become too tense. Remember, when we see her later, don’t be impulsive. I’ve met Song Mo Zi a few times—she’s someone who won’t jump unless you provoke her.” Invisibly, she stepped on her sister’s reputation.
Mo Zi walked into the Xiang River Palace. She brought only two maidservants with her, but the Consort Xiang’s palace maids looked at her as if looking at a venomous scorpion. When she smiled, it frightened them even more, their hearts trembling. Because they knew that although only three people had entered, outside were the King’s shadow guards. The palace guards and Consort Xiang’s private black-armored warriors couldn’t even move. Consort Xiang had always been the de facto mistress of the inner palace. They thought that even if a Han woman became empress, it wouldn’t affect this. Now it seemed they were gravely mistaken. Consort Xiang’s shoulder bone was pierced by Song Mo Zi’s sword. The King paid it no mind. Song Mo Zi entering the palace was like entering an unpopulated realm.
The palace maids looked at the smile on her face and anxiously thought: This aura—she’s already the empress.
“Who personally attends Consort Xiang?” Mo Zi had once been a resident of this palace, so she was quite familiar with the environment. It’s just that she didn’t recognize a single face among these palace maids—they should be forces Consort Xiang cultivated herself.
The palace maids looked at each other, then a woman with a relatively pleasant face stepped forward, still fairly composed. “…This servant is Yu Lan, the head palace maid of Xiang River Palace.”
“Then trouble you to lead me to your mistress’s sleeping chamber.” Mo Zi felt her attitude was quite good—why were they all afraid of her?
Yu Lan bit her lip, her feet not moving.
“Just tell me which door is also fine.” She didn’t want to come either, but had no choice. Old places, new places—she needed to examine everything carefully.
Yu Lan pointed toward the south.
Mo Zi thanked her and walked over, lifting the curtain and entering.
The palace maids held their breath and heard Consort Xiang shriek.
“Song Mo Zi!”
Mo Zi’s maidservants moved a chair to Consort Xiang’s bedside, the distance just right—not too close, not too far.
Mo Zi patted her chest. “Such strong vital energy, such good spirits—seems I worried for nothing.”
“Crocodile tears!” Consort Xiang shouted furiously. “Someone! Quickly call the guards and throw this woman out for this palace! This is my territory—how did she get in here?”
“Finally not calling me elder sister? Amitabha, thank heaven and earth.” Mo Zi let her rage. “Every time you called me elder sister, I got goosebumps all over. This is so much better—being your true self. Your heart is clearly jealous to death, yet you insist on pretending to be virtuous and magnanimous. Why bother? This sword wound wasn’t for nothing. When you issued the kill order against me, didn’t you think I would retaliate? Yue Xiang, you once said I seemed like a moon rabbit untouched by worldly concerns. At the time I took it as a compliment. Now thinking back, you were mocking my stupidity, weren’t you?”
Consort Xiang suddenly realized this person appearing so brazenly must have the King’s backing, so she stopped shouting. Her gaze extremely cold, she stared at Mo Zi. “So what? Apart from doing menial work, what else can you do? What’s so great about building ships? Get thousands of craftsmen and they can work day and night to build them for me. The skills you think others can’t learn are now being used for Daqiu’s military might. Who’s applying them? Me! The King is only obsessed with you because he can’t have you. Once you also become one of his women, he’ll quickly tire of you. Only I, Yue Xiang, have the ability and power to support him to the end in his enterprise of unification.”
Mo Zi looked at her venomous expression. “Once upon a time, we were just two carefree little girls. Did you come to hate me so much because you fell in love with Wu Yanqie?”
Consort Xiang showed a trace of distraction, then instantly became cold. “You’re a Han woman—you’re not worthy of him. He and I are heaven’s decree.”
Did she know that if Daqiu kept rejecting Han people, it would be impossible to realize its ambitions? Win the people’s hearts to win the world.
But there was no need for her to earnestly persuade. Mo Zi said, “Who’s worthy of whom—such things have various interpretations. Truthfully, from when I learned you two were together, I always felt you were a perfect match. So I don’t understand why you had to help him force me to appear? If I didn’t show up, the empress position would eventually be yours.”
“But he would never forget you. Besides, he already knows about my attempt to kill you—I need to atone for my crimes.” Consort Xiang laughed. “Congratulations, you’re about to become one of the women in his harem. Do you know that in the two years you were gone, he doted on me in every way? Thanks to your jealousy, I also enjoyed the happy days of monogamous marriage. Now, to marry you, the palace is full of women everywhere. Isn’t it interesting? You most hate his lack of devotion, yet as you enter the palace, he’s taking in women widely. I keep thinking about it and feel a headache for you, the empress. How many people will you have to kill in the future to leave only yourself by his side?”
“Monogamous marriage?” Mo Zi smiled sweetly. “If it’s monogamous, how did your own younger sister become a consort? And you needn’t have a headache for me. He promised that the women in the palace are mine to dispose of as I please. Kill them or drive them away, as long as I’m happy. Didn’t you see it yourself? Ah, you had fainted then. He asked me if I’d vented my anger, if I was satisfied.”
Consort Xiang’s injury was serious, her strength failing. Hearing this, she nearly collapsed. “Impossible!”
“Have you vented your anger? Are you satisfied? Those were his exact words. If I had killed you then, what would he have said? Guess?” Mo Zi stood up. Just letting her mouth be vicious for a moment, even she couldn’t stand herself. This man-eating harem—how could one survive in it?
Behind her, Consort Xiang fell from the bed, sprawling on the ground, screaming in agony that it was impossible, and loudly calling Wu Yanqie’s name.
Mo Zi walked out without looking back. Watching the palace maids rush in and out in panic, calling for their mistress, shouting for the imperial physician, her face showed no expression.
Outside, she encountered the English Consort who was just arriving to watch the excitement. Good—another way to pass the time.