Various gazes, mixed with various thoughts, fell upon Mo Zi.

Mo Zi accepted them calmly.

In the end, it was still Concubine Ying who said to the princesses staring from behind her, “Hurry inside and see if there’s anything you can help with.”

The princesses saw that although Mo Zi was beautiful, there was nothing particularly special about her, and more or less developed a sense of contempt. After Concubine Ying’s reminder, they still felt that Concubine Xiang was more reliable, and filed into the palace hall one after another.

“Have you been well?” Concubine Ying greeted Mo Zi and had the maids move away. She didn’t particularly like Mo Zi, but she understood this woman better than her sister did. Song Mo Zi didn’t care at all about the position of national consort. Because she didn’t care, her sister was destined to lose.

Mo Zi looked at her consort’s cloud-patterned robes and smiled, “Congratulations to you.”

Concubine Ying smiled back, “There’s nothing to congratulate. Compared to other men, becoming a woman of the King of Daqiu is at least glorious.”

“Poor Wu Yanqie. Actually, if he were smart, he should properly cherish the person lying inside. At the very least, your sister has loved him from beginning to end.” Mo Zi walked forward.

Concubine Ying turned and followed her, completely ignoring the chaos in Xiangshui Palace. “Saying it like that—are you trying to make me feel ashamed?”

“Just a sigh, that’s all.” She had liked Wu Yanqie before—she wouldn’t erase the existence of the past. “Why aren’t you going to see what state your sister’s been driven to by my provocation, and instead following me around?”

“Haven’t you always known who I hate most in this world?” It was that self-righteous, arrogant Kena Yuexiang. “If I were you, she wouldn’t have a life left to scream with right now.”

Mo Zi looked at Concubine Ying. “Times really have changed. I never thought there’d be a day when you and I could walk together for a while. However, your sister has already been defeated by me. Will you be next?”

Concubine Ying covered her smile with her sleeve. “Song Mo Zi, you will never be my enemy, though we can’t become friends either. My sister has been defeated by you, but she hasn’t been defeated by me yet. In such a large harem, there are many women waiting for me to deal with. I have no time to worry about people or matters outside.”

Some people like the sky, some like grand mansions. That girl who always stared viciously at Kena Yuexiang from dark corners—now was her time to shine.

“Oh? How do you know you don’t need to deal with me? I’m getting married and entering the palace in a few days.” Becoming her superior.

Concubine Ying clapped her hands lightly, her face cheerful. “Wonderful! I’m counting down the days on my fingers for you. When you enter the palace, her days are numbered. I’ll set off firecrackers to celebrate. When that time comes, I’ll request to leave the palace myself—you remember to pick a good family for me.”

“So whether I enter the palace or not, you benefit either way.” Mo Zi laughed helplessly. This seedling seemed suited for palace intrigue.

“Should I hang myself on a single tree?” Concubine Ying said matter-of-factly.

Passing through the imperial garden, several people wearing official robes were running over from a distance, one of them was Kena Zhendi.

“Your father cares very much about your sister. Looks like you’ll need to work harder.” Mo Zi stopped. “Quick, kneel down and beg me to treat your sister a little better.”

Concubine Ying understood immediately. She dropped heavily to both knees, clutching Mo Zi’s sleeve, tears appearing in her eyes.

“Remember, in the harem, the most blessed woman is definitely the one who can wait the longest. When the day comes that you become the national consort of Daqiu, I will present you with a great gift.” Mo Zi gradually put away her smile, her expression becoming impatient. Because Kena Zhendi was getting very close.

Concubine Ying’s tears fell with a patter, at a volume her father could hear. “Please spare my sister. She’s already badly injured and can’t have any more accidents. If you’re still dissatisfied, target me instead.”

Kena Zhendi pulled up his daughter. “Ying’er, why beg her? She dared to stab and injure your sister—I absolutely won’t let her enter the palace.” It seemed he believed this daughter.

Once upon a time, he had disliked Yue Ying greatly. Mo Zi lowered her eyes and smiled coldly.

“Song Mo Zi, what are your intentions?” Kena Zhendi told the imperial physicians to hurry to Xiangshui Palace while he himself wanted to demand an explanation.

Mo Zi looked quite innocent. “I don’t intend anything. When your precious daughter wanted to kill me, I reached out to block. Perhaps she’s committed too many evil deeds—she tried to harm others but harmed herself instead, charging too fiercely, causing my sword to pierce her shoulder. Although it’s not my fault, I still felt rather uncomfortable about it. Coincidentally, Wu Yanqie told me to enter the palace, so I went to see her. How did her temperament become like that? She won’t listen to anyone, just keeps losing her temper by herself, and ended up rolling off the bed. Really, if I’d known, I might as well have gone with Wu Yanqie to pay respects at the royal mausoleum.”

On this Clear and Bright Festival day, Wu Yanqie had originally wanted to go with her to worship at the royal mausoleum, but she refused on the grounds that she wasn’t yet married into the family. Right now, everything was focused on the grand wedding—as long as she didn’t say things like she wouldn’t marry him, he indulged her in everything.

Kena Zhendi’s old eyes flashed sharply. “What right do you have to pay respects at the royal mausoleum?”

Mo Zi nodded. “Exactly! That’s what I told Wu Yanqie too. Minister Kena, you’re a senior official at court. He’s young and impetuous—you should also speak to him about what needs to be said. Ancestral laws cannot be disregarded.”

“…” Kena Zhendi was choked with anger. “Silence! How dare you call the King’s name so casually?”

Fine, she’d be silent. Mo Zi also knew about borrowing power, knowing when to stop while ahead.

“Minister Kena, you should hurry and see Concubine Xiang. I think she definitely wants to see you now, to discuss how to get rid of me. I won’t delay you.” Mo Zi made a gesture of invitation and walked toward the palace gate.

“What she relies on is nothing more than the King’s favor. Once the King is disappointed in her—” Kena Zhendi glared angrily at Mo Zi’s retreating back and snorted twice.

“Father, allow me to say something. Song Mo Zi is not a great threat. On the contrary, if the King can win over her heart, Daqiu’s warship capabilities could improve tenfold, a hundredfold. Even if she can become national consort, she has no family to rely on and will inevitably seek power elsewhere. Sister shouldn’t have torn off all pretense with her at this time, making her completely hate our Kena clan. Who knows—she might turn toward Duange and Maer instead. The King already has some wariness toward us. If she adds pillow talk, the Kena family’s glory will gradually disappear. Why not proceed gradually?” Concubine Ying was deeply inspired by Mo Zi.

Kena Zhendi was somewhat surprised she could say such things. “At first hearing, one might think you weak, but actually you’re intelligent. Your sister’s temper has truly been spoiled. She should have just endured it, but instead actually tried to kill Song Mo Zi, and right in front of the King too. I simply don’t know what to say about her. Ying’er, if your sister is ruined, Father will have to count on you.”

Concubine Ying took her father’s arm. “What are you saying, Father? Sister is your daughter—am I not your daughter too? Without saying it, I’ll naturally help my own family.”

Kena Zhendi smiled with satisfaction. “Your mother will be proud of you. When I return, I’ll reward her generously.”

“When Father has leisure time, just go see Mother—that will make her happy.” Concubine Ying mentioned it so casually.

Mo Zi returned to the mansion, and the maid who had entered the palace with her loosened her hair.

Suddenly a paper ball was tossed through the window. The maid hurried to pick it up and hand it to Mo Zi. “Is there a harvest?”

That maid was actually Xiao Yi, and the other was Luo Ying. Who knew what method Yuan Cheng used—in any case, the two of them were brought by the head eunuch, so even the shadow guards didn’t suspect them.

“Mm.” After reading it, Mo Zi burned it as usual. Her entry to the palace wasn’t really to provoke Concubine Xiang.

“What did that consort say to Miss?” Luo Ying could only follow from afar at the time. The two spoke softly, but from their expressions, they seemed to be chatting pleasantly.

“She’s Concubine Xiang’s younger sister, very happy that I dealt with her sister. I saw she has the qualities to become Daqiu’s national consort, so I casually gave her some golden advice.” Using Kena Yue Ying to plant bombs wasn’t the first time for Mo Zi—the results had been remarkable.

Luo Ying laughed. “Miss is becoming more and more like the Minister. Each one speaks so lightly and casually, but it’s completely not like that at all.”

Mo Zi shrugged. “How can I compare to him? So sly and cunning!”

Luo Ying giggled. “You two—one is a big fox, one is a little fox. Six of one, half dozen of the other.”

Xiao Yi added: “A match made in heaven.”

“Enough, quickly go out and help with chores, lest people wonder why I’m so close with two palace maids like we’re sisters.” Ignoring them, she immediately drove them away.

The two went out. Luo Ying solemnly called over two other palace maids to take over, saying Miss Mo Zi wanted to rest and they should guard at the door ready to serve at any time. That bearing was no different from a senior palace maid.

Mo Zi really did take a nap. One trip to the palace felt like it peeled off a layer of skin alive, exhausting her to the point of utter fatigue, with nightmares one after another. She woke drenched in cold sweat.

The two palace maids heard her talking in her sleep and hurried in. Seeing her covered in sweat, they asked if she wanted to bathe.

“Where’s my sister?” She still hadn’t seen Dou Lu since returning.

“Miss Dou Lu came once. Seeing you were asleep, she didn’t come in. Just now the young marquis came and is keeping her company and talking.” A palace maid answered.

Mo Zi got out of bed. The wind made her shiver. “It’s already dark—what’s he here for? I don’t have dinner to feed him.” Was it really as Dou Lu said—before leaving, seeing all those old friends one last time?

The palace maid didn’t dare laugh. “Miss should still change your clothes. In just two more nights it will be the joyous day. You mustn’t catch a chill.”

Although Mo Zi didn’t like hearing such things, she wouldn’t make things difficult for the palace maids, and she had no intention of self-harming to achieve the purpose of escaping. Given Wu Yanqie’s attitude, even if she were sick to the point of near death, he’d probably carry her to the temple anyway. So she not only couldn’t get sick, but had to be healthy and in optimal condition for the “grand wedding.”

“Then I’ll bathe before changing clothes.” Mo Zi had the palace maid go tell Dou Lu’s side, and to send Wu Yanle away if possible.

The back garden of the Song residence had an indoor bathing pool. Though not extravagantly large, one could swim a few strokes in it. Mo Zi walked in and saw several palace maids scattering flower petals into the water. She quickly told them to stop. But it was a bit late—a layer of petals floated on the water, the rich fragrance enough to perfume her into a flower fairy.

The palace maids all went out, leaving only the one who had come out with her, holding clothes and standing by the poolside.

“You go out too.” She didn’t want to be observed.

“But the King said—” to stay close.

Without removing her clothes, Mo Zi jumped into the pool. “Now I’m soaked through. The only clothes I can change into are in your hands. Where would I run? Besides, my sister is with Wu Yanle right now—I won’t abandon her.”

The palace maid thought what she said made sense and withdrew.

Because her clothes were wet, taking them off required considerable effort. While struggling hard with them, she suddenly heard a low laugh.

“Do you need me to help you?”