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nZhuang Laoyan approached the women with a smile, stopping by Wanyi Qian’s side. Still smiling, she said to Consort Rou and the others, “You sisters seem to be in high spirits, having tea and refreshments here.”

nStanding, Noble Consort Shu made her way to Zhuang Laoyan’s side, personally supporting her into the pavilion. With a light smile, she said, “We were thinking that it’s inadvisable for Younger Sister to have tea due to your pregnancy. Yet, it escaped our minds that Younger Sister may be bored all alone in the palace. We have been thoughtless.”

n“Your Highness the noble consort is too serious.” Zhuang Laoyan had feigned the start of a salute when she saw Noble Consort Shu come to support her, and as such, did not insist on continuing to do so. She took a seat to the right of Consort Rou. Looked at the cheese the palace maids had specially placed before her. Smiling at Noble Consort Shu, she said, “Your Highness the noble consort, there’s no need for this.”

nConsort Rou watched the two go back and forth in conversation, only holding a tea cup without a word. Once the other two women had finished speaking words of courtesy, she said, “Why has Consort Zhao come out today?”

nPointing outside the pavilion, Zhuang Laoyan once again smiled. “Seldom do we see such a nice sunny day. Going out for a stroll is a good idea.”

nConsort Rou nodded. “Taking a stroll and soaking up some sun is beneficial for the fetus too.”

n“How unexpected that Your Highness Consort Rou would know how to take care of a fetus without ever being pregnant.” Xiuyi Su smiled with a face full of ridicule. “You surely are better than us in this regard.”

nWithout batting an eyelash, Consort Rou did not spare Xiuyi Su even a glance. In a normal manner, she said, “Although this palace is not an intelligent person, this palace still has common sense. Xiuyi Su is praising me too much.”

nDid these words mean she was stupid? Xiuyi Su’s expression changed a shade. However, she was unable to flare up due to her status. She could only look at Noble Consort Shu and wait for her to stand up for herself.

nNoble Consort Shu bore a deep resentment toward her cousin’s brainless way of doing things. But she could only suppress it. A smile blossomed on her lips. “This younger sister of mine has a pure temperament, speaking without thinking. May you sisters take no offense.” Following that, she sent a gentle look Xiuyi Su’s way. “Hurry and apologize to Her Highness Consort Rou.”

nAlthough Xiuyi Su wasn’t skilled at scheming and calculating against others, she still listened to Noble Consort Shu’s words. In response, she merely apologized to Consort Rou unwillingly. She was very unresigned doing this. Nowadays, there were less and less imperial concubines with high ranks in the palace, and the lower-ranked imperial concubines would now curry favor with her. So the fact that she had to apologize to Consort Rou made her feel as if she were losing face.

n“Enough. Who doesn’t know Xiuyi Su’s personality? I’m not the unreasonable type,” said Consort Rou carelessly. Although she had said she didn’t mind, her bearing gave out a feeling that said “Xiuyi Su isn’t worth much.”

nZhuang Laoyan noticed Xiuyi Su’s complexion growing more and more unsightly. And she looked up to Consort Rou ever more. To be able to disrespect the Su family cousins so directly yet still sit on her position steadily illustrated this: She had a place in the emperor’s heart. Zhuang Laoyan smiled. “It rained recently. I thought the temperature would drop. Never had I expected the weather to clear up.”

nA smile on her lips, Consort Rou glanced at Zhuang Laoyan. She picked up a dried plum and placed it into her small mouth. “Even if it’s a cloudy day, there will be a time when the sun shines again.” Her gaze lingered on the kneeling Wanyi Qian. “I have a straightforward personality. As long as someone offends me, my temper will flare.”

n“Elder Sister has a laid-back temperament. Younger Sister admires it.” Contrary to expectations, Zhuang Laoyan agreed with what Consort Rou had said. Despite the fact that her title meant “gentle,” her conduct and way of doing things truly could not be considered gentle at all. A person like her was one of the rare carefree people in the harem. Luckily, the emperor favored her. Otherwise, she couldn’t have been this carefree until now.

n“There’s only so many decades in a lifetime. If you can enjoy the present, don’t waste it.” Consort Rou arched a brow, surprisingly carrying an unspeakable grace.

nAs Wanyi Qian listened to the conversation of the four people in the pavilion, she bit down hard on her lower lip. Even when she drew blood, she did not bite any softer. She had never felt as much hatred as she did now. She hated the ruthlessness of the imperial concubines, hated that her parents sent her to the palace, and hated the emperor for being so heartless toward her. She had never wished to be the most favored in the harem; she only wanted someone who would love only her, never parting even in old age. But once she had stepped foot within the imperial harem, she no longer belonged to herself. The emperor had treated her tenderly and affectionately, so why did he change in a blink of an eye?

nShe should have long since understood that the emperor was heartless. It should not have taken her until now to do so. Apart from her, the emperor had many, many women. And these women were experts in putting on an act despite having vicious hearts, luring the emperor back time and time again.

nAs her thoughts wandered to this point, her eyes could not help but redden. Her sincere feelings could not compare to the hypocritical show of affection of those other women.

nThe women sat for another ten minutes. Zhuang Laoyan glanced at the Wanyi Qian who remained kneeling. It’s reasonable to say that she and Wanyi Qian did not share a relationship that brought benefits. She had always strongly disliked this person for some reason. Basically, they could not get along. Sometimes, Zhuang Laoyan would prefer to argue with Consort Rou than to be around a woman like Wanyi Qian too often.

nLosing all interest, Zhuang Laoyan got up. Yunxi, who had been standing in silence behind her until now, rushed forward to carefully support her. The two older female servants the emperor had bestowed also approached them at once from behind. As for the other palace maids and court eunuchs, they were even more careful and cautious.

nThe moment Xiuyi Su saw this action, she arched a brow in displeasure. However, since her rank was the lowest among them, she had to follow the rest in standing.

nBefore Zhuang Laoyan could ask to leave, she heard from not too far away the sound of clapping. Then, a eunuch announced loudly, “His Majesty has arrived!”

nThe expressions of everyone changed. The hand Consort Rou used to hold her teacup paused a hint, following which she set said teacup down. She rose to her feet to welcome the emperor’s procession.

nWanyi Qian, who was kneeling on the ground still, shook a little. She lowered her head even more. A teardrop fell onto the green stone slabs below, an especially conspicuous and miserable sight.

nWhen Feng Jin grew closer, he caught sight of Zhuang Laoyan standing at the steps of the pavilion with the support of a palace maid’s hand. And he took a few large steps forward, reaching out to support her. “Why are you standing on the stone steps? What’s to be done if you accidentally fall?” Following that, he said to the older female servants he had assigned to Zhuang Laoyan, “We wanted you to take proper care of her, yet this is how you do it?”

nSeeing the two older female servants dropping to a kneel in terror, Zhuang Laoyan feigned anger in a coquettish manner. “Your Majesty, if you act like this, how can this concubine go anywhere? They haven’t been careless; they serve with all their hearts. Originally, this concubine wanted to reward them, so why are you scolding them the moment you arrive?”

nHow could the two older female servants not know that Consort Zhao was pleading for leniency for them? They could only beg for forgiveness without end, the fear in their hearts lessening by a large degree. As they had served Consort Zhao these past days, they gained first-hand knowledge of how much importance the emperor placed on her. So they were immensely grateful toward Consort Zhao.

n“Nevermind,” said Feng Jin, waving to let the two older female servants stand. Then he once again supported Zhuang Laoyan, this time so that she could sit on a stone stool. He turned his head and looked at the other people curtsying. Said with indifference, “You may dispense with curtsying. You three may sit.”

nSuch a sight filled Noble Consort Shu with sadness. The emperor had never ignored her like this before. Still, she forced a smile and thanked him for the favor, taking a seat at the side. The look in her eyes dull.

nContrary to what one might expect, Consort Rou was no different than usual. After sitting down at one side, she held up a small cup of hot tea like before, drinking it intentionally or otherwise. She wanted to know whether the emperor had coincidentally passed through or if he purposely came to support Wanyi Qian.

nDon’t support theft; read this at sleepchaser’s wordpress.

nIn recent times, Feng Jin was in a rather good mood. Playing with Zhuang Laoyan’s hand, he said with a smile, “We actually seldom see you all sharing tea and refreshments together.”

n“Your Majesty toils for the country every day. How could you know when we sisters play together?” A smile on her lips, Noble Consort Shu got up and presented a cup of expensive oolong tea before Feng Jin. She looked at the clasped hands of Feng Jin and Zhuang Laoyan from the corner of her eyes, smile dimming ever so slightly. Then she took a seat in her prior position. “The weather is fine today so we all came out for a stroll.”

n“Taking a stroll is a good idea.” Feng Jin nodded. Handed the teacup to Zhuang Laoyan. But before she could reach out to take it, he drew it back. “We forgot that you can’t have tea.” Following that, he set down the cup. Placed an exquisite dish of peanut and walnut cake in front of her. “We heard from the imperial physicians that eating walnuts and peanuts daily is good for you.”

nThe cakes were very well made. Very exquisite. After Zhuang Laoyan finished one, she picked up another and held it next to Feng Jin’s mouth. “It’s truly delicious. Your Majesty, try it.”

nFeng Jin smiled. Swallowed the cake. Afterward, he smiled again. “It’s indeed not bad. If you like it, then have the little personal kitchen learn how to make this cake.” He wasn’t that interested in such greasy food. But Zhuang Laoyan’s tastes and preferences had recently become hard to deal with. Yesterday, she liked spicy foods, today she liked sour foods, then tomorrow she liked sweet things. And he had been dragged along to eat all these different-tasting things in the process.

nWith a cold gaze, Consort Rou looked at the emperor and Consort Zhao who were acting as if no one else were present while displaying their loving affection toward one another. She tilted her head and shifted her gaze to the still-kneeling Wanyi Qian. Her eyes were full of ridicule. A little wanyi wasn’t worth anything. Right now, other than Consort Zhao, the emperor had eyes for no one.

nWhat a pity that even Noble Consort Shu, the most favored woman in the harem, could only sit and watch at this moment.

nAs Xiuyi Su took in the image of the emperor completely engrossed by Zhuang Laoyan, her expression grew the most unsightly out of everyone’s. But because of her cousin’s words, she could only steady her expression as she sat at the side.

nThe heart of Wanyi Qian grew colder and colder. As she heard the emperor say word after concerned word toward Consort Zhao, she found this situation ever more difficult to take. Here she was, a living being kneeling on the ground, yet the emperor turned a blind eye to her on purpose. Solely preoccupied with Consort Zhao as he smiled and talked to her. So what was she even worth in the emperor’s heart?

n“This concubine finds the walnut and peanut milk the kitchens made last time decent. Eating this dessert occasionally is fine, but if one ate it every day, one would grow tired of it.” Zhuang Laoyan smiled at the emperor. Nowadays, she liked to drag the emperor into eating things he didn’t like. Never had it crossed her mind that he would patiently accompany her in eating.

nHow could the emperor not understand her intention? He could only smile in a helpless manner. “Since that’s the case, We will accompany you in eating next time.” A person’s habit truly was terrifying. Originally, he wasn’t like this, but after spoiling her day after day, he no longer understood why he indulged her.

nA good while later, Feng Jin seemed to have realized that there was someone kneeling outside the pavilion. In a careless manner, he said, “Isn’t this Wanyi Qian kneeling over there? What was her offense?”

nThank you Lus_g18, Sammantha, and Dolapo for the ko-fis! You rock!

nDidn’t I tell you last chapter that Wanyi Qian would be humiliated? There’s more of that coming next week XD

nYou know me, I always like these scenes with double meanings and dressing up insults in pretty words.

nFor those of you still interested in advanced chapters, read this post for more information. There are no advanced chapters left, so if you pledge a tier that gives two chapters now, you’re basically my suga daddi. A Patreon post detailing June’s release schedule will be out in the coming days.

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nTwenty-ninth chapter of The Times Spent in Pretense is out! You can read it here. It’s weekly now!

nAnother plug for the new BL tl group me and my friends formed: Perpetual Daydreams! I’ve started moving all of my BL novels there. Click here if you’re interested.

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