The moment those words had left the emperor’s lips, Zhuang Laoyan immediately turned her head toward the kneeling Wanyi Qian. Then she played with a walnut as a smile spread across her lips, one that did not quite meet her eyes.

She wasn’t so stupid to talk at a time like this.

At this moment, Xiuyi Su could not hold back any longer. She stood and said, “Your Majesty, Wanyi Qian offended Her Highness Consort Rou and so was punished.”

“Since this has nothing to do with you, sit down,” said Feng Jin with indifference. Then he reached out for the walnut in Zhuang Laoyan’s hand and cracked the shell open with force. When she extended a hand to take the walnut, he immediately threw it into his mouth. Zhuang Laoyan glanced at him in coquettish anger.

Consort Rou smiled at Xiuyi Su, who wore an awkward expression. She rose to her feet. Curtsied. “Reporting to Your Majesty, indeed Wanyi Qian is kneeling. Early this morning, this concubine happened to encounter her. Who would have known that she would gossip about other imperial concubines with the palace maids? Although this concubine is not virtuous, this concubine could not endure watching Wanyi Qian gossip about the other sisters like this. And thus, this concubine punished her to kneel here for four hours, so that she can understand her mistake.”

Without asking Wanyi Qian what she had said, Feng Jin frowned a shade as he glanced at Consort Rou and Xiuyi Su. A bit impatient, he said, “We did not know Wanyi Qian had so many opinions on the other imperial concubines. What have they done that was so wrong?”

When Wanyi Qian had heard these words, she trembled slightly. She kowtowed. “This concubine does not have any comments. May Your Majesty see clearly.”

“Then may I ask Wanyi Qian why the thoughts of the harem’s women are so secretive?” Consort Rou wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, glancing at the emperor from the corners of her eyes. Noticing his expressionless face, she continued, “And why Consort Zhao monopolizes His Majesty’s heart? Could it be that the harem requires a little wanyi such as yourself to criticize it?”

The emperor arched a brow. His expression changed a little. From high above, he looked at the women who knelt on the ground. This woman had a beautiful face, a face that held his interest. However, when he looked at it right now, he did not find her special among the other women. “Wanyi Qian, do you resent Us?”

“This concubine dares not!” said Wanyi Qian, deathly pale from those words. “Heaven and Earth knows how sincere this concubine’s feelings are toward Your Majesty.” She had entered the palace alone, waiting every day in that desolate place for a man to arrive. Was this the outcome she had been waiting for?

She thought the emperor would always have sincere feelings for her. But now, she knew that in his eyes, she wasn’t any different from the other imperial concubines. His gaze when looking at her was like looking at an inanimate object. When he remembered her, he’d pamper her; when he forgot about her, he’d toss her aside.

Zhuang Laoyan noticed Wanyi Qian’s absentminded expression, and could not refrain from thinking with surprise, Is it possible that this Wanyi Qian actually fell for the emperor? She recalled that when Wanyi Qian had just arrived at the imperial palace, she did not seem to have a good opinion on the harem. Since that was the case, why did she fall in love so easily?

There were so many women in the rear palace. Yet, there was only a single emperor. How was she so confident to think she could obtain the emperor’s heart? Among those present, whether it was Noble Consort Shu or Consort Rou or herself, one would fear that none of them had that kind of confidence.

The emperor was flippant in his affections. Heartless. A transparent person like Wanyi Qian actually invested her emotions so easily on someone. Whether this was lamentable or pathetic was truly a mystery.

At that moment, a warmth on her palm. Zhuang Laoyan snapped back to her senses. And she saw that the emperor had placed a walnut kernel there, though his gaze was trained elsewhere. His appearance seemed to tell Zhuang Laoyan this: We are simply giving this to you, so you can eat it if you want.

The men of the world were all troublesome.

Zhuang Laoyan picked up a piece of the walnut kernel and placed it into her mouth, the sweet scent of walnut overflowing in it in a flash. She smiled. It’s none of her business how other people acted. Passing her days well was a testament to her own ability

Seeing Zhuang Laoyan eat the walnut in a well-behaved manner, Feng Jin turned to Wanyi Qian and said, “We originally thought you were a tactful person who understood etiquette. Now, we think that is not the case.”

That was not the case?!

Just these words were enough to wipe away all the good qualities of this one woman. Wanyi Qian raised her head, suddenly finding it hard to breathe. Her beautiful eyes widened. “This is how Your Majesty sees this concubine?” she said, choking with emotion, tears bursting out and flowing down her cheeks.

Zhuang Laoyan witnessed many women cry before. And Wanyi Qian was the most beautiful in doing so. She looked down, away from Wanyi Qian’s deathly pale countenance. Zhuang Laoyan had originally come out to relieve some boredom; never had she expected to see such a lively scene.

Consort Rou gazed at this appearance of Wanyi Qian’s. And a smile of disdain bloomed on her lips. Who’s she putting on this act for? At this moment, she was crying in such a lovely and pitiful manner, but it wasn’t enough to inspire the emperor’s pity. Consort Rou had served by his side for many years. She was clear how apathetic the emperor was.

“Since Consort Rou had you kneel, then kneel properly.” Feng Jin no longer looked at Wanyi Qian. Rather indifferently, he said, Consort Zhao is higher in rank than you are. Because you spoke rudely about her, you’ll kneel for an additional four hours.”

Following that, he checked the sky for the time, before turning to Zhuang Laoyan to say, “It’s going to be the period of Wu soon. Don’t delay your noon meal. We still have some matters to attend to this afternoon, and will accompany you for dinner. Once you finish your noon meal, take a nice nap.”

After hearing those words, Zhuang Laoyan nodded, the corners of her lips carrying a smile. “Then this concubine will wait for you this evening.”

Feng Jin nodded. Reached out to stroke her head. Then he turned around and left.

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

“Respectfully sending off Your Majesty the emperor,” said Noble Consort Shu as she watched the emperor leave, standing up straight. Afterward, she smiled at Zhuang Laoayan. “Sure enough, His Majesty cares about Consort Zhao.”

Zhuang Laoyan returned her smile. “His Majesty cares about all us sisters.”

At those words, Noble Consort Shu merely snickered and left with Xiuyi Su.

Once she was gone, Consort Rou arched a brow as she looked at Zhuang Laoyan. “Consort Zhao indeed has great measures.”

Like before, Zhuang Laoyan only smiled back. “It’s almost the period of Wu. Younger Sister will take my leave.”

“Return. His Majesty specially said that you mustn’t delay your noon meal. I dare not keep you.” Consort Rou waved, uninterested in speaking more with her.

After everyone had left, Consort Rou left the pavilion. She dropped to a crouch before Wanyi Qian. Extended a hand to lift her chin. With a sneer, Consort Rou said, “See? In the emperor’s eyes, you’re just a toy. From now on, don’t adopt an ‘everyone is drunk, but I alone am sober’ kind of appearance. It really disgusts others.”

“Why are you so proud of yourself? In the emperor’s eyes, you cannot compare to Consort Zhao as well.” Wanyi Qian smacked away Consort Rou’s hand. “Don’t compare me to you.”

“I naturally will not compare myself to a little wanyi like yourself.” A smile blossoming on her lips, Consort Rou rose to her feet, an unprecedented brightness to her gaze. “And I won’t compare myself to Consort Zhao. You think you understand everything better than everyone, when in reality, you’re just a joke in everyone’s eyes.”

Once Feng Jin had returned to his own palace, he gazed at the all kinds of dishes brought over as his noon meal. At that moment, he said to the Gao Dezhong behind him, “We heard that when women are with child, they may like to take naps. Go to Xihe Palace and tell them that they need not specially wait for Us. If she is tired, let her sleep. Don’t harm her body.”

Gao Dezhong saluted. “Understood.” Following that, he rushed to Xihe Palace, and on the way there, he thought the following: The child in Consort Zhao’s womb could be considered relying on its mother for honor. When he recalled the treatment of the current imperial princes and their birth mothers, he shook his head. The comparison could truly anger some people to death.

Within Jingyang Palace, the empress sat upright in the seat of honor. Once she heard a palace maid report what had occurred in the imperial gardens, she said with an ordinary expression, “There’s no need to concern yourselves with those trivial matters. You only need to make sure not to have conflict with the people of Xihe Palace. Withdraw.”

At the command, the palace maid retreated. The empress sighed. She now understood that the emperor would not allow herself to birth a prince. Not only that, the Zhao family was in imminent danger. The only thing she could do now was to remain in the position of empress steadily. And if she wanted to do this, she must not make a mistake. Thus, not only must she not have any ideas, she must also protect the child in Zhuang Laoyan’s womb well.

The gaze in which the emperor looked at Zhuang Laoyan…

Another sigh left her lips. The empress said, “Servants, bring out this palace’s ‘Theory of Medicine’ and deliver it to Xihe Palace. Within is content that can be favorable for the fetus. Have the servants there take a look.”

Since she was resolute in her decision, she must be thorough.

Consort Rou sure is savage XD