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nThe Zhuang Laoyan who had her knees struck by arrows looked at Miss Xu, expression calm. Looked at the other party’s eyes full of hate. At that moment, she smiled. “Back then, you took the initiative to chat with this palace, and from start to finish, this palace did not say anything poor about you. You merely blamed me for your feelings of unresignedness.”

nThe hatred in Miss Xu’s eyes slowly transformed into an unspeakable desolation. But it quickly vanished. Still arrogant, she looked at Zhuang Laoyan, as if even after she had lost power, she still wouldn’t bow her head to her.

nWith view of Miss Xu’s current attitude, Zhuang Laoyan suddenly thought, This sort of Miss Xu genuinely has a noble and virtuous bearing. What a pity there’ll be no one appreciating it anymore.

nLooking at the Miss Xu who was forcing herself to be calm, Zhuang Laoyan was no longer in the mood to talk to her. She and her personal attendants turned around to leave, not sparing the other person another glance.

nWhy should she give any more looks at someone destined to fall into dire straits in the harem?

n“Your Highness, this slave finds Noble Lady Qian strange,” said Tingzhu, supporting Zhuang Laoyan’s hand. Then she said in a lower voice, “Zhaorong… Miss Xu has never gotten along with her. So why didn’t she guard against Miss Xu’s schemes?”

n“Miss Xu was merely beaten at her own game,” said Yunxi, scanning their surroundings. Noticing that no one could hear them clearly from where they were, she continued, “This slave has long since felt that this Noble Lady Qian isn’t someone easy to deal with. After entering the palace for a short time, she was promoted.”

nZhuang Laoyan turned her head to look at the plaque that hung above Changtian House’s main doors. The three large characters that read “Changtian House” were full of vitality and imposing. Emperor Chengxuan had personally written them for Miss Xu. Now, the master of the residence had changed, yet the plaque still hung there as before.

nThis was the biggest mockery of the emperor’s favor.

nShe boarded her sedan, listened as a court eunuch dragged out the word “rise.” Zhuang Laoyan and her entourage grew farther and farther from Changtian House. When she looked back again, she only saw the vague image of the emerald-green bamboo forest.

n“Stop!”

nAt present, there were very few people in the harem who dared block Zhuang Laoyan’s way. Even the empress’ personal attendants treated her courteously. Now that someone had suddenly obstructed her path, Zhuang Laoyan found it such a novel experience.

nThe corners of her lips faintly curving upward, she sized up that person. Then, Zhuang Laoyan tilted her head a little. “Isn’t this Second Prince? This palace heard that Second Prince is studying the books of the sages. Why do you have the time to stroll around right now?”

n“If it wasn’t for a poisonous woman like you, why would Imperial Father reprimand me?!” Second Prince stuck a hand out and jabbed a finger toward Zhuang Laoyan, who sat high above on her sedan. “They were right. You are a fox spirit!”

nAs an imperial concubine, wasn’t being scolded as a fox spirit a testament to her success? But apart from the empress, who in the harem wasn’t a fox spirit? Could it be that the other imperial concubines were more noble?

n“It seems copying books hasn’t done anything for Second Prince.” Zhuang Laoyan gestured with her hand, and the eunuchs set down her sedan. She approached Second Prince until a distance of three steps separated them. Said in a low voice, “Was it Liangyi Hu who taught you to be like this?” Despite her words and tone, a gentle smile of an elder was on her face, and she reached out to touch the top of Second Prince’s head.

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

n“Nonsense! Don’t harm Consort-Mother Ning again, you poisonous woman!” Second Prince’s complexion changed at once. He slapped away her hand with all his strength.

nOne could only hear a sharp and clear sound. A dark green jadeite bracelet collided with the green stone tiles, shattering upon impact into two pieces.

n“Aiyah! Your Highness, the emperor just bestowed this to you a few days ago. He even said that you looked stunning with it.” Tingzhu was the picture of anxiety, picking up the pieces on the ground. With care, she wrapped them in a silk handkerchief, frowning as she said, “What should we do?”

nAfter Second Prince heard Tingzhu’s words, a trace of fear showed in his eyes. However, when he saw Zhuang Laoyan with a smile that did not quite touch her eyes, his fury overtook his fear. “It’s merely a bracelet. So what if it breaks?”

nThen he pointed at Zhuang Laoyan again. “Just wait. I won’t let you off.”

nAfter saying these ruthless words, Second Prince turned around and left. Naturally, he did not see Zhuang Laoyan’s smile that grew ever more gentle.

n“Your Highness.” Yunxi stepped forward, somewhat worried as she watched Second Prince leave. “Right now, His Majesty doesn’t have many children. Now that Second Prince made trouble like this, what’s to be done if it causes His Majesty to dislike you?”

nLight laughter spilled from Zhuang Laoyan’s lips. “Children are children.”

nShe wasn’t a kind female lead, who would allow children to act willfully and make a scene since they were children. After all, how could there be true children in the imperial harem? True children wouldn’t live well. Or, they would have short lives.

nThe day after news of Second Prince deliberately provoking Xianrong Zhao spread in the harem, the emperor flipped Xihe Palace’s name tag. Everyone waited to see how he would handle this matter.

nAs one read during midnight, a beauty in red sleeves accompanied them. But such a phrase had nothing to do with Zhuang Laoyan. After she and the emperor had enjoyed themselves in bed, she lazily let the emperor massage her waist. “Your Majesty, go a bit more to the right. It hurts there.”

nFeng Jin did as told, gently massaging that area for her. However, shortly after, his hand moved to a place he shouldn’t be touching.

n“Your Majesty, this concubine is fine over there.” Zhuang Laoyan looked at Feng Jin, eyes full of arousement. She held his hand, reached out to touch his lower lip in a light manner. A coquettish gaze. “Your Majesty’s hand is naughty.”

n“It is not only Our hand that is naughty…” Feng Jin held the naughty hand that was on his lip. Nipped that finger.

nWarmth within the hibiscus curtains, a beautiful scene on a fine day. If one did not partake in pleasurable things, then was one not wasting the occasion?

nAfter tumbling in the sheets again, Zhuang Laoyan lay on top of the emperor’s chest, listening to the emperor’s heartbeat. She opened her eyes, resisting the lull of slumber.

n“We heard that a few days ago, Second Prince treated you with disrespect?” Drowsy, Feng Jin could only see the silhouette of the person in his arms, unable to make out her expression.

n“Why does Your Majesty know about this? Second Prince is only a child. Why should I bother with him?”

nAfter he had heard her voice, which had been unclear due to tiredness, so much so that she had even addressed herself as “I,” it was clear that she was very exhausted. Softly, Feng Jin patted her back. “You are currently a xianrong. His birth mother’s identity is humble. Since he was disrespectful toward you, he should be punished. What should his punishment be?”

n“Punish? What punish? If we…. Child…” The voice of the person in Feng Jin’s arms grew ever more indistinct, until that person finally fell asleep.

nFeng Jin drew her closer into his embrace, still lightly patting her back. In the night, his gaze grew unfathomable.

nThose in the harem who wanted to see a good show ended up disappointed again. After Xianrong Zhao had served the emperor overnight, the emperor did not reprimand Second Prince, nor did he favor Xianrong Zhao any less. On the contrary, it confused the people who had wanted to borrow this matter to do something.

nNot long after, it would be Noble Consort Shu’s birthday. Naturally, the harem would bustle with excitement on that day.

nAt Lingxi Pavilion, the empress watched the koi in the pond swimming about, quite pleased as she fed them. Watched as they crowded together in order to eat the fish food. A trace of a smile on her lips, she said, “Not long after Noble Consort Shu’s birthday is Xianrong Zhao’s. What would His Majesty think of bestowing her?”

nHeyu carried a plate of fish food as she stood at the side, and upon hearing the empress’ words, she replied, “Although Noble Consort Shu’s birthday celebration won’t be as grand as it had been in previous years, it would still be lively. His Majesty is fond of Xianrong Zhao, so it’s unlikely her celebration would be too cold and cheerless.”

n“Last year, the emperor promoted Xianrong Zhao on her birthday. Would this year…” Nowadays, there were very few imperial concubines that were of the consort rank and above. The emperor had never mentioned this. But with how much he favored Xiarong Zhao, perhaps she would fly up the ranks very soon.

nShortly after the empress and Heyu started talking, a court eunuch rushed over.

n“What happened?” The empress threw away the fish food in her hand, turning around to look at the eunuch.

nFollowing a salute, the eunuch said, “Your Majesty the empress, just a while ago the emperor sent out a verbal decree: Second Prince’s words and actions are unruly, and he is to be placed in a temporary imperial residence in the suburbs for his education. Your Majesty the empress is to arrange for the servants and teachers.”

nSo the emperor wanted to drive Second Prince out of the palace?

nWhat use was a prince who was driven out of the palace and whose teachers have changed multiple times?

n“Do you know the reason for this?” As the master of the imperial harem, she normally ought to console the emperor a bit with this kind of decree. However, before things were clarified, she did not want to act rashly.

n“This slave heard that Second Prince acted rudely in front of the imperial sedan, drawing the emperor’s anger.” The little eunuch wiped the sweat on his forehead. “This slave also heard that at that time, quite a few of the masters were present. Noble Imperial Concubine Jiang accidentally mentioned the lotuses in Xihe Palace, and Second Prince shouted unpleasant things.”

n“Was Xianrong Zhao present?” asked the empress after a moment of thought.

n“Back then, His Majesty had merely encountered those masters by coincidence. Xianrong Zhao had not been present.”

nMiss Jiang and Xianrong Zhao did not have much contact. Perhaps this matter had truly been a coincidence. No wonder the emperor was unhappy with Second Prince’s behavior.

n“Since that’s the case, properly prepare for this,” said the empress without thinking it through, rising to her feet and making for Qianzheng Palace.

n“Noble Consort Xian truly is skilled. She could turn the second prince, who originally had some intelligence, into an impetuous and stupid waste of a person.” The empress held Heyu’s hand for support, sighing with emotion. “Even this palace cannot help but admire her.”

nHeyu observed the empress’ expression. “Perhaps it’s because back then, Miss Hu was around. Thus, Second Prince knew what he should and should not do. But now, Miss Hu has been demoted and abandoned, and Second Prince’s nature has revealed itself.”

n“It’s also a skill to cause someone’s nature to expose itself so quickly.” The empress smiled, continuing onward.

nWithin Xihe Palace, once Zhuang Laoyan had heard what happened to Second Prince, she smiled. “Truly what a pity.”

nTingzhu changed out a bundle of flowers from a vase. Then, she said, “Second Prince has a bit of a bad temper. Hopefully life in the temporary imperial residence can remedy that.”

n“His Majesty has the heart of a compassionate father. Second Prince should understand this.” Zhuang Laoyan smiled, taking up a brush and lightly drawing the outline of a painting.

nOn the paper was a plump baby holding a crimson carp. The baby had round cheeks and wore a dudou, seeming innocent and adorable.

nBrat, don’t think because you’re young that I won’t teach you a lesson!

nAfter she applied the last splash of color to her painting, Zhuang Laoyan’s smile grew even more brilliant.

nThat Second Prince just keeps digging a bigger hole for himself. I feel bad for him now.

n“Noble Imperial Concubine Jiang accidentally mentioned the lotuses in Xihe Palace, and Second Prince shouted unpleasant things.”

n^ Recall that NICJ is part of ZK’s clique. She probably mentioned the lotuses on purpose.

nThose of you guessed Noble Consort Xian was behind Second Prince’s terrible change, looks like you’re right! (unless there’s a twist later on)

nFor those of you still interested in advanced chapters, read this post for more information. There are only NO advanced chapters left this month, so if you’d like advanced chapters, please wait until April 1st 12:00 am Pacific Standard Time to pledge. If you pledge before that, Patreon may charge you twice!

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

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