Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
A few people stayed in the Jinghe Palace for a while before leaving. The situation of the Empress Dowager had stabilized somewhat, but the atmosphere in the harem was anything but stable. No one expected that someone who was originally dead would suddenly reappear before everyone. However, after hearing the specific truth behind the matter, they stopped discussing it, though this was merely on the surface.
Perhaps it was due to Mu Junqi's sudden appearance that the entire harem fell into chaos. In front of the common people, they were unsure how to proceed, so the one in power in the harem remained Consort Xi.
Originally, Mu Junqi had little interest in these matters, but she never expected that her desire to avoid trouble would not prevent others from seeking her out.
Having returned for three days now, these days had passed relatively peacefully. As autumn approached, the weather gradually turned cooler. On this day, Mu Junqi had just woken up when she heard that Consort Xi and Consort Qian had come to pay their respects.
Previously, she had not fully recovered, so Mo Xiao Li had ordered them to rest well. Today, there was no reason to continue avoiding everyone, so she could only allow them to enter.
Mu Junqi was unaware of when Consort Xi and Consort Qian's relationship had become particularly good. She only felt puzzled that Consort Xi, who was naturally gentle, would be together with Consort Qian, but she did not think too much about it.
When Consort Xi and Consort Qian walked in, Mu Junqi was already seated in the main position. They both slightly bowed and greeted her: "Consorts pay their respects to the Empress; may Your Highness live long and prosper."
Hearing this, Mu Junqi softly said, "You may rise; there is no need for excessive courtesy among sisters. Someone, bring chairs."
"Thank you, Empress," both replied in unison.
After they sat down, Mu Junqi took the lead and said, "It has been a long time since we last met; I didn't expect both of you to become even more beautiful."
Consort Xi and Consort Qian both covered their mouths with their handkerchiefs and laughed before saying, "Empress is truly flattering us; it is you who has changed so much. When we first saw you like that, we thought we would never have a chance to meet again in this lifetime. Who would have thought we would see each other again after just a few months?"
"Indeed, this palace also did not expect it to be like this. When I first woke up and found myself no longer in the palace, I thought something had happened. Now that I have finally returned, it must be due to the Emperor's deep blessings," Mu Junqi said with a smile, fully understanding their implied meanings.
"Consort is just puzzled about where you have spent this time. What exactly happened that made people think you had died? After all, it was Consort who witnessed your burial," Consort Qian suddenly spoke up.
Mu Junqi then looked at Consort Qian and was surprised to find that the hostility she once had was gone, replaced by a gentle demeanor. With Prime Minister Kang still imprisoned, he would likely be executed in the coming days, yet Consort Qian seemed unaffected by it.
Mu Junqi smiled and said, "Actually, I have been in a coma during this time, so I don't know what has happened. I thought the Emperor had sent me out of the palace to recuperate. I didn't expect so much to have occurred in the palace. If I had known earlier, I certainly wouldn't have taken so long to return."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ziyue walked in, looking warily at the two people across from her. After bowing, she said, "Empress, the Emperor will return to Qinxiang Garden today. You should prepare well."
It was clear to everyone that this was meant for them to hear. However, neither Consort Xi nor Consort Qian showed any change in expression; instead, they smiled at Mu Junqi and said, "It's not easy for the Empress to return. Naturally, you should spend more time with the Emperor. Whenever you're not around, we Consorts will continue to serve him."
The implication of their words was obvious to everyone present, but Mu Junqi showed no sign of anger. Instead, she smiled and replied, "Regardless of anything else, this Empress position belongs to me. I originally thought that when I was away, the Emperor would immediately establish a new consort. It seems that he still feels no one else is suitable."
The sarcasm in her words was evident. Consort Xi and Consort Qian were momentarily taken aback, but Consort Xi quickly responded, "You must have suffered quite a bit while you were away. Now that you're back, I hope the palace maids and eunuchs have treated you well. If there’s anything they did poorly, you must let us know so we can teach them a lesson."
"Exactly, Empress. You've worked hard during this time; it's just unfortunate for the Crown Prince," Consort Qian chimed in.
Hearing this, Mu Junqi didn't want to say much and merely smiled in response. Seeing this, Consort Xi continued, "Actually, quite a few things have happened in the harem during your absence; we just didn't want you to worry. If you want to know anything, we Consorts will certainly tell you everything without holding back."
"I thank both of my sisters first. If there's nothing else, you may leave now; I'm feeling a bit tired," Mu Junqi said.
Upon hearing this, Consort Xi and Consort Qian stood up and bowed again before saying, "Then we won't disturb you any longer. If you don't mind, we'll come back tomorrow." With that, they exited.
Watching them leave, Ziyue stepped forward and said, "While you were away, they became quite arrogant. However, I feel that although Consort Xi appears gentle on the surface, she is truly hard to read. You must be cautious of her in the future. As for Consort Qian, she has had past grievances with you; now that her father is imprisoned, she seems much more docile. But such a sudden change surely harbors resentment; you need to be careful."
Speaking while looking at Mu Junqi, she explained, "Previously, the two had no relationship at all, and now their bond has developed so quickly in just a few days. There must be a purpose behind it. I will send someone to keep an eye on them in secret. The Emperor has also sent people to protect those in Qinxiang Garden, so you can rest assured."
Upon hearing this, Mu Junqi finally relaxed her previously tense heart. It wasn't that she was afraid of what they might do, but rather that she had just returned to the palace and was still completely unaware of what had happened during this time. If she rashly opposed the two, she would definitely be at a disadvantage, even with the Emperor's concern; something unexpected could still occur.
At that moment, Mu Junqi seemed to recall something and asked, "How is Mu Yueqing doing now?"
"In response to Your Highness, not long ago, due to General Mu's incident, the Emperor stripped her of her title and demoted her to Servant. However, because she explained what happened that day, the Emperor allowed her to stay in the palace for now and will deal with her later."
After listening to Ziyue's words, Mu Junqi fell into deep thought and after a while said, "Perhaps I should go see her."
Comment 0 Comment Count