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Strategic Advancement
墨書 Inktalez
Consort Rong had once been deeply favored by the Emperor, but now she was discovered to have an affair with a guard. Faced with irrefutable evidence, the Emperor could not bear to execute White Silk; instead, he stripped Consort Rong of her title and cast her into the Cold Palace.
Devastated, Consort Rong took her own life in the Cold Palace.
Within the harem, the balance was suddenly shattered. The concubines vied for favor, unaware that it was all part of a scheme.
In the autumn of Qingyuan's twentieth year, a piercing scream suddenly shattered the stillness of the palace's cold courtyard, followed by a flurry of hurried footsteps.
A Green-Clad Maid knelt on the ground, trembling slightly, cold sweat beading on her forehead. Her voice stuttered with fear and anxiety as she instinctively curled up.
"I... I don’t know what happened... I just returned and saw the Consort... Ah, no..."
Realizing she had misspoken, she quickly covered her mouth in panic. But with the Consort recently stripped of her title, what should she call her now?
In the dilapidated Cold Palace, an Elegant Dressed Man sat regally in a high seat.
The moonlight mingled with firelight, casting flickering shadows across his gentle features. His cold, black jade-like eyes fixed intently on the kneeling maid, yet his tone was unexpectedly gentle as he coaxed her, "Continue."
Hearing this, the maid began to cry softly, her shoulders trembling slightly. "The Consort... she hanged herself. It really has nothing to do with me..."
After a pause, she cautiously raised her head. The firelight illuminated her somewhat mottled face; her complexion was indeed lacking, but her bright almond-shaped eyes sparkled like clear spring water.
With a quivering voice, she asked, "Your Majesty, will I die?"
"No."
Zhao Yi stood up, his posture tall and straight. He cast a glance at the body covered by a white cloth, then walked out of the hall with steady steps. His cold voice echoed throughout the hall, "Since Rong Xue took her own life, it has nothing to do with you. You may all go and rest. In a few days, someone will assign you to various palaces."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The crowd stared blankly at the man's departing figure. Once he was far enough away, many let out a sigh of relief, their tense expressions easing. Some maids even collapsed onto the floor.
A Yellow-Clad Maid patted Bu Lanchan and said with lingering fear, "Miss Bu, thank goodness for you. Everyone was so shocked; no one expected His Majesty to visit right after the princess hanged herself. His Majesty once favored her so much that even upon learning of her infidelity, he couldn't bear to give her poison. If he knew of her death, he would surely demand that we all accompany her in death..."
While the Yellow-Clad Maid continued to chatter on, Bu Lanchan seemed oblivious, gazing thoughtfully at the doorway with deep and focused eyes.
A sudden gust of cold wind swept through the Cold Palace, causing Bu Lanchan's hair to flutter slightly. She reached up to touch it and realized her palms were already slick with cold sweat. A faint smile crept onto her lips, as if holding some deeper meaning.
"I wonder which palace we will be assigned to..."
"It would be great if we could serve in His Majesty's sleeping quarters..."
One maid said dreamily, her eyes sparkling with longing.
"You wish! We'll probably be sent to serve in the various princesses' quarters."
"With the death of the Noble Consort, the position of Empress is now vacant. Three Consort and Consort Zhonghua are the best—gentle and virtuous, with good temperaments and kind to their servants. Consort Rou is nice too, but she's a frail beauty who has been in the palace the longest. She used to be favored endlessly, but now His Majesty seems quite indifferent towards her; it's said she's fallen out of favor. Then there's Consort Xi—though she is stunningly beautiful, she has the most malicious heart."
"So who is currently most favored..."
"Of course, it's Consort Hua. Her brother is a General, and he has a strong background. Who knows, she might even become the Queen of a Nation someday."
Bu Lanchan, why are you silent... Ah, I'm sorry, I forgot you were transferred from Consort Xi.
You broke a vase back then and got punished severely; it was truly pitiful! Let's hope you don't get sent back there again...
Bu Lanchan came back to her senses, seemingly reminded of a painful memory. She raised her hand to wipe away the tears at the corners of her eyes and whispered, "I hope so."
The Cold Palace was indeed cold and dilapidated, which drove Rong Xue a bit mad on her first day there.
Recalling the figure in white hanging from the beam earlier, with wide eyes filled with terror as she looked at Bu Lanchan entering through the door, Bu Lanchan couldn't help but hug her arms tightly, trying to draw in more warmth to alleviate her shivering body in the chilly wind.
She knew how Consort Rong had died...
As a thought crossed her mind, she couldn't help but chuckle softly in the cold wind, her laughter sounding somewhat eerie amidst the chill.
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