Chapter 136: with translation of chapter title

As soon as Lan Xiang finished speaking, two burly old women stepped forward, one on each side, pressing down on Shen Shuangning's thin shoulders with such force that it almost twisted her bones.

Shen Shuangning instantly became alert, her brows and eyes sharpening: "What do you intend to do to me? Noble Consort, what crime have I committed?"

"I am the daughter of a court official; even if I am guilty, it should be decided by the Ministry of Punishments or the Dali Temple. Noble Consort, are you intending to use private punishment on me in the palace?"

Lan Xiang's carefully drawn eyebrows knotted, not from anger but from displeasure at seeing Shen Shuangning's extraordinarily beautiful face.

After not seeing her for days, this Fourth Miss Shen is becoming ever more charming, making one want to tear her apart.

The servants in the Brocade Palace are best at reading their master's expressions; who doesn't know that this newly appointed Noble Consort cannot tolerate even a speck of sand in her eyes?

Because she lacks any learning, relying only on her looks, she cares desperately about them and cannot stand seeing a more beautiful woman.

The old woman on the left, missing half an ear, sharply caught the fleeting vicious glint in Lan Xiang's eyes and, without a word, raised her hand and slammed it hard onto Shen Shuangning's pretty face.

She barked: "Why so much talk? Shut up! If the consort says you're wrong, you are wrong!"

Shen Shuangning's face was slapped askew, her ears ringing, the blow even drawing blood from the corner of her mouth, but she had no time to feel wronged and cry out in pain.

Lan Xiang's actions are how ruthless and domineering; she had witnessed this in her previous life.

Although Lan Xiang had never directly struck her then, she had personally seen a little palace maid, for a minor mistake, have her limbs broken and be thrown out of the palace.

Such cruel methods are unmatched even in the harem, yet Lan Xiang's skill in coaxing men is top-notch; the emperor at most says a couple of words to her and then lets it go.

Just now, when Shen Shuangning entered, she had already swept a glance around without showing any emotion.

The Brocade Palace now has many unfamiliar faces; even the senior palace maid Yichun, who originally attended Lan Xiang on both sides, is gone.

Only that gloomy-looking eunuch remained unchanged, standing by the red pillar like a statue, low in presence, but a single glance at him reveals his danger.

One can't even imagine how many people have died in the Brocade Palace in less than a month, and how many waves of palace staff have been replaced.

Lan Xiang truly embodies "beauty like a celestial being, heart like a serpent and scorpion" to the fullest!

Shen Shuangning is indeed the daughter of a court official, but Lan Xiang is a madwoman; she dare not gamble.

Moreover, the other party is currently a pregnant Noble Consort, her body extremely precious; even if she were accidentally killed, Emperor Xuānwén would never let Lan Xiang pay with her life.

Shen Shuangning suppressed the bloody taste in her throat; before help arrives, she must find a way to save herself!

Just as the palace attendants were taking out the torture sticks, preparing to slip Shen Shuangning's slender fingers into them, she suddenly thought of a plan and loudly said: "Noble Consort, if you want to make money, I have a more reliable method!"

Hearing this, Lan Xiang's eyes turned icy and ruthless; the Duke's manor indeed knew her intentions!

The Noble Consort seated above did not speak, and the attendants' movements did not cease in the slightest.

Two rough, large hands forcibly gripped Shen Shuangning's wrists, shoving each of her ten fingers into the gaps of the bamboo sticks.

With a soft "click", the ropes on both sides were jerked tight.

Connected to the heart, the ten fingers made Shen Shuangning bite her teeth so hard she couldn't even utter a groan.

She knew Lan Xiang was greedy and suspicious; ordinary favors wouldn't move her, so she had to throw out a sufficiently tempting hook that sounded "clean".

"Consort!" Shen Shuangning stifled a cry of pain, her voice trembling slightly from exertion, yet each word was clear.

"Secret accounts may be quick, but they ultimately cannot see the light; once exposed, they bring calamity! My method can bring in money like flowing water while being open and aboveboard, leaving no fault to find."

Shen Shuangning looked at Lan Xiang's hand resting on her belly and added: "Consort, even if not for yourself, you should plan long‑term for the heir in your womb."

Private lending may bring huge profits, but in the end it is still dirty money.

When the heir was mentioned, Lan Xiang finally twitched the corners of her eyes, and the hand resting on the armrest lifted.

Only then did the bamboo sticks loosen slightly; Shen Shuangning drew a breath, cold sweat trickling from her temples into her eyes, she narrowed them, daring not to relax for a moment.

She gazed at the gorgeous woman above and asked: "Consort, is the palace robe you wear made of Jiangnan cloud‑brocade, the tribute 'Drunken Rosy Clouds'?"

Lan Xiang curled her lips: "You do have an eye for goods; it is indeed Drunken Rosy Clouds, but what does that have to do with your method?"

Shen Shuangning said: "His Majesty has bestowed this fabric upon you; it cannot be found on the market. I happen to know an old artisan who weaves cloud‑brocade, and I can have them improve the pattern to make a style affordable for ordinary official households."

"Consort, you only need to use the pretext of an imperial gift to let this craft 'spread' abroad; the Shen family's draft bank will handle the distribution and collection, and as for the profit, you take the lion's share!"

Shen Shuangning's aim was merely to buy time and suffer less; she certainly did not know any artisan—it was pure fabrication.

The tassels hanging at Lan Xiang's cheeks swayed slightly as she spoke coldly: "Cloud‑brocade is a tribute; private circulation is a capital offense. Do you dare to deceive this palace?"

"I dare not, your ladyship!"

Shen Shuangning explained: "It is not the genuine tribute fabric, but an imitation of its pattern woven from ordinary silk; it looks alike but is affordable. The populace loves to follow trends; seeing a 'Consort‑same' pattern, they will surely rush to buy it!"

Lan Xiang narrowed her eyes, haughtily: "Do commoners also deserve to use the same pattern as this palace? Isn't that lowering my status? Is this your plan?"

The Noble Consort was clearly displeased; she raised her hand, and the attendants resumed torturing Shen Shuangning.

Shen Shuangning trembled all over with pain, yet her mind grew clearer; she hurriedly said: "Consort, your 'Drunken Rosy Clouds' is an imperial gift, priceless and unmatched; ordinary people naturally are not even worthy to look up to it."

"An imitation merely takes the pattern, letting the common folk bask in a little of your glory and feel grateful for your kindness—just as young ladies who copy your peony hairpin actually make your splendor shine even more."

As she spoke, she watched Lan Xiang's expression; seeing it ease slightly, Shen Shuangning pressed on.

"This business earns open‑hand silver; its value lies in gaining the reputation of 'the consort cherishing the people and sharing splendor,' and it can also accrue merit for the heir in your womb. If His Majesty learns of it, he might have the historians add a line: 'The consort guides the fashion, benefiting the market streets......'"

Shen Shuangning's originally cherry‑pink lips had long lost color; with great difficulty she said: "In that case, wouldn't it be fame and profit both gained, a perfect two‑in‑one?"

Lan Xiang had once been a foot‑washing maid in the Prince Yan's mansion; these years she has struggled upward merely to shake off her lowly birth, and for her, leaving a name in history is a most glorious thing!

Shen Shuangning had hit exactly the spot in Lan Xiang's heart!

Lan Xiang fell silent for a moment, then raised her hand: "Take everything away, get up."

The old women holding Shen Shuangning immediately released their grip and stepped aside.

"Thank...... Noble Consort."

Shen Shuangning endured the pain and rose from the ground, but having knelt too long under the scorching sun and suffered further torment, she barely got up before collapsing again.

Her swollen, painful fingers pressed against the ground, supporting half her body, the agony making her face as white as paper.

Lan Xiang glanced at her wretched state, a flicker of pleasure crossing her eyes, but she glared at the palace maid and snapped: "What are your eyes for? Hurry up and help Fourth Miss!"

The palace maid hurried forward and helped Shen Shuangning to her feet.

At that moment, a eunuch who had entered from outside took small steps to Lan Xiang's side, bowed his head, and said something.

Lan Xiang raised her eyebrows, revealing a smile that showed everything was under her control.

It was the Madam of the Honorable Duke, bearing the imperial seal, who came to the palace gate seeking an audience.

She has come to rescue her daughter.

"Hmph, she won't shed tears until she sees the coffin."

The eunuch asked, "Your Highness, would you like to see her?"

Lan Xiang's gaze fell upon the delicate woman below; her eyes shifted, she curled her red lips and ordered, "If she is not to be seen, then tell her that this palace finds the Fourth Miss clever and wishes to keep her for a few days to chat."

To outsiders, gaining the Noble Consort's favor seems a great honor, but in reality she is plotting the idea of "holding the emperor hostage to command the lords."

Lan Xiang did not deliberately lower her voice when she spoke, and Shen Shuangning heard it as well.

This woman will certainly not let her go easily.

However, for now it seems Lan Xiang will not take her life; Shen Shuangning steadied herself, lowered her eyes, and fell silent.

Outside the palace gate, Madam Liu was anxiously worried.

Upon learning that the Noble Consort refused to see her, and after finding a pretext to detain Shen Shuangning, she became both anxious and angry, her eyes reddening.

She wished she could rush in and take her daughter out.

However, the imperial palace is not a place one can simply enter; without a summons, as a lady of an aristocratic clan she could only stand outside, longing to see her daughter.

The palace gate guards all wore swords, their expressions stern; anyone who dared to intrude would easily end up as a dead soul under the blade.

Worry brings confusion; just as Madam Liu was at a loss, a low-key luxurious carriage approached from not far away and stopped near the palace gate.

Clad in dark brocade, Xiao Jingyuan stepped down from the carriage.

Madam Liu, worried about her daughter, did not notice him at first; only when he drew near did she see him, and something flashed through her mind.

Right, the Noble Consort in the palace has ties to the Prince Yan's manor; perhaps if we ask this heir to intercede, we could get our daughter back.

But what basis does he have to help her?

Looking at the heir's icy countenance, Madam Liu hesitated again.

Yet for her daughter's safety, even if there is only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, she must act.

Who would have thought that just as Madam Liu gathered her courage to approach the heir, he spoke first.

"Madam of the Honorable Duke, please rest assured; I will personally bring your daughter back safely. The sun is high—return to your residence and rest."

Having said that, Xiao Jingyuan delayed no further, striding straight into the palace, followed by an unfamiliar official.

Xiao Jingyuan's status is special; the guards recognized him and therefore let him pass of their own accord.

Madam Liu remained rooted to the spot.

She had seen the heir of the Prince Yan's manor a few times and heard many rumors; in her impression he was a jade-faced Yama, wielding great power and aloof.

Even her husband, in his occasional letters, had warned her twice to avoid any involvement with this person and to keep a respectful distance.

Yet just now the Prince Yan's heir spoke with a gentle tone and soft brows, quite unlike the rumors that made him seem difficult to get along with.

Madam Liu took a few steps toward the carriage heading for the Honor Duke's residence, then suddenly realized: "Ah, does he already know?"

Formerly, Lan Xiang's greatest reliance was the Prince Yan's manor; thus, when she first entered the palace, she sent any good things she obtained there first to the manor, even though she knew the manor lacked nothing.

At that time she sincerely felt grateful to the Prince Yan's manor for giving her the chance to be reborn, after all not every maid gets the opportunity to enter the palace as a consort.

Later, Lan Xiang gradually climbed upward, from Talented Lady to consort rank; although she still paid respect to the Prince Yan's consort, she was no longer particularly attentive.

Especially during her period of success, she had once heard some harsh words.

Those people mocked her as merely a foot-washing maid of the Prince Yan's manor, unfit for high society, saying she was sent into the palace only for her modest looks to strengthen the manor's influence, and that once she was no longer useful, the Prince Yan's manor would unhesitatingly discard her.

Lan Xiang's heart gradually became twisted; she regarded the Prince Yan's manor as a stain, yet she was unwilling to abandon this backer entirely, so she merely pretended to be at ease.

Now she is the Noble Consort, second only to the Empress! Her greatest reliance is the imperial heir in her womb!

It is time for the Prince Yan's manor to rely on her!

Thus, upon seeing Xiao Jingyuan, Lan Xiang slightly raised her pointed chin, adopted an aloof bearing, and gazed at her former master whom she once served.

"Let's see; since the heir returned to the capital, this is the second time he has set foot in the Splendid Palace. Interestingly, the only two occasions have both been for that Fourth Miss Shen."