Chapter 66

Upon hearing the Beautiful Consort speak, Fang Auntie furtively gave Shen Shuangning a glance.

Shen Shuangning lowered her head and walked to stand before the Beautiful Consort, at the foot of the steps.

The spring sun was not overly fierce; the woman stood in the sunlight, the porcelain‑white skin on her neck like mutton‑fat jade soaked in morning dew, glowing with a warm, moist sheen in the daylight.

Clearly a plain base color, yet for no reason it struck the eye as glaring.

Looking down from her elevated position, the Beautiful Consort sized her up; seeing her still with head bowed, she spoke with a hint of displeasure: "Raise your head."

Several consorts, reading the mood, saw the Beautiful Consort's cold expression and couldn't help glancing at the woman below the steps, wondering what special quality she possessed to have caught the Beautiful Consort's attention.

Shen Shuangning was dressed too plainly; nobody paid her much heed, and they could barely remember her name.

Only when Shen Shuangning lifted her head did everyone fully see her face, and at that instant every expression shifted subtly.

The air seemed to still for a moment.

Then the Beautiful Consort slowly rose, her gaze haughty and icy as she fixed it on Shen Shuangning.

Shen Shuangning returned her gaze calmly.

This scene seemed to echo the previous life.

At that time she had only recently married into the Prince Yan's manor; it was her first time accompanying Xiao Jingyuan into the palace to see the emperor. Afterwards Xiao Jingyuan stayed in the Imperial Study to discuss matters with the sovereign, while she went with the palace maids to stroll in Yu Hua Yuan, where she encountered a favored consort enjoying great imperial grace.

Back then the scene was much the same; that favored consort looked at her coiled married woman's hairdo and asked which family she was the lady of.

After she answered truthfully, the consort's already unfriendly expression grew even uglier.

Only later did she learn that this favored consort had once been a maid in the Prince Yan's manor, named Lan Xiang.

When Xiao Jingyuan was young and still in the capital, Lan Xiang attended to his daily needs; she was two years his senior.

Originally, given Lan Xiang's looks, the princess consort intended to make her a concubine, but after her uncle was framed, Xiao Jingyuan resolutely left the capital for the distant northern borders.

Lan Xiang naturally remained in the manor, wholeheartedly waiting for Xiao Jingyuan's return.

She waited until she was nineteen, only to hear of Xiao Jingyuan's achievements on the frontier; after another year she could wait no longer.

Since she was still chaste, the princess consort thought to find her a good family to marry into.

But Lan Xiang's ambition had been nurtured from early on; she never regarded herself as a servant. Naturally she would have become a noble concubine to the heir apparent—how could she settle for marrying a mere staff member of the manor?

Since she could not establish herself in the manor, she sought a higher position.

Lan Xiang wished to enter the palace, so the princess consort recognized her as an adopted daughter and sent her in.

Who would have thought that in just two short years Lan Xiang would go from a low‑ranking talented lady to Beautiful Consort, and by the time Xiao Jingyuan returned she was already the Beautiful Consort who outshone the six palaces.

Even after climbing to the rank of consort, a position of utmost honor, Lan Xiang still harbored a stifling resentment in her heart.

She had thought that when Xiao Jingyuan returned and learned she had become the Beautiful Consort, he would surely look at her anew, or at least feel a twinge of regret.

However, Xiao Jingyuan had long since forgotten who she was.

Upon learning of her past identity, he merely addressed her distantly and indifferently as "Your Ladyship," neither esteeming nor slighting her, which made the Beautiful Consort feel even worse.

Lan Xiang harbored resentment toward Xiao Jingyuan, but the Prince Yan's manor had shown her immense kindness; she could not vent her dissatisfaction on him, so she poured all the bitterness she had bottled up for years onto Shen Shuangning, who at the time was the Heir Apparent's consort.

However, Lan Xiang was clever; she would not openly target Shen Shuangning.

After all, she was a woman who had survived the intrigues of the palace, skilled in scheming, whereas Shen Shuangning at that time was a hothouse flower, utterly no match for the Beautiful Consort.

The Beautiful Consort had myriad ways to kill her—for instance, when Princess Jingyu released snakes to bite her, one of them was a deadly five‑pace viper; fortunately Shen Shuangning evaded it.

Later the Beautiful Consort apparently saw that she was not favored by Xiao Jingyuan and was not faring well in the Prince Yan's manor, so she let her be.

After all, watching her gradually wither in the Prince Yan's manor would be far more amusing than killing her outright; in this way Lan Xiang could tell herself that heaven had set her on the right path.

Yet in the previous life, Lan Xiang died suddenly in the palace, passing before Shen Shuangning.

In this life, Shen Shuangning meets her former enemy again; she is no longer the Heir Apparent's consort but merely the Fourth Miss of the Duke's manor, while Lan Xiang remains the exalted Beautiful Consort.

Shen Shuangning thought, "I am no longer the Heir Apparent's consort; surely Lan Xiang cannot still bear a grudge against me?"

But Lan Xiang is essentially a woman with a somewhat twisted psyche; one cannot gauge her by ordinary reasoning.

Meet force with force, water with earth—just that.

The Beautiful Consort turned the handle of her fan with her slender jade‑like fingers, gazing at Shen Shuangning without a trace of a smile.

Just as the consorts thought the Beautiful Consort was about to erupt, she suddenly broke into a smile, her scarlet lips vivid as if she had just eaten a child.

"I had long heard that the Fourth Miss of the Rong Guogong manor is a remarkable person; seeing her today, it is indeed so."

hearing it, it didn't sound like anything good—oddly sarcastic—and she even gave a cold chuckle.

Here it comes! Here it comes!

The Beautiful Consort is finally about to erupt!

Everyone's expression tightened; they all waited to see the show.

Shen Shuangning also steadied herself, preparing for the Beautiful Consort to provoke her.

However...

The Beautiful Consort only uttered this astonishing sentence, then let Shen Shuangning go without making things difficult for her.

Fang Auntie breathed a sigh of relief and led Shen Shuangning away.

The others felt a bit disappointed.

There are few women in the palace, the days are dull and boring; they had expected to see a good drama, and had even worked out how to offer suggestions.

If Shen Shuangning could hear their thoughts, she would discover that psychologically twisted women in these palace walls are not limited to the Beautiful Consort—everyone has some issue or another.

But Shen Shuangning had already walked far away, not looking back, and did not see the regretful expressions of those women behind her.

The Beautiful Consort watched Shen Shuangning's retreating back for a while; when she turned around she saw that the consorts behind her were also looking.

Seeing the Beautiful Consort turn, everyone felt a slight start and hastily withdrew their gazes.

The Beautiful Consort also said nothing, leisurely returned to the pavilion, and picked up a grape to eat.

One of them, eyes flickering slightly, stepped forward and said, "That girl just now dared to stare straight at you, Your Ladyship—truly audacious; how could you let her off so easily?"

The Beautiful Consort replied with interest, "Then, according to your view, what should I do?"

The woman speaking, even standing before the consort, kept a bowed head and lowered chest, the utmost humility.

She had often offered ideas for the consort, earning considerable favor.

When the consort asked her a question, she lifted her gaze to a nearby water barrel storing rainwater, in which two lotus flowers were blooming brightly, and she said softly:

"Press her head into that barrel, repeatedly, to wash away the disrespect in her mind, so she learns a lasting lesson and will know how to behave before the consort next time."

The woman wore a fawning smile while speaking venomous words.

The consort nodded, seeming to think the other made sense, yet she asked: "Do you think she is beautiful, or do I, the consort, surpass her in beauty?"

The woman paused at the words, then replied obediently: "Consort, your noble bearing is myriad; how could that girl compare to you?"

The consort's smile grew richer, yet her eyes turned cold; she glanced at the silent eunuch beside her and said in a chilling voice: "Did you hear? Do as she said."

The eunuch bore a faint scar on his forehead, his visage rather fearsome.

The woman had not yet realized the consort's expression was off, feeling pleased in her heart, when the eunuch strode straight to her, seized her hair, and dragged her out of the pavilion!

Everyone nearby was startled.

"Ah—! Consort, please calm your anger!" the woman shrieked in panic, struggling desperately.

Only then was the woman dragged to the edge of the barrel; the eunuch, without a word, seized her head and pressed it down hard, submerging her entire head in the water, causing the barrel's contents to overflow and splash onto the ground.

The two lotus flowers swayed tremulously.

Seeing this, no one else dared to speak, for fear of implicating themselves.

The consort didn't even glance that way, merely swaying her fan as she said lightly: "I despise deceit the most."

Although she also disliked Shen Shuangning, she had long ascertained that the latter was highly favored by the Grand Princess, and even the Emperor looked upon her differently; to act against Shen Shuangning now would be nothing short of self-inflicted suffering.

And she was no fool—how could she do such a stupid thing?

Moreover, the heir apparent had sent someone yesterday to tell her that Shen Shuangning was one of their own, urging her to look after her more in the palace.

That wretched Consort Liang dared to harm her—she would make her taste the bitterness of her own evil deeds!

Shen Shuangning did not know what had happened in Yu Hua Yuan after she left.

Although Consort Liang had not made things difficult for her, Shen Shuangning still hoped never to encounter that woman again.

Any woman associated with Xiao Jingyuan, she wanted to stay far away from.

Aunt Fang brought her to Princess Jingyu's Chang Le Gong, first going to the side hall to put away her luggage, and a little later she would go to pay respects to the princess.

Upon learning that Shen Shuangning would enter the palace that day, Princess Jingyu rose early, complaining that Shen Shuangning was coming too slowly—it was already nearly noon and she still hadn't arrived.

She thought something might have gone awry on the way, so she prepared to go out, lifting her skirts, to look for someone.

Hardly had she stepped out when she learned that her longed-for elder sister Ning was already in the side hall.

Princess Jingyu first felt delighted, then a bit dissatisfied, puffing her cheeks: "You didn't even come to see me right away!"

Princess Jingyu personally went over to find Shen Shuangning.

The old maid followed behind, urging: "Your Highness, please compose yourself!"—but to no avail.

After walking a long while, Shen Shuangning was sitting on the kang, resting, sipping tea leisurely.

The side hall of Chang Le Gong was far larger than her quarters, with good lighting, already swept spotless by the palace maids; one could tell the surroundings had been specially arranged, resembling a fragrant, soft boudoir.

However, Shen Shuangning had little mind to appreciate it.

Soon after, Princess Jingyu's figure appeared, gliding in.

"Elder sister Ning!"

Shen Shuangning rose, performed a proper salute, and said: "Your Highness."

Princess Jingyu approached with a smile, helping her up familiarly: "Here there are no outsiders; no need to salute me."

Princess Jingyu considered herself already acquainted with Shen Shuangning, feeling no former shyness or reserve, her bearing showing natural closeness.

Shen Shuangning, by contrast, was much more aloof.

Princess Jingyu was unaware of what Zhai Ji had previously done to Shen Shuangning; noticing the other's indifferent attitude, she assumed it was due to exhaustion from the journey and lack of acclimation.

After chatting with her for a while, Princess Jingyu dared not disturb her further.

Since she didn't need to go to Shu Zhai today, Shen Shuangning simply remained in the side hall, going nowhere else.

Princess Jingyu had originally prepared four palace maids for her, but Shen Shuangning kept only two.

The two maids, seeing the girl they were to serve was cold and aloof, dared not speak much, merely busying themselves honestly.

Serving as a companion reader in the palace had disrupted all of Shen Shuangning's plans; this alone made her spirits sink.

Later, after she had finished her meal, the palace maids brought hot water; she rose to bathe, soaking in the tub to collect her thoughts.

All the preparations she was now making were intended to preserve the Rongguo Duke's household.

Next year a great drought will strike, causing famine everywhere and even affecting the court's situation; but for now they have already begun planting potatoes, and once Chen Jia improves them as in her previous life, yields will increase greatly—one year is enough time.

At present, the most pressing matter is her father's affair; she and Pei Zhi are in complete accord.

The Zhen Guo Duke's household wishes to plant its own people in the Capital Garrison, whereas she wants her father to first leave the Capital Garrison and preserve himself through prudence.

It is not a matter of having Shen Lang resign his post, but of having him first remain in Zhen Ding to administer affairs, while also avoiding arousing the Emperor's suspicion.

She entrusted this matter to Pei Zhi to handle; given the urgent situation, she could only choose to trust him.

Shen Shuangning did not know whether this was the right course, but if Shen Lang continued to stay in the Capital Garrison, he would surely repeat past mistakes—this was her father's life, she dared not gamble with it.

Shen Lang, however, has always been stubborn as a mule, and it remains uncertain whether Pei Zhi can succeed...

Moreover, Xie Lin—had he received her letter?

Four or five days have also passed; she ought to have received the letter by now.

I've heard that in Dan Zhou the feng shui nurtures people, the customs are open, and the girls there outshine each other in beauty; they are bolder and more unrestrained than the young ladies of Jingcheng, and upon taking a fancy to any young man they will step forward and declare their affection outright.

A handsome, jade-faced general like Xie Lin must surely be popular.

If a girl were to throw herself into his arms, he could refuse once, but could he refuse a second or third time?

Speaking of which, Shen Shuangning had never worried about this problem before; perhaps it was Zhao Lian'an's betrayal that made her disappointed in all men in the world, so she couldn't help but start thinking wildly.

Shen Shuangning was not used to being disturbed while thinking, so Aheng did not attend her side.

She leaned against the edge of the tub, closed her eyes, and pondered; the surrounding mist was thick, and she actually fell asleep without noticing.

In that sleep, she actually dreamed that Xie Lin was abducted by the female chief of Black Wind Stronghold to become her husband.

She also dreamed that Xie Lin and that female chief had five or six plump, white babies!

When she saw him, Xie Lin still held a baby in his arms, and with a guilty face he said to her: "Sorry, Ningning, we truly love each other."

Shen Shuangning cried out in anger, gritting her teeth as she called Xie Lin's name.

But this sleepy murmur, no matter how you hear it, sounds like a soft, tender whisper from a spring dream.

At that moment she did not know that a tall figure stood outside the screen, and each of her cries of 'Xie Lin' cut into his heart like a knife.