Chapter 81

Shen Shuangning was pondering how to lead Jingyu to the Noble Consort's palace without raising suspicion.

Unexpectedly, the Noble Consort's side actually sent someone over on their own initiative.

Noble Consort heard that Miss Shen Si was injured; though the wound is on the wrist, if a woman bears a scar it ultimately mars her beauty. Therefore the Consort specially ordered this servant to send Miss Si this box of pearl‑nourishing ointment.

The one who came was the senior palace maid Yichun from the Brocade Embroidery Palace; Shen Shuangning had just seen her yesterday when she entered the palace.

Seeing the other party holding the pearl ointment, Jingyu wondered what it reminded her of; her complexion darkened, she sat motionless, and the aura around her dropped a notch.

Shen Shuangning noticed her expression change, secretly guessed there must be some story behind the pearl ointment, formed a plan in her mind, rose and politely declined:

"Please ask your elder sister to return and thank the Consort for her kindness. This minor injury of mine is hardly worth mentioning; I imagine this pearl ointment is extremely precious, and using it on me would be sheer waste."

Jingyu originally never took a liking to the Noble Consort.

Moreover, only two boxes of this pearl‑nourishing ointment were ever made that year, extremely precious. By regulation, it should have been bestowed upon the two highest‑ranked ladies in the palace—the Empress and the Noble Consort—and that has always been the case in past years.

As it turned out, the Noble Consort somehow managed to coax Emperor Xuánwén into giving her the other box!

In Jingyu's view, that box rightfully belonged to her birth mother, yet the Noble Consort snatched it away—how could she feel at ease?

But after a moment's thought, she realized Ningning truly needed this ointment; for Ningning's sake, she was willing to put on a pleasant face for the Noble Consort.

Thus Jingyu rose, took the box of ointment straight from Yichun's hands, and shoved it into Shen Shuangning's palm.

This pearl ointment is a hundred times stronger than the medicine prescribed by the Imperial Medical Institute; take it, it is the Consort's goodwill—accept it and don't think of it as waste. Her tone allowed no refusal.

Yichun raised her eyebrows, her smile unchanged, and said to Shen Shuangning: "Miss Si, see? His Highness has said as much—please just accept it."

Shen Shuangning held the cool ointment box, lifted her eyes to Jingyu.

Seeing that although she still bore a hint of displeasure in her brows and eyes, it was clearly suppressed for her sake, Shen Shuangning felt a warm glow inside.

"Then thank the Noble Consort, and thank you, elder sister, for making this trip."

She still wondered in her heart: why had the Noble Consort suddenly become so kind to her?

Yichun put on a smile: "No trouble; I came this time also to ask whether Her Highness the Princess and Miss Si are free to join the fun—the Consort has arranged a flower‑viewing banquet in the palace."

Shen Shuangning's eyes lit up slightly—how convenient! It saved her the trouble of racking her brains for an excuse.

But would Jingyu agree?

Jingyu caught the undisguised anticipation in Shen Shuangning's eyes and said: "If Ningning wants to go, then let's go and have a look."

After Shen Shuangning changed into a simple yet proper outfit, she went together with Jingyu to the Brocade Embroidery Palace.

Upon entering the Brocade Embroidery Palace, they saw the garden filled with flowers like brocade, everywhere exuding an exquisite and splendid aura; various rare blossoms were in full bloom, and even the eaves of the corridors were adorned with fresh floral sprays.

It seemed as if all the most beautiful flowers in the world had been gathered here—only a favored consort could enjoy such treatment.

When they reached the garden, many consorts were already seated, each clustering around the Noble Consort.

The Noble Consort wore a peach‑red palace robe, its color bright and eye‑catching, making her look all the more charming and radiant, standing out in the crowd.

At that moment, a palace attendant stood nearby holding a gilded birdcage; inside, the parrot's plumage was variegated, and it was actually a spirit creature capable of mimicking human speech.

Not knowing what the parrot said, the Noble Consort laughed till her branches trembled; the other consorts joined in, laughing along, making the scene lively.

Yichun had to step forward to interject, speaking softly: "Your Ladyship, the Princess and Miss Si have arrived."

As Shen Shuangning entered, her gaze swept the area, yet she did not catch sight of the pearl's shadow.

Some lower‑ranked consorts, seeing the Princess arrive, all rose and bowed to Jingyu in greeting.

Jingyu's face showed no extra expression; she simply nodded to each in acknowledgment, thus accepting their salute.

The Noble Consort remained seated motionless from start to finish, a snow‑white cat curled in her arms.

That cat, perhaps drawn by the movement in the birdcage, fixed its amber eyes on the parrot, its fur tensed all over, betraying a coiled readiness to spring.

"Someone, grant seats to the Princess and Miss Si." The Noble Consort raised her hand to signal, her voice still carrying a smile.

The palace maids quickly brought two chairs and placed them to the Noble Consort's left, so that Jingyu and Shen Shuangning could sit side by side, neither far nor near the main seat.

This both conformed to protocol and revealed a deliberate closeness.

The Noble Consort proactively expressed concern for Shen Shuangning in a few remarks; Shen Shuangning replied politely each time, gentle and courteous.

The consorts below saw that the Noble Consort's attitude toward Shen Shuangning was actually quite amiable, and each began to calculate in her mind.

For a moment, everyone had the same thought: since even the Noble Consort treats Miss Shen Si with a pleasant countenance, from now on, whenever they meet, they ought to be courteous and must not neglect her.

Even the usually inconspicuous minor consorts quietly memorized Shen Shuangning's appearance.

The laughter in the garden continued as before, yet amid the merriment there quietly grew a few more points of attention and scrutiny directed at Shen Shuangning.

Shen Shuangning didn't care what they thought; catching sight of the white cat in the Noble Consort's arms, she felt it increasingly familiar.

Then it struck her: this cat looks exactly like the one raised by Zhai Ji.

"That bird is awfully amusing—it can tell jokes, its mouth so nimble; I wonder where the Consort found it? Perhaps it is a rare treasure specially granted by His Majesty?" said a consort wearing a light‑blue palace robe, flattering.

The Noble Consort lightly stroked the soft fur of the cat in her arms and smiled: "It's merely a trinket tossed up by the southern prefecture; this morning the Young Master Xiao sent it to amuse me, though speaking of His Majesty..."

The Noble Consort turned her gaze to the eunuch, slightly raised her chin, frowned, and said: "Hasn't His Majesty already left court? Why hasn't he found time to come over?"

That eunuch's attire was noticeably different from the other eunuchs: he wore a dark robe, cloud patterns wrapped around his waist, and his visage bore a hint of ferocity.

One does not know when he took his stand there; he is somewhat intimidating.

Only see this eunuch bow forward, bend his waist, and whisper a few words into the Noble Consort's ear.

Those nearby could not hear it clearly either.

But upon hearing that the Emperor might arrive, all the consorts lifted their spirits.

Shen Shuangning instead turned her gaze to the parrot.

Everyone knows the Noble Consort has close ties with the Yan Prince's manor, yet no one knows she once almost became a concubine of the Young Master Xiao.

Now the Noble Consort is the adopted daughter of the Yan Prince; outwardly she is also regarded as the Young Master Xiao's 'elder sister,' so it is hardly improper for him to send her a fresh novelty.

But hearing this, Shen Shuangning felt it was somewhat different.

Today she was still pondering how the Noble Consort had suddenly become so good to her, even bestowing that extremely precious pearl ointment upon her.

Now, seeing that amusing parrot, she finally understood what was going on.

Could it be that Xiao Jingyuan exchanged the parrot?

Shen Shuangning's gaze fell back onto the Beautiful Consort; perhaps because she was closer, she could read the eunuch's lips as he leaned in—clearly he mentioned the Third Prince.

The eunuch finished speaking to the Beautiful Consort, straightened up, stepped aside, and the Consort said nothing.

Shen Shuangning keenly caught a faint shadow flickering in the Beautiful Consort's eyes.

This subtle change made Shen Shuangning's heart jump, and memories of her previous life surged like a tide—

The Beautiful Consort had fallen from favor at the height of her favor, ordered confined to Jinxiu Palace by Emperor Xuanwen, and even the Prince Yan's mansion abandoned her.

Shen Shuangning learned a thing or two from Princess Yan.

The Beautiful Consort was found guilty of forming factions for personal gain, colluding with outside officials, and privately releasing copper coins to amass wealth—each offense a grave crime that enraged the emperor, and all of this was inseparable from Zhai Ji.

Shen Shuangning secretly thought, this actually makes sense.

The Beautiful Consort bore no children; when the emperor fell gravely ill, she could hardly conceive again—a consort without power or children, she would become nothing once the emperor died and the new emperor ascended.

If the eventual heir were the Empress's Second Prince, Prince Rui, the Beautiful Consort's fate would only be worse.

Looking at Zhai Ji, by then the Virtuous Noble Consort had already died, her natal family was being pressed step by step by the Empress, leaving hardly any room to turn things over; every path was nearly blocked, yet he refused no one who sought his aid.

Or perhaps it was he who actively approached the Beautiful Consort, promising great profit to lure her into the scheme.

In short, each harbored their own thoughts—one sought self-preservation, the other a way out—and they ultimately struck a secret deal.

Alas, in the end they could not overcome the deeply entrenched Empress, resulting in a lose‑lose outcome for both.

Shen Shuangning's gaze fell on the cat in the Beautiful Consort's arms.

It seems the Beautiful Consort and Zhai Ji colluded earlier than she had imagined; she just didn't know how deep that relationship had gone.

Xiao Jingyuan probably doesn't even know about it, right?

In her previous life, the Beautiful Consort was courting disaster; if she had been more honest and had the backing of the Prince Yan's mansion, she wouldn't have ended up like that.

Shen Shuangning was lowering her eyes, lost in thought.

Just then someone glanced at the parrot and said admiringly, 'Young Master Xiao treats Her Highness very well.'

'That's only natural,' the Beautiful Consort replied, her smile fading considerably.

No matter how amusing the parrot, the Beautiful Consort no longer laughed as freely as before.

Seeing this, everyone felt neither laughing nor not laughing was appropriate.

What happened in Yu Hua Yuan hasn't reached here yet.

Soon the Beautiful Consort rose and said lightly, 'I'm a bit tired; let's end the flower‑viewing banquet here.'

Everyone rose to their feet upon seeing this.

It seemed Emperor Xuanwen would not come, and the consorts couldn't help feeling disappointed.

'Take good care of this parrot; if a single feather falls, I will hold you accountable,' the Beautiful Consort instructed the Grand Eunuch.

Having said that, she walked off holding the cat, her splendid figure disappearing from everyone's sight.

The consorts drifted away one by one, while Shen Shuangning deliberately slowed her pace to fall behind with Jingyu.

Jingyu thought she liked the flowers and hated to leave, so he said, 'Tell me which you like, and I'll have someone bring them over and move them to the side hall.'

Shen Shuangning was looking for Baizhu's figure.

Not seeing her, Shen Shuangning felt a pang of anxiety—if she left Jinxiu Palace this time, she didn't know when she could return......

As the saying goes, constant longing will surely meet a response.

A familiar figure flashed into view.

Baizhu lowered her head, holding a pot of fresh flowers, heading toward the garden.

Shen Shuangning suddenly took notice, stepped forward, and deliberately approached her.

Suddenly, the flowerpot crashed to the ground with a bang.

Baizhu panicked, 'How did I mess up again? It's over, it's over.'

Not even seeing which noble she had bumped into, Baizhu hurriedly knelt, knocking her head repeatedly: 'I know my fault, I know my fault!'