Chapter 669: First Volume_Chapter 669: Not Knowing Life from Death

First Volume_Chapter 669: Not Knowing Life from Death

Imperial Consort Ling hurriedly pressed herself against the door crack, peering outside.

She saw Zhang Xiuye approaching with several Imperial Eunuchs.

Imperial Consort Ling's face went white in an instant, her voice trembling slightly: "Didn't I say so? The death-bringing star is here already."

Zhang Xiuye, still far off, heard the clamor of Shuyi and Shuji.

His face was terrifyingly dark.

With a wave of his hand, the Imperial Eunuchs understood at once and scattered, knocking on the doors of the surrounding palaces and courtyards.

One of the Imperial Eunuchs came to Imperial Consort Ling's door and knocked lightly a few times.

"Imperial Consort Ling?"

"Are there any maidservants inside? Please inform Imperial Consort Ling that there's a fire outside—do not come out for now."

Imperial Consort Ling, just on the other side of the door, held her breath, her eyes wide open.

She kept signaling the maidservants with her eyes, gesturing for them to keep their mouths shut and not respond.

The Imperial Eunuch called out a few times, saw no reply, and turned to leave.

Before long, the Imperial Eunuchs returned one after another to Zhang Xiuye's side.

"Chief Steward Zhang, every palace and courtyard is empty."

Zhang Xiuye sneered inwardly.

Empty?

Most likely the commotion here has already been heard clearly by every Imperial Consort—they simply don't dare show their faces.

The Imperial Consorts living in this area are all old hands of Gong Zhong, well-versed in the rules and the stakes of the palace.

Even if someone was eavesdropping, Zhang Xiuye didn't care.

He immediately led the Eunuchs toward Shuyi and Shuji.

Seeing Zhang Xiuye, Shuyi immediately broke into a broad smile.

"Chief Steward Zhang, what wind blew you here?"

Though Shuyi looked down on such a eunuch from the bottom of her heart, she didn't dare slight someone who could "reach the Son of Heaven's ears" directly.

Zhang Xiuye gave a cold laugh.

"Noble Lady Shuyi, that question should be the one this Maid asks you."

"Hou Gong is so vast—why did you come all the way here?"

As he spoke, Zhang Xiuye glanced at Li Xiaolan's Gong Di, and could not help but be filled with sudden respect.

Shuyi naturally sensed something off in those words, but paid it no mind.

She had the Emperor and the Empress backing her—what was there to fear?

Without answering, she snorted lightly: "Chief Steward Zhang, you've come at just the right time. The people of the Imperial Household Department—you really need to rein them in."

"Top-Tier incense—why is it supplied only to Mingyue Princess?"

"Just a month ago, I saw the Emperor at Jiaotai Hall, and the Emperor even praised how nice I smelled."

"If I don't have ambergris to perfume myself, it's no great matter to me—but if the Emperor is displeased, that would be troublesome."

Just as Zhang Xiuye had expected.

Shuyi had indeed brought out the Emperor to pressure him.

For a moment he could not help but feel secretly amused.

"Noble Lady Shuyi, you won't need this ambergris ever again."

"Recently, there have been many rumors in Hou Gong—especially rumors targeting Mingyue Princess."

"They're all your doing, aren't they?"

Just then, several Imperial Eunuchs came over carrying a straw mat.

Shuyi's heart gave a sudden thump; she couldn't help but swallow, and hurriedly snapped.

"Y-yes, so what if it was me?!"

"What are you trying to do?"

"If the Emperor learns of this, you won't get away with it!"

Zhang Xiuye's gaze grew colder still, his laughter sharp and piercing.

"What a rare sight!"

"Everyone in Shedynasty knows the Emperor is devoted to governance and has the least interest in women."

"Summoning you to Jiaotai Hall was merely to relieve his boredom, to change his mood—and you actually took yourself for someone important?"

"Your father is a mere Salt Bureau Secretary—a Sixth Rank minor official."

"Among the Imperial Concubine in Hou Gong, which one is not more noble than you? I really don't know where you got such nerve."

Hearing these words, Shuyi had already gone deathly pale.

She had not expected that her great favor would, in the blink of an eye, turn into a Huangliang Dream.

Shuji beside her was so frightened she didn't even dare draw a breath.

Where was any of her earlier arrogance now?

Zhang Xiuye pointed at Li Xiaolan's Gong Di.

"Open your eyes and look—where is this?"

"The countless Harem Consorts all tread with utmost caution, none daring to come near, lest a single misstep bring deadly disaster upon themselves."

"You two—a mere Shupin Shuyi and Shuji—dare come here to make trouble. I must say, I'm impressed."

As he spoke, Zhang Xiuye waved his hand.

Several imperial eunuchs rushed forward and pinned Shuyi, Shuji, and their attendant maids to the ground in seconds.

At this moment, Shuji finally realized she had stirred up a massive trouble.

Li Xiaolan had shut herself away not out of fear of standing off against me, but because… she simply didn't regard me at all.

The imperial concubines in the Hou Gong avoided Li Xiaolan not out of disdain, but pure fear.

"Chief Zhang, I demand an Imperial Audience! I demand an Imperial Audience!"

Shuyi screamed in anguish.

Shuji was terrified beyond words and wailed: "Chief Zhang, I'll never dare again!"

Seeing Zhang Xiuye's expressionless face, Shuji turned and shouted toward Li Xiaolan's Gong Di: "Your Highness, please save us!"

"We know we're wrong."

Zhang Xiuye waved his hand.

The imperial eunuchs immediately used white silk to tighten around the necks of Shuyi, Shuji, and the attendant maids, pulling hard outward.

The cries of anguish ceased abruptly.

Shuyi and Shuji's faces were streaked with tears, cheeks flushed red, eyes filled with despair.

Meanwhile, the imperial eunuchs had already prepared the mat—once the victims breathed their last, they could roll them up and carry them to Aifeng's Back Door for burial.

At that moment, a sharp voice rang out.

"Stop!"

Zhang Xiuye frowned but immediately waved for the eunuchs to release them.

Turning toward the sound, they saw Shu Feng standing at the Gate, watching the group outside with hostile eyes.

At the same time, Li Xiaolan stepped out of the Gong Di, clad in a black robe embroidered with golden phoenixes.

Zhang Xiuye knelt without hesitation and bowed.

"Your servant, pays homage to Your Highness."

Shuyi and Shuji clutched their throats, gasping for breath.

Seeing Zhang Xiuye bow so humbly before Li Xiaolan, they finally understood the vast gulf in status between themselves and Li Xiaolan.

Li Xiaolan walked slowly out of the Gate and glanced at Shuyi and Shuji, their faces pale with terror.

"Given your young ages, I'll overlook your transgressions."

"Learn from this misstep—this Hou Gong's waters run deep. Don't let others use you again."

At these words, Shuyi suddenly snapped awake.

No wonder the Empress Title had been sending people to "inquire after" me every few days lately.

Under the Empress's sugary deception, I had grown increasingly arrogant.

Now, Shuyi understood—the Empress never liked her; she had merely used her as cannon fodder.

Shuyi was furious, but dared not utter another sound—only crawled on the ground, her body trembling slightly.

Zhang Xiuye looked troubled.

"Your Highness, this was the Emperor's command."

Li Xiaolan glanced at Zhang Xiuye.

Shu Feng grabbed the back of Zhang Xiuye's collar and yanked him upright.

Zhang Xiuye trembled all over, his face as white as paper, too afraid to meet Li Xiaolan's gaze.

"Chief Zhang, watch your words and actions, or…"

Li Xiaolan glanced at the mat in the imperial eunuch's hands: "You'll be the one rolled up in it."

Zhang Xiuye was utterly terrified, nodding frantically: "Your servant deserves death—please, Your Highness, forgive me."