Chapter 1956: Betray the Empress?
But it was her interests that the empress sacrificed. For example, the whole matter of pretending to be sick. She should have been attending to the emperor, but the opportunity was given to others instead.
“Head back first and let this consort think about it.” Consort Zhuang waved her off.
Attendant Zhou bowed and curtsied. “Your Majesty, the emperor hasn’t come to our palace in a long time. You and I are in the same boat. Our Moonlight Palace will become a laughingstock.”
“Your Highness, Court Lady Qiu, who serves the empress, has turned back and said that she has something for you,” Consort Zhuang’s maid said.
“Hurry up and let her in.” Consort Zhuang looked a little panicked. She turned her head and told Attendant Zhou, “Go back to your Jade Court.”
Attendant Zhou’s face darkened. Her promise wasn’t as good as the empress’ word.
She had no choice but to leave. She needed to find a way to meet Zhao Xu. As long as she obtained his favor, she would be free of the current situation and would avoid the system’s punishment.
“Court Lady Qiu, did Her Majesty need something?” Consort Zhuang asked Qiu Ling with an unnatural smile.
Qiu Ling took out a two-tailed golden phoenix hairpin. The phoenix’s eyes were made of precious stones and paired nicely with the color of the gold. It was extraordinarily gorgeous.
“Consort Zhuang, this is a gift from the empress. The empress said, ‘The two-tailed phoenix will be reborn from the ashes and become the three-tailed’.” Court Lady Qiu said, holding the hairpin.
Consort Zhuang was stunned but rushed to let a servant accept the gift. “Thank the empress for her grace. This consort will remember it.”
Consort Zhuang was now one of the eight consorts who wore a two-tailed phoenix hairpin. The three-tailed phoenix hairpin could only be worn by one of four consorts, which was one level up.
“The empress also said that Consort Zhuang should take care to recuperate,” Qiu Ling said.
“Thank the empress for caring,” Consort Zhuang said, smiling. “Cai Lian, see Court Lady Qiu off on this consort’s behalf.”
“This servant will take her leave.” Qiu Ling withdrew and left the Moonlight Palace.
Consort Zhuang looked at the phoenix hairpin on the table and sighed internally. The empress was warning her, giving her a sweet date after a punishment.
The rift between her and Attendant Zhou couldn’t be mended. If someone made her stay in the Cold Palace, where the sun never shone then…
If it was her, she couldn’t wait to eat that person’s flesh and drink their blood. Yet Attendant Zhou calmly spoke of cooperation. She was certainly a complex character.
As was the empress. Neither of them was simple.
Consort Zhuang carefully weighed her options. If she cooperated with Attendant Zhou, then once Attendant Zhou climbed up the ranks in the future, she feared that the first person Attendant Zhou would get rid of was her.
Furthermore, she’d have to risk offending the empress.
She didn’t know why the empress wanted to deal with Attendant Zhou. But her own rift with Attendant Zhou was how she ended up pretending to be sick in the first place.
Could she betray the empress now?
Consort Zhuang didn’t dare.
Forget it! She had better stick to pretending to be sick!
Qiu Ling returned to the Palace of Prolonged Autumn and told Ning Shu, “When this maid went to the Moonlight Palace, she saw Attendant Zhou walking out of the main hall. The two of them probably had a long conversation.”
Ning Shu took a sip of tea and sighed inwardly. The tea here was seriously delicious. She wasn’t surprised by Qiu Ling’s news.
Attendant Zhou had to get out of a tricky situation and could only rely on Consort Zhuang. Differences in status could truly crush people.
Translator: Kaho