章 42: The Chosen
The Forbidden City's pathways that was always bustling seemed quieter than usual as Lingyi walked alongside Consort Xian, escorting her mistress back to Chengqian Palace. Yet, her mind was anything but calm. The morning gathering replayed over and over again in her thoughts—the Empress's unexpected arrival, her reprimand of Shu, and, most of all, Consort Xian's uncharacteristic silence as Hua humiliated Noble Lady Yu.
Lingyi's thoughts churned like a restless tide. The Consort Xian she had come to know over the years was sharp and calculative but rarely a passive observer in such matters. Yet today, she had chosen not to intervene. As they crossed the elegant archway leading to their quarters, Lingyi's curiosity could no longer be contained.
"Niang-niang," Lingyi began hesitantly, her voice soft but tinged with urgency.
Xian, who had been lost in her thoughts, glanced sideways at her servant. "What is it, Lingyi?" she asked, her tone indifferent but not unkind.
Lingyi hesitated, unsure if she was overstepping, but pressed on. "I couldn't help but notice… you didn't speak up during the gathering today. It seemed unlike you, mistress. Is something wrong?"
Consort Xian stopped abruptly, turning to face Lingyi fully. Her lips curved into a wry smile, one that did not reach her eyes. "Ah, Lingyi. You've been with me long enough to know how this harem works. Theatrics like what happened today are not only expected—they're a part of life here. Why should I intervene when someone else is causing a stir for me?"
The response shocked Lingyi. "But Noble Lady Yu…" she began, her voice faltering. "She is innocent in all of this. Does she deserve such cruelty?"
Xian's gaze sharpened, her tone turning icy. "Deserve? Lingyi, no one survives this place on merit or innocence alone. If Yu Guiren cannot defend herself, then she must learn. Perhaps today's lesson will teach her to be more cautious and fend for herself in the future."
Lingyi lowered her head, concealing the dismay on her face. Xian's words left no room for argument, and it was then that Lingyi understood. A storm was brewing, and her mistress—whether directly or subtly—would undoubtedly play a part in it.
As they resumed their walk, the silence between them was heavy with unspoken tension. Lingyi's thoughts swirled. The Forbidden City was a battlefield, and it seemed Consort Xian was preparing to position herself amidst the chaos that would inevitably unfold.
---
At Jingyang Palace, Hua's rage was palpable, suffocating the air in her chambers. She stormed in, her robes sweeping behind her like an ominous shadow, her face contorted with anger. A'rou, her ever loyal maid, followed hesitantly, knowing better than to approach too closely in such moments.
Hua slammed a teacup onto the side table, the sound echoing through the chamber. "That woman," she hissed, her voice trembling with fury. "Noble Lady Yu, sitting there, smiling so smugly at Consort Jia as if she were her equal. The audacity!, what is do amusing about a fourth ranking Concubine . And to think I was reprimanded, almost humiliated, because of her foolishness!" she scuffed in complete frustration.
A'rou approached cautiously, her hands clasped in front of her. "Niang-niang, please calm yourself. Do not harm your health because of a nobody . Surely there is a way to address this without causing yourself undue stress."
Hua whirled around, her eyes blazing. "Calm myself? How can I? Look at how far I've fallen, A'rou! I was once the emperor's favored concubine, and now I'm being overshadowed by a former maid turned Consort and now a meek Noble Lady who can barely hold her own is even making jest of me!"
A'rou lowered her head but did not retreat. "Niang-niang, perhaps this is the time to act. You've spoken of a plan before. Is it not time to put it into motion?"
Hua paused, her chest rising and falling with deep breaths as she fought to rein in her emotions. Slowly, a sly smile began to creep onto her lips. "You're right, A'rou. It's time to act. If the Empress and the rest of the six palace think they can look down on me, then I will remind them who I am. Noble Lady Yu's meekness will be her undoing, and Consort Jia…" Her smile turned wicked. "She will fall by her own arrogance."
A'rou's eyes gleamed with loyalty and admiration. "What is the plan, Niang-niang?"
Hua turned towards her maid, her voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper. "First, we need to secure our alliances. Consort Xian will be our key. With her on our side, even the Empress herself won't be able to shield Jia for too long."
---
Meanwhile, in Yanxi Palace, Noble Consort Ling sat in her elegant chamber, sipping tea as her maid relayed the morning's events. She listened intently, her expression calm but her sharp eyes betraying a calculating mind.
"So," Ling murmured, setting down her cup with deliberate grace, "Hua made a fool of herself, without a knowledge of the Empress's return in full force to restore order." She chuckled softly, the sound low and knowing. "How typical."
The maid nodded, hesitating before speaking again. "Guifei Niang-niang, there's more. It seems Noble Lady Yu was the target of Hua's frustrations. She was humiliated before everyone."
Ling tilted her head thoughtfully, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Yu Guiren, hm? She has always been a quiet one, content to fade into the background. But perhaps…" She trailed off, her mind whirring with possibilities.
"Perhaps what, Niang-niang?" Xiu'er asked cautiously.
Ling leaned back in her chair, her fingers lightly tapping the armrest. "Perhaps it's time someone gave her a little push. The emperor has grown tired of the usual faces vying for his attention. A fresh contender might be just what he needs to liven things up."
The maid's brows furrowed in confusion. "But Niang-niang, Yu Guiren has no strong connections, no significant standing…"
"Exactly," Ling interrupted, her smile widening. "Which is why she's the perfect candidate. She's unassuming, unnoticed. If she were to suddenly rise, it would catch everyone off guard. And who better to guide her ascent than I?"
Xiu'er eyes widened in understanding. "You mean to support her?"
"Support, mold, shape—call it what you will," Ling said, her tone dripping with amusement. "But if Yu Guiren can grasp the emperor's favor, she will owe her success to me. And in this harem, loyalty is a currency more valuable than gold."
The maid hesitated, then bowed deeply. "Your wisdom knows no bounds, Niang-niang."
Ling laughed softly, her eyes gleaming with ambition. "Prepare the necessary arrangements. I will summon Yu Guiren tomorrow. It's time to see if she is ready to step out of the shadows and into the light."
Her maid turned to leave but hesitated as though remembering a forgotten detail, she turned .."Guifei Niang naing...what if she-
"She declines?" Ling interrupted
Her maid nodded . "Then it means she is not the chosen one ". Ling concluded.
"The chosen one?" Xiu'er mummured but enough for her mistress to hear. With curiosity getting the best of her she sought to ask what her mistress meant by the chosen one. But ling immediately dismissed her with a wave, "Go now ... somethings are higher than you".
As the maid hurried off to carry out her orders, Ling's smile faded slightly, her expression growing serious. She knew the Forbidden City was a place where every rise came with risks, every alliance with hidden costs. But she had navigated these waters for years, and she wasn't about to let a moment of opportunity slip through her fingers.
Maybe this is the one she has been looking for ...so she thought.
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