Free Web NovelChapter 117: Chapter 58: The Emperor Just Can’t Stand to See Me Doing Well
’In this sweltering heat, she probably can’t last much longer.’
"Lady Fangyi, you can’t just say that. Beauty Zhen was just an innocent party caught in the crossfire. Are you going to pass judgment without getting to the bottom of things?"
Song Yunzhao looked at Lu Zhixue in surprise. She hadn’t expected Lu Zhixue to be the first to speak up.
An Fangyi scoffed and turned to Lu Zhixue. "Oh? In that case, Lu Pin, why don’t you tell me all about Beauty Zhen’s grievances."
Lu Zhixue’s expression soured at her words. She hadn’t witnessed it herself, so how could she possibly explain?
Seeing this, Qin Xiyue stepped forward and curtsied to An Fangyi. "Lady Fangyi, please forgive us. This matter concerns Consort Zhuang, so we naturally wouldn’t dare to speak recklessly."
"If you don’t dare to speak recklessly, then why are you here looking so wronged? How ridiculous."
Song Yunzhao was currently recalling the plot of the book. The story’s opening scene was Qin Xiyue speaking up for Beauty Zhen and sparring with Consort Zhuang, which the ’coincidentally’ passing Emperor then overheard.
But before that, there was no mention of An Fangyi appearing to have a war of words with Lu Zhixue.
’See? This must be a hidden plot point.’
Song Yunzhao was suddenly intrigued. She stared at An Fangyi. She was clashing with Qin Xiyue now, but later on, the two of them would team up to defeat Consort Zhuang. No matter how she thought about it, it just didn’t seem to add up.
Just as she was thinking, she heard Han Jinyi beside her say, "Strange, why would An Fangyi be here today? I heard from the staff at Liu Hua Palace that she rarely comes out."
Song Yunzhao grew pensive at these words and turned to Han Jinyi. "An Fangyi rarely leaves Liu Hua Palace? Then why is she here now?"
"Yes, I find it strange too." Han Jinyi shook her head. "My attendant, Ying Chun, told me. She’s served in the palace for many years, so of course she would know."
Song Yunzhao watched An Fangyi with suspicion, then glanced at Qin Xiyue. The way they were at each other’s throats was quite intense. Given Qin Xiyue’s rank, how did she dare talk back to An Fangyi like that?
Talking back was one thing, but An Fangyi, who was known for her bad temper, was actually engaging in a back-and-forth argument with Qin Xiyue instead of just using her status to crush her.
It wasn’t just strange; it was bizarre through and through.
’What exactly is the hidden plot?’
Song Yunzhao racked her brain but couldn’t figure it out. Just then, she heard Consort Zhuang’s voice. "Well, if it isn’t An Fangyi? You’re quite the rare guest, gracing us with your presence to get some sun. I don’t recall you being so passionate in the past. Why the sudden interest in minding other people’s business today?"
"This concubine greets Consort Zhuang." An Fangyi curtsied with a haughty air. "I merely felt that with the arrival of new people, the palace has become more lively, so I thought I’d come out for some air. I didn’t expect to witness Consort Zhuang’s grand display of power on my very first day out."
Song Yunzhao fell silent at these words. She’d thought she was the master of twisting logic to sound reasonable, but this An Fangyi was clearly on another level.
First she mocked Beauty Zhen, then she steamrolled Lu Zhixue, and now she’s belittling Consort Zhuang.
’So which side is this woman on, anyway?’
It seemed like she wouldn’t be satisfied until she’d offended everyone. That was a skill most people couldn’t handle.
She just couldn’t understand it. Why on earth was she doing this? freeωebnovēl.c૦m
’Just to come out and offend people?’
Just as she was thinking this, she heard Qin Xiyue speak up again. "Consort Zhuang, Beauty Zhen already knows she was wrong. Please, Your Ladyship, for the sake of it being her first offense, be merciful and spare her this once."
"Consort Qin?"
Song Yunzhao watched as An Fangyi’s gaze fell upon Qin Xiyue, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was a little strange.
"Yes, it is I."
"Do you know what mistake Beauty Zhen made?"
Song Yunzhao’s eyes were fixed on Qin Xiyue. She saw Qin Xiyue’s eyes flicker before she heard her say, "This concubine heard that Beauty Zhen accidentally picked a flower that Your Ladyship was growing in the garden. Before that, Beauty Zhen did not know the flower belonged to Your Ladyship. She knows her mistake now, so please, be merciful. In this heat, kneeling for so long... I’m afraid Beauty Zhen won’t be able to bear it."
’Picking a flower?’
When Song Yunzhao heard those three words, something clicked in her mind. The corner of her mouth twitched. She knew she’d forgotten something; this was it.
Beauty Zhen had picked a flower grown by Consort Zhuang. When Consort Zhuang found out, she flew into a rage and scolded her. But Beauty Zhen felt wronged since she hadn’t known the flower belonged to Consort Zhuang, so she talked back. Naturally, this enraged Consort Zhuang further, and she had her punished.
The crux of the matter was whether the flower was more important, or the person.
In Consort Zhuang’s eyes, the flowers she cultivated were precious. Someone picking her flower was a sign of contempt toward her, an unforgivable crime.
Qin Xiyue’s argument in the book was that Beauty Zhen didn’t know the flower belonged to Consort Zhuang. Furthermore, it questioned whether a flower was more important than a person, framing Consort Zhuang’s punishment of making Beauty Zhen kneel as excessively cruel for just one flower.
As for the Emperor’s thoughts...
That wasn’t important. The women of the harem were all the Emperor’s pawns. Who he reprimanded and who he suppressed depended entirely on whose father was causing trouble for him at court.
Song Yunzhao’s mind was racing. And just as she was sorting through the plot, the Emperor arrived right on cue.
Tsk.
"Emperor, not only was my flower picked, but Beauty Zhen also talked back to me. I beg you, Emperor, to seek justice for me." Consort Zhuang immediately went forward to air her grievances.
By now, Beauty Zhen’s knees were numb from kneeling, and she was growing faint under the scorching sun. Hearing Consort Zhuang’s words, she wanted to defend herself, but for some reason, the words wouldn’t come. In her panic, tears began to fall, making her look truly miserable, helpless, and pitiable.
At this moment, Qin Xiyue stood beside Beauty Zhen and curtsied to the Emperor. "This concubine pays her respects to Your Majesty. Your Majesty, even if Beauty Zhen is at fault, she only picked a single flower, and she did not know it was being grown by Consort Zhuang. As the saying goes, those who act in ignorance are not to be blamed. For the sake of one flower, Consort Zhuang is tormenting a fellow concubine. Beauty Zhen has already been kneeling for a full hour. Even if she were guilty, her penance should be considered paid."
’Tormenting a fellow concubine?’ freeweɓnovel.cѳm
It had been so satisfying to read in the book, but experiencing it firsthand just felt bizarre.
Song Yunzhao watched Qin Xiyue pin such a serious accusation on Consort Zhuang. She couldn’t help but feel that the person before her was different from the female lead she once knew. The girlish innocence she had outside the palace was gone from her eyes.
Back then, she’d been a bit of a "green tea," but it was still understandable.
But now...
Song Yunzhao felt something was off, but as she carefully considered the plot and looked at the situation before her, she fell silent.
"Consort Song, what do you think?"
Han Jinyi quickly nudged the person beside her. Song Yunzhao snapped back to reality, realizing she’d been so lost in the plot that she’d ignored the scene playing out in front of her.
’But I’m just a spectator enjoying the drama! What does this have to do with me? Can’t he see I’m hiding as far away as possible?’
’He’s really going to drag me into this?’
Song Yunzhao glared at the Emperor who had spoken. ’He just can’t stand to see me have a moment of peace!’
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