After taking Chinese herbal medicine for two days, Jiang Xinyue's health had mostly recovered, but there was no movement from Jiang Yuan on the other side. Xiao Xuanzi tossed two steamed stuffed buns towards her door every meal, forming a small pile, but she didn't move at all.
"Do you think she's dead?"
Xi Que stood at Jiang Yuan's door, discussing with Xiao Xuanzi: "Should we... go check on her?"
Xiao Xuanzi placed his hand on the door, pushed it a crack open, then withdrew it: "But what if she's really dead..."
"Open it!"
Jiang Xinyue walked over, gently pushing the door open with a light laugh: "If she's really dead, we're the only ones who can take care of her remains."
This west-facing room rarely saw sunlight, always cold and damp. The three of them shivered as they entered.
Xi Que pulled Jiang Xinyue's cloak tighter around her: "My lady, be careful with your health."
A foul odor emanated from the room, and Jiang Xinyue covered her nose with a lightly scented handkerchief.
Xiao Xuanzi, however, seemed used to it: "Consort Zhen, it's the smell of filth - she must be awake."
"Jiang Xinyue, prepare to die."
Hiding behind the door, Jiang Yuan swung a round stool at Jiang Xinyue. Xiao Xuanzi rushed forward, grabbed her arm and twisted it back, forcing her to drop the stool in pain.
Xi Que kicked her in the knee, forcing her to kneel on the ground: "Insolent maid, not kneeling before Consort Zhen?"
The foul odor came from Jiang Yuan herself. She had been awake for two days, but poisoned, constantly vomiting blood. Fearing Jiang Xinyue would retaliate, she hadn't dared sleep.
Xiao Xuanzi tossed the steamed stuffed buns to her door every day, but she was afraid Jiang Xinyue had poisoned them, so she never went out to take them.
Now she looked like a mad woman, nothing like the graceful Consort Jiang of the past.
Her fierce gaze fixed on Jiang Xinyue as Xiao Xuanzi restrained her: "I never poisoned you, it wasn't me. I only gave you a laxative. Go explain it to the Emperor."
"Does it matter if it was you or not?"
Jiang Xinyue countered: "Isn't it because you wanted to harm me that someone else had the chance to frame you? Didn't you want to poison me to death?"
"You..."
Shock flickered in Jiang Yuan's eyes: "What do you mean? You... you knew all along that I didn't poison you?"
Jiang Xinyue smiled wryly: "It makes no difference to me - the one who poisoned me wanted to turn me against Concubine Li. You were just a pawn. To me, you're an enemy too, so it doesn't matter who poisoned me. What matters is, you'll never have a chance to rise again in this life."
After pondering for a while, Jiang Yuan collapsed to the ground, laughing madly: "Hahaha... it was the Empress, it was the Empress... hahaha... she must have thought her plan was flawless."
Jiang Xinyue... Jiang Xinyue had been playing the fool, deceiving the tiger. Jiang Yuan was never her match.
After laughing, she looked at the smiling woman again, gloating: "I can never rise again in this life, but do you think you can? Don't be stupid - once in the Palace of Exile, you have one foot in the grave. The Emperor will never favor you again."
"We'll just have to wait and see!"
Jiang Xinyue turned to leave, saying as she reached the door: "Xiao Xuanzi's steamed stuffed buns - you should eat some. You have to stay alive to witness my rise, don't starve to death in the Palace of Exile."
After leaving that room, fresh air rushed into their nostrils.
Xi Que glanced back at the door, still angry: "My lady, why didn't you let this servant teach her a lesson?"
They were all just maids, how dare she act so arrogant?
"Why bother fighting with someone destined to die?"
After washing her hands, Jiang Xinyue took out a travelogue, and just as Xi Que thought her mistress would read quietly, Jiang Xinyue spoke slowly: "Her room doesn't even have a bed or quilts. Poisoned and frail, it's hard to say if she'll live through this winter. Xi Que, she's just a scapegoat."
Only then did Xi Que recall Jiang Yuan mentioning the Empress, which seemed unbelievable: "But..."
"There are no buts."
Jiang Xinyue flipped a page, her eyes never leaving the book as she said indifferently: "In this palace, I trust no one but myself."
Not even the Emperor, let alone her rival the Empress.
Concubine Li had been falling out of favor recently, all because of Consort Zhen.
This woman was like a deity...
When the Emperor favored her, she defeated Concubine Chu, and the Emperor even sent her to the Palace of Exile, yet she still managed to get Jiang Yuan exiled with her.
Bringing down two consorts in succession, while Consort Zhen remained unharmed - the other consorts mocked her as a paper tiger behind her back.
That night, as Concubine Li lay in the Xuanwu Emperor's embrace, she cooed: "Your Majesty, although Yuan made a mistake, she has accompanied this concubine in the palace for so many years. Tomorrow... could this concubine visit her?"
"No."
The Xuanwu Emperor immediately refused: "Your injury hasn't healed yet. The Palace of Exile is a ruined place full of yin energy, snakes, insects and rats. What if something happens to you?"
Concubine Li suspected the Emperor didn't want her going after Consort Zhen.
If so, then she really couldn't let Consort Zhen off.
"My love..." The Xuanwu Emperor gently stroked the bandage on her forehead. "You must take care of yourself for my sake. You can visit once you've recovered."
He didn't actually stop her from going, just worried about her injury.
Concubine Li's poisonous eyes softened, and she smiled sweetly: "This concubine will listen to Your Majesty."
If she couldn't go, her maids could, and they wouldn't let a mere consort off so easily.
"Rumble—"
Before dawn broke, a thunderclap lit up the sky, followed quickly by a bright flash of lightning.
Then heavy rain poured down...
"Bang!"
A bolt of lightning struck the side palace of Xihuo Palace, blasting off a corner of the eaves and sending sparks flying.
The downpour hadn't even started when the deafening thunder and lightning frightened Jiang Xinyue into calling Xi Que inside from outside to sleep by her bedside.
As the thunderclaps roared, unable to sleep anyway, Xi Que sat up and leaned over Jiang Xinyue's bed: "Little Miss, you were also scared of thunder when we lived at the manor. Aunt Ruan would sneak in to soothe you to sleep, while I kept watch outside. If the Madame came, I'd hurry Aunt Ruan away to hide."
That familiar 'Little Miss' made Jiang Xinyue feel a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time.
A beautiful countenance flashed into her mind, bearing a seven-tenths resemblance to this body, but with an expression that could move all beings. Her face was forever graced with a gentle smile, making one feel serene.
Xi Que prattled on: "I wonder how Aunt Ruan and the Second Young Master and Third Miss are faring after we entered the palace. With no news of the Elder Miss, the Lady is sure to take it out on Aunt Ruan. Let's hope that for the Elder Miss's sake, the Lord will offer some protection to Aunt Ruan."
"He will," Jiang Xinyue said from the darkness, patting Xi Que's head. "My father is a wise man."
