Consort Shu's hand touched her tightly wrapped neck. She hadn't used much force, merely breaking the skin - it looked more frightening than it actually was.
In her youth, she had often witnessed her brother cruelly killing animals. She knew exactly where to pierce with a hairpin to cause profuse bleeding without being fatal.
What she hadn't expected was that she was pregnant. She had nearly caused her unborn child to suffer along with her.
Thinking of this, Consort Shu's aversion to Jiang Xinyue grew even stronger.
"How can this be your fault?" Consort Shu shook her head, her face a picture of amiability. "I fell for someone else's scheme. We're both victims here."
Jiang Xinyue seized the opportunity to stand up. "Let's not dwell on unpleasant matters."
She took the kite from Xi Que's hands and waved it. "The weather outside is lovely today. I painted a new kite yesterday. Would you like to join me, Sister Shu? I heard from the imperial physician that pregnant women should go out for walks and breathe fresh air. It's said the child will be more lively and cheerful when born!"
More lively and cheerful - wasn't that implying she was carrying a prince?
This Concubine Zhen certainly knew how to please with her words.
Consort Shu smiled gently. "Then my child thanks you, Sister Zhen. I hope he truly grows up to be as lively, cheerful, and healthy as you say."
She might as well have openly expressed her hope of bearing a prince.
To this, Jiang Xinyue merely smiled noncommittally, then waited as Consort Shu arranged for her palace maids to accompany them to the Imperial Garden.
Using Consort Shu to test Concubine Li was indeed convenient.
As the wind blew and clouds drifted, the chubby butterfly kite soared high into the sky. The Imperial Garden was a riot of colorful blooms, a truly picturesque scene. The passing palace maids and eunuchs couldn't help but slow their steps to admire this beautiful and harmonious tableau.
Xizhu, the palace maid attending Consort Shu, glared at the skipping Jiang Xinyue. "My lady, you are Consort Shu, while she's merely a concubine. Why do you need to be so nice to her? Just yesterday you were saying those insincere words to Consort Rong. What if it reaches His Majesty's ears? You... you clearly have feelings for His Majesty in your heart."
A bitter smile played on Consort Shu's lips as she replied helplessly, "If I didn't speak that way, do you think Consort Rong would have let me be? She's my younger sister and knows too many of my secrets that can't be revealed. I can only restrain her in the name of our family. As for His Majesty, he loves me, and I have deep feelings for him too. I believe His Majesty will understand my intentions."
She had no idea that the words she spoke last night had already exhausted what little affection the Emperor still held for her.
"Oh?"
"Oh no! The kite string has broken, the kite is flying away!"
Jiang Xinyue chased after it for a few steps before stopping. She trotted back to Consort Shu, "Sister Shu, my chubby butterfly seems to have flown towards Changxin Palace. I... I have some old grudges with Concubine Li. I've heard that you have a good relationship with her. Could you perhaps accompany me there?"
A flash of surprise crossed Consort Shu's eyes. Her relationship with Concubine Li wasn't common knowledge. How did Concubine Zhen know about it?
What else did she know?
"Sister Shu?"
Tears welled up in Jiang Xinyue's eyes. "What... what's wrong? You look frightening. If you're unwilling, forget it. I... I can go by myself."
Her voice wasn't particularly quiet, and several nearby palace maids and eunuchs overheard.
Consort Shu snapped back to reality, regaining her kind smile. "Sister Zhen, you've misunderstood. I was just thinking about something else. I have no objections to accompanying you."
"That's wonderful."
Changing her expression as quickly as turning a page, Concubine Zhen immediately beamed with joy. She instructed Xizhu, "Support your mistress well. Don't let her fall."
Xizhu didn't need her instructions; she had already steadied Consort Shu and was walking ahead of Jiang Xinyue towards Changxin Palace.
Having successfully unsettled Consort Shu, Jiang Xinyue followed behind them in high spirits, not at all offended by Xizhu's attitude. Meanwhile, Xi Que had already arrived at the entrance of Changxin Palace.
A eunuch at the door blocked her way. She bowed respectfully, a smile on her face, and said, "I am a palace maid from Hexi Palace, serving Concubine Zhen. Could you please inform those inside? My mistress was flying a kite in the Imperial Garden with Consort Shu, but the string broke and the kite flew into Changxin Palace. Could someone bring it out? Or I could go in to fetch it."
"Rip!"
Xia He tore the chubby butterfly kite to shreds and threw it into the pond of Changxin Palace.
As soon as the paper kite touched the water, it immediately began to blur and dissolve into a paste.
Concubine Li's face was pale, exuding a sickly beauty.
She gritted her teeth in anger. "Consort Shu... she dares to come? I listened to her advice on how to deal with Concubine Zhen, and that's why His Majesty grew to despise me. She hid her true nature so well, turns out she's been the one in His Majesty's heart all these years. She's the one who can't tolerate Concubine Zhen, yet I'm the one who ended up taking the blame."
Xia He dusted off her hands and supported Concubine Li. "My lady, now is not the time to be angry with them. You need to protect yourself first."
Concubine Li bit her lip. "To protect this hard-won child, I deliberately quarreled with His Majesty, causing him to confine me here. Now the imperial physician says my child is stable. How can I let them off easily?"
She waved her hand, not allowing Xia He to persuade her further, and slowly walked towards the palace gate.
Xi Que caught a glimpse of new movement and quickly turned back. "My mistress is here."
She turned and ran, catching the eunuchs off guard. Xi Que was already standing behind Jiang Xinyue before they could react.
Since Consort Shu outranked Jiang Xinyue, she walked two steps behind Consort Shu. Thus, Consort Shu's group was at the forefront, making it appear as though Concubine Li was confronting Consort Shu and Jiang Xinyue.
"Has Consort Shu come to find the kite?" Xia He tossed a wet paper ball from behind, the dirty object landing near Consort Shu's feet, staining her moon-white skirt hem.
"My apologies, Consort Shu. This kite fell into our Changxin Palace's pond. It was completely soaked by the time you arrived. It seems it won't be able to fly again," she said, her gaze aggressive, as if alluding to Consort Shu's current situation.
Xizhu frowned, about to react, but Consort Shu grabbed her hand and looked towards Jiang Xinyue. "This kite belongs to Sister Zhen. Sister Zhen, what do you think about this...?"
What kind of pool water could turn a kite with a protective film into a soft, mushy mess?
It was pool water, not sulfuric acid.
That appearance clearly showed it had been deliberately torn to pieces and then thrown into the pool water.
Jiang Xinyue sighed, "There's nothing we can do about it now. Consort Shu, please don't be angry. This concubine will make an even prettier one for you next time."
She hadn't even said this butterfly kite was meant for herself!
Consort Shu was at a loss for words and could only bow slightly to Consort Li, saying, "If that's the case, then this consort and Concubine Zhen will take our leave now."
Consort Li waved her hand, and the eunuchs and palace maids immediately surrounded Consort Shu and Jiang Xinyue. "You've disturbed my rest, and you think you can leave so easily?"
