I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Song Yunzhao reflected on her tumultuous journey since entering the palace selection. She had always wanted to be an observer, enjoying the drama from the sidelines, but she had somehow always ended up as the subject of the gossip herself.

This time, she planned to change the rules of the game. ’How can I let myself be the constant subject of their gossip?’

"No, quite the opposite. Have Anshun go to the intersection..." Song Yunzhao whispered a few instructions, a faint smile on her lips. Her eyes sparkled as if flecked with brilliant gold dust.

Xiangxue nodded. "I’ll go at once."

Song Yunzhao then called Shizhu in and gave her a few similar instructions. Although Shizhu seemed to disapprove, she went to carry them out in silence.

Wangyou Palace fell quiet in an instant, and its gates slowly swung shut. Meanwhile, in a diagonally opposite corner of the palace, a lively event was well underway.

Qin Xiyue had just greeted An Shutong and presented her birthday gift when she withdrew from the crowd, unlike the others who lingered to chat.

Noticing that no one was paying her any mind, she quietly slipped out of the hall and asked Fang Ping, who had followed her, "What’s the situation?"

"The gates of Wangyou Palace are closed. A quarter of an hour ago, Song Zhaoyi’s birthday gift was delivered by Nanny Yu," Fang Ping replied.

Qin Xiyue was taken aback. "The gift has already been delivered?"

"Yes." Fang Ping hadn’t expected Song Zhaoyi to send the gift so quickly, either. There was none of the reluctance or posturing they had anticipated.

At this thought, Fang Ping looked at her mistress cautiously. "My Lady, what should we do now?"

Qin Xiyue couldn’t figure out what Song Yunzhao was thinking. ’How is this possible? With her jealous and domineering personality, if she knew the Emperor was coming to this banquet, she would surely try to stop him.’

She had deliberately leaked the news so that Song Yunzhao would have time to prepare something. ’But why would she shut the gates of Wangyou Palace and send a gift over so early?’

Qin Xiyue felt a flicker of irritation. She looked at Fang Ping and asked, "What about Consort Zhuang?"

"Consort Zhuang won’t arrive this early. It’s just Miss An’s birthday banquet, after all," Fang Ping said, relaying what she had found out. "If it were a matter concerning the Empress Dowager, she would certainly have been here much earlier."

But today was Miss An’s birthday banquet. The fact that Consort Zhuang was willing to organize it and pave the way for her was already a great show of respect.

For Consort Zhuang to also arrive early to boost An Shutong’s prestige would be demeaning, and she would never do such a thing.

Today, Consort Zhuang would surely be the last to arrive.

Qin Xiyue was not surprised to hear this. She thought for a moment and said, "Have someone keep an eye on Wangyou Palace."

She refused to believe that Song Yunzhao could be so magnanimous and unconcerned.

Fang Ping agreed. Just as she was about to say more, she saw Lu Pin and Han Guipin arriving together. She immediately swallowed her words.

Qin Xiyue saw Han Jinyi and Lu Zhixue as well. The matter concerning Ying Chun was still unresolved, so Han Jinyi’s presence wasn’t surprising. What did surprise her was that Lu Zhixue had come.

Yet another unexpected development.

Suppressing her confusion, Qin Xiyue took a step forward and greeted the pair with a smile. "Han Guipin, Lu Pin, you’ve arrived. I just got here myself. What a coincidence."

Lu Zhixue remained expressionless, showing no intention of replying. If she weren’t worried that Qin Xiyue would use her higher rank to put her in her place, she would have started mocking her already.

She truly couldn’t understand how Qin Xiyue had the nerve to greet her. ’Has she forgotten how she schemed against me?’

’She might have forgotten, but I certainly haven’t.’

’Then again, with Qin Xiyue’s personality, how could she forget? It just goes to show how thick-skinned she is.’

Han Jinyi, who was inferior to Qin Xiyue in both family background and rank, lacked Lu Zhixue’s confidence to give Qin Wan Yi the cold shoulder. With a stiffly formal smile, she said, "Greetings, Qin Wan Yi. Since you’ve just arrived, why don’t I go in with you to congratulate Miss An?"

Han Jinyi’s eyes looked sincere as she stared at Qin Wan Yi without blinking.

The smile on Qin Xiyue’s face froze. She forced another one and said, "I’ve already greeted Miss An. You two should go on in."

Lu Zhixue couldn’t help but let out a snort, muttering something under her breath. Qin Xiyue pretended she hadn’t heard.

Han Jinyi maintained her faint smile. "Then I won’t disturb you, Qin Wan Yi."

As Han Jinyi and Lu Zhixue brushed past her, Qin Xiyue heard Lu Zhixue’s voice say, "Hah. Some people are so good at putting on an act."

Qin Xiyue’s expression stiffened.

Han Jinyi gently tugged on Lu Zhixue’s sleeve, and they quickened their pace into the hall.

Qin Xiyue could faintly hear Lu Zhixue’s voice drifting back, "...Why are you pulling me? Was I not telling the truth? Claiming she ’just arrived’... Such a blatant liar. The height of hypocrisy..."

The smile on Qin Xiyue’s face finally vanished. She had only been making a polite remark, yet Lu Zhixue had seized the opportunity to humiliate her...

Fang Ping’s expression soured as well. She glanced worriedly at her mistress but hesitated and said nothing. Telling Hua Ying to stay with her, she quickly left to carry out her mistress’s orders.

Today, the Empress Dowager had specially designated an auxiliary hall of Shouci Palace for An Shutong’s birthday banquet. The Empress Dowager herself was still in her small prayer hall, worshiping. The Buddha Beads in her hand turned ceaselessly as incense smoke curled up before a statue of a benevolent-looking Buddha. She muttered her chants for some time before her voice fell silent and she slowly opened her eyes.

Hearing the chanting stop, Nanny Yao immediately stepped forward and bent down to help the Empress Dowager to her feet. "Empress Dowager, allow me to help you change your clothes."

The Empress Dowager sat on the soft cushion and looked at Nanny Yao. "Is there any word from the Emperor?"

"Manager Meng says the Emperor is meeting with the courtiers," Nanny Yao replied.

The Empress Dowager’s gaze fell, and the Buddha Beads in her hand turned faster. "Go yourself. You must bring the Emperor here."

"Yes." Although Nanny Yao knew it would be difficult, she did not dare refuse.

Yourong and Miao Rui immediately came forward to help the Empress Dowager change her robes, while Nanny Yao bowed and exited the room.

She walked along the long, covered corridor and had only gone a few steps when she encountered An Shutong. "Greetings, Miss An."

"Nanny Yao, please rise." An Shutong quickly helped the bowing Nanny Yao up, her smile perfectly earnest. "My aunt should be finished with her prayers by now. I was just on my way to attend to her."

"Today is your special day, Miss. The Empress Dowager said some time ago that you are not required to attend to her," Nanny Yao said with a smile. "Please, go and see to your guests. Yourong and Miao Rui are with her, so you needn’t worry."

An Shutong looked uneasy. "But I always attend to my aunt personally. How could I neglect my duties today?"

"Today is your birthday and you have a hall full of esteemed guests. The Empress Dowager has said that you should focus on being a good hostess," Nanny Yao said quickly. "I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."

A thought struck An Shutong, and she immediately asked, "Is it an urgent matter, Nanny? Do you need me to send someone to help you?"

Nanny Yao looked up at Miss An. "How could I trouble you, Miss? I just need to make a trip to the front of the palace."

An Shutong’s face took on a look of surprise and helplessness, her smile tinged with unease and guilt. "Nanny..."