I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Consort Shu cherished the title she had lost and regained. It was easy to lose, but so very hard to get back.

After listening to the two concubines, her expression remained indifferent. She looked up at them and said quite bluntly, "The Emperor is with Song Jieyu, but you can follow them. No one said you couldn’t. Surely the Emperor wouldn’t chase you away if you went, would he?"

’The Emperor wouldn’t chase them away, but she had no idea what Song Yunzhao might do.’

’This time, she would get to watch them make a fool of themselves. She could laugh about it for a year!’

Princess Consort Wan and Princess Consort Zhuang exchanged a glance, both surprised by Consort Shu’s reaction. ’This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.’

Consort Shu caught their subtle glances. In the past, she wouldn’t have paid them much mind, but after hitting a few brick walls, she’d learned her lesson. Now, she knew to truly *see* people, not just look at them.

And that one look was all it took to nearly make her jump up in a rage.

’They really had conspired to use her. Well, two can play at that game!’

"Princess Consort Zhuang, am I wrong? Why are you silent? Or is it that you have no intention of going and just want to egg me on?" Consort Shu’s expression visibly soured, her posture threatening that she wouldn’t let this go until she had a clear answer.

Princess Consort Zhuang: ...

Princess Consort Wan immediately interjected, "Consort Shu, that’s not what we meant at all. We just came to talk things over with you. We can’t keep going on like this, can we?"

"What ’we’? This is clearly about ’you’!" Consort Shu said with a stiff expression. "Last time, Song Yunzhao cost me my title, and didn’t the two of you speak up for her? Princess Consort Zhuang, especially you. You don’t think I’ve forgotten, do you? Now that you find Song Yunzhao is too much to handle, you turn around and think of me. Or have you forgotten how you set me up? Because I remember it perfectly!"

Princess Consort Zhuang’s head throbbed. She had miscalculated last time. She shouldn’t have thought she could get one over on Song Yunzhao, which led to Consort Shu’s major setback. Now, Consort Shu clearly held a grudge.

"It’s true that I handled things poorly last time," Princess Consort Zhuang said, trying to smooth things over. "But in that situation, I was only worried the Emperor would become even more displeased with you. I thought it was best to act first to control the damage. Otherwise, the consequences might have been worse than just losing your title."

Consort Shu stared at Princess Consort Zhuang. ’Does she take me for a fool?’

Seeing that Consort Shu was on the verge of exploding, Princess Consort Wan, who knew her temper well, quickly chimed in. "What happened last time is in the past. In the end, it was Song Jieyu’s cunning that deceived and used us all, driving a wedge between the three of us. Now that we’re aware of her games, we can’t let her succeed again."

Princess Consort Zhuang immediately nodded. "Exactly. If the three of us were to fight amongst ourselves, the losses would far outweigh the gains."

Consort Shu mentally rolled her eyes. ’Losses outweighing the gains? The only one who would truly lose out would be her!’

"In any case, I don’t plan to get involved with the matter at Shouci Palace," Consort Shu said, laying her cards on the table. "Whatever you want to do is your own business. I fought hard to get my title back, and I have no intention of angering His Majesty and losing it again."

Princess Consort Zhuang and Princess Consort Wan frowned, not expecting Consort Shu to be so unyielding this time. The three of them parted on a sour note.

Outside Cuiwei Palace, Princess Consort Wan looked at Princess Consort Zhuang. "Let’s just forget about this."

Consort Shu refused to be the one to step forward, Princess Consort Zhuang had a habit of playing the saint, and she herself was even less likely to confront the Emperor directly. This plan was a non-starter.

Princess Consort Zhuang, feeling that nothing was going her way, looked at Princess Consort Wan and said, "Are you just going to accept this? She’s only a Concubine now, but if we wait until she has good news to share, I fear all three of us will end up beneath her."

"What else can be done?" Princess Consort Wan was not one to argue; she always considered herself above such things.

"It seems our only option is to go through the Empress Dowager," Princess Consort Zhuang said, leaning closer to Princess Consort Wan and lowering her voice.

Princess Consort Wan frowned. "Have you thought this through? If we really do this, how will you explain it to the Emperor?"

Princess Consort Zhuang was unconcerned. "As concubines, it’s our duty to show filial piety to the Empress Dowager on the Emperor’s behalf," she said lightly. "Even if word of this gets out, no one could say we did anything wrong."

’As for the Emperor, he no longer had eyes for the three of them. Was there any point in waiting for the future?’

’They couldn’t control Song Yunzhao, so they would just have to raise up someone they could.’

"Let me think about it," Princess Consort Wan said, hesitating.

Princess Consort Zhuang gave a slight nod. "The Empress Dowager won’t be back at the palace for a while yet. You have plenty of time to think it over."

Princess Consort Wan and Princess Consort Zhuang parted ways at a fork in the path. Le Chun, her attendant, stepped closer and said softly, "Your Highness, Princess Consort Zhuang always ensures her plans are airtight. You must not agree to this so readily."