The imperial court was now in turmoil, and memorials denouncing the Tantai family piled up like snowflakes on the Emperor’s desk. In the rear palace, Tantai Yinxue had no one left to rely on.
At this critical moment, a palace maid from Tantai Yinxue’s side unexpectedly came forward, and Cai Lian was curious about her intentions.
The maid, named Xiaomeng, remained expressionless as she retrieved an old jade pendant from her sleeve and handed it to Cai Lian. "Aunt Cai Lian, you dropped this."
It was a very worn-out pendant.
Dull in color and made of the cheapest jade available on the market, it had clearly endured years of hardship—likely over a decade old.
Cai Lian’s breath hitched as she snatched the pendant back.
Grandmother’s jade!
Her lips trembled as she glared coldly at the maid. "Where did you get this?"
Xiaomeng smiled faintly. "My mistress happened to find it. Aunt Cai Lian, my mistress wishes to see you."
After a moment of silence, Cai Lian turned to the maids behind her. "Go to the flower house and bring two pots of 'Jade Spring' chrysanthemums back to Yongning Palace."
The maids obeyed and left.
Only after dismissing them did Cai Lian give Xiaomeng a deep look. "Take me to see Lady Tantai."
After winding through two corridors, Xiaomeng led Cai Lian to a secluded garden. No one else was around, and the elegantly dressed Tantai Yinxue stood admiring the autumn chrysanthemums.
Cai Lian approached.
Tantai Yinxue plucked a vibrant purple-red chrysanthemum and twirled it in her fingers, tilting her head as she studied Cai Lian. "Concubine Lan is foolish and dim-witted, yet months ago, she suddenly devised a clever scheme to deal with me. At the time, I suspected she must have had guidance from someone. So I sent Xiaomeng to investigate—and uncovered you, the rat hiding in the gutter."
Cai Lian remained silent.
It was true.
Back then, Concubine Lan had gone to Shen Wei to accuse Tantai Yinxue of poisoning her but failed to produce evidence. Acting on Shen Wei’s orders, Cai Lian had discreetly advised Concubine Lan.
Yet somehow, Tantai Yinxue had traced the clues back to her.
Having served Shen Wei for years, Cai Lian remained composed despite the situation. She replied evenly, "Has Lady Tantai summoned me to settle old scores?"
Tantai Yinxue shook her head, her delicate fingers still holding the chrysanthemum as she slowly approached. "Before your grandmother was taken away, she kept murmuring your childhood name. How pitiful."
Cai Lian’s heart clenched, her brows furrowing.
Grandmother had been captured by Tantai Yinxue’s people!
Her fingers tightened imperceptibly, a faint tremor in her voice. "What do you want?"
Tantai Yinxue let out a light laugh, as if amused by a plaything. "You truly are Consort Chen’s most capable maid, remaining so composed even now. What a shame your grandmother isn’t as strong-willed—she fainted the moment she was dragged out of her estate."
Cai Lian bit her lip hard.
Tantai Yinxue spoke slowly. "I’ll give you two days to poison Consort Chen. Otherwise, your grandmother will be fed to the fish."
She reached out and tucked the plucked chrysanthemum into Cai Lian’s hair. The flower bloomed beautifully against her locks.
Tantai Yinxue warned, "You have no way out."
With that, she left, a cold smile lingering on her lips as she strolled away with her maid.
The garden was silent, filled only with blooming chrysanthemums. Cai Lian yanked the flower from her hair and stomped on it before sprinting toward the Internal Affairs Office.
Using the excuse of purchasing cosmetics for Consort Chen, she swiftly boarded a carriage and rushed to her grandmother’s estate.
The estate was small—and empty.
In her grandmother’s bedroom, shattered porcelain littered the floor, and the faint scent of blood lingered in the air. Cai Lian stood frozen, tears streaming down her face.
...
In Huayang Palace, Tantai Yinxue sat admiring the flowers in her courtyard. Soon, Xiaomeng returned to report. "Mistress, just as you predicted, Cai Lian has left the palace."
Tantai Yinxue smiled faintly, her slender fingers brushing the autumn chrysanthemums.
Fortunately, the Tantai family hadn’t completely collapsed—she still had enough influence to arrange for Cai Lian’s grandmother to be taken.
Now that Cai Lian had seen the scene with her own eyes, she would no longer cling to false hope.
Tantai Yinxue said coolly, "Blood runs thicker than water. For the sake of her only grandmother, she will surely act against Consort Chen."
Once Consort Chen was dead, Tantai Yinxue’s family would escape unscathed.
She rose slowly, gazing at the chrysanthemums filling the courtyard. A bitter smile touched her lips before she turned to Xiaomeng and took her hand. "Tomorrow, I’ll find an excuse to dismiss you from Huayang Palace. After that, you won’t need to serve me anymore."
Xiaomeng’s eyes welled with tears. "Mistress..."
Tantai Yinxue soothed her. "I have no way out. Staying with me means certain death."
Xiaomeng knelt and kowtowed three times deeply.
Just then, footsteps approached. Concubine Lan sauntered over, a golden silk fan in hand, her voice dripping with mockery. "Oh? What are you two plotting? A last-ditch struggle?"
She looked positively gleeful.
Lately, everything had been going her way.
The Empress’s last son had died, the Tantai family was on the verge of collapse, and the Emperor was likely to depose the Empress—meaning Tantai Yinxue would probably be banished to the cold palace. Concubine Lan couldn’t be happier.
If the Empress was removed, either Consort Shu or Consort Chen would be elevated, leaving a vacancy among the four consorts.
Previously, Concubine Lan had schemed to frame Consort Mei for a chance at the position, but opportunities had been scarce. Now, she wouldn’t even need to resort to such tricks—she could simply plead with the Empress Dowager for the promotion.
These past few days, Concubine Lan had been in such high spirits that she’d even eaten more, her face rounding slightly.
Tantai Yinxue ignored her and turned to leave. Unwilling to let it go, Concubine Lan sneered after her. "Oh? Running away? Did my words strike a nerve? Weren’t you so proud when you first entered the palace?"
Bang—
Tantai Yinxue shut the door to her chambers.
Concubine Lan covered her mouth, laughing delightedly.
...
Night fell, and Yongning Palace was brightly lit.
Servants moved in orderly fashion, carrying trays of delicacies into the main hall. As autumn brought cooler weather, Shen Wei had specifically requested two additional dishes: braised chicken with chestnuts and duck soup with lily bulbs.
Just as a maid was about to enter with the duck soup, Cai Lian stopped her.
Calmly taking the tray, Cai Lian said softly, "Tonight, I’ll serve the mistresses myself."
As the head maid of Yongning Palace, her authority was unquestionable. The maid lowered her head and retreated without protest.
The light from the main hall spilled onto Cai Lian’s robes, half of her bathed in brightness, the other half shrouded in darkness. The night breeze brushed loose strands of hair across her forehead as she opened the food box.
The fragrant steam of the soup wafted out.
Cai Lian stared into the box, her gaze inscrutable.
