In the western side hall of Qixiang Palace, Ye Qiong sat on the couch wrapped in a quilt.
The clamor from the main hall drifted over faintly.
She had originally intended to stay there and keep watch, but the Empress said the weather was bitterly cold and that one more or one less person made no difference, instructing her to return to her own palace to rest.
Ye Qiong had matters weighing on her mind and did not decline.
Returning to her own bedchamber, she sent Xia Zhi and the others to the main hall to help. Only when she was alone in the room did she cover her face with her hands.
Today, she had intended to make a move against Consort Zhuang...
Fortunately, Noble Lady Hui had stopped her.
If possible, she didn't want to harm Consort Zhuang either. After all, since entering the palace and living in Qixiang Palace, she had indeed received much care from Consort Zhuang.
However, she had already secretly pledged herself to Consort Ning, and she had to follow Consort Ning's orders.
But, did she truly have no selfish motives at all? Ye Qiong mocked herself. If she were completely selfless, why would she have sought Consort Ning's patronage?
Yet, what else could she do? She had entered this palace solely for glory and favor; she was never a kind-hearted person to begin with. Just because Consort Zhuang and Noble Lady Hui thought she was kind, did she really have to be kind? And what use was kindness in this palace? The Emperor wouldn't favor her just because she was kind.
Over a year since entering the palace, among the four most outstanding candidates from the selection, Nie Zhiyu was already a Jieyu and now pregnant, her future promotion predictable; Zhaorong had also become a Meiren, equal in rank to her; Feng Qi, though still a Cairen, received visits from the Emperor to her palace from time to time.
Only she remained.
Ye Qiong counted in her heart: in over a year since entering the palace, the Emperor had come to her place only three times. Apart from the first night of attendance, the other two visits were likely due to the Empress's admonitions. Even when he came, there was no tenderness, as if he were merely fulfilling a duty.
Ye Qiong didn't understand. In terms of looks or talent, she believed she was no worse than the others. Why did the Emperor simply not like her?
What Ye Qiong didn't know was that the Emperor favored those who were bright and charming, gorgeous and voluptuous, and also accepted those who were dignified and graceful, serene and gentle—he simply did not care for the delicate, soft, and submissive type.
And Ye Qiong happened to possess precisely that delicate, soft beauty. The Emperor didn't favor this type; he had only taken her into the palace back then after hearing the Empress praise her character during the selection.
But dislike was dislike. No matter how good Ye Qiong was, Jiang Yuan's first impression of her was poor, so naturally he wouldn't waste time getting to know her better, and thus never discovered her good qualities.
And so, Ye Qiong was gradually neglected.
Ye Qiong had entered the palace for favor and glory, so she was naturally unwilling to be ignored. She had originally thought that being assigned to Qixiang Palace, where Consort Zhuang had long enjoyed favor, might allow her to bask in some reflected glory. Yet, knowing full well the Emperor rarely came to her, Consort Zhuang had never once schemed on her behalf.
Of course, Consort Zhuang had favor herself; why would she need to share it?
Ye Qiong had also tried to seek the Empress's patronage, but the Empress had already chosen Nie Zhiyu and responded to her overtures with indifference.
As for Consort Shu? Ye Qiong hadn't even considered her.
Ye Qiong told herself not to worry; she would find an opportunity.
The opportunity came quickly. She accidentally witnessed a quarrel between Consort Ning and her younger sister and overheard a secret.
Ye Qiong had learned about Consort Ning. She came from a great clan, her family noble and prestigious, her father the current Prime Minister. She was first a Crown Prince's concubine, later becoming Consort Ning. Consort Ning was known as a "talented woman," a person who emphasized rules, neither befriending nor making enemies with others. The Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Empress all trusted her greatly, even entrusting her with matters like palace banquets. She was a "special person" in the palace.
But such a person shared one thing in common with Ye Qiong: she lacked the Emperor's favor.
There were various rumors among the palace servants about why Consort Ning was not favored. One said her looks were plain and the Emperor didn't like her; another said the Emperor wanted to depose the Prime Minister, so he couldn't favor the Prime Minister's daughter; there was even a rumor that Consort Ning had nearly become the Crown Princess Consort back then, and the Empress, jealous, forbade the Emperor from favoring Consort Ning...
The truth amidst these rumors was unclear, but Ye Qiong most believed that Consort Ning's appearance was not to the Emperor's liking.
Ye Qiong thought: Consort Ning had status and family but lacked beauty, while she herself had fair looks and only lacked an opportunity. Allying with Consort Ning might be a path.
However, Consort Ning proved much harder to approach than Ye Qiong imagined. It took Ye Qiong a long time and effort to secretly establish contact with Consort Ning, but even then, Consort Ning was slow to agree to help her.
Ye Qiong didn't want to lose more than she gained, so she still maintained good relations with Consort Zhuang, Noble Lady Hui, and others. But the better the relations, the more resentful she grew inside. Only she, only she was not favored.
After Consort Zhuang became pregnant, Ye Qiong's dissatisfaction grew even stronger.
She had thought that since Consort Zhuang was pregnant, perhaps her own opportunity had come. After all, Consort Zhuang couldn't attend to the Emperor while pregnant; if she could steer the Emperor to her, wouldn't that be a way to secure favor? But Consort Zhuang never mentioned it once.
Ye Qiong considered that maybe Consort Zhuang hadn't thought of it. She even specially sent over a plate of pastries she had made, which Consort Zhuang loved, on an occasion when the Emperor was dining in the main hall. Yet the Emperor still didn't come; Consort Zhuang must not have spoken up for her.
Ye Qiong began to feel some resentment towards Qin Saizhu.
However, this resentment wasn't enough to make her harm Qin Saizhu. That changed when Consort Ning sent word: she could pledge herself, but she must use Consort Zhuang's life as her token of submission. Consort Ning wanted her to strike when Qin Saizhu was giving birth—when she was at her weakest, and the servants' attention would be on the newborn prince or princess. That would be her best chance to succeed.
Ye Qiong didn't fully understand why Consort Ning, ignoring the potentially greater threat of the newborn, wanted Consort Zhuang's life instead. But Consort Ning had finally relented, and she had to seize this opportunity.
Ye Qiong spread open her hand. In the nail bed of her right hand were traces of white powder—this was what she had prepared for today. It was a poison from her hometown. Inhaled, it would at most cause vomiting and diarrhea in a normal person. But if used together with rosin, it would cause extreme weakness. If the person happened to be facing danger—such as an injury or childbirth—it would cause their blood to surge and bleed uncontrollably.
Some time ago, she had worn a dress embroidered with pearls. Those pearls had been polished with an oil containing rosin. She had intentionally dropped one in the main hall and later saw that very pearl in the sewing box on the small table by the daybed in the main hall.
Today, she had originally planned to enter the delivery room and quietly sprinkle this poison around Qin Saizhu.
But Noble Lady Hui had stopped her.
At that moment, Ye Qiong couldn't describe what she felt in her heart—regret, but also relief.
"Could it be that you've actually developed genuine feelings from over a year of false affection?" Ye Qiong asked herself, cleaning the powder from under her nails. "Don't deceive even yourself into believing it. You missed this opportunity; next time, you must not soften your heart."
Your only goal is favor and glory, Ye Qiong told herself.
Just then, the sound of a baby's cry came from the direction of the main hall.
Ye Qiong let go of the quilt, got up, and prepared herself to go to the main hall to offer congratulations. But before long, Xia Zhi came stumbling in.
"Your Highness! Consort Zhuang... has passed away!"
What?!
Ye Qiong was stunned, quickly wondering if Noble Consort Ning had another trick up her sleeve?
The hairpin in her hand fell, and she instinctively reached out to steady herself against the dressing table.
Xiazhi, thinking she was overcome with grief for Consort Zhuang, hurried to support her. "Consort Zhuang suffered a massive hemorrhage..."
Ye Qiong was silent. She hadn't acted, yet the result was the same. What did this mean?
With Consort Zhuang dead, it was as Noble Consort Ning wished. So why did she feel this dull, aching pain in her heart?
"Help me to the main hall!"
Just as she reached the doorway, Ye Qiong paused again. She bit her lower lip. If she claimed Consort Zhuang's death was her own doing, would that create an opportunity with Noble Consort Ning?
Ye Qiong saw Noble Consort Ning at Qin Saizhu's funeral.
The Emperor had posthumously elevated Consort Zhuang to the rank of Consort Zhuang, ordering her burial with the rites befitting a Consort. Naturally, all the concubines had to attend to pay their respects.
Ye Qiong found an opportunity to walk alongside Noble Consort Ning.
"So it seems you succeeded?" Noble Consort Ning looked at her with a hint of surprise.
Ye Qiong kept her eyes downcast, appearing docile. "Regarding that pearl, this humble concubine will find an opportunity to dispose of it. It will never become a source of trouble."
She omitted part of the truth, only saying she had tampered with the pearl. Consort Zhuang had inhaled its effects over time, leaving a hidden ailment in her body that was triggered during childbirth.
Noble Consort Ning found this interesting. She didn't say whether she believed it or not. But Ye Qiong was willing to bear the handle of poisoning Consort Zhuang just to curry favor with her. Someone with such determination was worth throwing a few crumbs to.
Noble Consort Ning then said, "If you want the Emperor to notice you more, simply dress in a manner opposite to that of Noble Lady Hui."
Ye Qiong was confused. Noble Lady Hui shared a similar type of beauty with her and enjoyed considerable favor. Why should she dress opposite to Noble Lady Hui?
Noble Consort Ning: "Haven't you noticed? First there was Virtuous Consort, then there was Beauty Li, and even Lady Wei, who had no favor initially but now enjoys some—they are all bold and radiant women. The Emperor does not care for frail delicacy. If you dress more brightly and splendidly, perhaps you can catch the Emperor's eye."
Hearing Noble Consort Ning's explanation, Ye Qiong could only think it was laughable. She had agonized for so long, never understanding where she fell short, and it turned out to be because of her looks?
But looks are innate. She couldn't very well change her face!
Yet, if she truly remained unknown in the rear palace because of this, Ye Qiong was unwilling.
She said resentfully, "Then why does the Emperor favor Noble Lady Hui?"
Noble Consort Ning replied indifferently, "Who knows? Noble Lady Hui wasn't favored earlier either. It's only in the last couple of years the Emperor began to notice her. Perhaps she possesses some quality that makes the Emperor willing to favor her regardless of her looks."
Regarding this point, Noble Consort Ning had also pondered. One cannot interact with someone based solely on appearance, as beauty alone cannot last. Not everyone has a face as exquisite as Virtuous Consort's. Noble Lady Hui must have something the Emperor likes. Noble Consort Ning hadn't had much dealings with Qi Daiyu and couldn't see it yet.
Ye Qiong, however, pondered deeply. She often associated with Qi Daiyu. If she had to say what was different about Qi Daiyu compared to other concubines, it was probably that she was somewhat "languid" and "uncompetitive"? Occasionally she said surprising things, but could these really attract the Emperor?
Ye Qiong didn't think so.
There must be another reason, one she hadn't discovered.
At the very least, now she knew where she had lost. She would just change accordingly. She couldn't change her face, but she could change her makeup. Changing her clothes could also create a different style.
"Thank you for your guidance, Noble Consort Ning." Ye Qiong bowed. "In the future, if there is any way this humble concubine can be of use to you, I would dare ten thousand deaths without refusal!"
Noble Consort Ning smiled faintly. "There will be."
This person had ambition, was ruthless, and skilled at pretense. She indeed needed someone like this to help her realize her heart's desire.
"Since you are on good terms with Noble Lady Hui and the others, continue associating with them normally. There's no need to reveal your connection to me outwardly." Noble Consort Ning planned to cultivate Ye Qiong as a hidden line. Perhaps she would prove useful someday.
This counted as accepting her. Ye Qiong revealed a smile. "This humble concubine understands."
