chapter 3

Chapter 3

My days in the harem were quite pleasant, even though my rank wasn’t high enough to have a Small Kitchen.

But I had the Noble Consort as a powerful patron.

That day, the Noble Consort said she wanted to take a nap and sent me out.

I could only stroll in the Imperial Garden to walk off my meal.

I came across a beauty on the path.

The Emperor really has a good life, with so many beautiful sisters to keep him company.

The beauty wore a pale yellow dress, standing there so daintily, just like an osmanthus blossom in September.

As I drew near, I could even smell the scent of osmanthus on her.

I frowned, thinking it was the season for osmanthus cakes again.

Who would have thought that the beauty would look at me with open disdain.

She deliberately spoke to the palace maid beside her in a voice I could hear.

“Some people are just born to be lackeys. They think that by clinging to the Noble Consort, they can rest easy.”

“They don’t even consider that our Noble Consort, so favored and honored, would never spare a glance at some insignificant concubine. She’s just toying with her for amusement in her spare time, nothing more than a plaything.”

Listening to this, I felt something was off. Someone wanted to compete with me for the Noble Consort’s favor?

So, I carefully walked over and tapped the beauty’s arm.

“Beautiful sister, who are you talking about?”

The beauty jumped in surprise, apparently not expecting me to approach.

Her red lips curled into a mocking smile.

“Right in front of me, not far at all.”

I frowned and glanced at Chun Tao.

Chun Tao hurriedly shook her head.

There was no one else around.

Thinking of this, I immediately looked at the beauty with guarded eyes.

She did have a lovely face, but she actually dared to try to steal the Noble Consort’s favor from me.

Outrageous! Far too outrageous!

The beauty was a bit stunned by my stare.

She furrowed her brows in confusion.

“What’s with that look in your eyes?”

“I know what’s going on!”

“What do you know?”

“You’re trying to steal the Noble Consort’s favor with your beauty!”

“What are you talking about?”

The beauty stared at me in astonishment, as if she couldn’t process what I’d said.

She pointed at herself and asked me,

“Do you know who I am?”

I still looked at her warily, but inside I was panicking.

She’s going to use her rank to suppress me. I whimpered to myself. I was just a lowly concubine, with no power or influence – how could I compete with her?

My desire to win favor only grew stronger.

Later, I learned that this charming woman’s rank was second only to the Noble Consort.

She was Consort Shu, one of the Four Consorts.

I looked at her: willow-leaf brows, cherry lips, a dainty face, a slender waist… a true seductive beauty.

There wasn’t a trace of virtue or gentleness about her.

Did she buy her Consort Rank with money?