chapter 4

Chapter 4

To prevent Noble Consort from being snatched away by that little seductress, I secretly spoke ill of Consort Shu in front of Noble Consort, saying she had a bad temper, wasn’t gentle, and didn’t even like eating pork knuckles.

But as the rumors spread through the palace, it somehow turned into: Consort Shu has smelly feet, doesn’t like to bathe, and loves eating raw garlic wrapped in scallions.

This is just absurdity opening the door for absurdity-absurdity has come home!

So when Consort Shu came storming over in a rage, I immediately dashed into Noble Consort’s chambers.

Hiding behind her, I poked out half my head and watched as Consort Shu, hands on her slender waist, burst in furiously.

The moment she entered, she called Noble Consort by her given name.

“Meng Shang, you really have some nerve! Instigating this brainless one to sully my good name for no reason.”

Consort Shu stood with her hands on her hips, full of momentum.

In contrast, Noble Consort just smiled, glancing at Consort Shu with utter disdain.

I was so scared I jumped up and covered Noble Consort’s eyes.

“Noble Consort can only look at Ah Ning.”

Consort Shu trembled at my words, her fingers painted bright red, pointing at me, shaking.

“You? You two?”

Noble Consort laughed and patted her hand.

“It’s just a child’s joke. Are you really taking it seriously?”

Consort Shu snorted and turned away, but her ears quietly turned red.

At lunch, Consort Shu still refused to leave. I sneaked glances at her.

Her willow brows arched, and she snapped at me.

“What are you looking at? Is there something written on my face?!”

Though she was fierce, since this concerned whether I could have the pork knuckle all to myself-oh no, I mean, have Noble Consort all to myself-I mustered up the courage to ask softly,

“Your Ladyship, are you staying because you want to join us for lunch?”

Before Consort Shu could reply, Noble Consort laughed first.

She tapped my forehead and said, fine, let’s all stay and eat together.

I really like Noble Consort. She’s nothing like the palace rumors say-arrogant and domineering. Instead, she’s carefree and easygoing.

Today’s lunch included my favorite sweet and sour squirrel fish.

Normally, Noble Consort doesn’t like these greasy dishes, so I could have the whole fish to myself. But today, Consort Shu was here.

I looked at Consort Shu, then at the fish, and finally, as if making a huge decision, I picked up a big piece of fish and put it in Consort Shu’s bowl.

Consort Shu looked at me in surprise, only to see me quickly pull the whole plate of fish in front of me, like a kitten guarding its food.

Consort Shu tried to suppress her throbbing temples.

“I’m not fighting you for it!”

She practically gritted out the last word.

I secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

After this, the relationship between Consort Shu and Noble Consort eased quite a bit.

Later, I heard from Jing Rong, who serves Noble Consort, that the two of them never got along even before entering the palace.

Both were daughters of prominent families, beautiful and well-bred, so naturally, they were often compared.

Noble Consort was straightforward and intolerant of evil, so she offended many people.

On the other hand, Consort Shu, with her smiling face and hidden claws, was more popular when they were young.

At this, Jing Rong smiled.

“Who would have thought that after entering the palace, our Lady would end up outshining Consort Shu.”

Munching on crispy sugar candies, I nodded solemnly, mumbling with my mouth full,

“Noble… Consort is the best… the very best… the absolute best woman in the world!”

“No one can compare to Noble Consort!”

The nanny nearby couldn’t stand it anymore and tapped both my and Jing Rong’s heads.

“You two, it’s fine to say these things in our own courtyard, but don’t say them outside, or you’ll give others something to talk about.”

I stuck out my tongue. “Got it, Nanny.”

Unfortunately, happy days are always short-lived.

The Emperor is going to marry an Empress.

I heard she’s the daughter of the current Left Prime Minister.

With her family background and status, it’s only natural for her to become Empress.

The other consorts in the palace all seemed indifferent to this.

Although a consort who doesn’t want to be Empress isn’t a good consort, all the ladies knew their own standing and wouldn’t covet what wasn’t theirs.

Even Noble Consort, favored as she was, appeared calm and unbothered.

Throughout the palace, only I wore a worried face, my brows furrowed in distress.

Consort Shu came to see Noble Consort and, seeing me like this, raised her brows in surprise.

“Why the long face?”

“Tomorrow is the Empress’s enthronement ceremony.”

“Hmm? So what?”

As soon as she finished, Consort Shu seemed to realize something.

“Don’t tell me you entered the palace aiming for the Empress’s position?”

I looked at Consort Shu as if she were an idiot.

Then, counting on my fingers, I asked her,

“How long have you been in the palace, Your Ladyship?”

“Two years, why?”

“What time do you get up every day?”

“At the hour of the dragon… I’m not like you, sleeping in until the sun’s high.”

I sighed at her answer. Clearly, Consort Shu hadn’t realized the seriousness of the problem.

So I looked up and solemnly shared the news I’d just learned.

“Your Ladyship, from now on, we’ll have to go greet the Empress at the hour of the rabbit every day!”

“The hour of the rabbit!”

When Noble Consort came out, she saw Consort Shu and me slumped in her courtyard, like eggplants hit by frost.

After hearing the reason, Noble Consort gently flicked my nose.

“You little rascal, you really won’t get up early unless there’s something in it for you.”

Then she tapped Consort Shu’s head.

“And you, fooling around with a child.”

“I told you to read more and learn the rules. Greeting the Empress is only required on the first and fifteenth of each month. That’s just two days a month-can’t you manage that?”

Consort Shu immediately burst out laughing, as radiant as the crabapple blossoms in the courtyard.

I really liked us back then. It wasn’t like those storybooks, full of schemes and intrigue, or even love and hate. It was something else entirely.