chapter 6

Chapter 6

In Jinhua Palace, Chun Tao looked at me and kept sighing.

“Young Mistress, are you silly? That’s a Phoenix Hairpin! Other than the Empress, who dares to wear a Phoenix Hairpin?”

“But the Empress said she gave it to me. Why would she go back on her word?”

I really couldn’t understand.

Later, I learned that she was speaking in irony, just to warn me.

The Empress is so mean. I don’t like her anymore.

The days of confinement were very hard, but fortunately, the Noble Consort and Consort Shu would occasionally come to feed me.

But I didn’t expect that the Emperor would come that night.

I still liked the Emperor very much.

He was handsome and had a good temper.

The Emperor smiled at me and asked how I managed to anger the Empress.

At his words, I pouted and complained to the Emperor, all indignant.

He seemed to be in a very good mood.

He even pinched the soft flesh on my cheek.

“In this whole palace, only talking to you makes me feel at ease.”

“Didn’t the Emperor say I have no brains?”

I felt very wronged.

Mother said I was wise in a foolish way.

The Emperor laughed even more happily at that.

“Yes, only with you do I hear the truth… Concubine Rong, I really do like you.”

I lifted my fair face, my eyes sparkling as I looked at the Emperor.

“I like the Emperor too.”

“Other than Noble Consort Sister, the Emperor treats me the very best!”

After that, the Emperor often came to sit in my palace. Sometimes for an hour, sometimes only for half a stick of incense.

He never spent the night here.

According to the Emperor, the bond between us transcends romantic love.

I thought his words were very noble.

The Emperor is truly a learned man.

After my confinement was lifted, the Emperor promoted my Consort Rank, and now I finally became a consort and could have my own small kitchen.

Life was complete.

Noble Lady Zhao saw me that day and spoke with a sour tone.

She said I was truly lucky.

I smiled and replied that I thought so too.

It was time again to pay respects to the Empress.

This time, I was so well-behaved I didn’t even dare to lift my head.

Unexpectedly, after the greeting, the Empress kept me alone.

Her smile returned to the gentle one she had when we first met.

“Consort Rong, I recently learned a new pastry. I heard it’s your favorite, so I thought to invite you to try it.”

I looked up at the Empress in confusion.

Why was she giving me something again?

But this time it was pastry, so it should be fine, right?

Looking at the pastries on the table, then at the Empress.

I couldn’t help myself and reached out for a piece.

It tasted awful.

I frowned and looked sincerely at the Empress.

“Your Majesty made it very well, but please don’t make it again.”

The Empress’s smile froze instantly.

She looked at me with a forced smile.

“Consort Rong, won’t you eat a bit more?”

I pushed the plate forward and waved my hand to refuse.

“No, Your Majesty, it’s really quite bad.”

This time, the Empress didn’t punish me, she simply sent me out directly.

But I felt that giving me such terrible pastries was her way of punishing me.

When I got back, I was determined to eat five-no, ten pieces of sweet cake to save my taste buds.

Later, the Empress seemed to find amusement in it and would occasionally call me over to try her pastries.

To be honest, every time I went, I held out hope that the Empress’s skills would improve.

But each time was worse than the last.

At least before, the pastries had some color.

This time, she made a plate that looked like dog poop.

Looking at the yellowish, oddly shaped pastries on the plate.

I looked at the Empress in agony, my face mournful as I asked her, “Will eating this really not kill someone?”

The Empress suddenly laughed at my words.

She reached out to pat my head, then pretended to be puzzled.

“Aren’t you supposed to be not very bright? How come you’re picky about food?”

I was a little frantic.

Even a fool couldn’t eat something like this, right?

Seeing my expression, the Empress burst out laughing.

“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Go play by yourself.”

She really seemed to be training a dog.

I returned to my palace, feeling depressed.

No sooner had I sat down than the Noble Consort called me over.

She asked with some concern if the Empress had made things difficult for me.

At her words, I got excited at once.

I gestured wildly, describing how terrible the Empress’s creations tasted.

The Noble Consort smiled and patted my head, saying our Ah Ning is a fool blessed with luck.

I didn’t understand the deeper meaning in the Noble Consort’s words at the time, but when I finally did, it was already too late.