~ THE MOST CRUCIAL THING ABOUT PLAYING THE INNOCENT ACT IS YOUR FACE ~
The two glared at each other for a long moment before their gazes gradually softened. In unison, they said, “Don’t tell Yunyao what I just said.”
They studied each other once more, now finally beginning to accept one another.
Mu Yunyao watched this scene unfold from afar, a faint smile curving her lips.
Jin Lan exhaled in relief. “I truly feared Miss Su and the Poisonous Lady might come to blows. Are you not worried, Miss?”
“Su You appears simple-minded, but after enduring the agony of being betrayed by her own kin, she rarely trusts others. As for Poisonous Lady, it goes without saying that if she could trust someone so easily, she wouldn’t still be wandering the martial world alone. Neither is the type to accept someone as a friend readily. Yet, for my sake, they both chose to put on a facade. It’s quite a bittersweet situation, really.“
”Then why did you feel comfortable letting them be alone together?“
”The heavier the heart, the greater the loneliness. Both are friends I cherished, and naturally, I hoped they could become confidantes. Judging by the results, it seems to be working out rather well, doesn’t it?”
When Mu Yunyao returned, Su You and Poisonous Lady were once again acting like the closest of sisters. Mu Yunyao didn’t expose them. Instead, she played along as if she knew nothing. Though their backgrounds were unusual, both possessed remarkably pure hearts. With time spent together, they would surely find common ground.
After the Palace Banquet concluded, Mu Yunyao had some pastries prepared and sent them to Su You to take away. This caused Poisonous Lady to sulk all day, until Mu Yunyao specially made her a batch of Qiaomo buns to appease her.
The sudden reversal of the Grand Princess, who had never before hosted a banquet, immediately caught the attention of the other Imperial Concubines in the harem as a tacit sign of the Grand Princess’s intent to target the Li family, and one by one, they grew restless, launching attacks against Imperial Concubine Li.
However, the palace maids serving Imperial Concubine Li proved exceptionally loyal, shielding her from many troubles. Yet, five days later, rumours spread throughout the Palace that Imperial Concubine Li had eaten something spoiled. Now her body was covered in red rashes. She had accidentally scratched them, causing the rashes to break open. Even if they eventually healed, they would leave unsightly scars.
It was said that the rash on her face had broken open. Upon learning the scars would remain, she flew into a rage, furiously ordering her maids to summon the Imperial Physicians. By some strange coincidence, Imperial Concubine Qi suddenly fainted. The Emperor grew deeply anxious, summoning every physician from the Imperial Hospital. After much effort, one physician was finally spared, though he lacked expertise in treating Imperial Concubine Li’s ailment. He could only prescribe some heat-clearing and toxin-eliminating herbs for temporary relief. The Emperor reasoned that even if they didn’t cure her, they wouldn’t cause harm and should be harmless. Unexpectedly, after taking the medicine, Imperial Concubine Li’s rash grew even more severe.
This time, Imperial Concubine Li threw a full-blown tantrum, and it didn’t take long before the Emperor was alerted.
Imperial Concubine Qi had injured her body years earlier while giving birth to Yu Wang. Now, the strain of managing Palace affairs, coupled with Imperial Concubine Li’s constant harassment, had triggered her old ailment, leading to her fainting spell. The Emperor, upon learning of this, felt deeply distressed and grew even more displeased with Imperial Concubine Li. Now, hearing of her disturbance, he stormed angrily to Liuli Palace.
Imperial Concubine Li’s face was both painful and itchy, yet she dared not touch it with her hands. She was extremely agitated. Hearing the Emperor had arrived, she hurried out to greet him.
In the past, her maids would have reminded her to wear a veil. After all, her face, now covered in a terrifying rash, was truly frightening. If she startled the Emperor, it would be considered disturbing his presence, and she might face punishment. Moreover, to win the Emperor’s affection, her face needed to be at least presentable. Her current ghastly, half-human, half-ghost appearance might scare him away.
The Emperor was indeed startled. Upon entering the Liuli Palace, he saw a figure with a flushed face and bloodshot eyes rushing toward him. He nearly instinctively called for guards to apprehend her. Only upon recognising her attire did he realise it was Imperial Concubine Li.
“Imperial Concubine Li, how did you become this way?”
Imperial Concubine Li immediately knelt on the ground, her eyes brimming with tears of grievance. “Your Majesty, someone has deliberately framed this humble servant. I beg you to vindicate me.”
“Deliberately framed? Did you consult the Imperial Physicians?”
“Your servant sent for physicians, but the palace maids spent ages finding only one. After taking the decoction he prescribed, the rash grew worse. I’ve never suffered such a strange ailment before. Someone must have poisoned me.”
“So you’re blaming me for dismissing all the Imperial Physicians?”
“Your humble servant dares not, but I simply feel that Imperial Concubine Qi’s side likely doesn’t require so many physicians...”
Mentioning Imperial Concubine Qi only further fueled the Emperor’s anger: “Imperial Concubine Qi fainted from exhaustion managing palace affairs, yet here you are making snide remarks. You call her ‘sisters’ with such warmth, yet your heart harbours venomous resentment. Li, I am truly disappointed in you. I shall find several skilled physicians to treat you. However, with your face covered in rashes, you are not suitable for exposure to the wind. Remain in Liuli Palace to recuperate. You may come out only when fully recovered.”
When Mu Yunyao heard this news, she was playing chess with Grand Princess Yi De. Startled, she dropped a piece in the wrong spot. Just as she considered retracting the move, she realised the placement was actually quite advantageous.
Grand Princess Yi De, noticing her expression, couldn’t help but smile. “Sometimes, meticulous planning and calculated moves pale in comparison to an accidental slip. even a mistake could hold its own unique charm.” Her capabilities could certainly crush Imperial Concubine Li completely, but personally intervening to deal with Imperial Concubine Li would be too troublesome. It would be far simpler to give her a nudge from behind the scenes; plenty of others would be happy to help her achieve her goals.
Mu Yunyao paused, then smiled: “Yao’er thanks Grandmother for her guidance.”
“You are exceptionally intelligent and don’t need much instruction from me. It’s just that sometimes you’re too cautious. But like a chessboard, opportunities often vanish in an instant. If you don’t take a risk to seize them in that moment, you might end up in utter defeat. Yao’er, you should learn to be more carefree and unrestrained.“
Mu Yunyao understood her own habits. They were shaped by her previous life. She didn’t want to lose another cherished person because of her own mistakes. But now, things were entirely different. Perhaps it was time to try a little change.
”Qu Mama, what is the current situation with Imperial Concubine Qi?” After explaining the reasoning to Mu Yunyao, Grand Princess Yi De left her to ponder alone before shifting the topic to Imperial Concubine Qi’s condition.
“Reporting to Your Highness, I hear Imperial Concubine Qi is quite pleased now that Imperial Concubine Li has been confined to her quarters. She has resumed handling palace affairs, though her complexion remains poor. The Emperor has repeatedly urged her to rest for a few more days.”
Grand Princess Yi De chuckled. “The Marquis Wei’s lineage has produced generations of loyal and valiant generals, yet this Imperial Concubine Qi has a very shrewd and calculating mind.”
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