Palace Fighting Naive Concubines’ Ascent to Power
Chapter 344: Sisters Turned Enemies

Chapter 344: Chapter 344: Sisters Turned Enemies

Her face twisted into a smile uglier than crying, and she forced a laugh, "My lady, the situation is very favorable right now, and Lady Xue’s good days are coming to an end, just endure a little longer. Consort Xu De has already risen in favor, and given her character, if she doesn’t care, she completely stays out of it, but if she does get involved, even the Noble Consort would have to give way."

A flicker of spirit appeared in Consort Liu’s eyes. Indeed, Xu Rongying was unlike the other Palace Concubines. She was a general trapped in the deep palace who acted decisively and was not someone to be easily manipulated.

Seeing that her persuasion was effective, Qing Ya pressed on, "What’s more, the news that came earlier said His Majesty so treasures Beauty Lian, whose entire family was victimized in connection to Lady Xue. The two have long been dead enemies, irreconcilable until death. No matter how deep Beauty Lian hides, she cannot remain hidden forever. With her whispering in His Majesty’s ear, Lady Xue will only meet her demise even sooner."

Consort Liu’s gaze turned towards Qing Ya, whose resolute eyes infected her. After surviving all these years, how could she give up when the dawn was in sight!

She coughed twice, recalling something, her hand tightly grasping Qing Ya’s, "You find someone to spread the story of Beauty Lian’s background to stoke the fire and get them to fight each other. Just think of using the palace maid from Huaqing Palace. No, no, that’s too easily exposed. We should instead..."

Qing Ya shook her head, patted Consort Liu’s hand, signaling her to calm down, and looked towards the door to make sure no one was there. She then whispered in her ear, "My lady, there’s news from outside the palace. Mr. Wu says..."

Qing Ya relayed the information she had received to Consort Liu, information she intended to share earlier, but she delayed it due to Consort Liu’s worsening health and to avoid burdening her with heavy thoughts.

After hearing the news, Consort Liu’s dim eyes suddenly sparkled with an unusual light, like the final luminescence before extinguishing, giving her renewed vitality.

The corner of her mouth curved into a deep smile, "In that case, let’s wait a little longer, wait to see Xue Wanjun tumble from her pedestal, wait to witness the destruction of her family and her descent into ruin!"

At the end, Consort Liu’s words sounded like a malevolent curse, and the sinister smile on her lips was particularly chilling.

Qing Ya bowed her head, not daring to look, but she felt a melancholic chill in her heart. How had her lady come to such a pass, step by step?

In her early years, Consort Liu was famously talented and beautiful, a pure and elegant orchid in a valley, one of the two most admired beauties of the Capital. Many had held her in high esteem.

Since entering the palace, Consort Liu had become like a different person. After Noble Consort Xue plotted to poison and harm her body, Consort Liu was reduced to a ghastly form, neither fully alive nor dead.

Qing Ya had grown up alongside Consort Liu, and their affection for each other ran deep.

Consort Liu had said that Qing Ya was all she had left and had spoken early on of asking His Majesty to let Qing Ya leave the palace. However, Qing Ya was unwilling—she would rather die than agree.

The deep palace was too lonely, and if she too left, what would become of Consort Liu?

Over the years, Qing Ping had been more visible, seeming in outsiders’ eyes to be the Senior Palace Maid of Huafu Hall, deeply favored by her mistress.

But in private, Qing Ya knew, Consort Liu had only acted so to protect her, a preparation for the day she would leave this world.

If Consort Liu were to pass away, Noble Consort Xue would not spare the people of Huafu Hall. The first targeted for elimination would be Consort Liu’s confidantes, and Qing Ping was nothing more than a sitting duck.

Qing Ya felt sorrowful. She was not afraid to die—if her death meant Consort Liu could live longer and more comfortably, she would willingly die right then.

She could not comprehend Consort Liu’s obsession. Consort Liu and Noble Consort Xue had been so close before, like one person. How did it come to this fierce battle upon entering the palace?

Of course, Qing Ya could not understand; how could one grasp such matters without being in the same position?

Liu Lingyi was inherently noble and aloof, and at the beginning of her friendship with Xue Wanjun, there had indeed been genuine feelings.

However, as they spent more time together, no matter what, Xue Wanjun always overshadowed her, and in their daily interactions, she had to constantly yield to Xue Wanjun.

If both of them fancied the same fine item, it was certainly she who conceded, and if they had a disagreement, it was also she who humbly sought to make peace.

Furthermore, Xue Wanjun’s family background was better than hers, exuding a sense of superiority intentionally or unintentionally, which made her feel increasingly imbalanced inside.

Why should she always yield to Xue Wanjun, why!

She was also the daughter of a mansion, the sole daughter at that, the apple of her father’s eye. Since childhood, whatever she wanted, her father would find a way to give her!

Unlike the Xue Residence, which had a pile of daughters, Xue Wanjun was merely one of them. What was there to be so proud of!

Liu Lingyi’s resentment grew deeper and deeper, eventually leading to all sorts of events, until the two of them became sworn enemies, each wishing the other to fall into the Eighteen Levels of Hell, never to be reborn.

On this day, inside Huaqing Palace.

Cai Xia took the tray handed by the Little Palace Maid, on which sat a bowl of thick medicinal soup.

Upon entering the Inner Palace, a Palace Maid drew back the curtain, and she stepped inside, inadvertently casting a glance at Cai Qin, who was to the side as if she had become invisible. Her inconspicuous brows and expressionless face stabbed at her heart like thorns.

A flash of disdain crossed her eyes, and she thought coldly: Always looking like she’s lost her mother, such bad luck. No wonder Her Majesty’s headache has been growing worse. With someone like her by Her Majesty’s side, how could Her Majesty possibly cheer up.

Hiding her thoughts, she lowered her head, respectfully calling out, "Consort, it’s time to take your medicine."

Noble Consort Xue, seated on a peony-embroidered rosewood chair, was dressed in her usual white outfit embroidered with colorful butterflies, flipping through the reports submitted by various departments.

Her face looked somewhat haggard, lacking the usual radiant beauty, which made her appear less fierce and arrogant than usual, showing a few hints of vulnerability.

She did not speak, paying no attention to Cai Xia, merely focusing on the booklet in her hands.

Unclear of the Noble Consort’s intentions, Cai Xia waited for a while and then nudged forward, advising in a soft voice, "Consort, if you delay past the appointed time, it won’t be good."

The Noble Consort lifted her eyelids for a glance, snapping the booklet shut with a "thwack", and a trace of gloom flashed across her face as she looked impatiently at the bowl of medicine: "Bring it here."

In that moment, her commanding aura returned, as though the former tranquility and weakness had been an illusion.

Some people are born as leaders, their eyes always carrying an undeniable sharpness, even through an appearance of exhaustion.

Cai Xia quickly stepped closer, respectfully presenting the tray with both hands. Beside the medicine bowl was a small spoon for drinking the medicine, and next to it, a small dish of candied fruit for rinsing the mouth.

She’d always been thorough in her preparations, though the Consort never used them.

The Noble Consort slightly furrowed her brows, lifted the bowl with her left hand, and with a spoon in her right, tasted a bit of the medicine. Finding it to be fine, she tossed the spoon back onto the tray, then downed the bowl in one gulp.

In the past, she used to sip her medicine delicately, spoon by spoon, which prolonged the bitterness.

Now, she had come to realize, if it was all bitter, why torture herself with slow sips? Better to endure it all at once.