Chapter 723: Chapter 723 Shaded Eyes
Daying Jia and Cui Laner had actually known each other for a long time and even held disdain for each other. During a small banquet hosted by the Noble Consort, Cui Laner was present, but the two rarely spoke on normal days and were unfamiliar with each other. Additionally, both being of the Talented Lady rank fostered a sense of competition, making a friendship even more unlikely.
After she was demoted, instead of distancing herself, Cui Laner not only did not shun her, but also took the initiative to visit her. Now, being invited by Cui Laner to join her at the Longevity Festival, how could she not be moved?
True nature is revealed in adversity, she thought. To her, this was indeed true sisterhood.
Normally, Daying Jia would not deign to pay attention to someone like Kong Yinyin, an insignificant character. She would pass by with her head held high, not bothering to acknowledge her, as who would want to waste time talking to a dull person?
But since Cui Laner disliked Kong Yinyin, Daying Jia felt she had to stand up for her sister!
Lian Hua, surrounded by Xiao Jizi and others, was initially eager to shoot an arrow when she heard the annoying voices of the newcomers, one of which was very familiar. She couldn’t help but part the crowd a bit to look over.
Daying Jia, an old acquaintance.
The one with Shaded Eyes was there as well, having seen her at the Noble Consort’s banquet, where she had been one of those ridiculing her.
She narrowed her almond-shaped eyes, her gaze shifting as she pulled Xiao Linzi back to cover the gap, grasped the quite upset Xiao Jizi about to burst, and whispered, "That Shaded Eyes, is her rank lower than mine?"
Xiao Jizi was startled; in this situation, his mistress asking this meant...
He, along with Xiao Qing and Xiao Linzi, had been closely guarding Lian Hua while Cui Laner confronted Kong Yinyin. They remained calm and composed, facing away and listening quietly, as their most important task was to protect their own mistress.
Now, seeing that Cui Laner and Daying Jia wanted to bully their mistress collectively, they couldn’t stand it anymore. Thus, Xiao Jizi was about to react, but before he could make a move, he heard his mistress ask this question.
They couldn’t help but quickly turn their heads back for a glance at Cui Laner and Daying Jia, immediately understanding whom Lian Hua was referring to, then turned back again, exchanging looks, all agreeing that their mistress’s description was very apt.
Cui Laner’s eyes slanted upwards at the outer corners, forming a "八" character when viewed from the front, definitely Shaded Eyes.
Xiao Jizi slightly nodded, replying, "Replying to my mistress, that consort... cough ... her rank is indeed lower than yours."
Almost slipped there, oh my goodness.
Lian Hua’s eyes shone, "Does this mean, later on, I can deal with them for insubordination?"
She had never tried sentencing someone before; she was really looking forward to it!!
Xiao Jizi nodded.
"That’s just great," Lian Hua said, visibly excited.
Her eyes gleaming fiercely, she whispered to them, "Then let’s not engage with them for now, let them talk more, hehehe..."
As she spoke, a sinister smile crept onto her face, as if she was plotting something dreadful.
Xiao Linzi shuddered on the spot; he had seen this smile before—it was the smile his mistress had when she dealt with Beauty Li, and it had scared him stiff then.
Suddenly, Xiao Jizi felt rather thrilled; he understood Lian Hua’s intent, eager for Cui Laner and Daying Jia to speak more words of insubordination, otherwise how could they be sentenced?
After reprimanding, Cui Laner saw that the group of servants remained defiant, still daring to turn back and challenge her authority, which made her extremely uncomfortable.
She suddenly flew into a rage and said, "You wretched servant, have you grown as bold as a bear or leopard that you no longer listen to me?"
She had been upset upon receiving the order to leave the palace, and although she had told the Deputy Steward of the Bureau of Palace Attendants, Liu Dayou, that she did not want to leave, she felt utterly uncertain and did not know if she could stay.
She did not want to leave the palace, not a thousand times, not ten thousand times. She was the second daughter of the Cui family, and she could not compare to her sister in any way. If her sister hadn’t gotten engaged years ago, she would not have had the opportunity to enter the palace in her sister’s place.
If she were to go back now, not only would she have wasted years achieving nothing, but seeing her sister married well, cherished by her husband with children of her own, while she had nothing, would drive her insane.
She firmly believed there would come a day when she would rise above, even Beauty Lian, with such humble origins, had gained His Majesty’s favor. If given a chance to show her worth to His Majesty, she was sure she could win his affection, but all that was shattered with the order to leave the palace.
After receiving the order, she felt incessant panic, which made her feel as if the servants by her side no longer regarded her as their mistress, so she harshly punished the servant who attended to her.
Perhaps it was panic, lacking her previous confidence, and once outside, she felt every servant she met looked down on her. She only felt slightly better after meeting with Daying Jia, but after encountering Kong Yinyin, whom she had always bullied, she could not help but mock her, only to find that Kong Yinyin dared to incriminate her too.
How could she not be infuriated when these few servants ignored her?
Kong Yinyin was beside them, urging them on, and seemed anxious. She knew she was the reason Cui Laner had noticed Beauty Lian and the trouble that ensued.
She wanted to say something but ultimately it was fear over courage that kept her silent, feeling both scared and anxious, yet she overheard the vague conversation among Lian Hua and others. Being the closest, a few words drifted to her, causing her to freeze.
Lian Hua and the others seemed to be whispering among themselves like a small meeting, oblivious to the shouts of Cui Laner.
"She’s panicking, panicking, ha ha." Lian Hua heard and got excited, and arranged, "Xiao Linzi, you listen carefully, you have to hear every single word, understand?"
"Yes, master," Xiao Linzi replied.
With Xiao Linzi listening, she could relax and chat for a while, "Xiao Jizi, did you know that His Majesty intends to release some people from the palace?" she wondered how she hadn’t heard about it.
Xiao Jizi replied, "To report to the master, this servant does not know, but from what they say, it should be true, I’m afraid Changzai Kong is also on the list to leave the palace."
He had just come out from Canglan Court and was also surprised to hear for the first time that some Palace Concubines were being released from the palace.
"I see, hmm..." Lian Hua bit her lip and thought for a while, then lowered her voice and asked, "Do you think I could leave the palace?"
"Pfft... cough, cough, cough..." Not expecting this kind of question, Xiao Jizi choked, covering his mouth and coughing violently, his face turning red.
This, this, this, has the master gone mad? Bearing the imperial heir, how could His Majesty possibly let her leave the palace? Even if she weren’t bearing a child, with His Majesty’s affection for her, there’s no way she would be released like Changzai Kong!
Those who were released must have been those who haven’t received favor in many years.
What is the master thinking!
Ouch, his headache intensified.
Lian Hua glared at him discontentedly. She had spoken softly for fear of being overheard, and Xiao Jizi’s loud cough was as if he wanted everyone to know, wasn’t it?
Xiao Qing and Xiao Linzi couldn’t help but widen their eyes, their faces filled with shock and worry. If the master left the palace, what would happen to them?