Chapter 81

Chapter 81

The maids from Jingren Palace had felt quite proud the last time they came to Yonghe Palace. But this time, they didn’t dare to be as arrogant, because they were afraid that Consort Rong might stir up trouble again.

The last time they came, it coincided with Consort Rong falling ill, and instead of punishing her by having her copy the palace rules, it ended up becoming a rumor that the maids of Jingren Palace were bullying her with their influence. This time, they hoped nothing would go wrong.

After all, they weren’t here to see Consort Rong this time, but Consort Liang. Surely nothing would go wrong now.

Consort Liang was chatting with Su Yi at that moment. Recently, it seemed like Consort Liang had been coming almost every day, as if she was here to learn. Each time, she became more and more like Consort Rong in behavior.

It was as if she was testing Su Yi’s patience, wondering if Su Yi would be secretly irritated but have to pretend everything was fine. They wanted to see how long Su Yi could maintain her composure.

Because recently, all the rewards had been given to Consort Liang, creating a stark contrast. To outsiders, it appeared that the new favorite was basking in attention, while the old favorite was left in the cold and forgotten.

Consort Liang, dressed in a qipao of the same color scheme as Su Yi, looked quite similar from the back. But upon closer inspection, she had gone from a three-point resemblance to at least a five or six-point resemblance.

If Consort Rong weren’t right in front of them, one could easily mistake them.

Just then, a maid from Jingren Palace entered, her eyes darting around. Instead of bowing to Consort Rong as required, she half-turned and greeted Consort Liang as "Consort Rong," saying, "This servant pays respects to Consort Rong." Then she turned to Consort Rong and said, "Pays respects to Consort Liang."

Consort Liang’s eyes flickered with emotion, and she immediately showed a panicked expression towards Consort Rong, saying, "Sister Consort Rong, what should we do?"

The maid from Jingren Palace quickly realized her mistake and hastily explained, "This servant is deserving of death for confusing Consort Rong with Consort Liang. I was confused because you two look so much alike. Please forgive me, Consort Rong and Consort Liang."

The latter part of her words was intentionally hurtful. In reality, when they were sitting together, there were still significant differences. If Consort Liang were not in front of Consort Rong, she might look very similar, but next to Consort Rong, she appeared unnatural and inferior, like a counterfeit next to the real thing.

But the maid from Jingren Palace deliberately said this, clearly intending to cause trouble.

Yun Hua’s expression turned sour, and she hurriedly said, "A simple mistake? You’ve been serving in the palace for so long, yet you don’t know the ranks? If you can’t distinguish between the concubine rank and a noble lady, how can you still work in this palace? This was clearly intentional."

"They look so similar that I was nervous and made a mistake. Please forgive this servant, Consort Rong and Consort Liang. It was an honest mistake," the maid apologized, but it was evident she was doing this on purpose.

Su Yi looked at the maid but didn’t say anything, still wearing a smile. The maid from Jingren Palace, who had been trying to justify herself, felt a growing sense of fear as she met Su Yi’s gaze. Although Su Yi looked like she wasn’t angry at all, the maid felt a chill down her spine.

Consort Liang, speaking softly beside her, said, "Sister Consort Rong, I believe this maid made an honest mistake. Punishing her for such a small matter might displease Imperial Noble Consort."

She had started by addressing her as Consort Rong, but now she was calling her "Sister" affectionately, as if they were real sisters.

Su Yi looked at Consort Liang beside her and said, "What you say makes some sense. This is indeed a small matter not worth fussing over."

Then she gestured to the maid, signaling her to rise. Along with the gesture, a faint, pleasant scent wafted through the air.

Consort Liang also wore a fragrance pouch, attempting to replicate the scent Consort Rong wore. She had even sent people to secretly inquire about the fragrance Consort Rong used but hadn’t obtained any useful information.

Unable to find the corresponding scent, and wanting to create something similar to Consort Rong’s fragrance, Consort Liang had to experiment with her own pouches. Using strong incense wasn’t an option, so she opted for light, subtle scents.

"Mistakes like this should not happen again," Su Yi said with a gentle smile, appearing like a generous mistress.

This reassured the maid, who had been anxious about potential punishment from Imperial Noble Consort. Though inwardly, she felt contempt, thinking that even this Consort Rong would have to yield to Imperial Noble Consort.

But she maintained an outward appearance of gratitude, thanking Su Yi for her mercy.

Then, without further delay, she explained her purpose for coming. Imperial Noble Consort had summoned Consort Liang to Jingren Palace for a chat. It was said that Consort Liang’s skill in making fragrance pouches was excellent, and Imperial Noble Consort wanted to learn from her, hoping to use fresh, different pouches daily.

This skill had become quite famous.

"Consort Rong, since Imperial Noble Consort has graciously invited me, I cannot refuse. I will come find you for a chat after I return," said Consort Liang in a feigned manner, acting as if she couldn't decline.

"Go, be careful on the way," Su Yi naturally didn't stop her and even thoughtfully reminded her.

As soon as Consort Liang was gone, Yun Hua could no longer hold back.

"Imperial Noble Consort, Consort Liang is becoming increasingly bold. She takes advantage of your good temper to act more and more blatantly, as though her intentions are obvious to everyone. She mimics your style daily and parades the items bestowed by the Emperor before you, and now even the servants from Jingren Palace are deliberately confusing you! It's infuriating!"

Yun Hua puffed her cheeks in anger, stamping her foot in frustration, her face turning red. It was as if she herself was the one being imitated by Consort Liang.

Su Yi rested her chin on her hand, watching calmly, her words skillfully soothing. "Don't be angry, don't be angry. Anger hurts the liver. Don't let it affect your health."

The more Consort Liang imitated, the more she sank into a lower position, forfeiting her original beauty and becoming a mere imitation. Others only felt annoyed and repulsed by her.

But little did they know, for Su Yi, this was not a cause for anger. In fact, she was pleased to see such a situation.

Without appearing before Kangxi, someone was already constantly reminding him of her presence. Was there a better, more effortless way to keep her presence in his mind?

Even without showing up, she wouldn't be forgotten, and the contrast became even clearer. The bright moon in the sky, how could stars compete with its brilliance?

So why should she rush? The one who should be anxious definitely wasn't her.

"Imperial Noble Consort! How can you still be smiling? That servant should have been properly punished! I wonder what Consort Liang is planning in Jingren Palace. Does Imperial Noble Consort really lack sachets that much?"

Who knows what scheme Consort Liang was concocting. Just as Yun Hua was considering warning Su Yi to prepare some countermeasures against Consort Liang.

But Yun Hua was puzzled. "Imperial Noble Consort? Why mention spring and flowers all of a sudden?"

With spring's arrival, not only did the flowers bloom, but the bees also became more numerous.

Meanwhile, as Consort Liang and the servants from Jingren Palace passed through the Imperial Garden, spring had just arrived, and the flowers in the garden couldn't wait to bloom. After the winter, it was the best spring scenery.

However, for some reason, there were only a few bees in the garden initially. But soon, those bees started gathering together.

As Consort Liang's group was about to leave the Imperial Garden, a buzzing sound suddenly came from nowhere, growing louder and closer. When the servants realized something was wrong and stopped to look around, someone exclaimed, "What is that?! A dark mass!"

Everyone's gaze shifted in that direction, their faces filled with horror. "That is, that is! Bees!!! Run! They're coming this way!"

Due to their sheer number, they formed a dark swarm, buzzing and advancing toward them. The visual impact and intimidation were immense. None of those present had ever seen such a scene.

Everyone panicked, their faces filled with fear. Even Consort Liang, who usually maintained her grace, was frightened out of her wits, instinctively covering her face and looking for a place to hide. The servants around her were no longer paying attention to her, scattering in all directions. Consort Liang, in her flower pot shoes, was knocked over when no one was there to support her, and she fell hard.

But no one could attend to her; everyone was scrambling to escape.

"Ah—!! Why are there so many bees all of a sudden!"

"Damn it, where did these bees come from, ah!!" Some cursed while swatting at the bees, only to get stung, crying out in pain.

"Run!"

"Get out of here!"

In an instant, the servants' formation was in chaos, everyone panicking, covering their heads, trying to find a place to hide. But in the Imperial Garden, full of flowers and grass, where could they hide? Running toward the flowers might only excite the bees even more.

Consort Liang was sprawled on the ground in a miserable state, trying to get up but being bumped again by the servants. She spun around in place and fell again, her hair disheveled and her Manchu headdress skewed and wobbly. In her hurried attempt to escape, a sachet fell out from her body. The bees, which had been flying around, suddenly swarmed toward the sachet.

The servants, who had been stung countless times in the chaos, finally got a moment to catch their breath.

Upon seeing the bees swarming around the sachet, someone with a swollen face from the bee stings demanded, “Whose sachet is this?! Why has it attracted so many bees?! Who is responsible for this?! They’ve made us all suffer for it!”

The servants, with exposed skin stung by the bees, were not seriously injured, except for one who was stung all over her face with welts. This was the servant from Jingren Palace who had earlier deliberately mistaken Consort Rong for Consort Liang.

She looked both pitiful and ridiculous, her face swollen with bumps.

At this point, no one dared to stay in the garden. Everyone hurriedly tried to leave. As they were leaving, someone finally noticed Consort Liang on the ground.

“Consort Liang, are you alright? Let me help you up. We should leave this place quickly while the sachet is distracting the bees. Let’s get out of here before they come back to sting us.”

The group fled the Imperial Garden as if their lives depended on it. Once they were out, they didn’t dare to stop but kept walking for quite a distance until they could no longer hear the buzzing of the bees. Only then did they finally dare to stop and catch their breath, each wearing an expression of relief, as if they had just survived a disaster.

Consort Liang’s hair was disheveled, and her face still showed traces of panic. Since she had been protecting her face, she was only stung on her hands and neck, which were swollen but not serious.

No one had noticed earlier, but now someone finally brought it up, “Now that I think about it, the sachet that attracted the bees seems to be Consort Liang’s.”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” someone immediately replied.

But some of the servants had already noticed and discreetly glanced over to see if the sachet was still on Consort Liang’s person.

Consort Liang froze and subconsciously touched where the sachet had been. She realized it was indeed missing, likely having fallen when she was pushed and fell earlier.

Now that everyone had confirmed the sachet was missing and matched it to the one that had attracted the bees, though the servants didn’t say anything further, they were all secretly seething with anger. If it weren’t for her sachet, they wouldn’t have suffered, being chased by bees all the way and stung in so many places.

The servant who had been stung all over her face was especially furious, her face so swollen that it hurt to speak.

With the situation turning out like this, they definitely couldn’t go to Jingren Palace in such a state.

But going back the same way was out of the question too, as they feared the bees might still be there. They had no choice but to take a detour.

Consort Liang, pretending not to see the resentment from the servants, said to the servant who was supposed to lead her to Jingren Palace, “In my current state, I can’t possibly go and meet Imperial Noble Consort Tongjia. Please convey my apologies to her and let her know I will visit another time.”

With her hair ornaments crooked and her Manchu headdress askew, it was indeed not appropriate for her to meet Imperial Noble Consort Tongjia.

Even without her saying so, the servants thought it best not to proceed to Jingren Palace that day. They needed to get some medicinal ointment from the imperial physician for the bee stings right away.

Imperial Noble Consort Tongjia had already planned how she would receive Consort Liang, intending to give her a mix of punishment and reward to encourage her to compete with Consort Rong. She had planned to support Consort Liang behind the scenes, allowing her to undermine Consort Rong first, with the promise of future benefits.

But instead of Consort Liang, her servants returned, all with swollen bumps from bee stings, especially one who was the most severely stung.

That servant was unrecognizable, her eyelids swollen shut, her eyes reduced to slits, and her mouth swollen into two sausage-like lips. She looked like a pig’s head.

Upon seeing this, Imperial Noble Consort Tongjia couldn’t help but exclaim, “What happened to you all?! Why have you returned in such a state?! Where is Consort Liang? I wanted to see her. What on earth occurred?”

Sending them out in good condition, only to have them return in such a state—Consort Rong must have thought very little of her to let this happen to her people.

Looking around, Imperial Noble Consort Tongjia realized that the most severely stung servant was her favored maid, Ting’er.

Not seeing Ting’er at first, Imperial Noble Consort Tongjia called out for her. The servant who responded had such a swollen face that her speech was slurred.

Upon seeing Consort Liang, Consort Tongjia waved her to stand aside, finding her appearance displeasing. She then asked another person what had transpired.

When she learned the details, the expression on Consort Tongjia's face changed colorfully, quite a spectacle, and she muttered a curse under her breath, "How unlucky!"

She felt fortunate in her heart that she had summoned Consort Liang to Jingren Palace. Initially, she had considered meeting Consort Liang outside, but she thought, "Why should I go out to meet her? Consort Liang should come to properly greet me."

If she had really arranged to meet Consort Liang in the imperial garden, she could have been affected and ended up with a head full of bee stings!

Moreover, if the bees had been attracted to Jingren Palace, it could have been a disaster. Fortunately, she didn't meet her today.

She felt quite relieved but also somewhat anxious, covering her face with her hands.

Upon hearing that Consort Liang said she was too disheveled to come and pay her respects today and would find another time, Consort Tongjia immediately said, "When Consort Liang comes, check whether she is carrying any sachets or fragrant pouches and do not allow her to bring them in, understand?!"

"Yes, Your Highness," they replied. Even without Consort Tongjia's order, they would have done so anyway.

If such a mishap were to happen again, it would be life-threatening.

Over at Yonghe Palace, not long after Consort Liang had left, she returned in a disheveled state and hurriedly went to the Imperial Medical Office to get a doctor to treat her.

Qinxin soon found out what had happened and, despite her usual composure, could hardly hold back her laughter.

Yun Hua, however, didn't hold back and burst out laughing. Wasn't this karma?

It was quite amusing. Consort Liang had been particular about her sachets, changing them daily. She had even discreetly asked the lady about the light fragrance she used, which smelled quite pleasant. But the lady never used anything of the sort.

Since Consort Liang couldn't find out, she didn’t believe it and insisted on crafting her own sachets and pouches. Now, see what has come of it. The fragrance was indeed remarkable and attracted bees. She must have drawn quite a lot of attention.

Especially when she learned that the maid who had been stung all over the head was the one who had deliberately caused confusion between the lady and Consort Liang, she laughed even harder.

"She had it coming! Didn't she look smug earlier!"

"Yun Hua, the poor maid has already been stung by bees, so we should not laugh at her anymore," Su Yi said, tapping Yun Hua on the forehead, signaling her to calm down.

Yun Hua then laughed a little less loudly but still couldn't help but smile, "I can't help laughing. Who knew the bees liked them so much."

After the imperial doctor treated Consort Liang, he left some ointment for her to apply and advised her to watch her diet in the coming days, telling her not to scratch the swollen areas.

At that moment, they heard that Consort Rong was coming over. Consort Liang immediately wished to decline the meeting at this time. Although her face had been well-protected and not stung by the bees, her hands, which had been exposed, were swollen from the bee stings.

She looked quite disheveled and didn't want Consort Rong to see her in such a state and laugh at her. However, she couldn't refuse Consort Rong's visit, so she had no choice but to welcome her in.

As Consort Liang was about to get down to perform the ritual greeting, Su Yi stepped forward to support her and whispered, "At a time like this, don't worry about these formalities."

She then sat down on the embroidered stool brought over and gently took Consort Liang's injured hand, expressing concern, "Consort Liang, are you alright? I heard you encountered bees on the way and got stung. I came to see how you are doing. Let me see; you need to follow the doctor's instructions to take good care of this hand in the coming days."

Su Yi would feel distressed for any beauty who was injured.

The doctor stepped aside and explained Consort Liang's condition to Consort Rong.

Su Yi gently tucked back the strands of hair that had fallen loose on Consort Liang's face, showing a look of pity, "You've suffered enough. Just rest well for the next few days and recover. There's no need to come to pay your respects. Let's treat this injury first."

She then asked where the doctor's ointment was to be fetched and, slightly bowing her head, began to apply it to her hand. Consort Liang wanted to decline and do it herself.

But Su Yi took her hand and, with a gentle and meticulous motion, already began applying the ointment, her tone soft and gentle, "It's just applying some ointment, it's nothing serious. This hand of yours needs proper care. In the future, don't mess with fragrances anymore. If something like today happens again and you hurt other parts, I'll be worried."

Hearing Consort Rong's words, Consort Liang felt a sinking heart. What did Consort Rong mean by that?