TFSRITA Chapter 15

Consort De merely mentioned that her rank was low, and she immediately seized on that point, using it to the fullest extent, leaving Consort De speechless. Even when Consort Xian said that the previous chancellor had great status, she too was quickly silenced. After all, among the civil officials of the previous dynasty, Chancellor Yan was undoubtedly the most powerful, and in the military, only Prince Gong held military power and was respected. In front of these two towering figures, no one else could even speak.

Especially since Prince Gong and Chancellor Yan seemed to have a good relationship.

With the two highest-ranking women in the palace shut down, the others naturally could only flatter her.

However, even those who tried to flatter the Imperial Consort weren’t spared. She still scolded them, making two of them cry, and even accused them of improper conduct, resulting in their confinement.

Her authority was undeniable. The concubines, unless they were exceptionally thick-skinned, all returned to their palaces fuming.

When Consort De arrived, Consort Xian had just finished fixing her appearance and greeted her with a false smile, “Sister is here, please take a seat.”

Consort De smirked, “No need for pleasantries, I came to discuss something with you.”

Consort Xian kept smiling, “I know, Shuangshuang, please have everyone leave.”

“Yes.” Consort Xian’s maid, Shuangshuang, nodded and led everyone out of the room.

Consort Xian then said, “Sister, you’ve come because of the Empress Dowager, haven’t you?”

Consort De gave her a restrained look, which made Consort Xian’s eyes flash with a hint of disdain. Still, she maintained a sweet smile and said, “I can speak to the Empress Dowager, but there’s just one thing — this little show of force won’t be enough to provoke her. For some matters, I’ll need Sister’s help.”

Consort De frowned, instinctively looking around for her maid Qinghe, but Qinghe had already left. She had no choice but to ask, “What is it?”

Consort Xian replied, “Those two Noble Ladies who were confined by the Imperial Consort — I heard they were frail and fell ill soon after entering the palace. After this recent shock, they’re bound to fall ill again. If something were to happen to them…”

While they were deep in discussion, over on Yan Qing’s side, she was meeting the martial arts master she had been looking forward to.

As she looked at the woman before her, named Zhuyin, Yan Qing’s eyes lit up. With just one glance, she could tell that this woman was different from the other ladies. She tentatively reached out and asked, “Can I touch your arm?”

Zhuyin, puzzled by her request, nodded.

The young girl in a light yellow palace dress smiled joyfully, carefully running over like a curious child to touch Zhuyin’s arm muscles.

They were firm, solid, and without an ounce of extra fat.

Yan Qing was full of admiration and immediately clasped her hands, “Please teach me martial arts!”

Zhuyin was taken aback, “You want to learn martial arts?”

“Yes!” Yan Qing nodded eagerly, “We’re in the palace. Even if you know martial arts, it won’t be much use due to your status. It’s better if I know how to defend myself.”

Zhuyin hesitated, “Learning martial arts is tough.”

“No problem, I’m not afraid!” Yan Qing rasped out in a hoarse voice, immediately followed by a coughing fit.

Ziyun, worried, quickly brought over a cup of warm water.

Yan Qing took a sip, suppressing the irritation in her throat, and her eyes sparkled as she looked expectantly at Zhuyin.

Feeling uncomfortable under her gaze, Zhuyin stiffly nodded, “Alright.”

After all, she was here to serve. If the young mistress wanted to learn, she would teach her. If she couldn’t keep up, then they’d stop.

After discussing the matter, Yan Qing had someone take Zhuyin to rest.

As she turned, she saw Ziyun with red, teary eyes.

Yan Qing felt a headache coming on and quickly began soothing her, “Ziyun, when you return to the Chancellor’s residence, be sure to take good care of my father. He’s getting old and has many social obligations…”

“Yes.” Ziyun, hearing her mistress’s raspy voice, couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. Yet, the previous bitterness in her heart had faded.

At least her mistress still remembered her. It was only because of the palace rules that she couldn’t stay by her side.

“Miss, please stop talking, or your throat will hurt.” Ziyun gently stopped Yan Qing from speaking any further, helping her to sit down. “Miss, I will follow your instructions and take good care of the Chancellor.”

“Thank you,” Yan Qing said sincerely.

Ziyun left.

She departed with the people who had escorted Zhuyin, crying her heart out.

But what could be done? Her mistress was, after all, cold and unfeeling.

After sending Ziyun away, Yan Qing immediately put Zhuyin’s abilities to the test. “If you had to escape from the palace, could you do it successfully?”

Zhuyin hesitated, then replied, “Under normal circumstances, with caution, I could make it out alone. But it would be impossible without alerting anyone.”

The implication was that she couldn’t bring anyone else along.

Yan Qing understood and felt reassured by her answer.

She clapped her hands, “Once I’m fully recovered in a couple of days, we’ll start training. You can rest for now and draft a training plan for me.”

“Understood,” Zhuyin responded with military precision.

Zhuyin moved into the side hall of the palace, which had previously been Ziyun’s quarters.

The space was quite large, and private, with a bookshelf and a desk, resembling a modern single bedroom.

Zhuyin was a better fit for her than Ziyun. She followed orders without asking questions. Even when she saw the wound on Yan Qing’s neck, after being told not to let the Chancellor know, she kept silent.

As for whether the Chancellor would eventually find out, Yan Qing wasn’t sure.

It was said that Ji Yecheng’s imperial guards were highly skilled, guarding the capital so tightly that there was no way for messages to leave the palace. Unless sent through a concubine, all communications were thoroughly checked by the Emperor’s men. As a result, no rumors spread without deliberate effort.

This was one of Ji Yecheng’s rules — no one was allowed to comment on his private life. So, aside from the palace concubines themselves, no one knew that Ji Yecheng had yet to take any of them to his bed.

Even the concubines didn’t know which one of them had been touched by Ji Yecheng.

Yan Qing wasn’t sure either. She simply assumed that he wasn’t particularly interested in women. After all, Ji Yecheng not touching her seemed normal. He had married her solely to provoke Song Yu — no, more precisely, to take revenge on him.