TFSRITA Chapter 81

As Yan Qing’s reputation improved, the gaze of certain concubines in the palace towards her became unsettling.

Despite being the Noble Consort, there was currently no Empress in the harem, making her the most powerful figure in the palace. Yet, she did not allow others to pay their respects. Instead of going to the Tai Chi Hall to flirt with the Emperor, she rarely made herself available, choosing to stay in her palace.

Even if someone wanted to do something about her, they were powerless.

Xu Jin and Yuan Xiu were two such powerless individuals. They could no longer be called consorts; they were merely ladies-in-waiting now.

Naturally, they despised Yan Qing. Her emergence had drastically changed the dynamics of the harem. Most women who had witnessed the Emperor’s extraordinary affection for Yan Qing couldn’t help but feel envious, especially considering that Emperor Chen was undeniably charming.

Handsome and striking, he possessed a masculinity that was far from the frail demeanor of a scholar. He was tall and imposing, which could overshadow other men. Women these days often preferred someone like Song Yu, but in the entire harem, it was either eunuchs or palace maids. Moreover, since they were nominally the Emperor’s women, it was inevitable that the other women would develop feelings.

Furthermore, due to Empress Jiang’s circumstances, they were also involved. Although driven by self-interest, Empress Jiang ultimately didn’t expose them, wanting them to remain in the palace to continue their struggles against her.

Sent to a nunnery, Empress Jiang lived a life she despised, far worse than death. Her fate was quite miserable, and they too had been demoted to ladies-in-waiting, ridiculed by those they once respected. All of this was attributed to Yan Qing.

At that moment, the two could only sigh in mutual frustration.

However, this time felt a bit different.

Yuan Xiu opened her palm to reveal a crumpled piece of paper, clearly having been squeezed many times. “Here, this is something I just received.”

Xu Jin took a look and saw tiny handwriting on it, with a familiar sweet smell reminiscent of milk, suggesting it had been hidden in a pastry.

“Who is this from?” Xu Jin asked.

Yuan Xiu shook her head. “I don’t know, but anyone who can bribe the royal kitchen must be quite something.”

Yuan Xiu’s eyes gleamed.

This person wanted to collaborate with them to eliminate their common enemy. They were constrained in the palace, lacking resources, but this person could provide poison to resolve their issue directly.

Xu Jin then questioned, “If they can bribe the royal kitchen, why not just poison her directly?”

Yuan Xiu rolled her eyes. “Killing the Noble Consort would lead to the execution of nine generations of her family. Sending a note might be pushing it; who would dare poison her directly? That’s courting death!”

Xu Jin nodded in understanding. In other words, they needed to find someone willing to risk their life.

For these former high-ranking concubines, this was not difficult. The real challenge was how to get close to Yan Qing.

This was a question worth pondering.

The two exchanged silent glances, each seeing the exasperation in the other’s eyes.

It was then that they realized the Noble Consort, who should have been arrogant enough to instill fear throughout the harem, had her sights set not on them, but on the previous dynasty.

After a long silence, Xu Jin said, “I have an idea. April is the Emperor’s birthday, and there will be a grand celebration. The Noble Consort will have to eat at some point; the only question is, where do we place the poison?”

Yuan Xiu gritted her teeth. “I’ll handle this.”

“Are you sure?” Xu Jin asked skeptically.

Yuan Xiu nodded confidently. “Don’t forget who my father is!”

Her father was the Minister of War, and her family had significant connections with the Ran family. If things were handled well, they could find some leverage against anyone, and then arrange for someone to take charge of the Noble Consort’s meals.

But of course, it had to be fair. Yuan Xiu added, “You find the person.”

“Alright.”

The two exchanged a knowing smile, each seeing the excitement in the other’s eyes.

Meanwhile, as they plotted how to recruit certain people and set their plans in motion, far away in the northern desert, a war was unfolding.

Every spring, as everything revived, the food from the previous autumn ran out. At this time, the nomadic tribes of the northern desert began to attack and seize food.

The residents of Beihuang City, near the northern desert, were the most miserable. Their roots were here, and they couldn’t escape to another place. There were limits to how many people each region could accommodate; if they exceeded that limit, they wouldn’t be welcomed anywhere.

Moreover, traveling long distances required a lot of food and money, which the people of Beihuang lacked, leaving them to barely survive.

However, their situation visibly improved under the new governor. He was a businessman who, upon arrival, immediately engaged in trade with the northern tribes, forming merchant caravans and using the authority of the government to earn money, which he then funneled back into their livelihoods.

Still, as life got better, everyone became wary when spring arrived.

Sure enough, war broke out. The nomadic tribes, running low on food, showed no gratitude to those who had previously traded with them and began to raid homes.

Fortunately, their military was present and not easily bullied.

Yet today, the situation is somewhat special.

As the vanguard, Song Yu found himself surrounded and isolated while deep in enemy territory.

The soldiers of Beihuang were frantic, having lost contact with Song Yu.

Meanwhile, the very person they were worried about, Song Yu, was lying in a small cave, where a fire flickered, adding warmth to the still chilly air.

Upon waking, Song Yu felt that the wound in his chest, where he had been pierced, seemed to have healed considerably.

In his last memory, he had been struck by several arrows. Although he had barely escaped the jaws of death, he had lost hope. Even as he lost consciousness, he was still concerned about Yan Qing.

“Ouch—” As he tried to move, pain washed over his face, causing him to turn pale, and he collapsed back down. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he reached for his chest.

As soon as he touched it, he realized it was wrapped in bandages.