Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 241 The Strange Imperial Household Department

Consort Ning's back stiffened. She never expected Consort Shen to ask such a sharp question right away. Her fingers tensed for a moment, then relaxed. She chuckled and said, "I've been in the palace for so long, of course I've served the emperor."

Consort Shen was taken aback, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes.

So, there should actually be quite a few women in the harem who would sleep with the emperor, but she hasn't had any since she entered the palace.
Consort Ning looked at Consort Shen and knew what she was thinking: "Consort Shen, let me give you a piece of advice. When Consort Yun is not around, you can still exchange a few words with His Majesty, but if she is, you don't need to think about anything."

A surge of anger suddenly rose in Consort Shen's heart: "Why? How can she be so selfish? Everyone has entered the harem. Although it is inevitable that some will be favored and some will not, everyone should compete fairly. What kind of person is she, monopolizing His Majesty's attention day after day?"

She was truly furious and spoke without restraint. After she finished speaking, she looked up and met Consort Ning's mocking gaze. A lump formed in her throat, and she couldn't utter a sound.

She was usually very calm and dignified, but it was clear that she had lost out to Consort Ning.

I don't know how Consort Ning can be so patient.

"Consort Yun had an unresolved relationship with His Majesty in her early years, and she is very important to His Majesty."

Upon hearing Consort Ning's words, Consort Shen suddenly recalled that at her birthday banquet, she had quietly mentioned that Consort Yun had been missing for three years.

That was a full three years! As a concubine in the harem, a weak woman, how could His Majesty not worry or doubt what she had experienced outside?

"That day, I wanted to ask Your Majesty, why did she suddenly disappear for three years?"

"She ran away." Consort Ning's voice was very calm. "She didn't say a word, and His Majesty searched for her for a long time. It took a long time after she returned to the palace for the two of them to reconcile."

"Make up. Back to normal?"

Consort Shen frowned and couldn't help but chuckle: "I don't believe it. Doesn't Your Majesty ever suspect what she went through during those three years? What if, what if, she met another man?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Consort Ning suddenly stood up, her tone turning stern: "Consort Shen, it's fine if you say such things in private, but if it gets into His Majesty's ears, I guarantee you will die a terrible death."

Consort Shen was completely stunned, and her whole body trembled involuntarily. She had thought that Consort Ning was deliberately trying to scare her and warn her not to speak carelessly.

But seeing the fear in her eyes, Consort Shen realized that what she said was true.

What kind of person is Jiang Lanye?

When Consort Shen walked out dejectedly, she found that Consort Meng hadn't left and was waiting for her outside.

She paused, then let out a sigh.

The two had been close friends since childhood, and their friendship must have been extraordinary. But for some reason, ever since she entered the palace, she has become less and less like herself.

Consort Meng went up to her and asked with concern, "What's wrong? What were you talking about?"

"Consort Ning has also served the emperor, so it seems that the only two people in the entire harem who haven't served the emperor are you and me."

Consort Meng frowned, she really couldn't understand: "Why? Not to mention that our family background is not bad, our brothers have all made contributions in this war, why does His Majesty insist on turning a blind eye to us?"

Consort Shen pursed her lips, grabbed her hand and walked forward: "Let's go to the Imperial Household Department. I always feel that the Imperial Concubine is lying to us."

Inside the Imperial Household Department.

Very few eunuchs came and went, and the surroundings were unusually quiet. From the outside, there were only two or three eunuchs in the room, all of whom were dozing off on the table.

Consort Shen was somewhat taken aback: "Why are the people in the Imperial Household Department so lazy?"

Consort Meng was clearly a little confused as well.

The two quickly went inside and woke up the eunuch who was slacking off.

Perhaps it had been too long since any masters had visited the Imperial Household Department, for upon opening their eyes and seeing the two Consorts, everyone in the room instantly snapped to attention. "Greetings, Your Highnesses! May I ask what brings you here?"

Consort Shen raised her chin and said with dissatisfaction, "You people from the Imperial Household Department are really too careless. Have you even made the nameplates for me and Consort Meng?"

The eunuch was bewildered: "A plaque?"

"It's the nameplate His Majesty chose when he summoned you, you haven't done it yet, have you?"

The eunuch suddenly realized that they had indeed done so, and everyone had one. But this was too strange. In the harem, did it matter whether one had a nameplate or not?

He quickly got up, picked up the plaques that had long been covered in dust, and explained with a smile, "These plaques were made when the two empresses first entered the palace."

"Why is it so dirty?"

She noticed that Consort Ning's nameplate was also covered with a thick layer of dust, and frowned as she asked, "Does His Majesty not usually choose which nameplate to use when summoning other women? Otherwise, why does this nameplate look untouched even though Consort Ning has served him?"

The eunuch choked.

Consort Ning served the emperor?

He didn't know how to answer for a moment, but fortunately, Consort Shen didn't dwell on the question. She simply asked, "Doesn't His Majesty summon you to the Golden Palace at night?"

The eunuch shook his head: "Your Majesty, please forgive my indiscretion, but His Majesty is currently living with the Imperial Concubine. Why would he summon other women? These plaques are made, but naturally they are not needed. Before the Imperial Concubine came, His Majesty was not interested in women."

"You may not know these things, after all, you have only been in the harem for a short time."

Consort Shen was somewhat dazed and still found it unbelievable: "Your Majesty doesn't summon anyone other than the Imperial Concubine?"

The eunuch didn't want to be too definitive, after all, he didn't want to offend the two people in front of him, so he smiled awkwardly: "That's not necessarily true, but at least that's how it seems for now."

The two left, looking utterly dejected.

too weird.

The Imperial Household Department was like an empty shell; everything inside was in disarray, and everyone was fast asleep, truly appearing as if no one was doing anything.

Not long after the two left, the eunuch from the Imperial Household Department immediately changed his expression and hurriedly headed towards the Golden Palace.

At this moment, Song Yi was lying on the dragon bed. When she was in front of Jiang Lanye, she always prioritized comfort when it came to what clothes she wore, so she dared to wear whatever was as light and thin as possible.

Jiang Lanye looked at the memorials in his hand again and again. After a long while, he hadn't even finished reviewing one of them. He put it down and walked away.

Song Yi was reading with her head tilted to the side when she suddenly felt a warm hand fall on her waist and hips. She tensed up and immediately turned over, gripping Jiang Lanye's hand tightly.

"No, you have to give me a couple of days."

Jiang Lanye narrowed his eyes: "Alright, then two days it is."

Song Yi: "Two days is just a figure of speech. When I say two days, it doesn't necessarily mean a certain number of days. It's not a countdown for you!"

Jiang Lanye clearly didn't want to listen anymore, his hand still wandering around restlessly.

She curled up in vain, struggling helplessly: "Didn't you say to wait two more days? What are you doing?"

"I won't touch you, I'll just casually pat you."

What's the difference between "touch" and "finger"?

(End of this chapter)