Entering the palace means entering a high position; I'm His Majesty's cousin, who am I afr

Thinking of this, Qi Ronghua felt an intense hatred for Zhu Yao, and she told her everything.

"That bitch Zhu Yao, she really knows how to scheme, managing to extricate herself..."

Shen Jiayu listened quietly, her expression relatively calm.

A barely perceptible undercurrent surged deep within his eyes.

Having confirmed her suspicions, she stopped listening to Qi Ronghua and turned to walk away.

Seeing that she was about to leave, Qi Ronghua panicked. She struggled to get off the bed, knelt on the ground, and begged, "Your Highness, I was wrong. This whole thing started because of that vile woman Zhu Yao. I was just mistaken for someone else; I shouldn't have ended up like this. Now that you know the truth, please plead with His Majesty to let me out. It's so dark and cold here at night, and there are insects, snakes, and rats. It's really terrifying!"

Qi Ronghua cried and kowtowed to her.

Shen Jiayu didn't stop walking, but as she left the palace, she said, "So, you're still alive and well in this cold palace."

These words sent chills down one's spine.

Qi Ronghua stopped moving, even forgetting to cry out, her eyes wide open.

What did Consort Chen mean by those words?

She's still alive and well in this cold palace...

If no one orchestrated this, and she was the one who did it, would Consort Chen kill her?

Qi Ronghua shuddered and stared blankly at the departing figure.

With a loud "bang".

The palace was locked up again, and silence returned. Qi Ronghua was enveloped in a chill, filled with nothing but despair.

She returned to the couch, curled up in a ball with her knees drawn up to her chest, as if she could draw some warmth from it.

After a long pause, she laughed to herself again, a laugh both desolate and triumphant. "Zhu Yao, you wretched woman! You think your plan is flawless, but little do you know, everyone already knows everything. Just you wait! Just you wait to die! Consort Chen won't trust you, you wretched woman! I'll be right here in this cold palace, waiting for you!"

*

He was released from the Cold Palace.

Sitting in the sedan chair, Shen Jiayu slowly sorted out all of this.

The actions of Consort Zhu a few days ago were all intended to lure Consort Qi into a trap.

Afterwards, Consort Zhu instructed Xue Zhu to collude with Liu Qing, the head of the Imperial Garden Department, to send flower mud to her palace mixed with Hu Man Teng juice.

Consort Zhu wanted to eliminate her through Consort Qi.

This was a brilliant move—using someone else to do the dirty work.

If it weren't for Lü'e by her side, perhaps Consort Zhu would have succeeded.

She also said that Consort Zhu had been favored for ten years, which was impossible without some real skills. Why did she come looking for trouble the other day?

So that's what they were planning.

interesting.

It's just unknown whether Consort Zhu is prepared to receive her anger.

As Shen Jiayu pondered her thoughts, she lightly tapped the armrest of the sedan chair with her fingernails.

The moderate pace helped her think more clearly.

In this situation, there is a character who is extremely easy to overlook—Consort Lan.

Previously, Consort Lan was in charge of both the Imperial Bedchamber Bureau and the Imperial Food Bureau. This time, Xue Zhu colluded with female officials right under her nose. Did Consort Lan know about it?

Was it complete ignorance, or deliberate indulgence?

If one is unaware of the truth, then one is utterly useless; that cowardly demeanor one usually displays is probably not an act.

If this was done intentionally, it means that Consort Lan is far more complex than she appears on the surface.

My original timid nature was just a way to hide my shortcomings.

After thinking about it for a while, Shen Jiayu stopped thinking about her.

Whether she knew about it or not, Consort Lan will not fare well this time.

Even if she was hiding her true abilities, she simply wanted to be a low-key and inconspicuous concubine.

With the three consorts balancing each other out, her choice to neither compete nor vie for power was arguably the best.

But now the situation has changed. A new Consort Chen has been added to the palace, and she is the one who holds power.

Now, in the six palaces, Consort Li, Consort Hui, and Consort Chen are in power, leaving only Consort Lan, who has no favor or power. So she is not just transparent and low-key, but also weak and powerless.

The palace is a place where people are treated differently based on their status, and there is bound to be unrest waiting for her.

Shen Jiayu let out a heavy sigh.

The next course of action is already clear.

Take this opportunity to strengthen your relationship with her cousin and find a chance to deal with Consort Zhu.

Shen Jiayu was never a soft-hearted person.

Since you've provoked her, you have to pay the price.

Just as they were pondering this, they arrived at Yihua Palace.

Seeing that Granny Meng and Zhao Bingzhong looked anxious, they rushed to greet her, "Your Highness, you're finally back! Chief Eunuch Qing has been in our palace for quite some time."

Shen Jiayu stepped into the palace gate and, as expected, saw him under the corridor. She gave him a warm smile and said, "The Grand Eunuch has arrived."

Qing'an hurriedly descended the steps and bowed, "His Majesty drafted an edict as soon as he finished court and instructed this servant to inform the six palaces."

Shen Jiayu looked around and saw that all the palace servants of Yihua Palace had arrived and were waiting for her.

Without further pleasantries or pleasantries, he bowed and listened to the imperial decree.

Qing'an stood on the two steps, slowly unfurling the yellow silk edict, his voice solemn and clear:

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

Consort Shen, of the Zhaoyi clan, is a paragon of virtue and a distinguished member of the family. She is gentle and wise, chaste and virtuous, and her conduct is exemplary. Her reputation shines throughout the palace, and she serves as a model for the four teachings. She is worthy to be promoted to the inner court and given this esteemed position.

"I hereby dispatch an envoy with imperial credentials to formally appoint you as Imperial Consort, and to inform the entire palace of this. May all be informed. Respectfully obey!"

After reading the imperial edict, Qing'an hurriedly descended the steps, helped Shen Jiayu up, and said respectfully, "His Majesty, out of consideration for Her Majesty's health, has set the investiture ceremony for the beginning of October."

Shen Jiayu nodded with a smile: "Thank you for making this trip, Steward."

Qing'an dared not accept the compliment: "Your Majesty is too kind to this humble servant. It is an honor for this servant."

Shen Jiayu gave Hongling a look, and she secretly handed her a purse, saying, "Please share some of the good fortune with the steward, don't refuse."

Since that's what she said, Qing'an respectfully accepted it.

After a brief chat, Qing'an prepared to leave: "I have matters to attend to before Your Majesty, so this servant will take his leave now."

Shen Jiayu ordered someone to escort him out before returning to the main hall.

She opened the imperial edict, read it carefully, and couldn't help but laugh. "Your Majesty actually managed to write these investiture edicts?"

The first two sentences were fine, saying she came from a prestigious family. But the rest was a bit unrealistic.

"His virtues matched those of orchids and magnolias, his conduct was as virtuous as jade pendants, his reputation shone throughout the six palaces, and his exemplary conduct was a model for the four schools of thought"—that's a bit of an exaggeration.

She didn't have any of those virtues or kindnesses; all she had were countless slaps.

Before long, this divine will will spread throughout the six palaces, and I'm afraid that soon, many people's cups and saucers in the palaces will suffer again.