Chapter Twenty-Five: Deliberate Provocation

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Wei Yanqiao carefully calculated the date. In about half a month, her elder brother, Wei Hongbo, should be able to reach the capital. When Xiao Ceyun held a banquet to welcome Wei Hongbo, he would certainly invite her to attend as well. For now, the most important thing was figuring out how to let Xiao Ceyun know that she had no desire to share his bed.

The next day, Wei Yanqiao went to Consort Xian Wen Conglu’s palace. The moment she stepped through the palace gates, she saw Consort Xian leisurely teasing her beloved tabby cat.

The corners of Wei Yanqiao’s lips curved slightly as she said softly, “Sister, how refined of you!”

Although Wen Conglu’s rank in the palace was not as exalted as Wei Yanqiao’s, she had already become a secondary consort in Xiao Ceyun’s princely household back when he was still Crown Prince. She had been in the palace far longer than Wei Yanqiao. Thus, it was only natural for Wei Yanqiao to address her respectfully as “Sister.”

Wen Conglu looked up and saw that her visitor was Wei Yanqiao. She set down the feather wand in her hand, rose to her feet, and made a graceful curtsy.

“Greetings, Noble Consort Sheng.”

Wei Yanqiao hurried forward and gently helped her up with both hands, her face adorned with a warm and amiable smile.

“You are too polite, Sister. Please rise.”

Wen Conglu straightened and asked curiously, “What brings Noble Consort Sheng here?”

She did not dare address Wei Yanqiao as a sister. In the past, when she had once called Wei Yanqiao “younger sister,” Wei Yanqiao had asked her what sort of thing she thought she was. Although Wei Yanqiao appeared to have changed somewhat these days, Wen Conglu had no idea whether the change was genuine or merely an outward show.

“I was thinking of asking you to accompany me to visit Her Majesty the Empress. She is pregnant and currently resting peacefully in the palace, awaiting her delivery. After spending so many days confined indoors, she must surely be feeling bored. We could go over, keep her company, and help her pass the time. You entered the palace much earlier than I did, Sister, and you and Her Majesty have shared a deep sisterly bond for many years. I am sure you will have plenty of intimate things to talk about.”

Wen Conglu was astonished by these words. She raised her eyes and took a long look at Wei Yanqiao.

“Noble Consort Sheng is truly thoughtful.”

In the past, Wei Yanqiao had looked down on her completely, let alone come to her palace to seek her company. Had Wen Conglu known Wei Yanqiao would come looking for her today, she would have pretended to be ill. Who could have imagined that she would be so unfortunate as to be caught leisurely playing with her cat?

Now she was in a difficult position. If she refused to accompany Wei Yanqiao, not only might Noble Consort Sheng become displeased, but the Empress might also develop some unnecessary misunderstanding.

With a smile, Wen Conglu replied, “Since Noble Consort Sheng has asked, I would naturally be delighted to accompany you. Please wait a moment while I freshen up. I shall leave with you shortly.”

Wei Yanqiao nodded. “Of course. Go and get ready, Sister.”

A short while later, the two women set off together for the Empress’s palace.

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Upon entering the palace gates, they bowed in unison and offered their greetings.

“Your subjects respectfully pay their respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy endless blessings and peace!”

At that moment, Tang Yuru was sitting elegantly on a couch, reading a book. Hearing their voices, she slowly set it aside. A smile as warm as the spring sunshine blossomed across her face.

“Why have my two younger sisters come? Quickly, dispense with the formalities. Dongling, go and prepare seats for Noble Consort Sheng and Consort Xian.”

Dongling, who was serving nearby, hurriedly bent her knees.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

She then swiftly carried two exquisite stools into place with the help of another maidservant.

Wei Yanqiao took her seat first with graceful composure. Only after she had settled did Wen Conglu cautiously sit down.

Wen Conglu tightened her grip on the handkerchief in her fingers. A consort was a consort, while a noble consort was a noble consort. The difference was only a single word, yet it meant being a level lower. And being a level lower meant bowing one’s head, obeying without question, and never daring to defy the other.

Wei Yanqiao’s gaze fell upon the book Tang Yuru had just placed on the table.

“What book was Your Majesty reading?”

Tang Yuru smiled faintly and replied in a relaxed tone, “Nothing more than a few plays I picked up to read in my spare time.”

Wei Yanqiao turned toward Wen Conglu and asked with a smile, “Sister Xian, do you also enjoy reading such plays?”

“I do not care for them.”

Wen Conglu’s brows drew together slightly. The sense of imbalance in her heart grew ever stronger, making her exceedingly unwilling to converse with Wei Yanqiao.

Back when Wei Yanqiao and Wen Conglu had held the same rank, Wen Conglu had possessed an honorific title while Wei Yanqiao had not. No matter how one looked at it, Wen Conglu’s position had therefore been higher. Although Wei Yanqiao had always been arrogant, overbearing, and contemptuous of everyone, at least deep down, Wen Conglu had always believed that she could firmly keep Wei Yanqiao beneath her.

But Wei Yanqiao had transformed overnight. Not only had she been elevated to noble consort, placing her above Wen Conglu in rank, she had also gained an illustrious and prestigious title. As a result, whether psychologically or in terms of actual status, Wen Conglu was now forced to lower herself before Wei Yanqiao and act according to her moods. How could she not feel jealous? How could she possibly accept it?

She turned toward Tang Yuru and asked with concern, “Your Majesty is with child. Has the pregnancy caused you any unusual discomfort?”

Tang Yuru gently stroked her abdomen and replied softly, “I am still doing fairly well for now. It is only the morning sickness that is truly tormenting. I can hardly eat anything all day and have no appetite at all.”

Wei Yanqiao picked up the thread of the conversation.

“Your Majesty now carries the imperial heir. Whatever the circumstances, you must eat more. You must not let our future little prince go hungry.”

Tang Yuru could not help smiling at that.

“You speak too soon, younger sister. We do not yet know whether the child is a boy or a girl. How can you be so certain it will be a prince?”

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“Your Majesty is blessed by Heaven. This child will certainly be a prince, and he will surely become Crown Prince in the future, inherit the empire, and rule the world. Sister Xian, would you not agree?”

As she spoke, Wei Yanqiao turned her gaze toward Wen Conglu, who was seated beside her.

A strained smile appeared at the corners of Wen Conglu’s lips.

“If Her Majesty truly gives birth to a prince, that would naturally be the best possible outcome.”

Yet a bitter ache stirred in her heart. She had become Xiao Ceyun’s secondary consort back when he was still Crown Prince and could be said to have been the first woman to accompany him. But to this day, she had not borne him a single child. Ever since Wei Yanqiao had entered the palace, Xiao Ceyun had never once visited hers. Whenever she thought of it, she felt an unbearable mixture of irony and helplessness.

Wei Yanqiao appeared not to notice Consort Xian’s strange expression. Instead, she pursued the matter with evident interest.

“Sister Xian, strictly speaking, you have spent the longest time with His Majesty and share a deep affection with him. Why have you still never had a child?”

Wen Conglu’s expression turned awkward.

“Perhaps I simply lack that blessing.”

Wei Yanqiao continued, her face full of curiosity.

“Sister Xian, when you were in the Crown Prince’s residence, did you and His Majesty share any unforgettable, tender memories? Tell us about them.”

Today, she had deliberately set out to sow discord between the Empress and Consort Xian, determined to make the Empress uncomfortable.

Sure enough, the moment Wei Yanqiao finished speaking, the expressions of both Wen Conglu and Tang Yuru darkened. Tang Yuru, however, quickly concealed her emotions flawlessly. The corners of her lips lifted slightly, revealing a seemingly warm smile.

“Indeed, Sister Xian, do tell us. I am very curious myself.”

Wen Conglu glanced at Tang Yuru, her eyes carrying a hint of nervousness.

“There was nothing particularly special between His Majesty and me. His Majesty handles state affairs from dawn to dusk and is occupied with government business all day. He truly has little time to spare for me.”

Seeing this, Wei Yanqiao had no intention of letting her off so easily. She gently rubbed her slender fingers together and continued questioning her.

“Sister Xian, when you first entered the Crown Prince’s residence, did His Majesty hold a wedding ceremony or formal investiture ceremony for you?”

At this question, Wen Conglu’s heart jolted. A fine layer of sweat even appeared on her forehead, and her voice trembled slightly.

“Of... of course he did.”

Envy immediately appeared on Wei Yanqiao’s face, and she exclaimed sweetly, “That is wonderful! In that case, Sister Xian, you must be the first woman His Majesty formally married!”