Chapter 15: The Story of Zhen Huan — Summer, Winter, and Spring 14

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Zhen Huan stopped crying and immediately straightened her posture to admit her fault, “Your servant misspoke.”
Everyone else: “Phew!”
Finally, she confessed.
This was the unanimous thought of everyone present; this was far worse than her previous remarks about marrying the best man. Now, everyone agreed she was a deeply scheming person.
Zhen Huan truly hadn’t expected her words and actions to be known so clearly by others, and all those things she had previously denied—now no one believed her anymore.
She was about to argue, but it was clear that Xia Dongchun wouldn’t give her the chance. “That’s fine. I won’t hold the earlier matters against you. If you’re shameless enough not to admit it, then so be it.”
After speaking, she glanced past the Empress and looked at Consort Nian. “Consort, since this lady has admitted it, what are the offenses? I have not been in the palace long, and you hold authority here. Please explain.”
She was furious and determined to put Zhen Huan in her place today, or else she wouldn’t be able to eat tonight.
Consort Nian’s mind had been racing ever since Jia Pin’s disrespectful attitude toward the Empress. Now, called upon, she responded swiftly, “Blasphemy, disrespect toward higher ranks, slandering senior consorts, indulging maidservants... multiple offenses warranting collective punishment: stripping of her title, demotion, copying palace regulations a hundred times, six months’ confinement, and her maidservant to be caned to death.”
Xia Dongchun exhaled sharply and fixed a cold gaze on the Empress. “What does the Empress think? If Her Majesty wishes to be magnanimous and overlook this, then I will have my subordinates spread the word daily that the Empress is of common birth. After all, the Empress is very generous.”
Empress: “............”
Consort Nian: “............”
Everyone else: “............”
No wonder she is the only daughter of Princess Ziyu; her temperament is unyielding.
The Empress genuinely could not bring herself to smile. She hadn’t realized Zhen Huan was so reckless, daring to say anything. Now, she no longer cared about upliftment or slight; she noticed the shadow by the window was gone.
This not only enraged Jia Pin but also forced her to figure out how to explain things to the Emperor.
The Empress wished she could tear Zhen Huan apart alive. She decided to turn a blind eye and said, “Let it be as Consort Nian said.”
Zhen Huan collapsed completely. This time, she was truly helpless and dared not utter a word, fearing any more hammer blows from Jia Pin.
There was no denying—Zhen Huan’s guess was correct.
However, Xia Dongchun did not intend to crush her outright. She had only come today to scold her or gloat a little, but having nearly been wronged and discovered the Empress’s venomous smile hidden behind kindness, she was no longer patient for minor skirmishes. She wanted to return to her mother and make sure Zhen Huan understood why the flower was so red.
Xia Dongchun intended to leave but caught sight of Shen Meizhuang nearby. She wanted to speak but saw the other’s face, clearly hurt and unwilling to engage.
Having business to report at home, she had no time for nonsense. Without ceremony, she stood and left.
The Empress’s face instantly darkened.
Everyone in the harem was thoroughly impressed by Xia Dongchun’s straightforwardness today. She was relentless; if she set her sights on someone, she tore flesh from their bones. Usually cute and lovely, but cross her, and tsk, tsk.

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Consort Nian did not care what others thought; she felt utterly relaxed and delighted.
She followed behind, smiling broadly.
Approaching Zhen Huan, she sneered, “Ignorant and reckless.”
Zhen Huan’s face was completely drained of color.
~
On the way back to Yikun Palace, Consort Nian could hardly stop smiling.
The narrator noted that Jia Pin was especially inspired, “I didn’t expect this soft, gentle-looking Jia Pin to be so fierce in battle.”
Consort Nian nodded, “It’s the first time I’ve seen one like her, with the aura of a general’s noble daughter. Impressive!”
Upon hearing this, Jia Pin saw an opportunity and pressed on, hoping to align Consort Nian with Jia Pin’s cause. “Your Highness holds Jia Pin in such high regard. Shall I arrange something to borrow her strength more often in the future?”
Consort Nian, now like a petted Persian cat, was very agreeable. “Go ahead, and send word to Zhaohua Palace to visit Yikun Palace when free.”
Jia Pin’s eyes sparkled; this was excellent news.
Meanwhile, back home, Xia Dongchun hurried to her desk and began writing and drawing, dissatisfied with every attempt until her face was covered in ink.
She didn’t even notice the Emperor’s arrival, and the three attendants dared not speak.
After all, their mistress hadn’t done anything wrong.
Yinzhen leaned closer and glanced at the papers.
“Mother, I was bullied...”—discarded.
“Mother... I was harshly bullied”—discarded again.
“...”
Yinzhen: “...”
“What is Nuonuo doing?”
Xia Dongchun casually replied, “Filing a complaint!”
Yinzhen chuckled.
She always made him happy and brought endless novelty.
At this moment, Yinzhen did not realize that accumulating freshness would become a habit.

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And habits can be fatal.
Hearing laughter, Xia Dongchun finally realized and looked up, suddenly remembering Zhen Huan. She lowered her head again, packed the neatly arranged letters, then stood and pushed past the other person, saying, “Here, be sure to deliver this to Mother yourself.”
Ye Yun’s eyelids twitched. “My ancestor, this must be done behind the Emperor’s back.” But in the end, she braved the Emperor’s gaze and took the letters away.
After she left, Xia Dongchun climbed onto the swing chair in the courtyard. Seeing their young mistress return from Jingren Palace looking depressed, Zhuo Zhu and Pao Mo were very worried. After asking Ye Yun, they felt even more heartbroken. Their young lady had been severely battered by the outside world.
At home, their young lady had been protected too well. Someone like Zhen Huan, who brazenly lied and falsely accused, and an Empress with a sweet face and a heart of a viper, probably frightened her.
In truth, she wasn’t scared but stunned, and more importantly, afraid.
Actually, the day before the selection, her mother had quietly visited her room and told her that if she didn’t want to enter the palace, she had a way to exempt her.
What had she said then?
Xia Dongchun recalled, “No! I want to enter the palace! I want to be a noble consort!”
She looked around.
For a moment, an inexplicable sadness washed over her.
She seemed to have made the wrong choice.
The palace was not as simple and glorious as she had imagined.
Today in Jingren Palace, the Empress was so gentle, Zhen Huan so delicate, and all the consorts seemed so easy to get along with.
But in reality,
The Empress was honey-tongued and dagger-hearted, every word setting traps for her.
Zhen Huan twisted facts, oppressed the weak, and slandered her without cause.
Everyone smiled sweetly while sitting high above in their own clouds.
Her mother had said she didn’t have to enter the palace; she would plead with her grandfather.
Her mother had said she could marry into the family.
She could stay close to her family who always protected her and live peacefully as a little princess forever.
At that moment, the sky suddenly darkened with thick clouds, and Xia Dongchun burst into tears.