Chapter Ninety-Six: Assassins Are Everywhere

What the imperial consort said seemed sincere on the surface, yet it hid a subtle trap, dividing everyone into two ranks at once.

In an instant, Hua Rong became a shameless snob. Her talent for sowing discord was truly extraordinary.

“Don’t misunderstand, ladies. That isn’t what I meant either. I was only thinking that the ducks kept in the Moonlit Palace haven’t been fed yet today…”

Hua Rong forced a smile and tried hard to steer the conversation elsewhere. And once those words were spoken, everyone’s opinion of her changed again.

“As expected of the Consort Hua, she has turned the splendor of the inner palace into a country farm. Ducks, of all things—at this rate, in a few years she’ll be raising a sheep too.”

“Well… in fact, there are already two of them, just waiting for them to give birth next year…”

Hua Rong did not feel the least bit embarrassed. After all, when these creatures were small, they could be raised as companions, almost like pets; when they grew up, they could still be eaten.

Amid the laughter, Hua Yue’s expression changed slightly. She could not help shooting Hua Rong a sidelong glance.

“What are you saying at a time like this? Are you deliberately making a fool of yourself?”

“I…” Hua Rong did not know how to answer, but Hua Yue went on, “Sisters, please do not laugh. My little sister does enjoy keeping a few animals, but I hear His Majesty even specially set aside a side hall for her to keep them in!”

This was indeed a rare honor. Keeping chickens and ducks in the inner palace was not expressly forbidden, but no one would have imagined that a dignified consort would do such a thing.

Yet for the emperor to intervene in the matter and even treat it with indulgence—that was plainly favor, and it was a slap in the face to how many people present?

Those who had been gloating only moments ago now all felt a little ashamed of themselves. The cheerful atmosphere vanished in an instant.

Consort Wen held her teacup and a trace of coldness flashed through her eyes, but she still smiled and said, “His Majesty truly dotes on Consort Hua. This is also a matter of pride for our inner palace. It should count as a shared honor for us all.”

Though Consort Wen was speaking up for her, Hua Rong could still feel a thick hostility sweeping toward her, with the urge to kill her at any moment.

Lowering her head, Hua Rong fiddled with her fingers, her skirt nearly torn apart, yet the unease in her heart would not settle.

“My dear sister, are you helping me or harming me?”

She had finally managed to lower her presence, only for those words to thrust her straight to the center of everyone’s attention again.

Hua Yue took in Hua Rong’s expression, but gave it little thought. Instead, she leisurely sipped her tea and beckoned to the others.

“Thanks to His Majesty’s esteem, I have been fortunate enough to become sisters with all of you. Allow me to toast you all with tea in place of wine.”

Everyone was in high spirits. As the sun gradually sank, orange-gold light spilled across the lakeshore, and someone suddenly suggested, “How about we take a boat ride on the lake? The palace has newly opened a waterway connecting the surfaces by the four courtyards. With the sunset now, this is a rare sight!”

The suggestion won immediate approval from many. Hua Rong, however, looked somewhat wary and could not help recalling the scene of someone being pushed into the pond.

After a moment of hesitation, she forced a smile. “Well… I’m not feeling very well. Why don’t you all go ahead without me?”

“Don’t be so modest. Weren’t you perfectly fine just now? It’s not as if you’re being asked to get into the water. No matter how unwell you feel, it won’t matter.”

Yu Guiren took Hua Rong’s arm and once again put on the air of a good sister.

Yet this excessive warmth only made one uneasy. Hua Rong swallowed and looked toward Hua Yue for help.

Who would have thought Hua Yue would put everyone first and not spare her any face at all? “Come now, little sister, it’s only a boat ride on the lake. Don’t spoil everyone’s fun.”

Since it had been said so plainly, if Hua Rong still refused, she would indeed seem rather ungrateful. She could only suppress the lingering dread in her heart and brace herself to agree.

On the lake, the afterglow of sunset fell like a layer of gold, the shimmering ripples dazzling to the eye.

Several women sat in the boat, and the scene grew somewhat dull.

“The view is lovely enough, but it’s missing a little wine.”

“I knew all of you were craving a drink, so I had some prepared especially. Someone! Bring it up.”

At the order, several people came carrying old trays. The fragrance of wine filled the air, and everyone crowded around. Hua Rong, though unwilling, was pulled along with them.

The women sat together, each with her own charm. At a glance, they were all incomparable beauties.

Yu Guiren moved to the side of the boat, showing no fear of the waves. Instead, she swayed the wine cup in her hand with evident interest, then gave a sudden cry that drew everyone’s attention.

“Come look! There are fish below too, swimming so happily!”

At that, everyone was slightly taken aback.

“No way. With such turbulent water, there are still fish playing here? They must be used to being fed here, and so they’re no longer afraid of strangers.”

Several of them leaned over the gunwale, appearing utterly calm.

As night deepened, the sky slowly darkened, and the cold wind made things somewhat chilly. Hua Rong remained hidden at the very center of the boat, not daring to move about.

Now, even looking at the water made her feel it was out to take her life.

“Don’t let me catch the one who pushed me into the water back then. I will never forgive her!”

Just as she was sulking, a scream suddenly rang out.

“Ah!”

Everyone jolted back to their senses. The water’s surface suddenly erupted in violent bubbles, and black-clad figures leaped up from all directions.

“Bad news, assassins! Everyone, hurry back to your rooms!”

No one knew who let out the cry, but the beauties who had been full of excitement a moment ago all scrambled to flee back.

Hua Rong was stunned.

“This can’t be my luck. There are assassins even on a boat?”

She dared not delay and hurried to run back as well, but someone behind her suddenly yanked at her.

Instead of moving forward, Hua Rong lurched backward several steps and sat down hard on the ground.

“Ow, that hurts. Who was pulling me just now…”

Rubbing her backside, Hua Rong was at a loss. The black-clad attacker had already leaped onto the boat and was about to strike at her when the guards rushed over and fired arrows toward them.

“Don’t shoot arrows! I’m still here. Can’t you see someone is still here?”

With several clattering sounds, the assassins blocked the arrows, then seized Hua Rong by the collar and dragged her straight into the water.