Chapter 124: Three Women Make a Drama? No—Four...

Empress Zhang noticed that while Prince Jing, Zhu Wenjing, wore an air of feigned trepidation, his words were barbed with intent, specifically aimed at reopening her old wounds. Her expression stiffened, and her internal irritation surged.

She retorted with a mocking tone, "The Prince of Jing has his own residence outside the palace; in years past, I rarely saw you come to pay your respects at Yongning Palace. Why have you been running here so diligently of late?"

The implication was crystal clear.

Zhu Wenjing’s expression also tightened, but he replied with a sly smile, "Since I have my own residence, the affairs of the manor keep me quite busy. It is not like the Crown Prince, whose residence is within the palace walls, making it easy for him to visit whenever he pleases."

"..."

Empress Zhang was so incensed that her cheeks flushed with color.

Consort Zhou, noticing the Empress’s darkening expression, quickly steered the conversation elsewhere. "I wonder what brings you to Yongning Palace, Sister? Although my station is humble, I have resided here for many years and may perhaps be of some assistance."

"That will not be necessary." Empress Zhang let out a cold snort. "I was merely feeling stifled and came to chat with Consort Liu. I shall not trouble you, Sister."

With that, she flicked her sleeves and swept out of the room.

Once the Empress’s figure had vanished, Consort Zhou sighed and looked at her son, remarking pointedly, "Jing'er, you ought to have held your temper."

"It matters not; the mask is already torn," Zhu Wenjing replied with an indifferent smile. He then comforted her, "Mother, do not worry. As long as Father is still on the throne, I have ways to ensure that 'good brother' of mine will never rise again."

"I hope so." Consort Zhou nodded slightly, glancing toward Consort Liu’s quarters. "You should still be cautious. My 'dear sister' is a stubborn soul; she will not let this matter rest so easily."

"Then, when I ascend to power, I shall have all the more reason to replace the Empress..." Zhu Wenjing chuckled. Then, as if remembering something, he added, "I have my own residence now and should not linger in the inner palace. I shall return home. Xu Boqing returned to the palace yesterday; Mother, you must do some work on the Empress Dowager’s side. If we can secure his support, it will be no small advantage."

"Mhm." Consort Zhou nodded. "I shall visit the Cining Palace later to sound out the Empress Dowager. If he is a wise man, he will know which side to choose."

***

Meanwhile, in Yongning Palace, Consort Liu sat before her vanity mirror, her chin resting on her hand, a lost expression on her face. For some reason, lately, she felt a sense of estrangement when looking at her own reflection. It felt as if the person in the mirror was not herself. This feeling was baseless, yet deeply unsettling.

Just as she was lost in these thoughts, the matron outside announced, "Her Majesty the Empress from Kunning Palace is here to visit!"

"Hmm?"

Startled, she opened the door only to find her "dear sister" looking utterly furious.

"Who on earth has the audacity to anger you so, Sister?" she asked, quite astonished.

"Who else could it be?" Empress Zhang entered the bedchamber and said irritably, "I ran into Consort Zhou and that son of hers at the gates of Yongning Palace just now. That mother and son teamed up to treat me with nothing but cold shoulders and disdain."

"..."

Consort Liu couldn't help but chuckle. She pulled her disgruntled sister to the edge of the bed, massaging her legs as she tried to soothe her. "There, there, don't be angry."

"Hmph..." The more Empress Zhang thought about it, the angrier she became, her eyes reddening with indignant frustration. "I have treated her with total sincerity all these years, regarding her as a sister, and now that we are competing for the succession, she treats me like this."

"..."

Though Consort Liu had been in the palace for quite some time, she had no children of her own and could not fully share the weight of their struggle.

"If you are truly angry, Sister, just scold me to vent your frustration."

"Away with you." Empress Zhang knew she meant well. "I came to find you so we could visit Sister Chen together, but who would have thought I’d run into such a mess? Truly bad luck."

***

"Visit the Empress Dowager?" Consort Liu shook her head with a bitter smile. "I fear I will disappoint you, Sister. I have been feeling unwell lately and do not wish to move about much."

"Unwell?" Empress Zhang frowned. "Is it your monthly time?"

"No..."

"Then are you ill?"

"Not exactly..." Consort Liu shook her head, unable to put the strange feeling into words. She sighed, "The imperial physician checked my pulse and said there is nothing wrong, but I feel a heaviness in my heart, a profound discomfort."

"Discomfort..." Empress Zhang nodded thoughtfully, then, as if realizing something, she teased with a mocking tone, "Could it be that you are pining for someone?"

"Wh... what nonsense..." Consort Liu panicked inwardly.

Her mind immediately drifted to Xu Genshuo, who was away from the palace. Counting the time, it had been half a year since she had a "proper meal"—she was nearly starving. But she knew that her relationship with that scoundrel could not be exposed, especially not to the Empress.

She forced an explanation: "You really are something, Sister. I live deep within these palace walls; who could I possibly be pining for?"

"Oh~ then I must have misunderstood." Empress Zhang nodded as if enlightened. Though she said it was a "misunderstanding," she was more certain than ever of her suspicion. Knowing she was not the only one obsessed with that rogue, she felt a secret sense of relief. It proved that the problem lay with the man, not with her!

She stood up, feigning an awkward air. "I heard that Xu Boqing has returned to Cining Palace. He did me a great favor last time, and I do not know how to thank him. Why don't you help me draft some words of gratitude, Sister? When I visit Sister Chen later, I can thank him in passing."

"Xu... Xu Boqing is back in the palace?" Consort Liu’s voice trembled, and her body shuddered as if in reflex.

"He returned last night. I only just found out." Empress Zhang smiled, looking at her with an inscrutable expression. "Why? Are you very familiar with him, Sister?"

"Not at all, not at all..." Consort Liu realized she had lost her composure and pretended to be indifferent. "I have only met him a few times. We are not close..."

"I see~" Empress Zhang sighed with mock disappointment. "I had hoped that if you were close to him, you could put in a good word for me. Now, I am at a loss..."

"..."

Consort Liu’s expression froze, then she said, "Sister, do not worry. Xu Boqing is a trusted aide to the Empress Dowager, not a stranger. A simple word of thanks will suffice..."

"That is true." Seeing her feign lack of familiarity, Empress Zhang suppressed a laugh. "It is getting late. I shall head to Cining Palace to speak with Sister Chen..."

She started to leave, counting silently in her heart: "Three... two..."

Before she reached one, she heard a voice from behind: "Sister, wait..."

Consort Liu looked at the sky outside and said with feigned seriousness, "The weather is lovely, and I have been feeling stifled in my own palace. Why don't I go with you?"

"..."

Empress Zhang bit back her laughter, pretending to be surprised. "Didn't you say you were feeling unwell, Sister?"

"My heart feels quite heavy." Consort Liu panicked slightly but sighed. "But staying locked in the palace won't help. A walk will do me good."

"Very well, then..."

The two women exchanged a smile, one suppressing laughter and pretending to be oblivious, the other sighing in relief, silently congratulating herself on her acting skills.

After a quick preparation, the two women, each harboring her own secrets, set off for the Cining Palace.

Upon arriving, they were stopped by the matron outside the Empress Dowager’s bedchamber. Shortly after, the lazy, languid voice of Empress Dowager Chen drifted from within: "Come in."

As Consort Liu entered, she saw the Empress Dowager sitting before her vanity, while Xu Boqing stood behind her, brushing her hair. She felt a sudden sense of déjà vu, as if she were back in a moment from over a year ago.

She subconsciously glanced at the corner behind the jade couch, and seeing a certain jade ruyi missing, she regained her composure.

She curtsied gracefully and said with a bright smile, "Your servant pays her respects to the Empress Dowager."

Xu Boqing turned around. Seeing the nervous Empress Zhang and the wistful Consort Liu, he could smell the jealousy from across the room. He gave them a reassuring look before saying, "This humble servant, Xu Boqing, pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress and Her Highness the Consort."

"..."

Empress Dowager Chen turned, her gaze shifting slightly. Seeing that both her "little sisters" had something on their minds, she teased, "Why do you both look so unhappy to be visiting my Cining Palace?"

"..."

Empress Zhang, seeing Xu Boqing’s arched eyebrows, avoided his gaze and said pointedly, "I came to visit you, Mother, and to thank Director Xu."

"I have been feeling unwell lately and haven't had a proper meal. A sense of stagnation has built up in my heart, yet the imperial physicians cannot find the cause." Consort Liu paused, her eyes lingering on him. "I hear that Director Xu, who serves you, is a master of martial arts. Might I ask if he could check my pulse to see where this blockage lies?"

"..."

*Three women make a play,* Xu Boqing sighed inwardly. He decided he would have to "feed" Consort Liu tonight to keep her from overturning the vinegar jar.

Just then, the matron’s voice sounded again from outside: "Consort Zhou from Yongning Palace is here to visit..."

"??????" x4

All four in the room froze.

Xu Boqing frowned. In the past, he would have assumed she was just visiting the Empress Dowager. But after the banquet invitation from the Third Prince, Zhu Wenjing, yesterday, and the Empress Dowager’s revelation about Consort Zhou’s Taoist robes, he felt she was far from simple. Her visit today was surely for more than just a chat.

Empress Zhang’s face changed. She recalled the letter from Commander Chen regarding the Third Prince’s invitation to Xu Boqing and their encounter at the palace gate. She immediately grasped Consort Zhou’s intent.

The Empress Dowager and Consort Liu looked equally disturbed—the former glancing thoughtfully at Xu Boqing, the latter watching Empress Zhang.

After a moment of hesitation, the Empress Dowager gave Empress Zhang a reassuring look and called out, "Come in..."

Before long, Consort Zhou, dressed in her Taoist robes, stepped into the room. Upon entering, she was startled to see both the Empress and Consort Liu already there!

This...