The most favored palace lately was none other than Yi He Palace—but surprisingly, it wasn't Consort Zhuang basking in the limelight, but rather Lü Rui.
Even more unexpectedly, Consort Zhuang had stopped targeting Lü Rui. She even brought her along during daily greetings, leaving everyone puzzled. This behavior was unlike Consort Zhuang's usual temperament.
After the greeting, Lü Rui, supported by a maid, quickly caught up to Ning Shuyan and called out loudly from behind, "Lady Zhaojieyu, please wait."
Ning Shuyan stopped but didn't turn around. Lü Rui caught up and fixed her gaze on her face. "I want to know—when did Lady Zhaojieyu discover my true identity?"
Ning Shuyan gave a cold chuckle. "Even the most seamless lie will eventually reveal a flaw. And with your level of cunning, do you really think you could deceive me?"
"So... you knew all along? That night, you went out on purpose, didn't you?" Hatred was written all over Lü Rui's face. Everything that had happened was thanks to Ning Shuyan—how could she not hate her?
Ning Shuyan smiled lightly, dimples deepening, and stepped closer to whisper in her ear, "Between you and me, this is nothing but a cat-and-mouse game."
Lü Rui clenched her teeth, glaring furiously at Ning Shuyan.
"Oh? Catching up with your old master?" Consort Zhuang approached gracefully, the fox fur on her cloak dancing in the wind.
Both women quickly curtsied.
Consort Zhuang didn't tell them to rise. Her cold, phoenix-like eyes stared at Lü Rui. "Didn't you say you hated her? Then why are you chatting away like old friends?"
Lü Rui lowered her gaze and answered in a soft, fearful tone, "Your Majesty is the only mistress in my heart. Please see that clearly."
Consort Zhuang adjusted her cloak and smiled coldly. "Then do something to prove it to me."
Lü Rui looked at her in confusion.
Ning Shuyan straightened and spoke coldly to Consort Zhuang. "Arrogant yet cowardly. So this is the kind of person you've raised, Consort Zhuang?"
Consort Zhuang's expression shifted. Her beautiful eyes narrowed coldly. "How dare you speak so rudely to someone of higher rank? Lü Rui, now's your chance to prove your loyalty."
Consort Zhuang was known for her slaps. Now staring at Ning Shuyan's beautiful face, it was obvious she wanted Lü Rui to slap her.
To others, Lü Rui was the emperor's current favorite, while Ning Shuyan had clearly fallen out of favor. But only Lü Rui knew that in the emperor's eyes, she was merely a plaything.
Still, if she didn't obey now, Consort Zhuang would surely torment her to death. After finally enjoying a few days of peace, she wasn't about to return to being humiliated and scolded in Yi He Palace.
Ning Shuyan stood there calm as deep water, her gaze steady as she looked at Lü Rui.
"Lü Rui! What are you waiting for?!"
Lü Rui trembled at the shout. She glared at Ning Shuyan, her heart now truly filled with hatred. It was because of Ning Shuyan that she'd been tormented by Consort Zhuang, that she'd lost the emperor's favor.
Consort Zhuang gave the signal, so even if the emperor blamed someone, it wouldn't fall on her.
"It's all your fault!" Lü Rui growled in rage.
One dared to command, the other dared to strike.
She raised her hand and aimed a hard slap at Ning Shuyan. But Ning Shuyan grabbed her wrist midair, and before Consort Zhuang or Lü Rui could react, she struck back—one crisp slap across Lü Rui's face. "Who do you think you are to dare lay a hand on me?"
Ning Shuyan's hands were always well maintained—fingers smooth and slender, nails gleaming. The slap was vicious enough that even her own hand stung.
Lü Rui's hair became disheveled, strands falling across her now swollen and scratched face, blood beading at the corner of her lips.
"Insolence! You dare strike someone in front of me!" Consort Zhuang shouted angrily.
Ning Shuyan gave a respectful curtsey. "Your Majesty knows the cause of this better than anyone. You ordered a mere palace maid to slap me. Even if the Empress learns of this, I will not be in the wrong."
Consort Zhuang's fury deepened, her face as cold as snow. Suddenly, a sinister smile crept across her lips. "Lü Rui, go to Zhaocheng Hall and ask His Majesty for justice!"
At the emperor's side, they could present their side of the story first, leaving no chance for Ning Shuyan to explain. Given the emperor's affection for Lü Rui, he surely would punish Ning Shuyan.
But Lü Rui didn't dare reply. Holding her burning cheek, she trembled. How could she face the emperor?
"I'll go with you," Consort Zhuang snapped, full of disdain at Lü Rui's weakness.
Ning Shuyan watched their backs as they left and gave a soft laugh.
Go ahead—make a scene. The louder it gets, the more annoyed the emperor will become with Consort Zhuang.
Meanwhile, in Zhaocheng Hall—
Consort Zhuang knelt first and spoke softly. "Your Majesty, please stand up for Lü Rui. Lady Zhaojieyu was truly overbearing—she slapped Lü Rui without reason. Even I couldn't bear to watch."
Emperor Xiao Yu's brows furrowed slightly as he looked at Lü Rui. "Lü Rui, you've been wronged."
"Then Your Majesty..."
"Let's promote Lü Rui to the rank of Yü Nü," he said as he stepped down and personally helped Lü Rui up, leaving Consort Zhuang kneeling alone.
He looked at the slap mark on Lü Rui's cheek and gently stroked it, lips curling ever so slightly. "That was quite a hit."
Lü Rui felt the warmth of his fingertips—it burned, and her heart clenched tightly.
Then Xiao Yu turned to Consort Zhuang. "I've been meaning to promote her anyway. After all, you're a Consort, yet your co-resident is still a mere palace maid—that's beneath your station."
Consort Zhuang stared at him in shock. So this whole incident gave him the perfect excuse to promote her? Without it, he might not have had a reason. Wasn't that just rewarding this little wench?
She quickly said, "Then what about Lady Zhaojieyu..."
Xiao Yu patted Lü Rui's shoulder, a shadow flickering in his deep eyes. "Seems I'll have to personally visit Lanyue Pavilion and vent this grievance for my beloved consort—otherwise she'll be wronged."
Lü Rui forced a small smile. "Your Majesty... I'm fine..."
"That's enough. I still have state matters to attend to. You two may go."
His casual dismissal stung Consort Zhuang like a needle.
"Beloved consort" again. While she's just... Consort Zhuang. Did he really favor that lowly woman this much?
Outside Zhaocheng Hall, Lü Rui expected a fierce scolding from Consort Zhuang—but instead, she said nothing, face grim, and returned to Yi He Palace in silence.
Which only made Lü Rui's anxiety worse.