Chapter 62: Remarkably Intelligent, Even Infamous

Princess Anya knelt anxiously on the ground, pleading, “Emperor Uncle, please believe me. It wasn’t me—I didn’t do any of this. It was all orchestrated by Xia Jiujiang. She plotted and slandered me!”
The imperial palace was a den of intrigue, where every path to power was paved with blood. Who could claim their hands were unstained? Princess Anya, owing to her lofty status and authority, had grown accustomed to acting with impunity. But what if she faced someone of equal rank, yet shrewder and more cunning?
Imperial power might be supreme, but the will of the people was like water that could overturn a vessel; this was precisely what Princess Anya lacked.
If Princess Anya sought to ensnare Xia Jiujiang, she had to be prepared to wager her own power and position. Should she win, she would soar above all; should she lose, she must pay the price. Without such resolve, it would be wiser for her to settle quietly into the role of a princess and abandon her schemes.
Emperor Zongkang spoke, “I will judge by evidence alone. People may lie, but evidence does not. All the proof points to you targeting the Princess Consort of Jin. Take Princess Anya back to Yong’an Palace and have her copy the scriptures a hundred times. She is not to leave until she has finished. Nanny Chun, for aiding and abetting, colluding with Princess Anya to plot against Xia Jiujiang, will be sent to the Tribunal of Strict Justice and receive fifty strokes.”
Princess Anya was aghast. “Uncle, how can you not believe me? It’s clear Xia Jiujiang is slandering me!”
Nanny Chun was terrified. She had already been beaten by Xia Jiujiang, her face swollen beyond recognition, and now she was to be dragged to the Tribunal? She knelt before Xia Jiujiang, begging, “Princess Consort, this old servant was wrong. I beg you to show mercy and spare me.”
Xia Jiujiang leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Nanny Chun, what are you saying? When you schemed against me, did you ever consider sparing me? Since you did not, endure it. Fifty strokes without taking your life is already a bargain.”
At the Emperor’s command, the guards seized Princess Anya and led her out of the Hibiscus Garden, dragging Nanny Chun with them.
Emperor Zongkang looked at Xia Jiujiang. “Princess Consort of Jin, are you satisfied with how I have punished Princess Anya?”
It was obvious he was far from pleased. Xia Jiujiang bowed and replied, “Your Majesty’s just and impartial rule is a blessing to all the people.”
The Emperor turned to the assembled ladies. “The banquet in the Jade Hibiscus Hall is about to begin. All ladies present, do not miss the appointed hour.”
The women began to disperse. Xia Yue’er, soaked and bedraggled, was shivering miserably. Lin Baixue supported her and whispered, “Let’s go to He Yi Palace and have your aunt help you change into dry clothes.”

The crowd gradually melted away.
Emperor Zongkang lowered his voice as he spoke to Jun Buwen at his side, “You have truly chosen a fine princess consort.”
So unrelenting, so capable of bringing down Princess Anya single-handedly—how could anyone call her useless or a fool? She was nothing short of brilliant, even ruthless.
She had complete command of the situation, luring Princess Anya step by step into her snare, leading both Anya and Nanny Chun by the nose, and even using Emperor Zongkang as her shield.
Jun Buwen saluted shamelessly, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your praise.”
“You…” The Emperor’s sarcasm was met with complacency; Jun Buwen truly took it as a compliment, much to the Emperor’s vexation.
Jun Buwen thought to himself that no woman could please the Emperor, but Xia Jiujiang was capable of protecting herself and worthy of standing by his side—and that was enough for him.
Emperor Zongkang swept his sleeves and left. Jun Buwen approached Xia Jiujiang and said, “The Emperor is truly furious.”
Xia Jiujiang gave a snort of laughter. “Even if I didn’t deal with Princess Anya, had she succeeded in her plot, I would be branded as useless and incompetent. The Emperor wouldn’t be pleased either way. So, I might as well do as I wish and find some satisfaction.”
That was truly Xia Jiujiang’s style.
After the Emperor departed, Xia Jiujiang glanced at Xia Yue’er’s retreating figure. “How are your arrangements coming along?”
It was as if everything had fallen into place effortlessly. If Princess Anya hadn’t fallen into the water and implicated Xia Yue’er, Xia Jiujiang would have had to find another way to ruin her clothes. Now, thanks to Princess Anya’s actions, things had gone exactly as Xia Jiujiang desired.
Jun Buwen replied, “You may rest assured, Princess Consort. The clothes will certainly be delivered to Xia Yue’er.”
Tonight’s palace banquet was Xia Yue’er’s opportunity to make her debut. Naturally, she would seek a solution for her ruined attire, and in the palace, Consort Yi was the legitimate daughter of Marquis Guanyuan and the elder sister of Xia Yue’er’s mother. Lin Baixue would undoubtedly take Xia Yue’er to ask Consort Yi for help.

Along the corridor before He Yi Palace, Lin Baixue and Xia Yue’er saw Consort Yi approaching with graceful bearing. She wore a long gown in delicate gradients of green, draped with a matching gauze robe. The cuffs were embroidered with golden bamboo leaves, her sash patterned with peonies, her brocade skirt adorned with flying swallows, and a white silk belt hung elegantly at her waist. Dignified and lovely, she possessed a singular, refined charm.
Lin Baixue tugged Xia Yue’er’s sleeve. “Your aunt is here.”
Consort Yi, Lin Yarui, the legitimate daughter of Marquis Guanyuan, greeted them. As Lin Baixue and Xia Yue’er approached, they bowed and said, “Your Ladyship, we pay our respects.”
Consort Yi glanced at the two, and upon seeing Xia Yue’er’s sopping appearance, laughed mockingly. “What wind has blown my younger sister here? And Yue’er, coming to see me in this state—did you bathe too long and soak yourself through?”
Lin Baixue gritted her teeth. “Sister, must you be so harsh? You may be Consort Yi now, but in the palace, above you are the Empress, the imperious Noble Consort Chen, and the enchanting Consort Mei. All of them have princes, but since you entered the palace, you lost your foundation with that miscarriage, and despite countless medicines, only managed to bear a little princess. The imperial doctors have said you cannot bear more children.”
Consort Yi’s face shifted from red to pale at Lin Baixue’s words. “What do you mean by this? Did you come here to mock me?”
Lin Baixue lowered her voice. “Sister, you misunderstand me. What I mean is… Yue’er has grown into a beauty. If tonight she stands out at the banquet, and catches the eye of a prince, she could become your support.”
At this, Consort Yi’s expression softened. Lin Baixue was right; aside from her little princess, Consort Yi had no other advantage. In the harem, only power could ensure security.
The Empress, Noble Consort Chen, and Consort Mei remained unshaken, each backed by their own faction. The Crown Prince, though frail, held his position; Noble Consort Chen had the Seventh Prince, Consort Mei the Fifth Prince. If Consort Yi wished to survive in the harem, she needed to expand her own influence.
Xia Yue’er was nearly of marriageable age, and with Marquis Guanyuan as their backing, if Xia Yue’er could become a royal consort, she would undoubtedly be Consort Yi’s pillar in the palace.
Consort Yi composed herself and smiled. “Listen to yourself—Yue’er is my niece, of course I won’t stand by and let her look so miserable. As it happens, the Wardrobe Bureau delivered new dresses today. I’ll take Yue’er to my chambers to change into something fresh.”
Lin Baixue breathed a sigh of relief and bowed. “Thank you, Your Ladyship, for your generous assistance.”