The Beloved Imperial Consort Chapter 143

Commander Wei was secretly troubled, but then he saw Zhao Momo bringing Chun Lan into the room to express her gratitude. 

Mu Xi Yao looked at the little girl who had clearly been wronged but still had a deeply touched expression, and felt a pang of sadness inside her heart. 

“Momo, quickly help her up. Why did you rush over in such a hurry? Go back and rest. It won’t be late if you can come back to work in ten or fifteen days. Your Mistress, I, won’t deduct your pay.” There was no shortage of people around her, and the six female guards that Zong Zheng Lin had given her often had no tasks to fulfill in the courtyard. 

When Mu Xi Yao saw Chun Lan coming to work despite being ill, she immediately remembered the despicable face of her previous boss, who lacked humanity. Now that her fortune had changed and she had become the small boss, she naturally had to be more generous to avoid being called mean and stingy like her predecessor, right? 

“Mistress, Mistress, that bottle of ointment…” Chun Lan couldn’t finish her sentence, as tears started rolling down her face.

Mu Xi Yao was startled. What happened? Was that ointment not effective? Why was she suddenly crying like this? 

“That ointment is wasted on this servant.” The little maid sobbed uncontrollably in sadness and kept wiping her eyes with her right hand. The ointment given by Mistress was an imperial medicine, and she felt uneasy using it. 

Mu Xi Yao was initially alarmed by her words spoken with heavy panting, only to realize it was a false alarm. Could an ointment be wasted like that? 

“Am I, your Mistress, treating you so poorly that you cry your eyes out just because I gave you a bottle of ointment? If others don’t know better, they might think that your Mistress mistreats servants. Alright, alright, story crying. That medicine is just an object. Do you treat it like a previous item and not use it when you need it?” 

With a wave of Mu Xi Yao’s hand, Hui Lan took out another jar of ointment and stuffed it into Chun Lan’s arms.

Chun Lan originally came to express her gratitude to her Mistress, but unexpectedly she received yet another favor and was taken back in a daze. This time, not only did she receive good medicine, but she was also granted a half-month sick leave, which left her mind spinning.

Mu Xi Yao felt that the Sixth Prince was wasting this ointment on her. She had a jade pendant for warning and was very careful with everything. If something really happened and the jade pendant was too late to give a warning, there would be hardly such a situation. Keeping one or two jars would suffice.

“Mistress, He Lian Principal Consort just returned to the residence. As soon as she arrived, she took her people to Fanghua Courtyard.” Zhao Momo reported the situation in the inner yard to Mu Xi Yao after the outsiders left. 

Mu Xi Yao felt that describing He Lian Min Min’s plan as ‘trickery’ would be more appropriate.

“She already did well since she was able to take care of this side after receiving the news.” Mu Xi Yao had a very favorable opinion of Lady He Lian’s performance in the past few days. This was how a princess consort should behave. How could that dignified and poised woman from the previous life, Jianan Emperor’s Primary Empress¹, remain silent without making any notable achievements?

This time, Lady He Lian was forced to confront the Fourth Princess, Zong Zheng Ying. There might be some good show to watch in the future. 

Just as Mu Xi Yao was in a good mood, planning to be an idle person, He Lian Min Min brought her people to Danruo Courtyard the next day. 

After courteously paying respects to He Lian Min Min, she did not forget to provide her with appropriate hospitality. 

“Principal Consort came all the way here today. Is there any important matter that needs to be discussed with Qie?” Could it be that He Lian Min Min came here to reveal her intentions of forming an alliance with her to deal with Zong Zheng Ying? 

“Meimei knows how to joke. There’s nothing important to discuss, just to deliberate a business deal with meimei.” He Lian Min Min put down her teacup and waved her hand to dismiss the maids behind her. 

A Business deal? This topic piqued Mu Xi Yao’s interest.

Without any reservation, Mu Xi Yao quickly dismissed the attending servants and eagerly waited for He Lian Min Min to speak. Wei Zhen was hidden somewhere, she felt at ease. 

“Has meimei met He Lian Wei Rui before?” 

Mu Xi Yao was taken aback. Why did she mention her? Bringing up that ambitious woman at this time, could it be that this business deal was…

Having a clear idea in her mind, Mu Xi Yao was not in a hurry to speak and answered her question calmly. “Qie has met her twice. The first time was at Anguo Temple while offering incense, and the second time was on the day His Highness established his residence while watching the opera.” 

He Lian Min Min guessed that Mu Xi Yao wouldn’t hide anything, but she didn’t expect her to explain in such detail. Perhaps, it would be better to speak directly to the woman in front of her? 

“Does Cefei think that He Lian Wei Rui is someone who is easy to get along with?” Since they had met, she should have had some opinions about her. 

Mu Xi Yao noticed the change in He Lian Min Min’s attitude, as she was no longer beating around the bush, and found it more suitable for her to communicate in this straightforward way. Since the other party took the initiative, how could she not respond?

“Did she beg Sir He Lian to let her enter the household?” 

As soon as these words came out, He Lian Min Min’s expression immediately changed.

Mu Xi Yao actually knew about this? When did she find out? He Lian House has kept this matter confidential, yet this woman who lived a carefree life in the household managed to get the news so quickly? Was it because Mu Xi Yao had another source of information or could she see through He Lian Wei Rui’s character at a glance? 

“Principal Consort need not be surprised. It wouldn’t really make sense only if your younger sister didn’t have any ideas after drawing the Phoenix stick.” It was true that ordinary people entertained themselves with ideas, but He Lian Wei Rui’s plan was indeed grand and ambitious. 

“Isn’t Cefei afraid that she won’t get along with you after entering the household?” In order to win support from the clan, He Lian Wei Rui had to produce results and Mu Xi Yao was her first target. 

“If that’s the case, it seems that Sir He Lian intends to switch general² at the last minute and change his tactics.” Mu Xi Yao played with the tassel on her waist, twirling it in her hand, her expression very relaxed. Everyone understood the meaning behind her words. It was clear that the two of them had never been on the same page.

“How does Principal Consort plan to deal with this?” He Lian Zhang presented himself as a member of the royalist faction, but in fact, was greedy and lacked the courage of a great leader. The most obvious shortcut to gaining benefits was to put efforts into becoming the Emperor’s in-law.

He Lian Min Min didn’t expect Mu Xi Yao would have such a clear and insightful understanding of the situation. Even her own impending status as a discarded pawn was bluntly pointed out by her. As for her lack of respect when discussing Sir He Lian in front of her, He Lian Min Min didn’t mind. This content belongs to thehlifestyle.com, if you see this translation elsewhere, it’s been stolen!

Since her family didn’t care about her situation, why should she be concerned about the other party’s reputation? 

Now that both parties had openly spoken their thoughts, there was no need to conceal anything anymore.  

“I’m naturally unwilling to let He Lian Wei Rui enter the prince’s household.” He Lian Min Min narrowed her eyes, her words blunt and menacing. 

Mu Xi Yao’s lips curled up. The woman across from her did not hesitate and was very straightforward at the critical moment. Mu Xi Yao felt that this was the first time she enjoyed this kind of frank communication in the inner yard. 

Usually, she could speak without any reservation only in front of the Sixth Highness. When she engaged in conversation with other women, including Lady Yu and Her Ladyship Consort Shu, she had to treat them with courtesy, exchange pleasantries, and be well-stocked with auspicious words. All the ornate language made it difficult for her to follow. 

“Cefei probably doesn’t like this person.” Based on He Lian Min Min’s observation over the past three months, although Mu Xi Yao also competed for favor and did so fiercely, she never harmed another person’s life. She could be considered upright and at least she was not malicious at heart. Such a woman, as long as she was not provoked, was unlikely to resort to playing tricks and schemes. 

“It’s not dislike, Qie is fed up with her.” Mu Xi Yao answered bluntly, expressing a clear attitude. 

Competing for favor was inevitable in the prince’s residence, and it was normal to occasionally use some means to win the man. However, if a person with no scruples and a treacherous personality came along, and constantly monitored her with a pair of gloomy eyes, it would make Mu Xi Yao feel as if the sky has darkened. This nice inner yard was better off without a woman who was too difficult to deal with.

Translation notes:

[1] Primary Empress “元后” refers to the first and legally recognized wife of an emperor.

[2] General here is referred to a chess piece in Chinese chess which is equivalent to a king in Western chess.

Relationship Diagram  (by Sith Kazar)

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