Chapter 410 - The Empress and Consort Join Hands (2/2)

She was just a consort. Furthermore, she was the consort of a prince who was known to be licentious. She could just push all the responsibility to Feng Yuran lest the others kept talking about whether she was virtuous or not. No matter whether it was the Empress or Consort Su, none of them were people she could afford to offend right now. Without the ability to fight them, Mo Xuetong was more willing to keep a low profile.

Seeing that there was not a hint of unwillingness on Mo Xuetong’s expression and that she was respectful and smiling gently, the Empress was satisfied. She waved her hand and said, “You may leave first. Go and walk around in the gardens. You must not have the time to walk around since you usually spend your time taking care of King Xuan. You are a young girl and don’t have to keep us old women company. You should go out there and take in the scenery.”

Mo Xuetong immediately left. No matter whether it was the Empress or Consort Su, she did not wish to get too close to them. Even though Feng Yuran had no choice but to enter the game, she would still rather have people think that she was someone who was not in the game. An arrogant and licentious prince, together with a gentle consort who had no opinions would calm those with any thoughts for some time.

“I do not agree with Your Majesty. Anyone can see that I look like your elder sister when we stand side by side.” Consort Su’s sweet voice could be heard from behind her. The two women now had a common goal and their relations.h.i.+p immediately improved. They forgot about what happened in the past. Those who were not in the know would really think that they were fast friends. There were too many women in the palace and they all wore masks before others.

“Your Majesty and Consort Su are both so young. I am an old woman here. If we go out, people would think that we are now one generation older.”

“That’s right, you two ladies are beautiful. If you go out just like that, you would both be even more striking than those young girls. Don’t say that you’re old.”

The other consorts b.u.t.tered up to them and laughter filled up the great hall. Everything they said was directed at the Empress and Consort Su and they even placed the two women on the same pedestal. News in the palace traveled fast as usual. The moment King Chu gained an upper hand, the entire palace seemed to have changed. If Feng Yuxuan were to take the throne in the future, one of the women would be the Empress Dowager while the other would be the Emperor’s biological mother. Even though their status might have a little difference, it was not certain which one of them would be more powerful. Those who could b.u.t.ter up to them would, of course, b.u.t.ter up to them.

However, they did not know if the Empress would be upset upon hearing such things.

“Consort, Second Miss He has already gone over. His Highness sent word for you to go to Anhe Palace later. He will wait for you there.” Mo Ye helped Mo Xuetong away from Tianfeng Palace. After they walked away to somewhere with fewer people, she took the opportunity to speak softly while Mo Xuetong admired a blooming peony.

Even though she did not say much, Mo Xuetong understood. She nodded. Feng Yuran must still be with Emperor Zongwen. It was useless for her to go early. She might as well walk around. She always walked through the imperial gardens quickly and rarely had such a chance to admire the flowers quietly. It was spring and the flowers were blooming at their peak.

Mo Xuetong walked through the flowers casually with the help of Mo Ye and admired the beautiful sights of the garden. There were beautiful flowers of all colors on the branches.

“Is Second Miss He chatting happily with Consort Zhao?” Mo Xuetong picked a hibiscus casually.

“From afar, it looks like Second Miss He has been given a seat and Consort Zhao likes her very much. I heard that Consort Zhao gave Second Miss He some hair accessories.” Mo Ye replied. Consort Zhao guards had been looking at her and she did not dare to go too close. She only watched from afar. However, it seemed that Consort Zhao liked He Yuxiu a lot. She was given a seat in just moments.

Mo Xuetong slowly walked forward and twirled the hibiscus in her hands. The faint fragrance tickled her nose. She frowned slightly, bit her lips, and asked, “Mo Ye, why do you think the He Family sent two consorts into the palace? Consort Xian should have been the most favored then, right?”

…

That was something she could not understand. If a family already has a daughter who was a favored concubine, why would they send another into the palace? If that daughter was not favored, then it would be a waste of a daughter. If the daughter was favored, it would just be taking affection away from the other daughter. The He family seemed smart, so why would they do something so stupid?

It was something Mo Xuetong could never understand. She felt as if she had forgotten something important. However, she could not recall it at that moment, which was why she asked Mo Ye that casually.

Mo Ye answered casually as well after hearing the question. “Perhaps the He family thinks that sending one daughter only would not get them any affection!”

Mo Ye admitted that she was not as meticulous as Mo Xuetong and did not consider the whole situation fully. She never thought that Mo Xuetong would ask her a question like that and so gave her a casual reply. After answering the question, she felt that it was not right and hurriedly said, “My Lady, I just said it casually. A family like the Hes is complicated. Who knows what is going on in their minds? Perhaps they think that this would be safer. I am just saying this casually, and don’t think too much into it.”

Safer? Why would the He family think that Consort Zhao would gain the Emperor’s affections for sure? What kind of great ability did they have to make the Emperor dote on someone!

“Mo Ye, have you seen Consort Zhao?”

“I have never seen her. But she is said to be very beautiful. Earlier, there were some old servants in the palace who said… they said…” Mo Ye hesitated.

“What did they say?” Mo Xuetong asked gently.

“I heard that Consort Zhao resembles Consort Xian very much. They look very alike. Consort Xian pa.s.sed away many years ago and many of the old people in the palace can no longer remember how she looks like. They only said that the two of them look very much like each other at one glance.” Mo Ye was versed in martial arts and had very sharp ears. She heard some of the t.i.tled women gathering together and discussing Consort Zhao when she was guarding outside Tianfeng Palace. The women all said that Consort Zhao resembled Consort Xian greatly.

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