Chapter 276: Ploy (1/2)

Consort Li knew Nan Jihan wasn't someone who'd just fall for any beautiful faces. He wouldn't mind if she offended a random girl. She threw caution out of the window and hurled insults at Jun Huang with abandon, rudely demanded for Jun Huang to bow down to her.

Jun Huang leveled the consort with a cool stare. She didn't want to make a scene, but the consort insisted on pus.h.i.+ng her b.u.t.tons. She scoffed and looked up at the consort. “As the honored consort you should know your manners despite being a shut-in. I didn't want to argue with you, but you wouldn't let go. I am deeply disappointed in the way concubines behave in this palace”

Jun Huang looked away and turned around. “I have other business to attend to. I don't want to waste my time watching you act like a shrew. Ha, if the servants let the emperor know what you've done, it's not going to end well for you.”

Her tone was calm, but her words were sharp enough to cut. Consort Li's face went red in anger, but then paled in trepidation. She grabbed Jun Huang's wrist before she could walk away.

“Your Majesty, today's work is about finished,” the eunuch said quietly. “It'd be bad for your health if you overwork yourself. This servant has gone out to check. The royal garden is beautiful in this weather. Why don't we go out on a walk?”

Nan Jihan put away the report in his hand, rubbing at his forehead. He turned to the smiling eunuch and affected a put-upon huff. “Which consort stuck silver taels into your sleeve so that you'd take me outside?”

The eunuch smiled in lieu of a response. Nan Jihan didn't push. He knew the eunuch had his interest in mind. He'd been staying in the study for several days in a row and hadn't visited any of his consorts at night.

It was time to get some fresh air. He was exhausted. He nodded and got to his feet, letting the eunuch put a robe around his shoulders. He led an entourage of maids outside the palace and made his way to the garden.

He'd been staying in the dim and cool study. It felt good to get some sunlight. He took a deep breath, his lips curved into a smile as his mood visibly brightened.

He heard a commotion as soon as he entered the garden. With a frown, he shot the eunuch a glance, who hunched his back and didn't dare say a word. Nan Jihan scoffed. “Do they consider the royal garden their home? It's unbecoming for anyone from the harem to make such noises.”

He picked up his pace, determined to see who it was that spoiled his mood. Once he reached the center of the garden, he saw three women and a group of maids from a distance.

He recognized the woman standing behind Nan Guyue as Jun Huang immediately. The yellow dress suited her. He couldn't get his eyes off her.

The eunuch was going to intervene, but Nan Jihan stopped him and shook his head, meeting the eunuch's eyes. Without missing a beat, the eunuch stayed behind with the maids while his master approached the group.

Nan Jihan got near just in time to hear Jun Huang's comeback. He chuckled. Her tongue was as sharp as ever, and she wouldn't suffer a humiliation. It pleased him to see the the scowl on Consort Li's face.

Jun Huang didn't expect the consort to stop her from leaving. She frowned and glanced at her before looking at her own wrist. “The Honored Consort should know what you're doing.”

“Who do you think you are? I am the honored consort. You should kneel before me. If no one has taught you manners, I will.”

She gave the maids behind her a pointed look. Without pause, two aggressive looking women went up to Jun Huang and grabbed her arms.

Nan Guyue had had enough. She took a step toward the consort, intending to teach her a lesson. Jun Huang, on the contrary, calmly stood at the spot without a word. She was well-trained enough to defend herself against two maids. Besides, she'd spotted Nan Jihan already. She just kept quiet about it.

Before the consort could have her people wrestle Jun Huang to the ground, Nan Jihan walked up to them and snapped, “What do you think you're doing? You've forgotten where you are!”

Consort Li froze, caught off guard by Nan Jihan's sudden appearance. She'd remembered belatedly that she'd bribed Nan Jihan's personal eunuch earlier. She cursed at herself for being so possessed by jealousy that she forgot about everything else.

She looked up at Jun Huang and saw the mockery flas.h.i.+ng through her eyes. Jun Huang knew about Nan Jihan's arrival already, and was simply playing the role to deceive her! She lost control and charged at Jun Huang.

Nan Jihan stopped her and pushed her away. She staggered backward before losing her balance and falling. She grimaced as pain shot from her ankle.

“As part of the harem, it's unbecoming of you to act like a shrew. Do you want to be sent to the Cold Palace?”