Chapter 462 - Proper Palace Intrigue (1) (2/2)
But why does Master insist on wiping Feng Ci’s memories? Since he wants Host to fall for Feng Ci, wouldn’t it be better if the latter kept them instead?’
“Feng Ci is very dangerous.”
The screen flashed a few times before the blurred silhouette vanished.
[……] ‘Oh. Sure. Everyone’s dangerous, except for me—I’m an idiot.’
……
This was a transmigration palace intrigue novel.
The FL had transmigrated into the body of Lu Ruo, a concubine who had been sent to the cold palace as a result of being framed and died there. The FL was of the more skilled variety, given that she possessed a system called the “Pampered Palace Concubine System”.
So this system worked as follows: the FL needed to pa pa pa with the ML, so that it could obtain the so-called “imperial aura” from him. Once it had levelled to the max, the system would be able to bring her back to the modern world.
Hence, for the sake of returning home, the FL started on the path of fighting for favour.
And who was the ML? Why, the Emperor, of course.
With her System in hand, the FL was unmatched by all the other concubines in the palace.
Naturally, at the end of the novel, the ML dissolved the imperial harem and no longer took concubines for the FL’s sake. Due to being touched by his gesture, the FL decided not to return home, instead remaining here to enjoy a happy life with the ML.
And Shi Sheng’s current body was named Zhuang Qiong.
She really had suspicions about what the author was thinking when they named her this.
‘Act poor[1], act poor…really now!’
Zhuang Qiong’s status wasn’t low. As Gui Fei[2], she was the person the ML doted on the most before the FL gained his favour.
But the odd thing was, he never touched her.
What, did you think he was saving himself for the FL?
Very funny, he already had a kid by this point.
He simply refused to touch Zhuang Qiong. Yet he insisted on pampering, pampering, pampering her.
He even found a pretty good explanation: she was too young, so he couldn’t bear to hurt her.
The sole reason Zhuang Qiong was sent into the palace was to: have a kid, have a kid, have a kid. All so that the Zhuang Clan could install a puppet emperor.
Yep, they wanted to rebel. Subjects that didn’t want to rebel weren’t good subjects.
It was quite obvious that the ML knew about everything.
If the ML didn’t even touch her, then how was she going to have a kid? Asexual reproduction?
Just as Zhuang Qiong was thinking of ways to seduce the ML so that she could have his kid, the FL showed up. As the beloved Gui Fei, Zhuang Qiong was merely there for the FL to do some face-smacking and then use as a stepping stone.
Although Zhuang Qiong nearly killed the FL several times, please take note of the word “nearly”.
The FL always managed to resolve all danger.
Once again proving the law of how leads never die!
Yep, just that awesome alright!
The ML used one of the opportunities created by the FL to uproot the Zhuang Clan and, by extension, Zhuang Qiong. In the end, Zhuang Qiong was bestowed poisoned wine, while everyone else in the Zhuang Clan was executed.
Just before her death, Zhuang Qiong was even forced to listen to the FL’s ‘poison chicken soup[3]’.
From the FL’s point of view, she was just pitying a woman who was trapped in the imperial harem.
But from Zhuang Qiong’s point of view, the FL was flaunting in front of her. How could she just accept this?
Zhuang Qiong had two wishes.
The first was to get revenge.
The second was to leave the palace.
Zhuang Qiong probably did love the ML, but she had been taught since young that the interests of the clan were above all.
So when faced with the dilemma of choosing between love and her clan, she chose the latter.
Zhuang Qiong probably understood that the ML wouldn’t ever fall for her due to her identity.
These types of people saw the world clearly. They understood what was most beneficial for themselves. There’d always be one or two concubines like this in the imperial harem, and they tended to live longer than others.
If the FL didn’t have the “AOE Debuff: all side characters’ IQ -60%”, Zhuang Qiong and the Zhuang Clan wouldn’t have died so terribly.
This debuff was simply invincible. Even if the FL was an idiot, the side characters could only be even more idiotic.
Of course, stuff like IQ had never been able to stop Shi Sheng—she’d always resolved her problems with violence.
What was so fun about using your brain? Brawns are the real deal!
For example, even if you spent a few months preparing a multi-stage plan, she could just chuck a grenade in there and wipe you out.
Of course, this method was only suitable to those who had the ability to dominate over everyone else.
[1] Her name is “庄琼”/“zhuang1qiong2”, where her given name means fine jade. But at the same time, it can be misheard as “装穷”/“zhuang1qiong2” which on its own means acting poor. It’s also the first half of an idiom: 装穷叫苦, which means, and I quote: “to feign and complain bitterly of being poverty stricken”
[2] I’m going to shorten this. I was originally going to put the English translation (Noble Consort) but I figured it’d sound better in speech, and would be easier to remember one term than two. I’ll be doing the same for the rest of the consorts too. Might add a section in the glossary to remind you guys who has what title.
[3] Just in case it’s unclear, the original meaning of chicken soup is to tell them something motivational to cheer them up (or something along those lines). Poisoned…well, I’m not the best at explanations so take this with a grain (or several sacks) of salt: showing unwanted sympathy. Like say, a girl just broke up with her boyfriend and you tell her, “See, I told you. He’s just blind. I’m sure you’ll find someone better!” when all she wants is someone to listen to her pour her heart out without judgement.