CHAPTER 740: CHAPTER 740: STEALING LEISURE FROM A BUSY SCHEDULE

Consort Xu De was overjoyed and asked her whether she was tired, thirsty, or hungry, then suggested sitting aside and having some food.

Ming Jing, having prepared earlier, quickly arranged everything required, including tea, sweet soup, pastries, and fruits.

Actually, tea and pastries were readily available outside Qianqiu Hall, but due to the constant flow of people, there was concern that someone might tamper with them unnoticed; thus, Lian Hua had not considered eating until Consort De’s suggestion through Ming Jing hit the spot.

She happily sat down, inviting Beauty Zhao, Changzai Zhou, and Kong Yinyin to eat, but seeing them decline, didn’t press further. She had not seen Consort Xu De in a long time and had much to share.

She directly drank a bowl of honey water and said, "Sister, listen to this, the Main Hall of Canglan Court has been beautifully renovated! Oh, it’s so large and spacious, even the study alone is as big as the previous side hall. There are two large bookcases side by side, currently still empty. His Majesty said one of them will eventually be filled with storybooks for me."

Consort Xu De was also pleased, stuffing a piece of Pearl Ruyi Cake into her mouth: "Indeed, that’s great. Canglan Court is a newly constructed palace, definitely spacious. I saw it empty last time I visited. What plans do you have for it?"

Excited by the mention, Lian Hua eagerly said, "Sister, you’ve touched on just the point! The surroundings of the main hall have been overhauled to look quite decent. His Majesty said the courtyard is up to me. I’m planning to have different fruit trees planted next spring. I’ll handle all your seasonal fruits from now on..."

They chatted animatedly while eating, discussing where to plant pear trees and peach trees, thoroughly enjoying the conversation.

Beauty Zhao, Changzai Zhou, and others listened in utter shock, knowing Lian Hua was uniquely favored by the Emperor, but had not anticipated such depth of affection. The details revealed in their conversation were more astonishing than they had imagined. They could hardly believe the typically aloof Emperor could be so affectionate towards someone, and they momentarily felt bewildered, unable to move.

Beauty Zhao, remembering the glance Noble Consort Xue gave her before leaving, became even more unsettled.

Changzai Zhou became even more resolved in her decision. She was indeed intent on bringing down Noble Consort Xue, but not at the cost of her own life.

Both harboring their thoughts, Consort Xu De glanced at them out of the corner of her eye, then looked away.

At the archery range, there were distinctly two groups: one, inclusive of people from Huaying Hall and Canglan Court, chatting and laughing exuberantly, and the other, consisting of Beauty Zhao, Changzai Zhou, and a few others, standing about seven or eight steps away, not speaking, cool and indifferent.

After standing and listening for a while, Beauty Zhao and Changzai Zhou looked at each other, considering their next move. It might have been manageable if only Lian Hua was there, but with Consort Xu De present, they, being perceptive, felt intimidated by her authority and found it inappropriate to stay, yet were reluctant to leave.

Finally, it was Changzai Zhou who suggested they might as well sit and rest for a while on the side, which resolved their dilemma. Before leaving, they even kindly asked Kong Yinyin if she’d like to join, but she declined gracefully, so they went to sit nearby.

Kong Yinyin watched the two, one carefree and bold, the other delicately charming, thinking how good their relationship was. She felt somewhat envious and rather melancholy. She wasn’t foolish, and knowing she had disappointed Lian Hua by being too weak initially, she should have left. But ultimately, she couldn’t bear to, and stood respectfully with her maid in a corner.

She was the least noticeable among the Palace Concubines in the harem; hardly anyone remembered her. Usually keeping a low profile, she rarely appeared in public. Meek and weak, she spoke very little. Servants dared to disrespect her; everyone could bully her, and the high-grade concubines perhaps didn’t even know her name, let alone help her. Later, Cui Laner, seeing that she didn’t resist when bullied, gradually started to take her anger out on her. It was heart-wrenching, but Lian Hua was the one in the harem who treated her equally and helped her.

She thought that the day after tomorrow she would have to leave the palace, and they might never meet again in this lifetime. She might as well stay a moment longer; she would not forget that there had been someone who, when the entire palace ignored her, had stood up for her.

It was still Lian Hua who found a moment to glance at her. Seeing her all alone, Lian Hua boldly invited her to sit next to her. She dared not initially, but Consort Xu De forcefully made her comply.

As for Daying Jia, no one really wanted to pay her any attention.

Her mind was completely occupied by something happening afar, and the more she saw, the more frightened she became. Seeing Cui Laner being dragged over, she preempted others by kneeling down and begging for mercy from Consort Xu De and Lian Hua.

Mid-sentence, Consort De, whose mood was disrupted, impatiently waved her hand and threw out a sentence, "This has nothing to do with you. Since you are still confined, you should stay in your own hall." And with that, she paid no further attention to her, too busy to spare time even for chatting with her beloved sister, let alone others.

Daying Jia, as if granted amnesty, gratefully bowed, stood up, and performed the retirement ritual all in one breath, then, taking her palace maid with her, quickly escaped, moving ten steps away. Encountering Cui Laner, who was mercilessly dragged back, she cast a sympathetic glance at her before hastening away.

Daying Jia had luckily escaped a disaster and, having experienced the fickleness of human relationships, was deeply moved by Lian Hua’s speech earlier. Knowing further that Lian Hua was highly favored by the Emperor, she seldom came out from the sleeping quarters afterward, nor did she have private interactions with any other consorts in the palace.

After her confinement period ended, she continued in this manner, vastly different from her previous character, who was keen on gossiping and stirring up trouble. Thus, she lived safely until she left the palace, becoming the first among the consorts attached to the Noble Consort to die a natural death, living the longest.

On Cui Laner’s side, ever since Consort De arrived, she had shrunk into a corner. Later, when the Noble Consort returned to the palace, she smartly followed behind and left.

After walking a great distance, just as she was feeling relieved for having escaped a disaster, she didn’t expect that two people from Huaying Hall would chase after her, telling her to stop. She was unwilling and immediately scolded the two men. Unfazed, they said, "We apologize," and in a blink, they had restrained her hands behind her back from either side.

She was both shocked and frightened, struggling violently. While struggling, she cried out loudly for the Noble Consort to save her life, her voice hoarse with effort, but the departing Noble Consort seemed not to hear and did not look back.

As she watched the Noble Consort slowly disappear from view, she felt both terrified and desperate, almost scared out of her wits, and struggled even more fearfully. The two men from Huaying Hall, finding it difficult to control her, simply dragged her on the ground like a dog.

Filled with humiliation, she couldn’t help but curse loudly; she hadn’t cursed for long before her mouth was gagged. Ultimately, she was dragged back and thrown a few steps away from Consort Xu De and Lian Hua.

The moment Cui Laner was freed, she swiftly removed the handkerchief from her mouth and was about to stand and shout.

Consort Xu De looked at her with a cold gaze. Cui Laner’s heart trembled with fright, and she immediately stopped moving, no longer daring to curse as before. One must know that the Consort De before her eyes was indeed a fearsome figure no one dared to provoke.