I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

In Wangyou Palace, Song Yunzhao visibly relaxed after learning that Zhang Maoquan had gone to Shouci Palace. She looked at Nanny Yu and said, "Now, it’s all up to you, Nanny."

Nanny Yu nodded. "Rest assured, my lady. I will be sure to handle this matter perfectly."

’Qin Wan Yi had framed her lady multiple times. Now that she had a chance to make her suffer a loss she couldn’t complain about, she certainly wouldn’t pull any punches.’

Nanny Yu hurried away. Song Yunzhao contentedly picked up a storybook she hadn’t touched in a long time. ’The show is about to begin,’ she thought, ’and I’m just here to watch.’

’As a player in this grand show, my part to play comes at the end. There’s no need to rush.’

Nanny Yu went to the Laundry Bureau and soon emerged carrying a large bundle of clothes. A moment later, a young palace maid followed her out. They left one after the other, maintaining a slight distance between them.

After turning at a fork in the road and leaving an area shaded by flowering trees, Nanny Yu and the young palace maid went their separate ways, one heading east and the other west. They soon vanished into the labyrinthine palace walkways.

As Nanny Yu passed Roufu Palace, she accidentally tripped and went sprawling on the ground.

Nanny Nie, who was guarding the gate of Roufu Palace, saw this. After a moment’s hesitation, she came over to help her up.

’They were neighbors, after all, and bound to run into each other. While Princess Consort Wan and Song Zhaoyi weren’t close, there was no major conflict between them. It wouldn’t be right to just ignore her.’

Nanny Yu supported her lower back as she stood, groaning. "Thank you so much, Nanny Nie," she said quickly. "This is what happens when you get old. You can fall at a moment’s notice."

"As long as you’re all right, Nanny Yu," Nanny Nie, the gatekeeper of Roufu Palace, said with some surprise. "Are you coming from the Laundry Bureau? Why trouble yourself with such a small errand?"

’She was genuinely surprised. Such minor tasks were usually handled by the junior Palace Attendants from their respective palaces.’

Nanny Yu sighed softly. "The Zhaoyi is unwell today. And you know we haven’t added many people to Wangyou Palace. Between brewing medicine and cleaning, everyone is swamped. I happened to have a free moment, so I went to get it myself. We all serve Her Highness, and her errands can’t be delayed."

Nanny Nie nodded. ’That makes sense,’ she thought. ’When things get truly busy, your status doesn’t matter—the master’s errands are what’s most important.’ She noticed Nanny Yu’s pale face as she clutched her back and said softly, "Are you sure you’re all right? Carrying such a large bundle of clothes... Should I help you carry it over?"

"Oh, that would be wonderful." Nanny Yu watched gratefully as the other woman picked up the bundle, one hand still on her own back. "You know, we’ve been in the palace for so many years. It’s a blessing we can help each other out. Otherwise, life here would be truly difficult."

Nanny Nie glanced at Nanny Yu. "You’re Song Zhaoyi’s head housekeeper now. You’re as high-profile as one can get. I find what you just said a little hard to believe."

Nanny Yu scoffed. "Others might see us as having it made, but weren’t you in a grand position before, too? What’s the use of temporary glory? For a Palace Attendant, the real achievement is surviving long enough to leave the palace safely."

Nanny Nie felt a pang of agreement. ’Now that’s the truth,’ she thought. She glanced at Nanny Yu. "Did you run into some trouble?"

’Why else would she say something like that?’

’Was she being mistreated at Wangyou Palace?’

’With Song Zhaoyi’s personality, it was true that not just anyone could serve her.’

Nanny Yu looked conflicted, seeming to want to speak but then hesitating.

Nanny Nie huffed. "Fine, if you don’t want to talk about it. I’m just a gatekeeper now, after all..."

"Oh, stop that. Our palaces are right next to each other. When have I ever treated you like a mere gatekeeper? Besides, with your abilities, you chose to be a gatekeeper yourself. Who is there to blame?"

Nanny Nie let out a laugh. "There’s nothing for me to say. Why don’t you tell me what kind of trouble you’re in?"

Nanny Yu glanced around conspiratorially. "Has Lady Wanfei gone to Shouci Palace?"

Nanny Nie hesitated for a moment before speaking. "She wasn’t planning on going, but then Consort Zhuang came to fetch her personally."

Nanny Yu sighed. "I overheard something at the Laundry Bureau just now, and I’m not sure if I should tell you."

Nanny Nie sensed that something was afoot. "Tell me."

’Bringing it up only to act hesitant... She was clearly baiting me into asking.’

’This old fox is getting more devious by the day.’

"I heard the Empress Dowager plans to pave the way for Miss An today..."

Nanny Nie rolled her eyes irritably. "Anyone could have guessed that, couldn’t they?"

’The Empress Dowager has been quiet ever since she returned to the palace. Now she’s suddenly holding a birthday banquet for An Shutong. Who would believe she doesn’t have something planned?’

At this thought, Nanny Nie’s eyes darted. She looked at Nanny Yu and asked, "And Song Zhaoyi is just going to let it happen?"

Nanny Yu feigned surprise. "What else can she do but watch? The Zhaoyi is pregnant and cannot serve the Emperor. You know that as well as I do."

Nanny Nie scoffed. "What’s the big deal? During the late Emperor’s reign, the Imperial Concubine was pregnant, but she still kept him by her side constantly..."

Nanny Yu glanced at her. "You said it yourself—that was during the late Emperor’s time. And the Empress Dowager suffered quite a few losses back then because of it."

’Nanny Nie felt a jolt. That was right. Given the setbacks the Empress Dowager had suffered, she would certainly never allow anyone else to be so arrogant and domineering in the harem.’

With this realization, Nanny Nie’s expression shifted. She looked at Nanny Yu. "You didn’t finish what you were saying earlier. Go on."

Nanny Yu tilted her head slightly and lowered her voice. "I hear someone’s planning to meddle today."

Nanny Nie looked bewildered. "Meddle?"

’Who has a death wish? Daring to snatch the prize right from the Empress Dowager’s territory.’

"Consort Zhuang?" Nanny Yu asked tentatively, thinking of how Consort Zhuang had been serving the Empress Dowager so diligently these past days. ’She must be plotting something.’

Nanny Yu shook her head. "That I don’t know. But Shouci Palace is sure to be lively today. Our Zhaoyi won’t have the good fortune to go and see, but... your lady is there, isn’t she?"

Nanny Nie’s expression was unreadable as she stared at Nanny Yu, sizing her up.

Nanny Yu remained perfectly composed. "What are you looking at me for? I’m telling you the truth. Our lady is pregnant and cannot serve the Emperor, so His Majesty will certainly show favor to other concubines. And frankly, among all the women in the harem, while Lady Wanfei’s personality is a bit arrogant, she is a woman of good character. I’d much rather the Emperor choose her."

Nanny Yu watched Nanny Nie’s face, then added after a moment’s thought, "You’re not really planning to be a gatekeeper forever, are you? This is a golden opportunity for you to turn things around. That Nanny Sun is always sowing discord with Lady Wanfei, which has soured the relationship between our two palaces. I’d much rather see you take her place. Then we could look out for each other in the future."

Nanny Nie’s eyes darted about. She glanced sideways at Nanny Yu. "You expect me to charge into the fray based on a few vague sentences? That’s not very sporting of you."

Nanny Yu smiled. "Of course not." She then leaned in and whispered a few sentences in Nanny Nie’s ear.

Nanny Nie’s expression changed instantly. "Is that true?"

"I can’t guarantee whether it’s true or not, but I heard the information with my own two ears."

Nanny Nie abruptly shoved the bundle back into Nanny Yu’s arms. ’Now I get it,’ she thought. ’The old fox deliberately tripped right in front of me, just waiting for me to walk into her trap.’

’And yet, she was truly tempted.’