I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

A surge of resentful frustration welled up in Princess Consort Wan’s heart. She bypassed Consort Shu and strode forward.

"This concubine greets the Emperor."

Seeing this, Consort Shu quickly followed, hiding her displeasure as she curtsied. "Greetings, Your Majesty. Why is the Emperor here? Could it be that you are also looking for Miss An?"

Princess Consort Wan froze. ’Now it’s about looking for Miss An? Who was it that said she was just coming to change her clothes?’

However, since she and Consort Shu were on the same side now, she didn’t expose the lie.

Feng Yi was already seething with rage after hearing Zhang Maoquan’s report, but he was accustomed to controlling his emotions. Looking at Princess Consort Wan and Consort Shu and listening to their words, his expression shifted slightly. "My dear concubines, have you come here to find Miss An?"

Consort Shu gave a light laugh and looked up at the Emperor, her face a mask of concern. "Princess Consort Wan and I grew worried when we hadn’t seen Miss An at the banquet for some time. We asked a little palace attendant, who told us Miss An was a bit drunk and resting in the rear hall to sober up. So, we were just on our way to visit her. We never expected to run into Your Majesty here."

Feng Yi had heard from Zhang Maoquan that Yun Zhao was unwell and was just about to go check on her at Wangyou Palace. But now, after hearing Consort Shu’s words and recalling what the Empress Dowager had told him earlier, it all made sense. ’No wonder she wanted me to come to the rear hall.’

Feng Yi’s eyes fixed on Consort Shu. "Since you are so concerned, my dear concubine, you should go in and have a look. I have other matters to attend to, so I must be going. I trust that no matter what you find, you will be able to handle it properly, won’t you?"

Consort Shu: "..."

Consort Shu’s eyes darted between the Emperor and Zhang Maoquan. ’Could it be that the Emperor knows something? Is he trying to make a run for it now?’

While Consort Shu was stunned into silence, Princess Consort Wan took a step forward. "If the Emperor has urgent matters to attend to, please go ahead. Consort Shu and I are here; we will certainly take good care of Miss An."

Feng Yi gave a slight nod. "Then I shall leave it to you."

With that, Feng Yi turned and left, saying to Zhang Maoquan as he walked, "Go and report back to the Empress Dowager."

"Yes," Zhang Maoquan quickly agreed. ’The Emperor wants me to report to the Empress Dowager, but what am I supposed to say?’

’No matter what I say, I’m bound to offend the Empress Dowager.’

At this thought, Zhang Maoquan remembered how fast Meng Jiuchang had fled, and he ground his teeth in anger.

Once the Emperor was gone, Consort Shu glanced at Princess Consort Wan, then turned to the little palace maid. "What are you standing around for? Open the door!"

The little palace maid didn’t know what was happening, but she had a feeling that something was very wrong. It was too late to run now, so she could only brace herself and push the door open.

’I just hope I can get through today’s events safely, whatever they may be.’

The moment the door was pushed open, a peculiar fragrance wafted out.

Consort Shu and Princess Consort Wan were worldly enough, having seen all sorts of schemes in the palace. Their expressions changed on the spot.

Consort Shu paid no mind to Princess Consort Wan and strode into the hall. It was empty. After a moment’s thought, she walked into the bedchamber and, sure enough, saw An Shutong unconscious on the couch.

Princess Consort Wan followed her in and saw the same scene. Her face darkened, and she immediately called for an Imperial Physician.

’The Emperor said to handle things properly. Since An Shutong is unconscious, of course we have to call for an Imperial Physician.’

’As for whether the matter gets out after the Imperial Physician is summoned... what does that have to do with us? We are simply concerned for Miss An’s safety.’

Consort Shu didn’t stop Princess Consort Wan. Her mind was racing. She turned her head to look at Nanny Wen.

Nanny Wen immediately stepped forward and bowed her head slightly. "Your Highness, it’s the scent of an aphrodisiac."

Consort Shu said meaningfully, "We still need one more thing."

Nanny Wen understood at once. "This servant will go at once."

Consort Shu nodded. "Go."

Meanwhile, Princess Consort Wan made a great show of summoning the Imperial Physician, and news of the incident quickly spread to the main hall.

By the time the Empress Dowager arrived with her entourage, her face grim, Nanny Wen had taken advantage of the empty hall to sneak over to the Emperor’s table. She sniffed lightly, her eyes landing on a wine cup. She grabbed the cup with the dregs of wine still inside, hid it in her sleeve, and hurried out, heading straight back to Cuiwei Palace.

The Empress Dowager had assumed that the Emperor and An Shutong being in the same room had been discovered. She kept her face taut, but inwardly, she breathed a small sigh of relief.

Who would have thought that upon entering the hall, she would not see the Emperor, but only Consort Shu and Princess Consort Wan, and an Imperial Physician besides...

The Empress Dowager had a very bad feeling.

Consort Shu had long grown tired of playing along with the Empress Dowager. Now that she had an opportunity and the Emperor’s implicit permission, she naturally intended to blow the matter wide open. In front of everyone, she said loudly, "Empress Dowager, you’re finally here! The Imperial Physician says Miss An has been drugged with an aphrodisiac! It’s utterly frightening. Why would something like an aphrodisiac be found here in Shouci Palace?"

Shouci Palace was the Empress Dowager’s domain. For an aphrodisiac to appear in the residence of the woman who was mourning the late Emperor was no small matter.

Consort Shu had said this deliberately. She had long been disgusted by the Empress Dowager’s attempts to pave the way for An Shutong. Unfortunately, due to the Empress Dowager’s status, she couldn’t show her displeasure. Now that she had the chance, Consort Shu had no intention of saving the Empress Dowager’s face.

’My reputation is just as important as hers. So what if I said it? Would the Empress Dowager dare have me killed?’

’After all, my father is the Right Minister!’

A hush fell over the hall. Princess Consort Zhuang’s face changed as well. ’What’s going on?’

’How did it turn into this?’

Qin Xiyue, standing behind Princess Consort Zhuang, had already schooled her features back to normal. One wouldn’t notice anything amiss without looking closely.

As the Empress Dowager and her entourage arrived, and she saw Consort Shu and Princess Consort Wan, she was once again thankful that her earlier decision to leave had been the right one.

’Otherwise, it wouldn’t just be An Shutong trapped in that room right now; I would be there with her. How would I explain myself then? What would the Empress Dowager think of me? What would Princess Consort Zhuang think?’

’Listening to Consort Shu’s veiled accusations, I’m afraid both the Empress Dowager and Princess Consort Zhuang would have taken their anger out on me.’

She had truly, narrowly escaped a disaster. A fine layer of cold sweat broke out on her back.

She just couldn’t figure it out. ’Where did it all go wrong? Why did things develop to this point?’

Seeing that the Empress Dowager was about to lose her composure, Princess Consort Zhuang immediately stepped forward and said to Consort Shu, "The matter of the aphrodisiac can be investigated later. How is Miss An now?"

Consort Shu looked at Princess Consort Zhuang and sneered inwardly, but said aloud, "The Imperial Physician said she inhaled too much. I’m afraid it doesn’t look good."

’Being dosed with such a crude substance... it would have been one thing if the Emperor had taken pity on the beauty. But he left. To be cured now, she’ll have to suffer a little.’

The Empress Dowager was unwilling to suffer such a loss of face. Seeing Consort Shu deliberately blowing the matter up, she said at once, "This Dowager will handle matters here. All of you may leave."

’I have to get them out of here first. If this goes on any longer, I might not be able to stop myself from killing someone!’

’I’ve never been so humiliated in my entire life!’

’The Emperor disappeared, and yet Consort Shu and Princess Consort Wan show up here. Could it be that the Emperor sensed something and deliberately sent them to humiliate me?’

The Empress Dowager’s fury churned within her. She felt like she could die from rage!