I Was Supposed to Be the Villainous Consort

Song Yunzhao had Xiangxue secretly send a message to Mingguang Palace. Xu Mingying lived in Zhaoyang Palace, whose main resident was Wang Zhaorong. Nowadays, Wang Zhaorong’s temperament was much more agreeable than before, so Xu Mingying’s life in Zhaoyang Palace was relatively comfortable.

Caiqin hurried across the long corridor, went around the screen wall, and entered Zhaoyang Palace. She glanced at the main hall from a distance. Wang Zhaorong’s attendants under the eaves were not looking her way. She lowered her head and walked towards Mingguang Palace, the East Wing.

From a distance, Yun Dai glanced over and snorted. "Some people, walking around in broad daylight like they’ve seen a ghost."

Hearing this, Rouge smiled. "Why bother with her?"

"I don’t want to, but just look at that shifty, sneaky look of hers. It makes me mad just seeing it. Who is she on guard against? It’s only because our mistress is so good-natured, otherwise she would have taught her a lesson long ago." Yun Dai’s expression soured.

When their mistress was demoted from a high-ranking concubine to a Zhaorong, those around her had also experienced the full spectrum of fair-weather friends. Thanks to their mistress mending her relationship with Lady Ming, their lives had slowly started to improve again.

Ever since this Noble Lady Xu moved in, Zhaoyang Palace had become quite lively, like watching a play all day long. And to think she was the legitimate daughter of a Marquis Mansion. Her conduct was truly an embarrassment.

Not wanting to cause trouble, Rouge said a few words to pacify Yun Dai and pulled her into the small tea room.

Meanwhile, Xu Mingying was so startled her brow twitched. "Is what you’re saying true? Song Qinghan was really kicked out?"

"Yes, I heard it clearly. The Third Young Madam returned to her maiden home, but was denied entry. Marchioness Wenxin even caused a scene over it, but she was shut down by Madam Song."

Xu Mingying burst out laughing. "Hmph, how satisfying. Let’s see how arrogant Song Qinghan can be now. I wonder if my mother knows about this. I have to send a message back to her."

"Don’t be hasty, My Lady. The Marchioness surely knows already. If the news has reached the palace, it must be all over the capital by now."

"That’s true." Xu Mingying’s eyes darted around. "I wonder if Yaohua Palace knows about this."

Caiqin was a palace attendant newly selected this year. Before entering the palace, she had heard many stories about both Lady Ming and the women of the Marquis Wenxin’s Mansion. Hearing Xu Mingying’s words, she said, "Lady Ming has never gotten along with Song Qinghan. Even if she knew, she probably wouldn’t care."

Xu Mingying snorted. ’It’s really incomprehensible. Why would someone like Song Yunzhao win His Majesty’s favor?’

’And yet, someone like her is ranked above me. It’s so infuriating.’

"What does it matter if she cares or not? When others find out, they’ll just laugh at the Marquis Wenxin’s Mansion for its poor upbringing," Xu Mingying sneered.

Caiqin understood her mistress’s meaning. "I understand."

Xu Mingying nodded. "Be careful. Don’t give anyone anything to use against us."

Caiqin nodded and was about to withdraw when she heard her mistress say again, "Come back."

Caiqin turned back. "My Lady, do you have other instructions?"

Xu Mingying spoke with suspicion. "You said this news was passed to me... could someone be trying to use me to do their dirty work?"

Caiqin was startled. "My Lady, you mean...?"

"That Song Qinghan is my sister-in-law. She caused such a huge ruckus with our family a while back, and everyone knows I don’t like her..." The more Xu Mingying spoke, the more she believed it, and she broke out in a cold sweat.

’I almost fell for it!’

Caiqin was also frightened in hindsight. "My Lady is brilliant. I was foolish not to have thought of that."

Xu Mingying didn’t blame Caiqin, however. She said dismissively, "You don’t know my family’s affairs, so how could you have thought of this? Tell me, who do you think wants to use me as their weapon?"

Caiqin shook her head. "I can’t guess right now. Could it be Yaohua Palace?"

Xu Mingying shook her head. "I suspected them at first, too. But even though Ming Fei and Song Qinghan’s relationship is terrible, they are both daughters of the Song family. She wouldn’t be so ruthless. At most, she’d just ignore her like before."

"My Lady is right. Since I entered the palace, I’ve heard many palace attendants say that Lady Ming is relatively fair in her dealings."

Xu Mingying sneered. "You believe whatever others say? We’ll see how fair she is when someone tries to compete with her for the Emperor."

Hearing this, Caiqin thought to herself, ’No mistress in the palace would be fair about that. Who wouldn’t want to monopolize the favor of the Six Palaces? No one would ever give that up.’

But Caiqin didn’t dare say this aloud. She only said, "My Lady is right."

"If it’s not Yaohua Palace, then who could it be?" Xu Mingying murmured to herself. "First, they must be well-informed within the palace."

On that point alone, Wang Zhaorong and Princess Consort Wan were ruled out. Both of their families had fallen. Without support from their maiden homes, it wasn’t easy to get news from outside the palace.

Ever since the palace was reorganized, the channels for obtaining news had narrowed considerably. Even with the Marquis Wuxin Mansion backing her, Xu Mingying had to wait for her family to send her a letter, or for her to send one out. But doing so meant it had to go through palace channels, so it was inconvenient to ask about many things clearly, and she had to be cautious about her actions.

Otherwise, after being in the palace for so long, how could she still be so constrained and unable to act freely?

’Well-informed and unrestricted...’

Xu Mingying’s eyes lit up. She then looked towards Huayang Palace. ’Isn’t there one right there?’

When it came to being well-informed in the palace, who was it that even the three high-ranking concubines had difficulty interfering with? Wasn’t it the Empress Dowager? An Xiaoyi was the Empress Dowager’s own niece. Under her protection, she naturally lived more freely than others in the palace, and it was certainly more convenient for her to get news from the outside.

Thinking this, Xu Mingying became more and more convinced that her guess was correct. An Xiaoyi and Ming Fei were on bad terms. Now that she had a chance to strike, she certainly wouldn’t miss it.

If Song Qinghan lost face, would Song Yunzhao look good?

Besides, Ming Fei and the Empress Dowager had a confrontation not long ago. For both public and private reasons, An Xiaoyi had every justification to do this!

The more she thought about it, the more certain Xu Mingying became, and the angrier she grew. ’That An Shutong! I’ve never provoked her, yet she schemes against me. How despicable!’

She despised Song Yunzhao, but she didn’t want to become a weapon in someone else’s hand.

Caiqin watched as her mistress’s expression flickered between sunny and overcast, her face alternating between pale and ashen. For a moment, she grew uneasy. "My Lady?"

Xu Mingying snapped back to her senses and looked up at Caiqin. "I almost fell into a villain’s trap! Caiqin, go and do something for me..."

Caiqin leaned in close. The more she listened, the paler her face became. "My Lady, this... are you sure about this message?"

She was a little scared. ’What if the Empress Dowager finds out it was us?’

’I still want to live.’

Xu Mingying looked at Caiqin with disappointment. "I call you stupid and you’re already getting worked up? What’s so hard about this? It’s just spreading a message. Look at how others got the news to us. Can’t you learn from them?"

Caiqin froze. ’That makes so much sense.’

’But how did the others do it?’