The Cannon Fodder in Quick Transmigration Refuses the Usual Path

Chapter 610: The Arrogant Noble Consort Who Failed in the Succession Struggle 22

Unfortunately, plans could not keep up with changes, and this trip outside the palace gates ultimately failed to happen.

In the twelfth month, sudden news of the Empress's worsening condition came from the Han Zhang Palace.

It was the depth of winter, the coldest time of the year, where even one's breath formed white puffs in the air. Upon receiving the Empress's summons, An Ning was leisurely curled up on her soft couch at the time, quite interested in fiddling with the assortment of over a dozen boxes of differently styled fragrant ointments that the imperial workshop had just delivered.

It was true that flowers and plants were sparse in winter, but the imperial family, after all, had their own methods. Especially now, with cellar heating technology being fairly mature.

Knowing that the Noble Consort was most fond of such things, those in the imperial workshop were naturally extremely eager to please. Afraid that Her Highness wouldn't find anything to her liking, they provided every conceivable fragrance profile: passionate as roses, subtle and elegant as secluded orchids, crisp and clear as plum blossom scent.

Having little to do, An Ning would occasionally fiddle with them for fun. Of course, 'fun' here meant making her own demands, with those below striving for perfection and continuous improvement.

However, whether it was the original owner or An Ning, both were known for their generous hands. Whenever something pleased her, the rewards were substantial, and her personal taste was also first-rate. Over time, while everyone was happy, their craftsmanship naturally became increasingly outstanding.

This was the scene Palace Official Zhang saw when she arrived.

"The Empress?"

"What does she want with me?"Glancing at the older palace servant before her, who remained gentle and composed yet carried a hint of sorrow in her eyes, An Ning's own eyes showed visible surprise and displeasure at being disturbed. Still, she nodded carelessly.

Fine, I'll go!

What's there to fear?

Although, by convention, when the Empress was seriously ill, she, as the Noble Consort, should take turns with the other consorts to attend at her side... if that were truly the case, the original owner wouldn't have earned the reputation of being arrogant and domineering.

Attending to the sick? How was that possible?

One must know that in the past, the original owner couldn't even be bothered with the monthly greetings, her excuses utterly unconvincing.

With such a solid foundation, and not being someone with nothing better to do, An Ning certainly wouldn't force herself to go suffer early in the morning.

Apart from this, however, the two of them had maintained a policy of non-interference over the years. The Empress was famously gentle, generous, and magnanimous. This current development was somewhat unexpected.

Having a rough guess about the situation, An Ning still nodded readily.

It was Qing Yu and the others by her side who were nervous and on high alert throughout the journey, fearing something might go wrong. With her sharp eyesight, An Ning could even spot a figure swiftly running towards the direction of the Hall of Diligent Governance.

Speaking of this Han Zhang Palace, their Luan Yi Palace was truly unfamiliar with it!

When An Ning arrived, the inner chamber was already empty, the crowd of consorts attending to the sick having left long ago. The entire room was filled with the pervasive bitter smell of medicine, mixed with the heavy heat from the charcoal braziers. A glance around revealed all the windows tightly shut.

Solemn and oppressive—that was An Ning's first impression of the place.

Looking at the Empress on the bed, dressed in bright yellow palace robes, her face visibly ashen and failing, An Ning frowned. In the end, she didn't "follow her temperament" and turn to leave immediately.

She just couldn't help but recall, from the original owner's memories of long ago when she first entered the palace, that apart from the traces of time, this person's face, even her expression, was almost no different from now.

"So the Noble Consort has come!"

A somewhat gentle voice accompanied the words. From the bed came intermittent, slightly hurried light coughs. The palace servants originally in attendance had also withdrawn unnoticed.

Soon, the entire inner chamber held only the two of them.

Feeling somewhat impatient yet unafraid, An Ning's gaze, as beautiful and clear as ever, couldn't help but flash with a bit of curiosity. Her large, blinking eyes even held a tiny, eager spark...

Ah, the legendary frame-up? Palace intrigue!

After several decades, was it finally her turn?

Having just chosen and sat in the most comfortable spot farthest from the other woman, An Ning almost couldn't wait to speak:

"What does the Empress want with me now?"

Empress: "..."

The Noble Consort really hasn't changed a bit.

Seeing the other's thoughts at a glance, the gravely ill Empress Zhou on the bed couldn't help but fall silent for a moment, her weary body instinctively leaning back against the pillow behind her.

Such a blockhead... whether winning or losing against her felt utterly meaningless.

But it was precisely this person...

Her gaze paused on the figure by the window.

Spring's brilliance, morning dew bathed in light—even now, dressed in attire not particularly bright or flamboyant, she stood in stark contrast to this snowy winter, or rather, to all the gloom before her. Proud, willful, forever taking everything for granted. In her eyes, it seemed even the sunlight at this moment was pouring down specifically for her...

What could one say? The ignorant are fearless?

But then again, it wasn't wrong to say heaven ultimately favored her. Not just her appearance, but other things too...

Feeling the vitality gradually fading from her body, Empress Zhou suddenly thought to herself at this moment:

She seemed to understand a little. Why the Current Emperor, that aloof and self-restrained man, would indulge her so consistently for decades.

A monarch's true heart—what a laughable thing. And yet...

Someone in the room sighed softly:

"It's nothing much. We've been here together for decades, after all. I just wanted to see an old acquaintance one last time."

Facing the other's clearly speechless expression that practically screamed 'are you out of your mind from illness?', Empress Zhou suddenly smiled faintly.

An Ning: "..."

Alright then.

It seemed like just casual chatter before death.

Right up until she left, seated in the warm and cozy palanquin, An Ning's face was completely bewildered. However, it wasn't a big deal after all, and she soon tossed it to the back of her mind.

By the time Xiao Qi hurried over from the Hall of Diligent Governance, An Ning had already happily ordered people to prepare water, flower petals, and the previous fragrant ointments, and was blissfully soaking in the bathing pool.

In the rear hall of Luan Yi Palace, a black jade bathing pool had been specially constructed earlier. Although not as spacious and comfortable as the one at the hot spring retreat palace, it wasn't far off. When she couldn't leave the palace, this place would do. Besides, that smell earlier, ugh!

"Yue'er..."

Pulling her close and looking her over from head to toe, then specifically dragging the somewhat reluctant someone after her bath to have a group of imperial physicians carefully check her pulse.

Only after receiving their assurances did Xiao Qi hold her tightly in his arms, finally letting out a deep sigh of relief. He couldn't help but ask afterwards:

"Yue'er, you didn't use anything at the Empress's place earlier, did you?"

Hmph, lazily curled up in the other's embrace on the soft couch large enough for two, An Ning poked his side a few times with her fingertip in annoyance:

"Do you think I'm that stupid?"

"Hmph, I'm so beautiful, so wonderful, people must be dying of jealousy." Using anything at someone else's place? Impossible!

Even if it was the Empress, who didn't seem to harbor much malice.

"Yes, yes, Yue'er is the best..."

Looking at the utterly matter-of-fact expression on the face of the person in his arms, Xiao Qi felt relieved while simultaneously wanting to laugh.

Only in a place where the person in his arms couldn't see, a flash of fierce ruthlessness suddenly appeared in Xiao Qi's eyes.

At the same time, in Han Zhang Palace.

Seeing that their mistress hadn't taken any irrational actions, the palace servants also heaved a huge sigh of relief:

"Your Highness, it's good you didn't fall for it! To my mind, those people, including Beauty Qi, simply have ill intentions!"

All that talk about His Majesty inevitably establishing the Noble Consort as Empress in the future—never mind if it's true or false, even if it were true, it's 'in the future.' What does that have to do with our mistress?

At least... while our mistress is here, she will always be the noble and precious Empress.

Just thinking about these years in this empty, desolate Han Zhang Palace, the old matron couldn't help but feel a moment of darkness in her eyes.

Especially looking at her mistress's increasingly emaciated and ashen face, for a fleeting moment, Head Stewardess Zhang even couldn't help but think:

Since these are the final days anyway, it would be good if Her Highness could break free from the constraints of family reputation, indulge a little, and follow her heart.

Instead of this lifetime, this entire lifetime spent for the so-called family, maintaining the false mask of a gentle, virtuous, proper, unjealous, and unenvious Empress for decades.

"Your Highness!" Thinking of this, Head Stewardess Zhang couldn't hold back a choked sob, throwing herself to her knees on the ground, almost weeping as she said:

"If Your Highness is willing, this servant... this servant would willingly die ten thousand deaths to help Your Highness achieve your heart's desire."

As if discerning the other's thoughts, Empress Zhou on the sickbed suddenly turned her head and smiled softly:

"You... why bother? Both you and I know, in this rear palace, whether the Noble Consort exists or not, it actually makes no difference, doesn't it?"

"The moment it became clear my cousin was full of discontent, yet the family still insisted on sending me into the palace, and my aunt still insisted on forcing the issue, my fate was already sealed."

It had nothing to do with anyone else. In a way, she even had to thank the Noble Consort. If it weren't for her being that person, with her cousin's temperament, she might not have been able to retain the Empress position until now.

As for gentle, virtuous, proper, unjealous, and unenvious!

This mask wasn't so bad. At least at the moment of death, it still preserved her position as Empress.

It became another protective talisman for her younger siblings in the already completely declined Zhou family.

It's just a pity she ultimately failed to live up to those words.

Staring blankly at the faint light gradually seeping through the window, Empress Zhou suddenly said with a touch of melancholy:

"Actually, that day, not just that Beauty Qi... my own demeanor must have been quite ugly too."

"Your Highness..."

***

After carefully feeding her mistress medicine, an unknown amount of time later, Head Stewardess Zhang finally cautiously asked in the inner chamber: "Then, Your Highness, about today...?"

Head Stewardess Zhang had just wanted to ask why she had to summon that person.

But the next moment, from the sickbed, that pale and frail person suddenly laughed, with a rare hint of playfulness on her face:

"Ah, it's nothing much. It's just that some people shouldn't think they can use me without paying any price!"