The palace maid raised her head sharply, casting a glance at the Noble Consort. It was just like they said—decades of ruling the inner palace hadn't dulled her edge. Even one of Consort Chen's dowry maids had ended up in her pocket.
The Noble Consort let out a soft, cold chuckle. She remembered all too well—when Meng Wenxian had first entered the palace, she'd fawned over her, spilling idle gossip about her sister Meng Wenyao. Sadly, most of it had been useless.
Except for that maid, Ruyi.
Wenxian had warned her specifically: That one has a cheap backbone. Toss her a bone and she'll roll right over.
Ruyi, who had entered the palace alongside Meng Wenyao, now stood staring at the golden hairpin in her hand, visibly torn.
She'd begged the young miss to bring her into the palace with dreams of turning her life around. But after all this time, things hadn't changed. Mama Hua and Ruxin constantly watched her like hawks. Though she was a personal maid to a favored consort, she was always one step behind Ruxin.
And she hated it.
She'd tried to seduce the Emperor once—maybe if she could just get him into bed, she could finally rise above this life. Sure, she wasn't as pretty as her mistress, but wasn't it all the same in the dark?
Every night, she'd hear her mistress crying and pleading with the Emperor. I could do better, she thought. Her body was healthier, and unlike her mistress, she wasn't afraid to let go. She knew how to please a man—wasn't that what mattered?
The Noble Consort, after all, came from common roots. And she had reigned supreme in the harem for years. That could only mean one thing—she knew her way around a bed.
So Ruyi convinced herself: if Cold Fragrance Hall wouldn't give her a chance, she'd try the Pepper Chamber instead. As long as the Noble Consort could get her onto the dragon bed, everything would be worth it.
She was still young. She refused to waste her life serving others.
Heart set, Ruyi found her way to the Pepper Chamber. Hua Mama and Ruxin were already watching her like a fox watches a rabbit. They saw right through her. Ruyi had no idea she was practically transparent.
As the Crown Prince's coming-of-age ceremony drew near, her visits to the Pepper Chamber grew more frequent. And right after one of these secret trips, Lady Liu came to visit.
Usually, it was Wenxian who was summoned, so Wenyao found this unexpected. But when she saw Liu furen, she nearly jumped out of her skin.
Lady Liu looked like death warmed over—haggard, hollow-eyed, and pale as bone.
"Your Grace," she sobbed, dropping to her knees, "you must stand up for your sister!"
Wenyao hated when women cried like that. She rubbed her temples and gave Hua Mama a look. Hua Mama quickly stepped forward to soothe the distraught woman, and after a while, Liu furen's sobs quieted.
"Two days ago, Wenxian said she was going to the temple to pray. She never returned," Liu said hoarsely. "I thought she might've gone to see Prince An, but he hasn't seen her either. I've checked everywhere I can. Your Grace, please—you must help me find her. Someone's trying to hurt my daughter!"
Wenxian was a noble-born girl. Who could she have possibly angered, besides the Wei family?
And then it clicked.
With the rumors swirling lately, there was only one conclusion: the Noble Consort had taken her.
But if this was about revenge for Wei Quan, wouldn't she go after Prince An instead? What was the point of targeting a defenseless girl?
Unless…
Unless she's using Wenxian as bait to lure Prince An into a trap.
Or worse—maybe the Consort was planning to catch both Prince An and her in one move.
Wenyao's head pounded from the implications. Her breath grew shallow. Could the Consort really be laying a trap for her, too?
"She's been cozying up to Ruyi lately," Wenyao murmured. "She must be planning something."
Lady Liu blinked. "Ruyi?" she echoed, like she couldn't believe her ears.
Wenyao smirked. "What, surprised your pet dog turned around and bit you instead?"
"Ruyi's been buttering up the Noble Consort. And you know what she's like—if she wants someone dead, she'll find a way."
Liu furen turned pale as paper. "Do you think Wenxian's still alive?"
"We'll find out when Ruyi gets back."
Not long after, Ruyi returned and was immediately hauled into the inner chambers—right into Lady Liu's waiting slap.
"You ungrateful little snake!"
Odd, Wenyao thought. Wasn't that my line?
After all, Ruyi and her entire family were under contract to the Meng household. Liu furen dropped the hammer, flashing the ultimate trump card—and Ruyi crumbled.
"I swear, I don't know anything about the Second Miss!" she cried. "The Noble Consort just wanted me to spy on Her Grace—what she eats, what she wears, how the ceremony will go. That's it! I don't know anything about Consort Chen being taken!"
Wenyao stared down at her coldly. Killing her now would just dirty her hands.
"Take her home, Lady Liu. Either the Consort never told her the plan, or she's not the one holding your daughter. I'll keep looking. For now, take Ruyi and make sure she's... cared for."
Ruyi collapsed. "Please, Miss! Spare me! I swear I'll never do it again!"
"So annoying."
She was dragged out and loaded into Lady Liu's carriage.
Hua Mama looked worried. "Your Grace… what should we do about the Second Miss?"
Wenyao blinked. "Why would we do anything?"
"She's your sister. If the Noble Consort uses her to threaten you—"
"She chose her own path," Wenyao said coolly. "Let her deal with it."
Hua Mama smiled awkwardly. "I'm not worried about her. Just that the Noble Consort might try something dangerous against you."
Fair point. Wenxian was her sister... and also Prince An's lover. The Noble Consort had all the pieces to cause trouble.
But Wenyao was unfazed.
"On the day of the ceremony, we'll sit tight and stay put. We won't eat, drink, or go wandering around. No matter what weird stuff happens—we ignore it."
Schemes only succeed when your own people are fools. If she knew the Noble Consort's cards and still fell into her trap, then she deserved whatever came next.
Seeing her mistress so composed, Hua Mama finally relaxed.
"Miss, the Imperial Kitchen just sent over fish soup. You've been eating too little lately, always dining with His Majesty."
Before Wenyao could even refuse, the soup was placed in front of her—and the smell hit her like a punch.
She almost knocked it over, nausea twisting her stomach.
Hua Mama blinked. "Too greasy? I'll have them skim the fat—"
Wenyao's hand had drifted to her belly.
There was something growing there. Something small, warm, and alive.
Because no imperial consort had ever gotten pregnant before, Hua Mama didn't suspect a thing. And Wenyao wasn't about to say it aloud—not yet.
She rubbed her stomach lightly and smiled.
Soon, the Noble Consort and Prince An will get what's coming to them.