Chapter 966: Chapter 966: The Stand-in Empress vs. the True Love Concubine (Part 31)
The concubines in the palace were inherently quite wary of this Consort Duan.
Among the batch of concubines who entered the palace, Consort Duan had the highest family background and rank.
In recent years, the Emperor seldom brought high-ranking concubines into the palace. Most were young beauties from unknown families, kept in the palace for novelty.
This Consort Duan made a sudden entry, and many concubines saw her as a formidable enemy.
"Your Majesty, look at us sisters, who among us didn’t start as the lowest ranked talented lady and climb up slowly, as for the one from the Prime Minister’s Residence..."
The Empress drank her tea unhurriedly, softly placing the cup on the low table beside her, interrupting the words across from her.
The speaker was a small concubine currently enjoying favor for the past two months, obviously worried that Lu Xi’s entrance into the palace would affect her own favor.
The Empress spoke slowly, "Whether thunder or dew, it is all the Emperor’s grace. It would be best not to heedlessly speculate about His Majesty’s mind."
The young concubine’s face turned pale, understanding that the Empress was admonishing her, and she didn’t dare to speak further, leaving after a while.
The Empress, as if nothing had happened, quietly closed her eyes.
Half a month later, everyone in the Harem understood that the Emperor did not enshrine this Consort Duan because he liked her.
If it were genuine affection, how could half a month pass without flipping her name card even once?
Since there was no affection, then why bring her into the palace?
No one could fathom the Emperor’s intentions regarding this matter.
"Miss..."
Lu Xi looked at the troubled expression of her close maid and understood.
As expected, looking at the dishes on the table, no longer the least bit warm, Lu Xi lowered her eyelids.
In these two weeks, she had experienced the warmth and coldness of human relationships more than in the past ten years.
When she first entered the palace, the things she received weren’t the best, yet slightly inferior to those high-ranking and favored concubines; people often visited her palace as well.
But noticing that the Emperor never intended to come, the palace gradually became quiet.
Not only quiet, even the daily provisions and bestowed items became less and less as days passed.
Outwardly nothing changed, yet inside, it was a world of difference.
This is the Harem.
This is the difference between being in favor and being out of favor.
When she first entered the palace, her heart was full of resistance, thinking about what excuse to use if summoned by the Emperor.
Now, she had already started thinking about ways to attract favor.
The change of heart happened within just two weeks.
Unfortunately, what Lu Xi didn’t know was, since the Emperor issued that decree, she was destined never to have the opportunity for favor.
It was merely a punishment for someone’s ignorance of their insignificance.
Spring passes, autumn comes.
A year passed.
Within the Harem, countless newcomers arrived, while many old ones quietly faded.
Few remembered this nearly nonexistent Consort Duan.
On this fine day, Lu Xi, who hadn’t gone out for a long time, looked at the sunlight outside, surprisingly felt like taking a walk.
At this Shichen, she shouldn’t encounter anyone, right?
A year of life in the palace had already taught her how to live modestly.
She thought, tidied up a bit, and went out with her close palace maiden.
Just upon reaching the Imperial Garden, Lu Xi saw a grand group of people coming opposite.