Sure enough, as soon as Nan Zhiyun finished speaking, Su Qianyan's expression soured, though she couldn't show it.
"Thank you for your concern, Imperial Concubine Shu. This humble concubine is fine, I've already recovered a lot," Su Qianyan replied respectfully.
"You are truly a peculiar one. If your mouth hurts, you should speak less. Yet, you chatter on endlessly," Nan Zhiyun, having been beaten last night, was in a foul mood and lashing out at whoever crossed her path.
Su Qianyan dared not retort, her status too low. But... that might not be the case in the future. She, Su Qianyan, was destined to become the Empress Dowager. She hadn't achieved it in her past life, but she was determined to ascend to that position in this one.
What if Nan Zhiyun was the Imperial Concubine Shu now? She firmly believed Nan Zhiyun wouldn't hold this position for long. In her past life, she had died so early; such a fate was immutable. Therefore, Nan Zhiyun wouldn't live much longer. Even if things changed, she could find a way to eliminate Nan Zhiyun!
His Majesty was deeply fond of her. Otherwise, why would he have favored her exclusively in the previous life? Although he hadn't touched her... she knew it was because His Majesty cared for her, respected her. He didn't want to taint her with the same body that had been touched by so many others.
But even if he didn't touch her, what of it? His Majesty had still given her a child, and after a hundred years, he had even enfeoffed this child as Emperor. Thus, in the netherworld, he still cherished her...
What if there were countless beauties in the harem? His Majesty's heart would forever belong only to her. It was simply that the time had not yet come...
Thinking of this, Su Qianyan couldn't help but smile. The curve of her eyes made Nan Zhiyun find her demeanor rather eerie... Was this person mad?
"Enough. I have important matters to attend to and cannot chat further. From now on, try to stay out of my sight. I don't like having too many people around," Nan Zhiyun felt she should leave this place of trouble as soon as possible. These two seemed possessed.
And that Yuan Fei... before, she hadn't seemed particularly noteworthy, but now she felt rather strange. Also, some people always followed her, yet they only spoke a few words and remained silent while others did the talking... She felt uneasy, a sense of creepiness that made her want to avoid them.
Just as Nan Zhiyun was about to leave, a palace maid suddenly lunged at her. Nan Zhiyun was knocked to the ground.
"Imperial Concubine Shu!" the attendants by Nan Zhiyun's side exclaimed in shock. If their mistress were to get so much as a scratch, they would be held accountable. A group of them rushed forward to help Nan Zhiyun up, fearing she might be injured.
"How dare you! How do you walk? If you injured Imperial Concubine Shu, could you bear the consequences?!" one of the palace maids immediately slapped the maid who had lunged at Nan Zhiyun.
"Imperial Concubine Shu, please forgive me! Imperial Concubine Shu, please forgive me! This servant did not do it intentionally, this servant..." the maid knelt on the ground, trembling in fear.
"Imperial Concubine Shu, this little palace maid is ignorant, and it's also my fault for not disciplining her properly. She accidentally bumped into Imperial Concubine Shu. I beg Imperial Concubine Shu for forgiveness." It was Rong Chongyuan. However, despite her words, Nan Zhiyun saw no hint of remorse on her face.