In the palace of Concubine Chu in the harem.
At this moment, Concubine Chu was reaching out to choke a maid's neck. With such a ferocious look, if she continued, the maid would surely lose her life.
The reason for all this was actually that when the maid was choosing New - Year clothes for her, she picked a carmine robe that was slightly inferior to the bright red one. The maid was just following the laws of the Dongsheng State, but unexpectedly, she had brought this disaster upon herself.
Just as Concubine Chu was about to strangle the woman in front of her, a voice came from outside the palace: "Lady Yaoji is here!"
Concubine Chu frowned upon hearing this. She couldn't help but wonder why that woman would come here. Could it be that she had heard some rumors? But then she threw the maid on the ground and roared "Get out!" After all, she didn't want others to catch her in the act of killing.
Not long after, a woman in a purple robe entered. It was Yaoji. Her headdress was still quite different from the styles in the Central Plains, but she was extremely beautiful.
As soon as she entered, she bowed respectfully to the woman in front of her and said, "Your servant pays respects to Concubine Chu."
Concubine Chu seemed quite satisfied with her attitude. She waved her hand, signaling Yaoji to get up, and then asked, "What brings you here?"
She didn't remember having any interactions with the woman in front of her, and she couldn't think of anything worthy of a visit.
"Haha, Concubine Chu, you're joking. Can't I, as your younger sister, come to pay my respects to you?" Yaoji said with a smile. Then she motioned for the maids behind her to bring in the things.
Most of them were items from the southern neighboring country, probably Yaoji's dowry.
Concubine Chu looked at the things she brought. She couldn't help narrowing her eyes, but she still hadn't figured out what scheme Yaoji was up to. So she asked, "What do you mean, Yaoji? Do you think I'm short of these things?"
There was a hint of harshness in her words. She wasn't someone who was easily tempted by money, so she didn't even bother to care about these things.
But Yaoji seemed not to care about her words at all. She still had a smile on her lips. She took a few more steps forward, bent down, and whispered, "Your Highness, you're over - thinking. Your servant just wants to find a good tree to rest under."
After saying that, she let out a soft laugh and continued, "Your servant knows that Prime Minister Nangong has returned to the capital. In the future, this harem will surely be yours. Your servant naturally understands this, so I've come here today just to ask Your Highness not to forget me!"
She spoke every word sincerely, and Concubine Chu really listened. She couldn't help sneering in her heart and thought that Yaoji was just a lackey trying to climb up the social ladder. She had worried for a while for nothing. How boring.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help laughing out loud. Then she said to the woman in front of her, "Sister Yaoji, you're being too polite. How could I treat you badly? As long as I have glory in this harem, you'll have peace."
She answered sincerely. If others heard this, they might really praise her as a kind - hearted elder sister. But both of the people present knew each other's true intentions. One thought the other was trying to climb up, and the other knew that the target had fallen into the trap.
Yaoji didn't come here today just to be cute and flattering. She was here to carry out her plan, to make this stupid woman in front of her take the blame for her completely.
Among the box of treasures she brought today, there was a porcelain bottle containing a Western Region glass rattlesnake. When there was no one in the palace, it would quietly crawl into Concubine Chu's sleeve without being noticed. Then, as long as she went to see the Queen, the snake would rush out and attack. By then, the blame would fall on her alone.
Thinking of this, a sneer curled up on her lips. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the robe scattered on the ground. Immediately, she had an idea and asked, "Your Highness, is this your New - Year robe? Why is it carmine? Shouldn't you be wearing bright red?"
Concubine Chu, who had almost forgotten about this incident, felt her anger flare up again after hearing Yaoji's words. Her eyes were filled with fury.
Yaoji was quite satisfied with her current state. So she pretended to lower her head guiltily and apologize, saying, "Your Highness, are you angry? It's all my fault for talking too much!"
Concubine Chu waved her hand. She couldn't help muttering, "Why should I wear this low - class carmine while she, Dongfang Yi, is qualified to wear bright red!"
Hearing this, Yaoji sneered secretly where no one could see. Then she lowered her head and pretended to be scared, saying, "Concubine Chu, there's something I don't know if I should say or not..."
Looking at the woman in front of her, Concubine Chu felt that she might know something. So she roared, "Tell me!"
"But I'm afraid of offending the Queen..." Yaoji continued.
Her words were like adding fuel to the fire. Concubine Chu completely lost control and shouted, "Afraid of offending her? Don't you know where this is? This is my Palace of Concubine Chu. Can she still interfere here?"
There was a touch of desperation in her tone, as if she was filled with countless grievances.
So Yaoji continued to stammer and say, "Your servant heard that it was the Queen who didn't allow Your Highness to wear bright red. She said that Your Highness's status is not worthy of wearing bright red..."
"What?!" Concubine Chu roared before Yaoji could finish.
No wonder a mere maid dared to talk back to her, saying that it violated the laws of the Dongsheng State. She didn't expect that the Queen was backing the maid up. Good for you, Dongfang Yi. You've become so bold!
Thinking of this, she asked, "What else?"
Yaoji continued to make up lies: "The Queen also said that Your Highness designed to frame her. She said that the hunting conference was your scheme. She also said that Your Highness..."
At this point, her words paused for a moment, as if there were some hard - to - say words.
"What did she say about me?!" Concubine Chu stared at her and asked.
"She said that Your Highness betrayed the Emperor and lost your chastity!" Her words blurted out.
Concubine Chu's face froze instantly, as if her scar had been uncovered. She didn't expect that Dongfang Yi really knew about this. Did Lianpin tell her before she died, or was it for some other reason...
"Nonsense... Nonsense. How dare she slander me like this!" She refuted loudly with a bit of guilt.
Seeing her appearance, Yaoji couldn't help sneering in her heart. Then she echoed, "Yes, Your Highness would never do such a shameless thing. It must be the Queen spreading rumors!"