mtl008 Chapter 294 The Sweetness of Bird’s Nest Porridge
Chapter 294 The Sweetness of Bird’s Nest Porridge
After receiving the order, Yu Lan arrived at Concubine Shu's chambers. She bowed respectfully, soothing her with gentle words, and promising to protect her every step of the way and prevent anyone from harming her. Although grateful, Concubine Shu understood that Yu Lan's presence wasn't simply for protection, but for surveillance. She calmly accepted Yu Lan's "kindness" and began to play along.
A few days later, Yu Lan was dressing up Cen Jiexiao while whispering, "Dean, this Concubine Shu looks so delicate, but I didn't expect her to be so scheming."
Cen Jiexiao smiled at the mirror and said, "Yu Lan, which woman in the harem is not a wolf in sheep's clothing? If Concubine Shu wants to survive in the harem, she must learn to disguise herself."
She paused, then added, "However, she has really hit a wall this time. It's not easy to get away with offending the Queen Mother."
Yu Lan curled her lips and said, "The Empress Dowager is a vicious woman with cruel means. I'm afraid that Concubine Shu will be in great danger this time."
A cold glint flashed in Cen Jiexiao's eyes, and she said in a cold voice, "The Queen Mother won't be able to stay alive for much longer."
She paused and continued, "The Emperor has already begun to weaken her power. When the time is right, he will overthrow her in one fell swoop."
Then she added: "By then, this Great Zhou will truly belong to the emperor."
Yu Lan nodded in agreement and said, "Dean is wise."
Cen Jiexiao smiled, said nothing, and continued to fix her makeup in front of the mirror. She believed that as long as she took every step carefully, she would eventually become the master of the harem.
While combing Cen Jiexiao's hair, Yu Lan whispered, "Miss, this Concubine Shu looks so gentle and weak, but I didn't expect her to be so scheming."
Cen Jiexiao smiled at the mirror and said, "Yu Lan, which woman in the harem is not a wolf in sheep's clothing? If Concubine Shu wants to survive in the harem, she must learn to disguise herself and hide her true thoughts."
Cen Jiexiao paused and continued, "However, she has hit a wall this time. It's not easy to get away with provoking the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother is not someone to be trifled with. She will definitely find a way to retaliate against Concubine Shu."
Yu Lan curled her lips and said, "The Queen Mother is vicious and cruel. I'm afraid that Concubine Shu will be in great danger this time."
Yu Lan sighed worriedly and continued, "But no matter what, Concubine Shu is still useful. We must do everything we can to prevent the Queen Mother from taking action at this time."
After hearing this, Cen Jiexiao smiled but said nothing, but her heart was full of confidence.
Inside the bedroom, the air was heavy, as if frozen, filled with a suffocating sense of oppression. Concubine Shu paced back and forth, her embroidered soles scraping against the smooth floor, making a subtle rustling sound. This gentle sound was particularly clear in the silent room, and each time it struck at Concubine Shu's frayed nerves. Her brows were furrowed, their brows twisted into a knot, her mind a tangle of thoughts, a tangled web of threads, inextricable and unseverable, tightly entwined around her heart, making her feel suffocated.
The Emperor's sudden action was like a huge rock dropped into the tranquil lake of her heart, stirring up ripples and leaving her bewildered. His thoughts were as deep as the ocean, unfathomable. She couldn't fathom the meaning of his action. Was it a test? A warning? Or perhaps something more profound? It left her feeling uneasy and apprehensive.
Even more unsettling was Cen Jiexiao's attitude, sometimes friendly, sometimes distant, like the unpredictable wind, leaving her unable to fathom it. She couldn't tell whether she was friend or foe, and this made her feel like she was treading on thin ice, forcing her to be cautious with every step.
"Boom boom boom——"
A knock on the door broke the silence of the room. This sudden sound, like thunder, exploded in Concubine Shu's ears, making her already tense nerves even more tense. Her heart suddenly jumped, as if it was about to jump out of her chest. An inexplicable sense of fear surged in her heart, making her feel cold.
She subconsciously held her breath and asked nervously, "Who?" Her voice trembled slightly, revealing her inner uneasiness.
A familiar voice came from outside the door: "Your Majesty, it's your servant, Yu Lan, the female official of Zhaoyin Academy."
Hearing Yu Lan's voice, Concubine Shu's heart finally relaxed a little, and her tense body relaxed a little. She quickly ordered the maid to open the door: "Open the door quickly."
The heavy palace door slowly opened with a creaky sound, and Yu Lan walked in with a bowl of steaming bird's nest porridge, with a forced smile on her face, trying to ease Concubine Shu's nervousness in this way.
"Your Majesty, this is the bird's nest porridge that the Emperor specially ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare for you. Drink it while it's hot." Yu Lan's voice was soft, with a hint of concern.
Concubine Shu took the bird's nest porridge, but her eyes fell on Yu Lan's face with a hint of suspicion: "Your Majesty?" She didn't quite believe that the emperor cared about her so much.
Yu Lan nodded, her tone gentle and concerned: "Yes, the emperor is worried about the health of the queen, and specifically asked this servant to take good care of the queen."
Concubine Shu was filled with mixed emotions, bewildered by the Emperor's actions. Was his concern genuine, or did he have other motives? She stared at the bowl of milky bird's nest porridge, her thoughts racing, as if lost in a fog, unable to find her way. In her eyes, this bowl of bird's nest porridge was no longer just food, but a mystery, a mystery she couldn't fathom.
She gently stirred the bird's nest porridge with a spoon. The hot steam brushed against her face, but it couldn't dispel the chill in her heart. The emperor's favor was like this bowl of bird's nest porridge. It seemed warm and sweet, but it concealed unknown risks that made her dare not accept it easily.
She slowly took a sip of the bird's nest porridge. The delicate taste spread across her tongue, but she couldn't feel a single bit of pleasure. Her taste buds seemed to have lost their perception, unable to taste the deliciousness of the bird's nest porridge.
Her gaze drifted, sometimes to the exquisite porcelain bowl, sometimes to Yu Lan's serene face, her heart filled with conflict and struggle. She didn't know how to respond to the emperor's "concern," nor did she know how to respond to Cen Jiexiao's ambivalent attitude. Within this deep palace, she felt like she was on a giant chessboard, each move fraught with danger and challenge, leaving her exhausted.
She drank the bird's nest porridge slowly, her mind full of thoughts.
As night fell, the palace was hushed and silent. Cen Jiexiao, dressed in dark clothing, nimbly moved through the shadows of the palace walls, avoiding the patrolling guards' sight and stealthily entering Shai Zhen's study. Her steps were light and graceful, like a ghost in the night, disturbing no one.