Cefei's Rise to Prominence Record - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Half an hour later, the Empress personally visited Chuxiu Palace. This was the first time all the ladies had seen the Empress since the selection began.

She wore magnificent attire, adorned with golden hairpins and surrounded by dozens of palace servants. Her presence was awe-inspiring, and all the ladies were intimidated. They stood far away from Zhang Huaishang’s room.

Luo Qiushi tilted her head and asked Zhuang Yisui beside her in a playful tone, “Sister Zhuang, do you think Zhang Huaishang still has a chance to stay?”

Zhuang Yisui lowered her eyes calmly. “It depends on the doctor’s skills.”

Luo Qiushi laughed. “I think it’s unlikely.”

She had just seen Zhang Huaishang’s face, which now looked rather disgusting.

With such an appearance, going to meet the Emperor would only frighten him.

Zhou Yun listened to their conversation and shuddered slightly.

Unlike her conflict with Zhang Huaishang, which started after entering the palace, her feud with Zhuang Yisui began before they entered the palace.

The noble ladies in Chang’an City were limited, and they would often meet at various banquets. However, where there were people, there would be comparisons.

She was often compared to Zhuang Yisui, who was always generous, elegant, gentle, and steady. Naturally, she always came out short in comparison.

Zhuang Yisui would often praise her after others spoke, but it seemed like humility.

How could Zhou Yun not feel annoyed?

That’s why, before Gu Yan left the palace, she specifically warned Zhou Yun to be careful of Zhuang Yisui and Zhang Huaishang.

Zhang Huaishang seemed genuinely frightened. She rushed into the Empress’s arms, unlike her usual composure, and cried tearfully. “Aunt, my face…”

No woman wouldn’t fear disfigurement, and Zhang Huaishang was no exception.

Zhou Yun had just heard the news and couldn’t help but admire the old folks in the palace who knew the most effective methods.

If it was like Gu Yan, framing Zhang Huaishang for theft, the Empress could simply suppress the matter.

The Empress pushed Zhang Huaishang’s hands away, and Zhou Yun finally saw Zhang Huaishang’s current appearance.

The once beautiful face was now covered in dense red rashes, making one’s heart quiver with fear. A chill ran down her spine, and she didn’t want to look again.

Zhou Yun immediately averted her gaze.

Not only her, but the Empress’s expression also showed concern for a moment before she became angry. She turned to Liu Momo. “Liu Momo, the Emperor personally issued an edict, entrusting you to teach the ladies etiquette. He trusts you.”

“But since the ladies entered the palace, how many incidents have occurred?”

Liu Momo immediately knelt down. “This servant is unworthy of the Emperor’s and Your Majesty’s trust. Please punish me.”

The Empress was indeed unhappy. If Zhang Huaishang failed the selection, the Zhang family would not be able to participate in the selection for three years. Moreover, it wasn’t easy for a family to cultivate a legitimate daughter. If the legitimate daughter failed the selection, it would mean all the family’s previous efforts were wasted.

The Empress’s face turned cold. “Today’s matter must be investigated to uncover the truth!”

Liu Momo, being in charge of her own territory, naturally wouldn’t leave any clues. Therefore, the people from Kunhe Palace searched for a long time but couldn’t find anything.

The Empress thought of something and suddenly turned her gaze to the window, focusing on Zhou Yun. Her eyes deepened.

If it was the ladies’ doing, it wouldn’t be possible for them to act so cleanly.

Zhou Yun was taken aback. She didn’t expect that with no evidence, the Empress would suspect her.

Actually, the Empress didn’t suspect her, but rather the Noble Consort behind her.

Suddenly, Yang Yun, who had been standing beside Zhang Huaishang, spoke up. “Yesterday, Miss Gu stole Miss Zhang’s jade bracelet and was disqualified. Today, Miss Zhang got injured. This is too coincidental, isn’t it?”

Zhou Yun almost laughed in anger. She coldly glanced at Yang Yun. “What do you mean by this, Miss Yang?”

Yang Yun was intimidated by Zhou Yun and spoke in a low voice. “I just think it’s too coincidental.”

Zhou Yun narrowed her eyes. “Since Miss Yang said Miss Gu stole Miss Zhang’s things, Miss Zhang is the victim. Why does she look so guilty and fearful of retribution?”

“Be careful with your words, Little Master Zhou!” A palace servant beside the Empress frowned and interrupted her, obviously thinking she was being presumptuous.

However, the Empress didn’t say anything. She just looked at Zhou Yun with a faint, yet oppressive gaze.

Zhou Yun’s eyes slightly focused, and she barely bowed her head. “I don’t know which words I said wrong. Does Your Majesty also think Miss Gu is a thief?”

She didn’t want to directly confront the Empress, but she couldn’t let others slander Gu Yan.

Zhou Yun’s attitude was respectful yet aggressive.

The Empress was the first time being pushed to this point by a junior.

Miss Gu’s parents had rendered meritorious service, and even the Emperor remembered their contributions. After Gu Yan was disqualified, the Emperor reprimanded her.

Because Noble Consort Zhen had given instructions early on, saying Gu Yan had left the palace due to illness, the Emperor even praised Noble Consort Zhen for handling the situation properly in front of her.

Thus, the Empress naturally couldn’t say anything bad about Gu Yan in public.

Before she could speak, Jin Su’s face turned cold, and she shouted sternly, “How dare you! You’re being presumptuous to the Empress!”

Zhou Yun sneered inwardly but took a step back and bowed. “If I offended, please forgive me, Your Majesty.”

Without losing a single bit of etiquette, yet seemingly retreating while actually not yielding at all.

The other ladies looked at her in shock, not daring to believe she dared to confront the Empress directly for Gu Yan’s sake.

Liu Ruixiang swallowed hard and gained a further understanding of Zhou Yun’s boldness.

She suddenly felt that it was indeed possible that Zhou Yun was behind Zhang Huaishang’s incident. After all, apart from her, who else would dare to be so bold?

The Empress placed her hand on Jin Su’s shoulder and said gently, “Enough, come back.”

Jin Su respectfully retreated behind her. The Empress then slowly focused her gaze on Zhou Yun, not answering her previous words. Instead, she smiled and praised, “Miss Zhou indeed has remarkable courage and bears some resemblance to the Noble Consort.”

“Your Majesty is too kind. I don’t have the virtue or ability to compare to the Noble Consort,” Zhou Yun replied.

She did it on purpose, knowing the Empress disliked her aunt, yet she deliberately praised her aunt.

Outside Chuxiu Palace, a palace servant hurried in and approached the Empress, whispering, “Your Majesty, the Noble Consort is waiting for you in Kunhe Palace.”

Zhou Yun, who had vaguely heard the words, quietly straightened her back.

The Empress’s expression paused for a moment. She looked deeply at Zhou Yun without even comforting Zhang Huaishang with a single word before leaving directly with her entourage.

The Empress’s visit didn’t bring any benefits, nor did she take Zhang Huaishang’s side.

Zhang Huaishang’s crying voice was stunned, and she stared blankly at the Empress’s departing figure for a long time without coming back to her senses.

After the crowd dispersed, Zhou Yun asked her servants to support her as she walked towards Zhang Huaishang.

Zhang Huaishang’s face was no longer kind and gentle. She glared at Zhou Yun viciously. “You got your way. Are you happy now?”

Zhou Yun didn’t speak.

Just as Zhang Huaishang wondered what she was going to do, Zhou Yun suddenly slapped her.

It was swift and decisive.

The crowd’s bodies trembled slightly, and Yang Yun took several steps back in fear.

Zhang Huaishang, stunned from being slapped, finally regained her senses. Her eyes turned red with anger, and her whole body shook. “How dare you hit me?”

The daughter of a mere third-rank official dared to hit her?

Who knew that Zhou Yun wouldn’t even lift her eyelids. She just sneered. “I hit you, and what can you do about it?”

Was she happy?
Even if a hundred Zhang Huaishangs were disqualified, her sister Gu wouldn’t come back.

Her aunt’s order was just a facade for maintaining peace. Gu Yan’s status in the mansion had already plummeted, and now it would probably get even worse.

How dare Zhang Huaishang ask if she was satisfied or happy?

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Zhang Huaishang stood up, ready to retaliate. But just then, Liu Momo walked in and scolded coldly, “Enough! What’s going on here?”

Zhou Yun leaned in close to Zhang Huaishang’s ear and whispered, “The Empress doesn’t want to bother with you anymore. Don’t you realize you’ve become a pawn to be discarded?”

Zhang Huaishang’s entire body froze, and the slap Zhou Yun gave her was nothing compared to the impact of those words.

Before Liu Momo approached, Zhou Yun casually took a step back and politely said to her, “Tomorrow is the palace selection. I’ll go back and prepare. I won’t disturb you from handling official business.”

Liu Momo saw the red mark on Zhang Huaishang’s face and understood Zhou Yun’s nature – hitting someone and then kicking them when they’re down. She looked at Zhou Yun with some fear and realized what was meant by “handling official business” – it was just a pretense for asking Zhang Huaishang to leave the palace.

After all, Zhang Huaishang’s appearance was damaged, and it was impossible for her to continue participating in the palace selection.

Zhang Huaishang’s entire body shook as she cried. Before Zhou Yun left, she grabbed her arm and stared at her fiercely. “Is it you? Did you do it?”

However, Zhou Yun didn’t have the mood to let her die with clarity. She impatiently shook off her hand. “If I could enter your room, would you not have any precautions?”

With that, she ignored Zhang Huaishang and turned around to leave.

Zhang Huaishang stared tightly at her back. If it wasn’t her, then who could it be? Zhuang Yisui? Luo Qiushi? Qiu Yue?

She suspected everyone, even Yang Yun beside her. But until she was sent out of the palace, she couldn’t figure out who it was.

After Chuxiu Palace quieted down, Zhou Yun clearly felt that the atmosphere in the room was off.

Liu Ruixiang still tried to please her as usual, but she didn’t dare to get close to her like before. When speaking, she seemed more tense.

However, Zhou Yun’s gaze fell on Fang Ruo, who was hiding behind the bed, lowering her head and not saying a word. Zhou Yun’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

She had always wondered how the jade bracelet ended up in their room. Now, she might have an answer.

Zhou Yun sat down first, letting her ankle, which had been hurting from the strain, rest. Then, she called out to Fang Ruo in a calm and unhurried tone.

Fang Ruo’s body trembled slightly.

Liu Ruixiang looked around hesitantly and remained silent, wisely retreating to her own bed.

Zhou Yun was about to call out again when Fang Ruo suddenly raised her head and knelt down at her feet with a thud. Tears streamed down her face as she cried. “Sister Zhou, Sister Zhou, please forgive me this once!”

“I didn’t mean to, Miss Zhang threatened me, and I didn’t dare disobey. Please forgive me this once! I’m begging you!”

Fang Ruo was petite and delicate to begin with. Now, with her eyes blurry from tears and her body trembling, she looked so weak and pitiful that any man would likely feel sympathetic.

There was fear, grievance, and regret in her eyes, but no sense of guilt or remorse.

Zhou Yun looked down at her for a long time, and a cold glint flickered in her eyes.

What kind of person did she dislike most in her life?

It was people like Fang Ruo.

She did something wrong herself, yet cried as if she was the victim.

She hadn’t thought about the consequences for others, but she still did it, holding onto the idea that she was forced and innocent.

Zhou Yun knew Fang Ruo was just a concubine-born daughter, and she was from the local area, coming to the capital. She was timid and insecure.

But Zhou Yun couldn’t muster up any sympathy for her.

She kicked Fang Ruo’s hand away and said coldly, “Don’t dirty my skirt.”