I See the Noble Consort's Charm - Chapter 29:

Chapter 29:

Yet everything happened too quickly. Before Su Qingyao could even process it, Consort He had already withdrawn her hand.

With a sharp cry of Aiyo! from her, a flash of crimson light followed as she allowed the parrot’s sharp claws to tear across the back of her hand, collapsing directly onto the ground.

This scene appeared far too horrifying. All these consorts in the palace were precious daughters from noble families—none had ever witnessed such a spectacle. Only when Consort He fell to the floor did Consort Yi seem to jolt awake from a deep dream, hurriedly saying, Quickly summon the eunuchs! First capture that beast so it doesn’t run wild and injure anyone.

The Chief Eunuch from her palace had long been stationed at the entrance. Upon receiving Consort Yi’s order, he rushed in flustered, immediately throwing a gauze net over the bird.

He wasn’t alone; two Junior Eunuchs followed behind him. With three men combining their strength, they swiftly trapped the parrot in the gauze net within moments, finally restoring calm to the flower hall.

Seeing this, Su Qingyao understood—Consort Yi had prepared in advance. Otherwise, personnel and tools couldn’t have been arranged so promptly.

After they withdrew, Su Qingyao tugged at Imperial Attendant Sun’s sleeve. Sister Sun, let’s go back in.

Imperial Attendant Sun had been covering her face earlier, completely missing what transpired in the flower hall. Only when prompted did she seem to awaken from a dream. Where’s the bird?

Su Qingyao deliberately ruffled her dress and bit her lip hard before leading her back into the flower hall. The bird’s been captured, so we’re safe now.

Imperial Attendant Sun patted her chest. That was close! I was truly terrified earlier.

As they spoke, the two returned to the flower hall. By now, Consort Yi’s palace attendants were busy comforting the other consorts and cleaning up the scattered pastry crumbs, while Consort Yi and Consort Hui both hovered around Consort He with worried expressions.

Given the earlier scene, Consort He must have been injured—the question was how severely.

Su Qingyao took a deep breath, trying hard to put on a frightened appearance as she moved closer. This humble consort was scared to death! What happened to Consort He?

Her words drew Consort Yi’s sharp glare like daggers.

How could you be so discourteous earlier? When none of the senior consorts had moved, you alone ran out. Consort Yi’s tone carried considerable weight—enough to intimidate anyone with thinner skin.

But who was Su Qingyao? Having witnessed countless scenes, how could she possibly fear Consort Yi!

Feigning complete ignorance under her glare, she timidly asked, Why does Consort Yi speak to this humble consort so? I was simply too frightened earlier and fled with Sister Sun—I never intended to abandon the senior consorts.

By speaking up proactively, Su Qingyao prevented Consort Yi from using this as leverage. Fleeing during danger was human nature—she was merely a delicate woman exceptionally afraid of birds, so her panicked escape was understandable.

Consort Yi took a deep breath, her expression darkening further. This consort would never blame you. I was merely concerned you might have been harmed earlier, hence my close observation. Now that you’re unharmed, I’m relieved.

Su Qingyao curtsied to her, then turned to Consort Hui with concern. Is Consort Hui also unharmed?

Consort Hui shot her a glance, her heart filled with the frustration of having exerted effort in vain, and her tone naturally turned sharp: I’m fine, but you actually dared to abandon the principal consort and flee privately—you really ought to review the palace regulations.

Su Qingyao immediately lowered her head, as if too frightened to speak.

In reality, Consort Hui was merely venting with words. Su Qingyao, after all, was a recognized palace consort with a seventh-rank position. Even though Consort Hui outranked her, it wasn’t Consort Hui’s place to discipline her.

If any real issue arose, the Empress Dowager would handle it—she was the true principal consort of the Eternal Trust Palace.

Consort Hui simply wanted to vent her anger. Seeing that she couldn’t chastise Su Qingyao, she turned to Qing Sui and snapped, Hurry and urge Ying Yu! Consort He is still bleeding.

Indeed, in this short time, the blood from Consort He’s hand had already stained nearly half of her sleeve, looking quite alarming.

Her chief maid, Ling Yin, was an ordinary-looking woman. Su Qingyao had no particular impression of her, but now, seeing her face pale, she couldn’t determine how severe Consort He’s injury was.

If it was like the previous lifetime, the injury shouldn’t be serious—merely a surface cut that might not even leave a scar once healed.

Consort Hui’s earlier shout had been quite loud, and Consort He, surrounded by palace maids, heard it. She immediately softened her voice and said, It’s nothing serious, elder sister. There’s no need to worry too much.

Her consistently gentle temperament was well-known in the palace, but now, injured and still comforting others, it felt somewhat peculiar.

Su Qingyao couldn’t pinpoint what was strange, but she sensed an intentional undertone in that soft voice, as if deliberately restrained. Without careful listening, one might miss it entirely.

With Consort He voluntarily defusing the tension, both Consort Hui and Consort Yi looked somewhat relieved, their expressions less strained than before.

Ultimately, this incident stemmed from Consort Yi’s failure to properly host her palace sisters. At best, it was carelessness; at worst, it hinted at malicious intent. If Consort He hadn’t been injured, it might have been overlooked, but with this injury taking one or two months to heal, the Empress Dowager would surely notice during court greetings.

Given the Empress Dowager’s nature, she would inquire, and once she did, Consort Yi wouldn’t escape accountability.

Consort Yi had already considered these ramifications. The idea was hers, and the bird was specially trained for today’s event to vent her frustrations. Although Su Qingyao, her primary target, remained unharmed, injuring another whom she disliked was satisfaction enough—even if punished, it felt worth it.

Compared to Consort Yi’s meticulous planning, Consort Hui now grew restless.

She feared Consort Yi might implicate her as a scapegoat but didn’t know how to resolve the situation. As she sat there dazed, her face shifted between green and pale, like a theatrical performance.

Su Qingyao, with decades of observation in the palace, understood their expressions immediately—what wasn’t clear to her now?

Knowing it was unwise to involve herself further, she waited until Talented Lady Xie came to pull her aside, and the three of them retreated to the edge, quietly waiting.

Ying Yu had now brought the medicinal ointment, instructing Ling Yin to carefully tend to Consort He’s wound. Qing Sui stood nearby, also appearing tense.

Ling Yin seemed knowledgeable in basic remedies for bruises and injuries. In less than half an incense stick’s time, she had bandaged Consort He’s wound, though her expression remained grim as she stood there, lips pressed tightly shut.

After Consort He’s wound was treated, the palace maids dispersed, and Su Qingyao finally noticed Wu Jieyu shrinking at the back.

She had been closest to Consort He earlier and had instinctively hidden behind her. Now that the senior consort of her palace was injured while she remained unharmed, she was undoubtedly panicking internally, not even daring to speak.

Consort He had lost a lot of blood, staining her sleeves and robes. Leaning halfway against the chair back, she comforted Consort Yi, who kept apologizing to her.

Sister, don’t worry. It will heal in time; it’s really not too serious, she said softly, her voice warm as a spring breeze. Consort Yi gradually relaxed her expression, actually believing her words.

It’s all my fault. That bird is usually very well-behaved; I don’t know why it was so aggressive today. If I had checked the cage properly before bringing it out, this accident wouldn’t have happened to you.

Consort Yi gently bit her lower lip, her tone softening: I hope you won’t be angry with me, sister.

This Consort Yi was quite adaptable—ruthless when provoking others, yet able to humble herself when necessary. Seeing her like this for the first time, Su Qingyao couldn’t help but view her in a new light.

Consort He patted her arm with her uninjured right hand: Sister, set your mind at ease. I won’t blame you; it was an accident.

Whether it was truly an accident, only Consort Yi, Consort Hui, and Su Qingyao knew for certain. Even if others had guessed earlier, they wouldn’t say anything, keeping their heads down and remaining silent in the back.

However, Consort Yi and Consort Hui certainly wouldn’t admit to it, and Su Qingyao had no intention of idly reporting them. She was quite confident in the Empress Dowager’s control over the Eternal Trust Palace—there was nothing in this palace she didn’t know about.

Though Consort Yi breathed a sigh of relief today, she would surely be summoned to the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility tomorrow, and this time she wouldn’t escape the Empress Dowager’s reprimand and punishment.

At this moment, the parlor was in chaos, and Consort He’s bloodied appearance was quite frightening. Consort Yi didn’t stop anyone, pondering for a moment before saying: Today, it was the negligence of my palace staff that disturbed all my sisters. When I have free time another day, I will host a banquet and invite you all to my Brocade Palace for another round of drinks.

That’s what she said, but in the short term, no one would dare to come.

Consort Yi didn’t dwell on this and continued: You’ve all been frightened, sisters. As it’s getting dark, I won’t keep you any longer. Please return and rest.

Hearing they could leave, Su Qingyao immediately felt relieved.

She had indeed come with the intention of watching the spectacle, but since Consort Yi personally sent Xie Cai Ren to invite her, she had no choice but to attend.

Actually, she didn’t know if Consort Yi would use the same old tactics in this lifetime and was initially very tense. It wasn’t until the bird was brought out that she breathed a small sigh of relief.

Indeed, Consort Yi wasn’t particularly clever—using that parrot was probably her limit.

Su Qingyao and Consort Sun stood up together and looked toward Consort Hui.

Consort Hui clearly wouldn’t be leaving with them; she still needed to stay and have a private talk with Consort Yi, so she waved them off: You may go ahead; be careful on your way.

Su Qingyao and Consort Sun performed a curtsy, then left together. Consort Yi had Xie Cai Ren see them out, and the three walked silently to the gate.

Only after they had walked about ten zhang away from the Brocade Palace gate did Su Qingyao quietly ask: Are you alright, Sister Xie?

Xie Cai Ren had actually guessed what Consort Yi was planning. Her hair ornaments and jewelry were specially gifted by Consort Yi, who said it was to make her look more beautiful at the banquet.

Because she knew the situation well, she dared not run out, hiding only beneath the chair and praying to escape calamity.

Heaven had eyes and heard her plea.

Now, questioned by Su Qingyao, Xie Cai Ren instead worried for her: Consort Hui is clearly not very pleased.

When the Junior Mistresses in her own palace encountered trouble and fled together, leaving no one to care for her as the ranking consort, it would be strange if she were happy.

But in this matter, even if Consort Hui was displeased, she could only swallow her frustration.

Su Qingyao smiled and patted her hand, blinking her eyes: It’s fine. I’m afraid of birds—surely they can’t force me to go against my nature, right?

Xie Cai Ren was taken aback, then also laughed: Sisters, let’s return. We’ll gather again another time.

After returning to her own palace, Su Qingyao bathed, changed clothes, and sat down to rest before remembering to ask Liuqin: Did you see Consort He’s movements clearly earlier?

Liuqin gently fanned her, nodding with certainty: This servant saw very clearly. Consort He indeed intended to grab that parrot at the time.

Su Qingyao narrowed her eyes slightly.

Author’s note: Talented Lady Su: Heh, trying to mess with me? No chance!