The Job Of An Imperial Concubine

40

TJOAIC 40 – TO EAT ONE’S BITTER FRUIT (自食恶果)

The Ronghua Sun who had been escorted over no longer seemed as dazzling as in the past. Although her clothes, hair arrangement, and jewelry were neat and tidy, the people in the room could feel a defeated aura from her.　　

“Greetings to the emperor and empress.” Ronghua Sun knelt in a ruined manner. Although it was summer, the cold floor tiles of Xihe Palace made her shiver. She lifted her head slightly to check the emperor’s expression. Before she could see it clearly, a teacup with hot tea shattered on the ground next to her. The hot water splashed on the back of her hands. Painful. She trembled just a hint. She didn’t know why her original numbness suddenly disappeared, replaced by fear.　　

This teacup was the one Feng Jin had just received from a palace maid. The cup wasn’t a piece of precious chinaware. However, the workmanship was extremely fine. To have it shattered on the floor scared everyone in the room for a while.　　

The empress’s heart trembled as well. She was clear on the fact that the emperor had not liked such a thing happening in the harem. While the women in the harem all had schemes, they were courteous to each other on the surface. Even if someone died, their faces would still appear amiable. As sudden as this event was, the scheme itself was stupid. Even so, Chongyi Zhao was still unconscious. This showed how serious the situation was. 　　　　

“The reason why We favored you a bit more was because you are related to the empress. Never had We expected that you are an ugly and poisonous woman.” Feng Jin received a handkerchief from Gao Dezhong. Lightly wiped his hands. He did not even glance at the kneeling Ronghua Sun. “Easily jealous and vicious. The imperial harem cannot use such a woman. The Sun family certainly have taught a good daughter. Originally, you should be receiving three feet of white silk, but in light of the fact that Chongyi Zhao is alive, you will merely be stripped of your rank and thrown into the Cold Palace.”　　

The hearts of the imperial concubines chilled. Wasn’t becoming a servant of the harem worse than death? And the emperor also mentioned the Sun family. Even if Ronghua Sun wanted to commit suicide, she wouldn’t be able to.　　

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, it wasn’t me! It wasn’t me!” Ronghua Sun knelt with urgency. “She jumped in there herself. I didn’t push her! She’s framing me!”　　　　

As soon as Ronghua Sun said these words, the imperial concubines in the room each held a different expression.　　

Noble Consort Shu lightly smiled. As if she were taking pity on and ridiculing Ronghua Sun at the same time. At this juncture, it didn’t matter who was in the right or wrong. The most important thing: who was more favored and who was still unconscious. Let alone, that Ronghua Sun wasn’t completely innocent in the first place.　　

“Are you implying that Chongyi Zhao pushed you into the pond first? Then jumped into the pond herself?” Feng Jin sneered. “You, who had entered the water first, did not drown. Rather, it was Chongyi Zhao that lost consciousness. Truly amusing.”　　

Ronghua Sun gaped. Hesitated for a long time. In the end, when she was about to reveal the truth, she suddenly heard a palace maid rush outside from the inner chamber, yelling “master has awoken.” She recognized this palace maid. She was one of the first-ranked palace maids of Chongyi Zhao.　　

Watching as the emperor’s full attention shifted to the person lying on the bed, Ronghua Sun collapsed on the ground, face pale. As if she could see her future. Her entire body shook. Such an appearance in others’ eyes smelled of a guilty conscience.　　

This was the so-called “if you can’t bear using your child as bait, then you can’t catch a wolf¹.” This time, Zhuang Laoyan had suffered. By the time Ronghua Sun had been escorted over, she had already been awake. But if she still did not open her eyes at this moment, some things would not fare well for herself.