LoT Phoenix 1

Chapter 164: Harem Spectacle

All Worth It

You exit the hall with a breeze hitting your face, carrying the pungent sent of ambergris.

You take the usual route back and soon see Shi Lian running toward you, teary eyed and all smiles.

Shi Lian: Miss! Miss!

MC: [Big grin] Shi Lian!

Her face is full of joy. You embrace her and she is at a loss as to how to react.

Shi Lian: Miss... Wait, you're County Lady now! You're finally back! I missed you so much!

MC: Sorry to keep you waiting.

Shi Lian: [Shakes head] It's worth the wait to see you back safe and sound!

She skips over the difficult time while you were gone and appreciate the fact that she is fortunate enough to see you again!

Hui Xin: [Irritated] Come on, how long are you two going to hug? Can you be more sentimental?

Dillydally

You see Hui Xin not far off, glaring but with the same teary eyes and smile.

MC: [Trot over] I get it, you're jealous, aren't you?

Before she can react, you give her a big hug too.

Hui Xin: Jealous? Ridiculous! Who do you think I am, my brother?

MC: Fu Heng?

Hui Xin: [Remembers his merciless stare and shudders] No, nothing...

Hui Xin: Let's not just stand here, there are people watching! Lady Shu Xian's waiting for you, so let's go! Come on!

Respectful Treatment

With good friends around, your first day back at the palace was enjoyable, but a palace maid sent by Queen Rong the next day ruins the mood.

Lan Zhi: [Smile] Her Majesty invites you to the Training Palace for a chat, my lady.

Queen Rong goes through with her promise yesterday of inviting you.

MC: Shi Lian, I got an invitation with the queen. Please help me with makeup.

Lan Zhi: You look fine as is.

MC: Maybe so, but etiquette demands that I be at my best.

You part the curtain and sit at the vanity stand. In the mirror, you catch a glimpse of a frustrated Lan Zhi furtively stomping her foot.

Lan Zhi: [Forces a smile] Please hurry and not keep the queen waiting.

MC: Of course! Who is this maid, Shi Lian? She seems familiar to me...

Shi Lian: It's Lan Zhi, my lady, she worked here before.

MC: [Sudden realization] Oh, no wonder! How are you doing over there with Her Majesty, Lan Zhi?

Lan Zhi: It's getting late, my lady. We got to get to the Training Palace.

Brash Temperament

It's only small talk and she gets impatient, not that you're all that eager to go there, anyway.

MC: [Smile] You're great, except the restlessness. You'll want to curb that under the queen.

Lan Zhi: Got it. Thank you for the advice, my lady.

That buys you more time before following Lan Zhi to the Training Palace.

Given the hour, you expect the harem to be long gone when you get there, but to your surprise, they are still there, probably waiting for you.

Queen Rong: [Grins] You're here! The servants I sent must be slow and lazy to get to you late. I was worried!

MC: Lan Zhi is not to be blamed, my queen. I took my time because I wanted to look my best for you. She actually reminded me to hurry up.

Of course, Queen Rong wasn't blaming Lan Zhi, but your reply insinuated that the maid rush you, which is disrespectful.

Lan Zhi: [Kneels] That wasn't my intent. Please forgive me!

Queen Rong: How could you rush her? How insolent! Go and accept your punishment! What do you think of that, County Lady?

Harem Sights

MC: She didn't do it on purpose and, frankly, it's not significant enough to warrant punishment.

The Queen narrows her eyes at you, but you smile back without any sign of fear.

Queen Rong: She must be disciplined so she will not repeat the offense again. Why are you still kneeling, Lan Zhi? Leave and accept your punishment!

Lan Zhi bows and exits. You now realize there are any new faces around, staring in curiosity. They must be new to the harem.

Noble Consort: The palace scene changed as soon as you got back. I have been under the weather until I heard you would be here. It made me want to talk to you.

There's peculiarity in the consort's words. How should you respond?

MC: Were you sick? Has the Imperial Physician examined you? How are you doing? You look like you could use some rest.

Noble Consort: [Slightly dumbfounded] I appreciate the concern, thank you. 

MC: You looked after me before so it's natural for me to reciprocate. 

Noble Consort: You're so kind... Oh, was it you who the 7th Prince ran into a few days ago?

Provoking Suspicion

You catch Queen Rong beaming and figure out why she summoned you... She's been waiting for this.

You don't know what happened after the run-in with the 7th Prince, but the consort seems like she's looking for trouble, and the queen is content with seeing you two butt heads.

MC: [Confused] The 7th Prince? What happened to him?

Noble Consort: He said he saw you on the street. Are you saying it wasn't you? You allegedly were... Only to show up suddenly pretending to be a ghost and scaring him sick!

He fell ill? The news shocks you. Given there was never any serious heat between you and him, how could you have frightened him so badly?

MC: How could that be? Don't you know I've been away for two years and was escorted straight to the capital by His Majesty's men just yesterday. How could he have seen me days ago?

Noble Consort: [Suspicious] Who else could it be, if it wasn't you?

MC: [Shake head] I have no idea. But there are a lot of lookalikes in the world. I even heard of masks so real, you could use them to impersonate anyone!

Noble Consort: What? So there's someone sinister behind this?

The consort turns in the queen's direction. That definitely throws Rong off her game as she tries to gloss over the issue.

Unfortunately, the consort already suspects the queen by then.

MC: (I just got back and you're coming at me hard already... I didn't spend the last two years being a Girl Scout!)

That upsets you very much. You want peace, but if the queen tries to target you again, you won't take it lying down.