The Legend of Moonflower

Chapter 26 - Signs and Shifting

A/N: Idiom - bān qǐ shí tou zá zì jǐ de jiǎo  He lifted a stone only drop it on his own foot.  To crush one's own foot while trying to maneuver a rock to a cliff edge, to drop on one's enemy, thus hurting himself instead of his enemy.

Definition: Hulijing is a fox spirit.  In this chapter it is used in a negative connotation of one that is an evil seductress capable of bewitching others.

Chinese Numerology: 6 is a good number because in mandarin it sounds like smooth, whereas the number 7 can sometimes be seen as a bad omen and also sounds like to bully or deceive.

Warning/spoilers:  If you are quite sensitive, please scroll to the end to see author's notes.

Chapter 26

He was not lurking per say. In fact, it was much like that time he had seen the first attendant in the arms of his shixiong. He just happened to come upon them while out for a walk and it wasn't his fault that they didn't see him behind the large tree trunk on the other side of the pavilion. Today, it was really just a coincidence, he just happened to hear the Noble Consort Wanyin and Consort Chengmei laughing before he rounded the corner. It would be rude for him to interrupt, plus he was a bit out of breath from walking so quickly, so he just decided to rest against the wall before greeting the two omegas. He supposed it was probably a good idea for him to wait for his two servants to catch up to him as well.

"With the first attendant pregnant, I'm sure he will be promoted," Xue Yang said, sullenly.

"Yes," the noble consort agreed. "Not even the empress dowager can object to it."

Su She peeked around the corner to see the two omegas had their back to him. They were enjoying the shaded pavilion, sharing fruit and drinking tea. He made a face wondering why they never invited him to their gossip sessions.

"He'll likely be promoted to nobleman," Xue Yang said.

The noble consort made a noise that sounded like he disagreed.

"You think it'll be higher?"

"Concubine," was the noble consort's response.

"That would mean he would outrank Su She again," Xue Yang said in delight.

He ground his teeth and wanted nothing more to step out and challenge the little bitch of a consort.

The noble consort sighed. "Poor Minshan, always looked over by the emperor. He must be lonely and to think he spent his heat alone again."

Su She was warmed by the noble consort's concern. Perhaps he had been wrong about how Jiang Wanyin felt about him.

Xue Yang laughed loudly. "I don't feel bad for him at all."

"I pity him, because at this rate he will never rank higher than Wei Wuxian," Jiang Wanyin said.

"Can you imagine being inferior to one so low-born for the rest of your life?" Xue Yang exclaimed. "Su She's such a disgrace to his family. His poor father has to work twice as hard to keep his standing in court. It's no secret it was his father's merit that got him promoted to nobleman."

Su She's face was red from the shame he felt with the consort's words. His hand that was gripping his sword began to rattle with the way he was shaking in anger.

"I heard the first attendant was mimicking Su She's whining the other day in the presence of the emperor," the noble consort confided. "He was making fun of the way the nobleman speaks to the empress dowager."