Story of Consort Xi

Chapter 3: Lover Turned Stranger

"Ehh? Why are you not in school?", a clear and melodious voice interrupted Rong Xiang's daze. Looking up, he saw his identical twin Lan Yi. Rong Xiang waved her away impatiently: "It's none of your business."

"Oh!" Lan Yi exclaimed in shock when she saw Rong Xiang's face. A huge patch of bruise, and even his eyes were swollen. Lan Yi asked in concern: "What happened? Why is there such a huge bruise?"

"I told you it's not your business." Rong Xiang buried his face between his knees.

"You're not saying? Fine, I'll go and report to Father then, and let Father question you about your injury." Lan Yi turned towards the house.

Before she could even take a step, Rong Xiang grabbed onto Lan Yi tightly, and refused to let her inform Ling Zhu. Lan Yi sighed: "Then would you please tell me what happened."

Unwillingly, Rong Xiang told Lan Yi. In the morning on the way to school, Rong Xiang met a classmate, Zha Tai, that he was not on good terms with. The classmate, who heard about the news of Rong Lu, made fun of Rong Xiang incessantly. In anger, Rong Xiang picked a fight with Zha Tai. Initially, Rong Xiang had the upper hand in the 1-to-1 fight. However, Zha Tai had a bunch of followers, who joined in the fight against Rong Xiang. As such, Rong Xiang suffered losses, and secretly left school.

"It's all because of the Shi family! If not for him, Big Brother will not end up in such a posting, and I would not have been made fun of!" Rong Xiang exclaimed in anger.

"Sigh. The Shi family has a daughter who is the Crown Princess [1]. With the support from the Crown Prince, the Shi family holds much power in Court." Lan Yi's lamented.

Kicking a pile of snow along the roadside, Rong Xiang blurted, "If only someone in our family is also in the Imperial Harem."

Hearing this, Lan Yi had an idea: "Oh yes, isn't Elder Sister participating in the Imperial Harem selection [2] in a few days' time? If Elder Sister is selected by the Emperor, our family will have an Imperial Concubine! In such high position, nobody will dare to look down on our family."

"Definitely not!" Rong Xiang objected. "Elder Sister is fated to be with Rong Yuan. If she is selected into the Imperial Harem, they would be separated forever! If you really like it, you can try to be selected yourself. Don't make use of Elder Sister, she won't enter the Imperial Harem." Lan Yi pulled a face at his brother, and the two of them headed back.

Unbeknownst to them, somebody had been listening to their entire conversation around the corner...

She did not know how she ended up in her room, but when she recovered from her daze, Ling Ruo was already standing in front of her mirror. Her fingers gently stroking her now-unfamiliar face. Flawless white skin, dreamy and delicate eyes, dainty nose, and small red lips. An exquisite and angelic appearance.

A face that she has lived with for fifteen years, why does it seem so foreign to her now? It seems like... Could she possibly... A path that she has never considered, never thought about. Once embarked, her life will be forever thrown into political conflicts and feuds.