Chapter 18: Chapter 18
Watching the palace-dressed woman gradually approach, An Ning instinctively took a step back, a touch of surprise perfectly appearing on her face:
As if unaware of An Ning’s resistance, Zhang Jiashi nodded faintly, maintaining a cold demeanor. Her gaze did not linger on An Ning but instead signaled a nearby palace attendant to present a pale greenish-blue pearl.
“Side Consort, you dropped this earring.”
An Ning instinctively touched her ear and found that her right ear was indeed empty.
“System, scan this item for me.”
“Host, rest assured, it’s just an ordinary pearl.”
An Ning smiled as before but spoke in an unyielding tone:
“Moreover, this one doesn’t seem to resemble mine.”
After speaking, she gave no chance for Zhang Jiashi to respond, bowed, and hurriedly left with her maid. From start to finish, she gave no opportunity for the visitor to come closer.
Zhang Jiashi and her entourage: “……”
Only after the master and servant disappeared from sight did Zhang Jiashi withdraw her gaze, her already gloomy eyes growing even darker. Without looking at the attendant beside her, she blankly said:
“Axiu, don’t you think that following me as your mistress was a mistake from the start?”
When it came to caution, even ordinary people of this era couldn’t compare.
“Your Highness, how could you think so? You are now a consort and have two imperial princes below your knees. Your future is bright!” The palace attendant named Axiu, dressed in green, hurriedly expressed her loyalty:
“Without your Highness’s kindness these years, I would still be an unnoticed maid in the Chrysanthemum Garden, not enjoying such glory.”
Though she spoke this way, a sourness welled up in Axiu’s throat.
Everyone said the main palace ladies’ maids were privileged, but sometimes she felt it was better to be an ordinary palace servant before.
At least then, she wouldn’t be constantly targeted by various consorts finding fault with her. Axiu instinctively touched her still sore knees, the injury from kneeling punishment given by Consort Hui half a month ago.
And two months ago, she had offended Imperial Consort Yi.
The imperial physician said kneeling too long in the rain would likely cause lasting damage.
Unintentionally, Axiu thought of the stunning Side Consort she had just seen. As soon as she gained favor, she pulled her close friend out of the labor quarters. It was said that the woman’s sister, Wanqing, had married years ago and now had two children.
Though this woman was an ordinary banner family member, she had earned the title of juren early on and had been appointed an official with the prince’s manor’s support a few years ago.
Axiu had asked around before; with the prince’s manor as backing, this lady wouldn’t even dare to take a concubine, living quite comfortably.
Touching her aching knees, Axiu lowered her gaze further.
Zhang Jiashi’s eyes involuntarily pained, and after a while, she said with bitterness, “Axiu, a while ago, I asked my elder brother to find someone for you…”
“Don’t worry, your dowry has been prepared all these years.”
“But Your Highness now…”
“Don’t worry about these things. Axiu, just remember, once married, live well. No matter what happens in the palace in the future, don’t ask and don’t get involved.”
Ignoring Axiu’s protest, Zhang Jiashi’s voice was resolute. Her face, like frost and snow, showed unwavering determination.
Axiu’s heart suddenly tightened.
Just as surprised was An Ning, who was being monitored live by the system:
“What is Zhang Jiashi planning?”
Fearing some hidden scheme after the earlier incident, An Ning decided to have the system monitor in real time. She didn’t expect such a bold move at the start.
Given Zhang Jiashi’s current situation, recklessly sending away the only trusted head maid was tantamount to digging her own grave.
“System, how long can you monitor continuously each day?”
On the way back, An Ning suddenly asked in a low voice.
“What if I spend points?”
“Huh? But Host, you currently have no points.”
“Then put it on credit!”
Her tone was so firm that even Tongzi inside the consciousness hesitated, stammering after a while: “Host… you should think carefully. If by the end of the task the points earned can’t cover the credit, this mission will also be considered a failure.”
“Full-day monitoring is expensive, costing one point every ten days.” That is, 0.1 points per day.
One mission can earn a maximum of 100 points.
Unfortunately, An Ning was particularly determined:
“But officially start monitoring only after that palace maid gets married!”
“Oh, oh, okay… okay!” Though confused about why Host suddenly looked so serious, Tongzi nodded in agreement and decided to occasionally check in to gather useful information without making Host waste money.
Unaware of Tongzi’s mental activity, An Ning returned home. After a group of maids helped her remove the heavy makeup and jewelry, she leaned lightly against the soft couch, letting the skilled maids massage her shoulders.
Only when someone from the main courtyard came to ask if there were any eligible young ladies for the Side Consort today did An Ning realize the real reason for her visit: it was to find a consort for her son.
It was just that Mingyu was too young—still under fifteen, basically a middle school kid in modern terms!
“Mingyu has always been strong-willed. It’s better for him to choose his consort himself!”
So, despite the strange looks from the main wife’s maids, An Ning took it easy. Her daughter-in-law was her own choice. As long as it wasn’t too outrageous, whether they matched or not was her son’s call.
As for whether her daughter-in-law and she would get along, she didn’t care. If they got along, they’d get along; if not, they’d keep their distance.
The prince’s manor was huge anyway, not requiring daily meetings.
Not to mention the secret savings she had accumulated over the years. In feudal society, the role of mother-in-law held strategic advantage. Only those who catered to her would be favored; she wouldn’t accommodate others.
Speaking of marriage, An Ning thought of the body’s younger half-brother, the real big problem!
Though ambitious, the younger half-brother insisted on marrying only after passing the imperial examination for the middle rank. He barely succeeded two years ago, ranking at the lower end of the second class.
At this time, it was rare for Manchus to have any place on the list.
Especially since he was only about twenty-five or twenty-six, with an older sister as a Side Consort in the prince’s manor and a nephew who was the highly regarded heir apparent.
Once he achieved some merits after entering office, promotion was only a matter of time. His marriage prospects were quite promising.
Unfortunately, shortly after passing the exam, the original body’s worthless father, bedridden for years, passed away.
Great, that meant three more years of mourning.
Thinking about the younger half-brother’s expression at the time, An Ning couldn’t help but laugh.
She reasonably suspected that the worthless father had a grudge against the two siblings in his past life. If not for the stepmother having no motive, An Ning would be the first to suspect him.
After all, this man was the one who caused the father’s stroke with a single bag of medicine.
“Tongzi, this proves never to underestimate women. When pushed to a certain point, they will do anything.”
It didn’t realize that from start to finish, the Host was the one pushing the matter along.
But somehow, Tongzi felt the Host’s words had a hidden meaning.