Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C087 extra pt1

Extra: First Encounter in the Previous Life

Mingyi Hall

'"Aunt, you should be well aware of the Zhao family’s current situation. Back then, I married His Majesty as a Secondary Consort, yet your Zhao family insisted on associating with the rebellious Prince, causing a rift between the Chang and Zhao families. Considering what the rebellious Prince did back then, His Majesty tolerates the Zhao family for my sake, and for the sake of the Chang family. Now that this Majesty has need of the Zhao family, asking them to lend a hand, is that truly making things difficult for you?"'

Consort Chang leaned languidly against the divan, her posture casual and indolent. Beneath the pomegranate skirt embroidered with a profusion of butterflies that trailed on the floor, only the tip of her shoe, adorned with an exquisite cluster of pearl butterflies, was visible, radiating an aura of imposing nobility. Though her small mouth uttered threatening words, her appearance was so exquisitely beautiful and charming that it was difficult to feel any ill will towards her.

Chen shi, the Madam of Duke Zhao, stammered, "But she is, after all, Zhao Jianzhi's wife in name."

Consort Chang chuckled softly. "You yourself said, 'in name.'"

In truth, who in the capital did not know that the Second Young Master Zhao's wife was out of favor? Only a few days after the marriage, the Zhao family had already engaged a favored concubine for the Second Young Master Zhao. This concubine, moreover, was related to the Second Young Master Zhao as a cousin. They were deeply in love, their hearts intertwined, leaving the Second Madam Zhao alone to guard an empty chamber.

Oh, right, this favored concubine was also Chen shi's niece.

Chen shi understood the meaning behind Consort Chang's laughter. Her old face flushed with shame, but she still pretended to be unaffected.

"I will speak frankly with you, I want her here to deal with the Empress. Back then, I should have been His Majesty’s primary wife. That Mei Wuxia used a scheme to steal the marriage intended for her foolish cousin. Because of that matter, she has always felt guilty. Back when we were still in the Prince’s residence, she didn’t dare invite her cousin to visit. After His Majesty ascended the throne, she acted as if that person never existed. Your Zhao family is also foolish, actually not bringing her into the palace. I wonder how that slut Mei Wuxia is laughing behind your backs."

"But that Mei shi is timid and dull. Even if this old woman brings her into the palace, what use would she be?" Chen shi hesitated. "She is not someone who can be of great use, except for her face..."

"You yourself said, 'except for her face," Consort Chang said with a smile. "Even if Mei shi is truly of no great use, even if it's just to disgust the Empress, I want to disgust her to death. The more she doesn't want to see someone, the more I will favor them. The more guilty she feels, the more I will bring it up before His Majesty."

The discord between the Empress and Consort Chang was a long-standing affair. They had fought fiercely back when they were still in the Prince's residence, and it had only intensified after entering the palace. Recently, Consort Chang had suffered a great loss in front of the Empress and was placed under house arrest. No wonder she hated so much that she turned her attention to the Zhao family.

"Does she think what she did back then can be hidden from anyone? However, I am currently under house arrest, so it is not convenient to directly accuse her before His Majesty. Once His Majesty sees that Mei shi, he will naturally take notice. Then, I will see what face that slut has to continue acting as her so-called virtuous Empress!"

"But—"

"Back then, Mei shi broke off the engagement and married someone else. Although no one in the capital dared to discuss it, those rebellious Princes did not hold back from using this matter to disgust His Majesty. Since you know to be wary of her identity and dare not let her show her face in public, how do you know that His Majesty will not, because of her existence, become even more disgusted with the Zhao family? Anyway, she is an invisible person in the Zhao family. Surely you are not reluctant to part with her?"

"It's not that I'm reluctant, it's just..."

"Stop with the 'justs.' Just one sentence: will you do it or not?"

Chen shi glanced hesitantly at Consort Chang.

Since the passing of her mother-in-law, the Zhao family's greatest connection with the Chang family had also been severed. If it were the Zhao family of the past, it wouldn't have mattered. But now, the Zhao family, as a former faction of Prince Jin, had long offended the current Emperor to the death. The reason they could survive was because of the title of founding meritorious officials.

But for the nobility, the Emperor's favor or disfavor meant entirely different treatments. To be snubbed and ridiculed was one thing, but their sons and grandsons would also have their futures ruined. Her eldest son was barely thirty, yet already had white hair.

In truth, Consort Chang was right. Now, the only one who could lend a hand to the Zhao family was Consort Chang. Although Consort Chang's title was inferior to the Empress', she was raising the Emperor's only prince. The Empress had difficulty conceiving, and had remained childless for many years. Consort Chang, however, held the Emperor's only prince in her hands, and the eldest son at that. In the future, she might very well become an Empress Dowager.

For a time, countless thoughts swirled in Chen shi's mind. She glanced at Consort Chang again, and gritted her teeth, saying, "This concubine will send a letter to Your Majesty."

"Good!" Consort Chang revealed a satisfied smile.

After Chen shi returned to the Duke Zhao's Mansion, she told her husband, Zhao Rui, about the matter.

The couple thought about it for an entire day, and finally decided to help Consort Chang.

Now that she had made up her mind, Chen shi had nothing to worry about. She immediately ordered someone to summon Mei shi.

Although Mei shi was only in her early twenties, she appeared listless and worn due to years of being neglected and left alone in her empty room. If not for her unusually delicate and beautiful face, she would have looked like a widow who had been widowed for many years.

She wore a dark indigo dress, dressed plainly and maturely. After seeing Chen shi, she respectfully performed a bow and stood there without saying a word.

Every time Chen shi saw this daughter-in-law, she felt a sense of obstruction in her throat, which was why she didn't want to see her. Especially now that she harbored a secret intention, she felt an inexplicable aversion to this woman.

"Consort Chang wishes to see you. You will enter the palace with me tomorrow."

Mei shi was stunned. Consort Chang wanted to see her?

However, Chen shi was clearly too lazy to say more to her. After speaking, she let her leave. Before she left, she instructed her to dress up a bit tomorrow, and not to dress as she was now.

Dress up?

After Mei shi returned to her residence, she opened her wardrobe and looked, revealing a bitter smile.

The maid, Meifang, said, "T-the, the previous..."

Meifang stuttered a bit, but Mei shi understood her meaning after being with her for so long. Meifang meant for her to look at the few sets of clothes she brought with her when she got married.

After searching through everything she had, the only slightly bright clothes were those few sets.

Mei shi had Meifang open the chest. After finally taking the clothes out, she discovered that they were slightly yellowed and smelled of mildew because they had been stored for so long and had not been taken out to air.

"Forget it. I am usually like this. Even if I dress up, I'll still be like this. I wonder what they want me to do in the palace?" Mei shi said.

In the afternoon, Chen shi had someone deliver a set of clothes to Mei shi, along with two hairpins. This greatly surprised Mei shi, even evoking a sense of fearful trepidation, as if she were receiving undue favor.

The next day, she wore that set of clothes to the main courtyard.

Chen shi, disliking the old-fashioned way she had styled her hair, instructed a maidservant at her side to redo it for her.

Noticing the strange look in Chen shi's eyes as she gazed at her, Mei shi couldn't help but turn to look in the mirror.

After seeing the person in the mirror, she was momentarily stunned.

"The palace is different from the outside world; you must be respectful when you see Consort Chang," Chen shi said to Mei shi on the way to the palace, explaining some basic palace etiquette.

However, she also knew that this daughter-in-law was incapable of being propped up, and didn't expect much from her. In truth, Chen shi was more concerned that Consort Chang's plan would fail; if it failed, everything would return to normal, but if it succeeded, Duke Zhao's Mansion would become a laughingstock.

She had discussed this matter with her husband, and they felt that the possibility of success was extremely slim. Now, Consort Chang was like a child who had lost their temper in a fight: If I can't win, I'll throw a donkey turd at you to disgust you.*

TN: A Chinese idiom meaning to resort to petty and disgusting tactics when one cannot win fairly.

Mei shi was that donkey turd.

Chen shi thought that Mei shi would only serve as that donkey turd, to be discarded after use, and didn't expect anything else from her.

Mei shi was useless in every way, except for her face.

Emperor Qianwu was such a figure; would he be captivated by just a face?

It won't succeed, it definitely won't succeed!

Mei shi cautiously followed behind her mother-in-law into the palace.

Along the way, she kept her head lowered, only occasionally, when no one was around or watching her, did she uncomfortably tug at her clothes.

These clothes were a little small for her, especially around the chest. Mei shi was used to wearing loose-fitting clothes, and suddenly wearing such a waist-hugging shirt felt particularly uncomfortable.

Upon arriving at a palace hall, Chen shi went in first, telling her to wait outside.

Mei shi stood outside and waited, vaguely feeling that someone was watching her. She looked up, but only saw palace servants with solemn expressions, and did not see the person who was watching her.

After a while, a palace maid came over to speak with her, saying she would take her to see Consort Chang.

"But this one's mother-in-law..." Chen shi was still inside and hadn't come out yet.

"Duke Zhao's Madam is inside speaking with someone. This servant will first lead Madam to see Her Majesty. Madam, please follow this servant."

In truth, if Mei shi had ever entered the palace, she would have known that this was actually Consort Chang's residence. Unfortunately, she had never entered the palace and did not know what place this Mingyi Hall was.

She followed behind the palace maid all the way, and because she was so obedient, she always walked with lowered eyebrows and eyes, as Chen shi had taught her, without looking around. If she had paid a little more attention, she would have noticed that the palace maid's behavior was very suspicious, looking around from time to time, and even exchanging glances with people along the way.

She was led to an unfamiliar palace. The furnishings within the hall were extravagant, yet it was empty.

The palace maid told her to wait there, and then hurriedly left.