Consort Hui took her hand back calmly as she spoke softly and relievedly,”You can be rest assured. With me here, she will not be living any better. The most important thing for you now is to take care of yourself. Remember, from now onwards, everything you do is important, so be cautious and don’t act rashly.”
Imperial Concubine Mei seemed to have found support in Consort Hui’s guarantee. She nodded emphatically, “I will remember what sister said!”
Consort Hui smiled and said, “Then I am relieved. The time is now late so I will return first. I will come and visit you on another day.”
Imperial Concubine Mei nodded, saying a few words to the elder sister in tears before she watched Consort Hui leave.
When Xixiang sent Consort Hui outside the palace and turned back, she saw the Imperial Concubine sitting silently on the bed. She had no tears on her face and her gaze was staring coldly at the door.
Xixiang was startled as she hesitated but walked over and asked in a hushed voice, “Imperial Concubine, what are you looking at?”
After a while, she heard Imperial Concubine Mei replied in a weak voice, “Consort Hui is going to cut her arm (3) to protect herself,” Xixiang was startled as she watched her cold and bitter gaze slowly moving towards her. The Imperial Concubine dictated each word clearly, “Xixiang, we can now only rely on ourselves.”
(T/N: An expression to say ‘cutting off or severing ties’. The idiom came from the concept of losing a limb is better than losing your life)
…
Consort Hui hurried back to the Yaohua Palace accompanied by her maidservant. When she stepped into the gates of the palace, she was relieved. Her maidservant had also whispered, “There wasn’t anyone along the way, so Consort can rest easy.”
Going to visit Imperial Concubine Mei was in itself a big risk— if news were to spread that she had done so, the outcome would not be positive.
Consort Hui nodded, but as soon as she walked into the yard, she saw her daughter standing at the door looking at her.
The night was already late, so Consort Hui asked,”What are you doing at this hour, standing here without going to bed?” with a questioning tone.
After the new year’s arrival, Lin Nianzhi seemed to have grown up a bit more, behaving more and more like a lady, but from time to time she still looked like a child who would always throw tantrums. At this moment, she gritted her teeth and looked upset. When Consort Hui approached her, she said bluntly, “Where has mother Consort been?”
Consort Hui continued to walk into the room and removed her cloak, “I just went outside for a stroll.”
Lin Nianzhi followed up, “You’re lying! You obviously went to see Imperial Concubine Mei!”
Consort Hui’s expression darkened as she turned around to scold her, “What sort of nonsense is that?! Return to your chambers this instance!”
Lin Nianzhi walked over by two or three steps, unreluctant and unbashful, “Why does mother Consort want to continue associate yourself with that sinister woman?! She is not a good person, urging mother Consort to do some disgustingly bad things alongside with her! Now that she has fallen to her current state, it was caused by nothing but by her self-inflicting schemes! Mother Consort, you should have cut ties with her early on!”
Consort Hui couldn’t hide her anger, “What sort of nonsense are you talking about?!”
Lin Nianzhi pinched the fingers under her sleeves tightly together before she gritted her teeth and said, “I heard everything! The previous time on the way to the palace, Fifth Sister had encountered assassins, and you were the one who planned it with Imperial concubine Mei! Every time I think about it, I’m ashamed of meeting the Fifth Sister!”
Consort Hui was shocked and furious. She raised her hand and slapped her face with a slap, “Shut up!”