Chapter 85: Well Prepared

Amidst the clamor, aside from the woman before her, Huayue, Hua Rong could hardly spare any attention for anyone else. Even Jun Yeli, who had been watching her all this time, was carelessly cast to the back of her mind.

“Sister, why did you suddenly think of launching an attack? Could it be that you missed me?” Hua Rong clung to Huayue’s arm, her heart filled with comfort beyond words. These days had been a living hell, where even drinking a sip of water felt like a risk to her life. Now, at last, she had found a direction to lean on.

Yet, faced with Hua Rong’s exuberance, Huayue couldn’t help but knit her brows and gently pushed away the hands clinging to her arm. “You are now the emperor’s consort. You ought to be more mindful of your image.”

Hua Rong obediently composed herself, following the rules, and asked a few questions about their family’s situation. The answers, however, were far from satisfactory.

“Speaking of home, Father’s health was never good, and for some unfathomable reason, he has been targeted at court. Upon returning, he suddenly suffered a stroke. Our family was already fragile—now this is a calamity upon calamity!”

Sighing, Huayue could not suppress another heavy breath. If not for this, she would never have come to the palace in person.

Hua Rong was taken aback. “What? Father had a stroke?”

“In the harem, most women are from official families. Could it be that I have drawn such attention because I am overly favored?” Hua Rong pondered for a moment, then glanced at Jun Yeli with a complicated expression, only to meet his gaze. She quickly averted her eyes, as if scorched by fire, her heart surging with waves of unrest. “Now that the emperor treats me so specially, those women must be burning with jealousy. Not only is my life at stake, but Father has been implicated as well. This cannot go on…”

Taking a deep breath, Hua Rong did her best to suppress her unease and forced a smile. “Sister, you must have come with a plan, haven’t you? Are you suggesting I speak to His Majesty? But that might backfire.”

The closer she got to the emperor, the more jealous those women would become, endangering both her and her family. Hua Rong understood this well, and Huayue was no fool either.

She lifted her gaze, sweeping over the banquet. Most present were noblewomen, each beautiful as frost, elegant, and born of distinguished families.

Yet, it was a pity—none could compare to the sisters of the Hua family.

After a moment’s thought, Huayue suddenly took Hua Rong’s hand, her expression complicated as she whispered, “I heard from Suxin that you are much favored in the palace. I wish… for you to recommend me to the emperor!”

Her words struck like thunder. Hua Rong was dumbfounded and shook her head at once. “Sister, what are you thinking? The imperial palace is as deep as the sea. To enter is to step into the tiger’s den—your life would never be your own again! Besides… don’t you already love someone?”

Hua Rong herself walked on thin ice—how could she consign her own sister to such a fate? No matter what, she could not agree. Deep down, she also harbored a touch of selfishness, unwilling for the emperor to take another wife.

At these words, Huayue clenched her skirt, a faint tremor of pain flickering in her eyes, as if a hidden wound had been touched.

After a long silence, Huayue laughed coldly, “That cold-hearted ingrate abandoned me for a courtesan. I never despised his weakness, yet he treated me so callously. Even so, for the sake of our family, I have no reason to cling to such a sentimental attachment.”

Her words grew more agitated, and seeing Huayue grit her teeth, nearly shattering them, it was clear that man was hardly worth her affection.

Hua Rong sighed softly, feeling a pang of pity. “I never thought he would betray you. But even if you enter the palace, if you do not gain the emperor’s favor—”

“What of that? Will you not do your utmost for our family? Will you not help me? Are you willing to watch us trampled beneath others' feet? Besides, if you can win the emperor’s affection, why can’t I?”

In beauty and talent, Huayue considered herself no less than her younger sister and would not accept being left behind.

Faced with such stubbornness, Hua Rong was at a loss, but on the surface, she nodded appeasingly. “I will find an opportunity to recommend you to the emperor, but we must not act rashly, lest he misunderstand…”

With this assurance, Huayue finally nodded in satisfaction, raised a glass of ruby wine, and toasted her. “Good sister, I know you have always been gentle by nature and cannot endure long in this harem. Only by joining forces can we shine. Let this cup be a toast to our bright future—do not disappoint me!”

With those words, she downed the wine in one gulp, her bearing exceptionally resolute.

Yet, Hua Rong felt a pang in her heart. She couldn’t help but glance again at Jun Yeli, now surrounded by women. “Three thousand beauties fill the harem—striving for favor is no easy feat. Even if one wins the emperor’s affection, how long can it truly last?”

Beauties were endless, and for a man so fickle, how could any one woman hope to hold his heart?

As her thoughts wandered, a voice suddenly arose nearby: “That performer on stage looks so familiar. Isn’t that… Noble Consort Wen?”

“Now that you mention it, she is absent from the banquet. I heard she studied opera in her youth!”

The crowd’s interest was instantly piqued; everyone craned their necks, eager to catch a glimpse.

Hua Rong, too, looked on in surprise—the singing was indeed impressive.

As the performance ended, Noble Consort Wen stepped down from the stage in her costume, moving with the grace of a celestial maiden.

“Your Majesty, I beg your pardon for my meager performance,” she said.

“So it was you performing just now. I never knew Noble Consort Wen possessed such unique talent—truly a revelation. Come, sit by my side,” the emperor responded.

To be seated next to the emperor was a rare honor indeed. There was still an empty seat beside him, one countless women would give anything to occupy, but their stations were not high enough.

“How enviable, to have such talent. Unlike us, who can only look on with longing,” came the sighs from all around.

Just then, Huayue rose quietly, intending to slip away, but Hua Rong caught her. “Sister, where are you going?”

Huayue smiled, “Of course, to seize an opportunity for myself. Did you think I came to the palace unprepared?”