In the crowd, someone sighed, "Madam Liu really has it hard—bargaining for her daughter's future with her own hands. But hey, she ran into Wei Quan. Getting a concubine title is already not bad. At least the girl got into the Wei family."
Another chimed in, "Who's to say the Meng girl didn't seduce him on purpose? She's dragged her younger sister's reputation through the mud too. Good thing Madam Liu is kind enough to secure her a concubine's spot."
Ruxin stood off to the side, fists clenched, itching to slap every single gossiping face in the crowd. Meng Wenyao, however, simply smiled and gracefully made her way to the front.
Putting on the sweetest, most innocent smile she could manage, she asked gently, "Mother? Why are you crying?"
Madam Liu's expression was like she'd seen a ghost. She backed away from Meng Wenyao in horror until she hit the doorway.
"Why wouldn't I be here, Mother?" Wenyao asked, blinking in mock confusion.
Even Madam Wei looked stunned when her eyes fell on Meng Wenyao. She turned to Madam Liu and said, "It must've been a misunderstanding—clearly a misunderstanding."
Snapping out of her daze, Madam Liu forced a smile and turned to the onlookers. "I panicked, that's all. My daughter's fine. Nothing happened."
The crowd nodded, about to disperse, thinking the scandal had fizzled out.
Wenyao wasn't about to let the curtains fall so easily. "Wait—Mother, where's my little sister?" she suddenly called out, her voice loud and clear.
The crowd froze, everyone turning their heads to stare at Madam Liu and Madam Wei again.
Seizing the moment, Ruxin slipped toward the room. With one swift shove, she threw the door open and dashed inside.
Madam Liu instinctively moved to enter after her daughter but hesitated. If she rushed in now, everyone else would follow. She stood awkwardly at the threshold, neither in nor out, her panic palpable.
Suddenly—"Aaah! Second Miss?! Why are you in here?!"
Ruxin's shriek rang out from the room.
Meng Wenyao smirked to herself. Ah… karma's such a satisfying thing to witness firsthand.
She stepped forward and urged, "Mother, quick! Go check on Sister!"
She pushed Madam Liu forward, and the crowd surged in behind her.
The room was a wreck—clothes scattered everywhere. Wei Gongzi was passed out in bed, snoring, while the Meng family's second daughter sat half-naked in the corner, trembling.
Madam Liu fainted on the spot. Her daughter's reputation was finished.
The scandal spread across the capital by sundown. Everyone knew Meng Second Miss had seduced Wei Quan and that Madam Liu had stood blocking the door, begging Madam Wei for a concubine title to salvage things.
"Shameless!" spat Hua Momo back at the estate, clapping her hands gleefully. "Looks like it takes one devil to deal with another!"
"I even heard the Second Miss threw a tantrum in Madam Liu's courtyard earlier—yelling that she refused to marry Wei Quan."
"Well, she doesn't have a choice now. Her reputation's ruined. Who else would have her? This is what they mean when they say, 'Heaven can forgive, but you can't escape the consequences of your own doing.'"
With one threat neutralized, Wenyao finally hoped to catch a breath. It had been a long day of scheming.
But then—"Miss! Miss! Someone from the palace is here—an imperial decree's arrived!"
Wenyao's heart leapt to her throat. Don't tell me… Is this the Empress Dowager's marriage decree already?!
She had just cleared the Wei family mess—now the Imperial Prince situation was still dangling. If the decree came down now, she wouldn't be able to escape!
Should I make Meng Wenxian marry in my place? she wondered, racing toward the front hall, mind spinning with plans.
Madam Liu and Meng Wenxian were already there, looking like wilted eggplants—defeated, crushed, half-dead.
Wenyao didn't even spare them a glance. She knelt down in perfect posture, waiting solemnly.
The eunuch began to read:
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor hereby decrees:Meng Wenyao, daughter of the Meng household, is favored by destiny and appointed to the Inner Palace. She is to cultivate virtue, maintain harmony among consorts, serve diligently, and bear heirs for the realm.By order of the Empress Dowager, she is hereby granted the title of Consort Chen.So decreed."
The weight lifted from her chest. She calmly accepted the decree.
Madam Liu and Meng Wenxian stood up behind her, their despair momentarily replaced by a gleeful glint in their eyes. Who didn't know the Emperor was impotent? Becoming his consort was as good as throwing away your youth.
"Well, congratulations, Elder Sister," Wenxian said sweetly. "Wishing you a speedy pregnancy."
Just as her voice fell, a sharp, nasally voice rang out like a whip.
"How dare you! Addressing Consort Chen so casually? Do you take her for your schoolmate? Guards—slap her!"
A young eunuch stepped forward without hesitation, slapping Meng Wenxian so hard she staggered and hit the floor.
He added with a mocking smile, "In the future, Second Miss Meng, you'd do well to remember—she's Consort Chen now."
Tears streamed silently from Wenxian's eyes. Today had been a trip from hell straight down to its eighteenth level.
Wenyao leaned down, whispering softly, "Thank you for your kind wishes, Sister. I will have a royal heir. And may you and Young Master Wei enjoy a long and blissful marriage."
Plenty of energy for snide remarks, but not enough to save herself. She clearly hadn't thought through her own situation.
Back in her room, Wenyao began packing. She was to head to the palace immediately.
Suddenly, Ruyi came stumbling in—her face swollen like a pig's head. Clearly, Madam Liu had realized she'd been fed false intel.
"Miss, please take me with you! I swear I'll never betray you again!"
Hua Momo frowned. Everyone knew Ruyi had sold Wenyao out. "Miss, don't bother. Leave her here. Madam Liu can do whatever she wants to her."
Ruxin nodded in firm agreement.
Wenyao looked down at Ruyi coldly. In the palace, she'd eventually need to hand over pawns to curry favor. Ruyi might make the perfect offering.
"If you've truly repented, I'll give you one last chance. But there won't be another."
"Yes, yes! Thank you, Miss! Thank you!"
Ruyi kowtowed so hard the floor shuddered.
Hua Momo still looked uneasy, but Wenyao simply said, "She might be useful later."
With everything ready, the four of them set out for the palace.
Wenyao was assigned to the Hanxiang Hall—not too close, not too far from the Emperor's own Fengning Hall.
The hall's decor was modest. Wenyao felt a twinge of disappointment. Had her dramatic suicide act not moved him? If not, why did he make her a consort? And if it had touched him… why put her somewhere so cold and lonely?
Could he have heard about the dream at Fahua Temple? Is it just about producing heirs?
She paced around the hall restlessly, unable to guess what the Emperor was thinking. Until—
"His Majesty arrives!"
She quickly composed herself, bowing gracefully in a flowing pale green dress embroidered with misty butterflies. The soft fabric made her skin look luminous, her figure as slender as a budding willow.
"So lovely. Rise, my dear Consort," the Emperor said warmly.
He stepped forward and gently helped her up, his large hand lingering over hers.
Wenyao kept her head lowered. Not from shyness—but because she honestly had no clue what to say.
She thought she'd be bathed and sent straight to his bed. She hadn't expected this.
Glancing up cautiously, she found him smiling at her.
"What's this? Don't remember me? We just met this morning, remember?"