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Hearing it, Taoye almost fell to the floor. She quickly looked around to make sure no one was there.
"Mistress, you can't take it! If the Emperor or anyone else finds out, it's over," Cuìyù whispered urgently.
"Do you think I'll be able to secure my pregnancy if I really got pregnant now, when I have no status or power?" Mei Liang replied calmly.
She knew these girls were loyal to the original host. They cared for her well-being and were simple-minded. But she was no longer the original Mei Liang, and she couldn't afford to get pregnant by her enemy. Never.
"Make sure Lánxīn doesn't find out," she added. "She panics too easily. And hide it where no one in the palace will see it."
Days passed quickly, and it was soon time to go to the Summer Palace.
In the Xiangting Auspicious Pavilion of Yunlu Palace, Cuìyù and Lánxīn's faces were full of joy.
"Mistress, I still can't believe the Emperor is taking our mistress to the Summer Palace!" Lánxīn said, her voice filled with excitement.
"You better believe it. Can't you see our mistress has been favored for the past month now?" Cuìyù replied, eyes glowing with pride.
"Yes, of course. Times have changed, and they will never go back to how they were before," Mei Liang said. Although she didn't fully trust Cuìyù and Lánxīn, observing their behavior over the past month and a half reassured her of their loyalty—if not to her, then to the original Mei Liang, and that was enough.
After packing the necessary things for the Summer Palace, Cuìyù approached her quietly.
"Mistress, should I also take the contraceptive pills along?"
"Yes, bring them. And also make sure to hide the ones we leave behind in the palace," Mei Liang instructed.
"Yes, Mistress," Cuìyù responded.
Soon, it was time for all the concubines to board the carriages. As Mei Liang walked toward the Palace gate main entrance, she saw the Emperor and Empress already waiting. Most of the concubines had arrived as well. Once everyone was present, the procession was ready to depart.
Those concubines who were staying behind stood beside the Empress. Mei Liang glanced around and noticed Hui Guifei's expression was far from her usual smiling demeanor. Her face clearly said: I am not happy.
After getting into the carriage with her maids, the procession began to move. The Emperor's carriage led at the front, accompanied by imperial guards and high-ranking concubines.
As the journey began, Mei Liang felt her head spinning. In her past life, she'd always gotten carsick, and it seemed this new body of hers hadn't changed that.
Cuìyù and Lánxīn exchanged worried looks.
"Mistress, please forgive this servant," Cuìyù said regretfully. "I forgot you usually get carsick. I should've brought the pills Madam prepared for you back when you first entered the palace."
Mei Liang knew Cuìyù was more intelligent than Lánxīn, and the "Madam" she was referring to was probably the original host's mother. Still, Mei Liang couldn't help but curse the Emperor in her heart. This carriage... is this really what's given to a concubine of the Guìrén rank?
Considering how the Emperor had been favoring her for the past month, she thought he would at least be considerate enough to provide a more stable, comfortable carriage. But clearly, he hadn't even given it a second thought.
So all that time he spent with me—doing it till the third watch (11:00pm-1:00am), making me stay awake so late—was all for nothing? she thought bitterly, cursing his eighteen generations in her heart.
If not for the plan she needed to carry out at the Nanyuan Summer Palace, she would have never come along. This whole trip felt more like punishment than favor.
By the time they finally arrived at the Nanyuan Summer Palace, it was already the hour of the monkey(3:00pm-5:00pm). Mei Liang felt her stomach turn. Her head spun from the endless bumping of the carriage. At that moment, she didn't care to put on any sort of front in front of the Emperor or the other concubines.
"It seems younger sister Mei isn't feeling too well," Imperial Concubine Jing said suddenly, drawing everyone's attention—including the Emperor's—toward Mei Liang.
Emperor Xiang Longwei looked over, and was visibly shocked when he saw her pale, bloodless face. Her usual cold expression was gone. But instead of looking ugly, the colorless tone of her face gave her a delicate beauty—like a fragile white lotus.
A strange urge rose in him. He suddenly wanted to bully her.
He was startled by the thought. He'd only ever had such feelings for that woman—and she was already dead.
Why am I feeling this way again?
As he continued to look at Mei Liang, the resemblance became more vivid in his mind. That woman had also gotten carsick like this. She, too, had leaned into his arms and acted coyly—showing a side of herself that only he had seen.
Why does this woman give off the same feeling? Could they... He needed to confirm whether the thing had worked.
"I get carsick easily, Your Majesty," Mei Liang said softly, barely able to stand upright.
"You were supposed to stay at Qingxue Hall, right?" the Emperor asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty. That was the original arrangement," Mei Liang replied, steadying herself.
"Then move to Biyun Pavilion instead. The air is fresher there," Emperor Xiang Longwei said, his gaze unreadable.
Mei Liang immediately bowed in thanks.
She knew very well how good Biyun Pavilion was. It wasn't too far, but also not too close to the Emperor's Changqing Hall. That made it perfect. It gave her just enough distance and privacy to carry out her plan—something that would have been far more difficult in Qingxue Hall, the place chosen for her by the Empress.
Xiān Guìfēi then spoke in a voice both seductive and full of charm, "Your Majesty is truly biased toward Mei Guìrén. I, too, wished to stay at Biyun Pavilion, but you never allowed me to."
Mei Liang couldn't help but shudder at the sound of her voice. It made her feel like she might lose her appetite altogether.
"If Noble Consort Xiān doesn't mind," Mei Liang said calmly, "we could switch. I'll give you my Biyun Pavilion, and I'll take your Yunhua Palace."
Xiān Guìfēi's eyes flickered with malice. She wanted nothing more than to tear Mei Liang's mouth apart. What kind of fool would exchange Yunhua Palace, so close to the Emperor's own residence, for a distant pavilion like Biyun?
"Mei Guìrén, you're too kind. There's no need," she replied sweetly, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I wouldn't want people to think I'm abusing my power."
Before Mei Liang could respond, Xiān Guìfēi took the Emperor's hand, her fingers delicately curling around his.
"Your Majesty, I'm tired. You must be as well. Why don't we all retire to our respective palaces to rest?" she suggested, her tone smooth, as though she had planned this all along.
As the highest-ranking concubine in the palace, with the Empress absent, all the other concubines were forced to follow her lead. Xiān Guìfēi led the way, her hand still in the Emperor's.
The Emperor and the high-ranking concubines departed, leaving Mei Liang to follow a servant who would show her to the palace assigned to her.
Coming Soon Chapter 22 will be released tomorrow at 4:25 PM by this time tomorrow!"