Chapter Thirty-Three: Struggle

  I thought that in such weather, no one would venture out, but unexpectedly I first met Shu Fei dancing in the snow in the forest, and later met Zhen Fei and Wu Xiu Rong in this empty pavilion.

  A snowstorm trapped four masters with different thoughts and intentions under the same roof, it's really unknown whether it was a clever arrangement by fate or an intentional prank by heaven.

  It's strange to say, but Zhen Fei and Wu Xiu Rong have never gotten along. Now, the two of them are actually hiding together in a remote place, with not even half a palace maid accompanying them. If it were said that they ran into each other by chance, it would be a bit far-fetched. I really don't know what kind of relationship they have, but it definitely won't be simple.

  The two consorts seemed to have never thought that we, this group of uninvited guests, would appear. Although they didn't make a sound and pretended to be calm, their panicked eyes were still visible, and they only slightly bowed to Shu Fei.

  But Wu Xiurong's acting skills were far inferior to those of Princess Chen. She turned her shock into anger, let out a cold hum, gave a white-eyed glance, and said with a pout, "I thought it was someone else, but it turns out to be Zhou Shaoyuan. I've heard that Sister Shaoyuan hasn't been feeling well lately, and it's been a long time since we've seen each other. You must have come to jinx us sisters who entered the palace together."

  At first glance, this sentence seems familiar, but those two words "Zhao Huan" that are intentionally raised, really make people uncomfortable.

  The empress was always cold and distant, with the highest status, ignoring everyone, walking straight to the table and sitting down, showing that she did not intend to participate.

  Mu Yan smiled slightly on her face and replied softly, "Thanks for your concern, Sister Xiurong..."

  "No, it's not about fixing one's appearance, but rather about fixing one's demeanor." Wu Xiuyuan chimed in with a self-satisfied expression.

  This smug and annoying face, seems to be appearing frequently lately. The last person who annoyed me was He Chongyuan, the one related to Mu Yan's sister-in-law, He Lingyin.

  Still admiring Yan Xin's broad-mindedness, he didn't mind her arrogance at all and congratulated her repeatedly.

  Such congratulations are pleasant for Wuxiu Yi, but in my ears, they are nothing but irony.

  "The little ceremony is worth a smile, it seems that Li's family status is far from being as high as the rumors say."

  It's obvious that besides me, the only one who dares to confront and strike down Ruxiu Yi is her arch-nemesis, Empress Chen.

  The Empress had never been accustomed to seeing Wu Zetian's arrogant demeanor and couldn't help but mock her.

  However, both of them were outspoken and arrogant, they didn't become close friends, but instead became sworn enemies, how interesting.

  Wu Xiu's expression changed slightly, and she retorted, "I'm afraid that youth will not last, imperial favor is hard to prolong, and being alone in an empty chamber, no matter how high the position, what's the use?"

  Was she sarcastically mocking others, or reminding herself?

  Everyone knows, everyone understands, it's just that in this palace, who can resist fighting for power and neglect their own family.

  Man is ultimately human, without desires and hopes, it's not human.

  "Since it's useless, why are you still so self-satisfied?" The one who spoke wasn't Zhenfei, but rather Shufei, who was sitting right next to her.

  "This is a reward from the Emperor, I am delighted." Wu Xiuyi strongly defended herself, but stuttered slightly. Who would have expected that the usually taciturn Empress Shu would speak up and question her?

  Such an answer earned a rare smile from Empress Shu, but it vanished in an instant, and she fell silent.

  At this time, Empress Cixi saw that Yu Xiuyi was at a disadvantage and couldn't help but sneer, "Since you are an ordinary person, why must you be so proud. The Li family has always been like this, pretending to be elegant!"

  "If it were the case from the beginning, the Li family would naturally not be comparable to the Shen family. Who would have thought that the descendants of the Shen family would not live up to their name and were all prodigal sons, unable to produce even one who could take over the family business? As the saying goes, 'the capable bear the burden', it's just that my Li family has been shouldering this burden instead."

  These words were spat out of Wu Xiuyi's mouth, clear and distinct, without any ambiguity or fear of Princess Zhen's higher status, and she was certain that Princess Zhen would not dare to do anything to her.

  As for the imperial family, Zhen Fei was not a good person either. She retorted, "A slave who relies on the tiger's prestige, clearly a dog wagging its tail to beg for food, yet likes to pretend to be human. Unfortunately, no matter how noble a dog is, it can only do one thing - serve as a plaything for people."

  It wasn't until now that I realized, it turned out that not only were the two of them sworn enemies in the palace, but their respective families behind them were also each other's thorns. Old and new grudges, no wonder the two of them would clash like fire and ice when they met, refusing to give in to each other?

  Such a war is attractive, but I, who am still ill, have no strength to watch it anymore. I quietly pulled Mu Yan's clothes and whispered in lip language, "Let's go!"

  Mo Yan was very clever and knew at a glance that he wanted to leave, but was stopped by Empress Sheng who was busy scolding beside him.

  "Is Zhou Zhaoyuan unwilling to be in the same room as me? Why didn't she say a word and leave?" The cold words of Empress Chen made Mu Yan not unfamiliar.

  "Yes, I'm afraid of disturbing Her Ladyship..."

  "'Fear, fear of what,' said the Empress as she turned her head to give a cold glance at the still-speaking Dancer Xiuyi, continuing to interrogate, 'Zhou Zhaoyuan has always been full of propriety, often praised by the Empress, now leaving without a word, is it fear of disturbing me or only having eyes for the Empress, not putting me in her sights.'"

  Such a hat came off, no one would be nervous, Mu Yan followed the rules and knelt down in front of Empress Shun.

  I was just following Mu Yan, but now my body has gone limp, my vision is darkening, and I can't tell which direction I'm facing. Gradually, I couldn't see Consort Chen's piercing eyes clearly. Everything went black, and I collapsed to the ground, unable to hear what Mu Yan was crying out beside my ear.

  When I came to, the person was still in this building, only moved from the ground to the couch. A shadow appeared in front of me, flurried and uncertain, like a dream, a handsome man with gentle movements was diagnosing me. After thinking for a while, I remembered that it was Chen Taigong, the chief physician of Muyan.

  "Doctor Chen, have you ever told you that your diagnostic appearance is very charming." I really don't know if I'm sober or feverish at this time, and I actually had the courage to tease Doctor Chen.

  His faint smile, since the day he met him, had never disappeared, and replied lightly, "Has anyone ever told you that doctors don't like patients who don't listen? I treated you just three days ago. Such encounters are better avoided."

  Three days ago, it was Chen Taigong who treated me when I fainted from illness. Good heavens! My ugly sleeping posture must have been seen by him, this is too embarrassing.

  Regret and remorse fill my entire life in an instant.

  "Doctor Chen, you didn't come all the way here just to give me a check-up, did you?" The annoyed and blank mind asked an even more idiotic question.

  Chen Taigong brushed away the water stains left after the snow had melted and replied without thinking.

  "This is not it, I pass by this road every day, and today is just a coincidence."

  "Oh, okay then!" He let out a sigh of relief and patted his chest with his hand, secretly feeling at ease, but what he was relieved about, even he couldn't understand.

  At this time, there were only three people left in the house: Chen Taifu, Muran and I. The others didn't care about my condition and had already left before I knew what was going on.

  The sky was getting late, but the wind and snow didn't stop. Chen Taifu showed his spirit of saving people in danger, lending us the umbrella he carried with him, and left alone in the wind and snow.