Chapter 61: Only the Stabbing

Chapter 61: Only a Knife in the Back

As autumn deepened, the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived in the blink of an eye. The Imperial Household Department had long since prepared the Mid-Autumn banquet, but deep within the inner palace, the Empress Dowager had fallen ill with anger.

With one disaster following another—her son being disobedient and her niece failing to conceive—while she watched helplessly as the Empress’s belly grew rounder day by day, how could she not be furious?

The Empress Dowager no longer had the heart to oversee any banquets, so she tossed the entire burden onto Ye Wanwan.

Suddenly struck by this heavy responsibility, Ye Wanwan felt deeply helpless.

The trees desired quiet, but the wind would not stop. How could there ever be true peace and ease within the imperial palace?

She was unwilling to stand in the eye of the storm, yet there were always people pushing her right toward it.

Fortunately, the Mid-Autumn banquet was not particularly difficult; it was merely a gathering of the imperial concubines. Ye Wanwan only needed to coordinate the overall arrangements. The items were prepared by those beneath her, the plans were drafted by willing helpers, and the stewards of each palace managed their duties in an orderly fashion. All she had to do was nod and make the final decisions.

With the Empress Dowager’s formidable authority backing her, no one dared to make things difficult for Ye Wanwan, and her word was law.

Even so, simply making decisions left Ye Wanwan exhausted; the mere act of nodding had left her neck sore.

Jiang Feixue also came over to sit with Ye Wanwan. Watching the bustling crowd coming and going, she was consumed with envy.

How wonderful it was to have power—to be able to command whoever she pleased. Unlike her, she was merely a humble noble lady. Although she enjoyed the protection of the Empress Dowager, whenever she stepped outside, any casual concubine could look at her with eyes full of disdain.

They were both nieces of the Empress Dowager; why was it that when Ye Wanwan entered the palace, she was immediately made a Noble Consort, while she herself remained a mere Noble Lady?

Ye Wanwan was sipping her tea when she sensed a heavy wave of resentment. Raising her head, she collided directly with Jiang Feixue’s gaze. That look was filled with a bitter grievance intertwined with seething hatred, as if she were looking at her mortal enemy.

She was looking right at her—so what was she hating her for?

Ye Wanwan asked herself what wrong she had done in this lifetime; she had already been exceptionally kind to Jiang Feixue, so why did the girl still resent her?

At this moment, Ye Wanwan had yet to realize that simply by virtue of being a Noble Consort, she was committing a crime, which naturally invited hatred.

Concubines of lower status felt envy and hatred, while the Empress of higher status hated her as well. As long as Ye Wanwan remained alive, she had to endure all of this.

"Feixue," Ye Wanwan called out, pulling Jiang Feixue back to her senses.

Realizing that her emotions had been far too extreme, Jiang Feixue hurriedly tried to mask them, forcing a smile. "Cousin, did you call me?"

Ye Wanwan beckoned for her to come closer. After a moment of hesitation, Jiang Feixue complied.

Once Jiang Feixue arrived, Ye Wanwan waved the surrounding attendants away. After a brief pause, she asked, "You have attended the Emperor's couch so many times now; why has His Majesty never promoted your rank? Could it be that you have displeased him in some way?"

Jiang Feixue’s face paled. "N-No! His Majesty rather likes me..."

Jiang Feixue had always resented her own low status, yet she had never thought to look for the reason in the Emperor. Although Ye Wanwan did not know what was on her mind, these words served to awaken the dreamer.

Indeed, a concubine's rank was bestowed entirely by the Emperor. Why was it that despite attending his bedchamber so many times, she had never been promoted?

She had always assumed she needed to conceive a child to secure a promotion, much like Noble Lady Wei. However, there were plenty of concubines in the palace who held high positions without bearing children. Why should she, after being summoned so many times, remain suppressed?

Could it truly be that she had offended the Emperor somewhere along the way?

Jiang Feixue sank into self-doubt. As if struck by a heavy blow, her face drained of color, and in the end, she simply turned and walked away, completely ignoring those who called out to her.

Watching her retreating figure, Ye Wanwan curved her lips in a mocking smile. At this moment, she truly felt that Jiang Feixue was hopelessly naive and innocent. Her joys, angers, sorrows, and delights were exposed without restraint, and whatever she was thinking could be seen at a glance.

A person with such volatile emotions was difficult to control, yet equally easy to manipulate.

She was an utterly unpredictable variable. You never knew when a sudden burst of emotion might seize her, leading her to drive a knife straight into your back.

Yes, she would only ever stab you in the back; gratitude was something she was entirely incapable of.

This was no longer merely a cold and detached nature from birth; it was a selfishness deeply ingrained in her very bones, exactly like her parents who constantly leeched off the Ye family and the Empress Dowager.

Pity that this person was her own cousin—someone she could neither drive away nor shake off.