Selling wife for fame? Kick out the scumbag and marry the new emperor to enjoy the harem of favors

Chapter 235

While Xie Jiu and his servant were talking, Guo Cairen and her personal maid Baihe were also quietly discussing their conversation.

“Consort Jin doesn’t seem difficult to get along with. She doesn’t seem like a very high-and-mighty person. She’s much better than Consort Zhuang,” Baihe said.

Baihe had just been caught and harassed by Consort Zhuang in Weiyang Palace, and she had a very bad impression of Consort Zhuang. In contrast, Xie Jiu was only polite and distant at first, and later even made a few jokes, without any intention of being mean or difficult.

Guo Cairen seemed thoughtful. "For Consort Jin to enter the palace with such a background, to be promoted to the rank of Consort before even giving birth, and to have such a major incident in her family, to gain favor despite all these burdens, she must be a person with some means."

"So, what does that mean, Consort Jin? Is she hiding a knife behind her smile?" Baihe frowned.

Guo Cairen pursed her lips. "I can't quite put my finger on it, but I feel like it's not so easy to deal with, but it's not dangerous either. As long as we don't provoke it, we should be fine."

Upon hearing this, Lily became somewhat worried. "Then, could we be considered to have been somewhat offensive today?"

After all, she was eager to thank her. In fact, Baihe knew in her heart that her mistress just wanted to find an opportunity to talk to Consort Jin, and today was indeed a good opportunity.

Consort Guo raised her eyes. "No, Consort Jin said that we should just consider this a good relationship. This means that she doesn't dislike me, and that's enough. At least it's sufficient for now."

Having just arrived at the palace, Consort Guo did not want to stand out or make enemies.

She didn't want to antagonize either the Empress or Xie Jiu.

But today she took the initiative to befriend Xie Jiu, which would inevitably offend the Empress. However, Consort Guo knew in her heart that even if she did not offend the Empress, she would not get any benefits from the Empress.

Today in Weiyang Palace, although the Empress hid in the inner palace and did not come out, she was probably aware of the commotion outside and knew that Consort Zhuang was deliberately making things difficult for her. However, the Empress hid and did not come out, and did not even send anyone to check on her. This shows that the Empress was happy to see Consort Zhuang suppress her.

This is the Empress's attitude; she's using Consort Zhuang's influence.

Looking at the harem, the favored Xie Jiu and Consort Wei both get along with the Empress, which shows that the Empress dislikes concubines from good families. So naturally, she was already categorized into Xie Jiu's camp.

Consort Guo understood that she was not like Consort Jiang, who had the Empress Dowager, her own aunt, to back her up. Although she came from a good family, there was a saying that "the whip is too far away to reach her."

No matter how powerful Chuzhou was, he couldn't always be in the capital to make decisions for her. Besides, his family were military officers who held military power. Such officials were always favored by the emperor, but also feared by him. Therefore, Consort Guo knew that she couldn't rely too much on her family, lest Zhao Xingjin think that she was too domineering in the harem because of her good background, and that her family members were the same.

Therefore, she had to curry favor with Xie Jiu, so that at least the Empress would not easily do anything to her if she saw that she seemed to have sided with Xie Jiu.

Take Liu Cai Ren for example. Although she came from a poor family, she is now living a glamorous life because she followed Xie Jiu.

Although Guo Cairen was proud, she was also very clear-headed. When it was time to humble herself and seek protection, she should lower her stance.

She understood this principle, but Consort Jiang did not quite.

On her way back to Fuqu Garden, Consort Jiang witnessed Consort Guo speaking with Xie Jiu. She was surprised, not expecting that Consort Guo, who seemed so arrogant, could be so humble in front of others. After pondering for a while, she turned and headed towards Fukang Palace.

When the Empress Dowager heard that her niece had come, she was naturally very happy. She put down the pen she was using to copy Buddhist scriptures and immediately went out.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects," said Consort Jiang, bowing.

"Come here. Everyone in Fukang Palace is an old friend of mine. You don't need to be so formal. It sounds too distant," the Empress Dowager said with a kind smile, beckoning to Consort Jiang.

Jiang Cairen then walked over with a smile and affectionately took the Empress Dowager's arm. "Aunt, did you miss Ningyu today?"

"Yes!" The Empress Dowager patted Consort Jiang's hand. "Why did you suddenly come to my place? Is there something you need?"

"Can't Ningyu visit her aunt if she has nothing to do?" Consort Jiang pouted, as if she were being coquettish.

The aunt and niece walked hand in hand to the window and sat down. The Empress Dowager then said, "Yesterday, Consort Guo served the Emperor. I was worried that you might feel uncomfortable, but I didn't expect you to be in such a good mood. So I'm relieved. You should know that your cousin is the Emperor. For the sake of the country and the peace of the court, he has no choice but to have these three palaces and six courtyards. He is different from ordinary men."

In fact, the Empress Dowager had already prepared to send someone to Fuqu Garden to comfort and enlighten Consort Jiang. However, since Consort Jiang had come on her own initiative, the Empress Dowager no longer needed to instruct others and spoke to Consort Jiang herself.

Upon hearing this, Consort Jiang's eyes flickered, revealing a clear sense of desolation, and she lowered her head slightly.

Ningyu understands what her aunt is saying, but she still feels somewhat uncomfortable.

"It's natural to feel unwell." The Empress Dowager looked at her with heartache. "But you must not let this discomfort lead you astray. You must remember that in the harem, jealousy is a major taboo for women. Losing your mind will harm both yourself and others."

Having been through it all, and seeing the experiences of other women in the harem, the Empress Dowager's advice was very sincere.

Jiang Cairen didn't really want to talk about this topic that made her feel uncomfortable, so she nodded and started talking about what she had seen and heard on her way there.

“Aunt, when we paid our respects at Weiyang Palace today, Consort Guo arrived late and was given a hard time by Consort Zhuang. Her Majesty the Empress did not intervene. However, Consort Jin arrived at just the right time and unexpectedly interrupted the ceremony. After the ceremony, Consort Guo even went to privately to catch up with Consort Jin and express her gratitude. I think they seem to have some affection for each other.”

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager frowned. "Are you saying that Lady Guo wants to get closer to Consort Jin?"

“I’m not sure either, but it was indeed Consort Guo who took the initiative to visit Consort Jin today. I saw from afar that Consort Jin was talking to her with a smile on her face, as if they were having a good conversation. However, it only lasted a few words, and she didn’t stay long,” Consort Jiang said truthfully. Finally, she asked, “Aunt, what do you think would happen if Consort Guo joined forces with Consort Jin to compete for the Emperor’s favor?”

"That's certainly not a good thing." The Empress Dowager's face darkened. "I thought this Guo was intelligent and sensible, but I never expected her to be so opportunistic. She actually went to curry favor with Consort Jin first. Among the newly entered concubines in the harem, she is probably the first to do so."

Consort Jiang thought for a moment and nodded, "No one else pays respects to the mountain stronghold like this."

As the Empress Dowager listened, her face grew even colder.