Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 503 Using Four Ounces to Move a Thousand Pounds

The opportunity came even faster than Lin Zhiqing had imagined.

Just as she finished treating Consort Xian at Qianli Pond once again, someone from the Scholar's Mansion came, saying they had brought something for Consort Xian.

Consort Xian had a palace maid take Lin Zhiqing for a stroll near the Imperial Garden, while she returned to the palace.

Although Lin Zhiqing wasn't interested in the Imperial Garden, she still walked around it a few times, hoping to run into Consort Shu.

However, it's true that enemies are destined to meet.

She didn't meet Consort Shu, but she did meet Consort Rong.

"Oh, who do we have here? It's Miss Lin the Second." Consort Rong sat by the stone table, resting her chin on her hand, holding a snow-white cat in her arms.

"Miss Lin has now climbed a high branch; she can even enter the Imperial Garden."

"Greetings, Consort Rong." Lin Zhiqing bowed and then turned to leave.

She has more important things to do.

But Consort Rong wouldn't let her off so easily: "Why is Miss Lin in such a hurry to leave? Come and have a word with me."

"Pingning has been talking about you a lot these past few days, and I miss you very much too."

These words were barbed and sarcastic. Everyone knew that Princess Pingning had been exposed by Lin Zhiqing in the inner music academy, and was so angry that she refused to come to the palace.

As soon as Consort Rong spoke, Lin Zhiqing understood that she wanted to vent her anger for Princess Pingning.

Princess Pingning and her sister were like leeches, always sticking to Lin Zhiqing.

Lin Zhiqing was already very impatient: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I came to the palace to visit Consort Xian. If Your Majesty wishes to catch up with me, perhaps next time."

"Consort Xian? I had no idea you two had gotten together." Consort Rong glanced at the maid beside Lin Zhiqing:
"Go and tell Consort Xian that I will treat Miss Lin well."

The palace maid was somewhat at a loss: "Your Highness, I..."

"How dare you!" The head maid beside Consort Rong raised an eyebrow. "When Your Highness speaks, how dare this servant utter a word?"

The palace maid beside Lin Zhiqing immediately knelt down and begged for mercy.

Lin Zhiqing frowned slightly.

Consort Rong's rank was lower than Consort Xian's, yet the current situation was utterly ridiculous.

The palace maids of Consort Xian dared not disobey Consort Rong, or rather, dared not disobey Consort Rong for Lin Zhiqing's sake.

This is a very real issue.

Seeing the trembling palace maid beside her, Lin Zhiqing didn't want to make things difficult for her, so she spoke up:

"Since Consort Rong insists, you should go back to Consort Xian and also go to the Marquis of Changning's residence to inform my grandfather that I will be returning later."

It's possible to not interfere, but it's impossible to completely ignore it; sending a message is still something I can do.

The palace maid readily agreed and turned to leave.

"They've moved too fast," Lin Zhiqing frowned slightly.

On the other end, Consort Rong spoke again:
"Miss Lin is quite capable, she knows how to win people's hearts, and she has even managed to coax Consort Xian to neglect her own niece and keep you by her side every day."

That's definitely not a compliment.

Lin Zhiqing keenly sensed something was wrong; Consort Rong wouldn't come to stand up for Bai Ling.

She thought for a moment, then answered:
"This humble woman thanks Consort Rong for her praise."

Consort Rong raised an eyebrow. No reaction at all?

She waved to Lin Zhiqing: "Come here. I got some fresh chestnuts today and I was just wondering what to do with them."

"I've heard that Miss Lin is exceptionally intelligent. Why don't you come and see for yourself?"

Lin Zhiqing frowned slightly as she looked at the chestnuts on the table.

We want her to peel chestnuts, but we don't have the tools yet?

Such a despicable tactic, Consort Rong is indeed very stupid. Lin Zhiqing stood still and did not step forward: "Your Majesty, please forgive me, the music class in the Imperial Music Academy today is about playing the zither."

"The marriage procession will be setting off in a few days. If my hand is injured, it will be a disgrace to the Great Sheng."

With just a few simple words, she deftly defused the situation and quickly moved on.

Consort Rong narrowed her eyes, finding it impossible to refute Lin Zhiqing's words.

She just said that Lin Zhiqing was trying to climb the social ladder, referring to Consort Xian, and also to the Great Liang.

Lin Zhiqing turned around and used this reason to refute him.

What a sharp-tongued person!
Consort Rong frowned: "Miss Lin is indeed precious. I can't even use you anymore. No wonder you were able to drive Pingning away from the palace."

That doesn't sound very pleasant.

Lin Zhiqing smiled and said, "If Your Highness is concerned about Princess Pingning, why don't you ask the old nanny about her recent behavior?"

"This humble woman has always understood the principle of 'I will not offend others unless they offend me,' and I believe Consort Rong will understand as well."

"How dare you! How dare you disrespect your superior and lecture our Lady?" The palace maid beside Consort Rong seized the opportunity and began to cause trouble.

Consort Rong also frowned deeply, and her grip on the cat tightened a bit.

The cat, in pain, jumped off Consort Rong's lap and disappeared into the flower bushes.

Consort Rong was startled and immediately stood up:

"You little beast, stop it! This is a fox that Father brought back from the Western Regions. There's only one like it in the entire Great Sheng!"

The palace servants around immediately began searching frantically.

Consort Rong, having failed to gain the upper hand verbally, was quite frustrated and used the cat as an excuse to speak:

“Miss Lin, you were speaking too loudly just now and disturbed my fox spirit.”

"Making a scene in the palace is a serious crime. You shall kneel here and remain kneeling for half an hour before getting up."

As she spoke, she gestured with her chin toward the palace maid beside her, and then headed in the direction of the cat.

The palace maid looked at Lin Zhiqing with a disrespectful attitude: "Miss Lin, please."

Lin Zhiqing looked up at the palace maid, but did not intend to kneel down.

She did nothing wrong in this matter, and no one can find fault with her. Even if the matter were taken to the Empress, Consort Rong would still be in the wrong.

Seeing that Lin Zhiqing did not react, the palace maid frowned deeply.
“Miss Lin, you must be punished for your mistakes. It is already a great mercy from our Empress that you have only been made to kneel for half an hour.”

"If you think you're being merciful, try kneeling down." Lin Zhiqing's face was very calm, but his words sent chills down one's spine.

"You, you actually dare to disobey..." The palace maid was somewhat panicked.

What is being violated?
Lin Zhiqing now understands very clearly that as long as she remains on the list of those to be married off to, there are some people who cannot touch her.

Because she was the key figure in this whole marriage alliance.

The Liang dynasty specifically requested Lin Zhiqing, and if the Sheng dynasty still wanted those five cities, no one would dare to take her life.

What's wrong with being a little unrestrained?

Lin Zhiqing stared intently into the palace maid's eyes.

"what!"

Just as the atmosphere was reaching a stalemate, a scream suddenly shattered the tranquility of the Imperial Garden.

The palace maid's face changed instantly: "Your Highness!?"

She didn't have time to confront Lin Zhiqing any longer and turned to head in the direction of the sound.

Lin Zhiqing frowned. What happened?
The scream sounded like Consort Rong's; it was extremely shrill.

She instinctively wanted to catch up with the palace maid, but then she remembered that this was the palace, and if she stumbled upon something shameful, she wouldn't be able to get out.

But what if Consort Rong causes trouble while she's waiting here alone?