Chapter 317: The Strange Imperial Concubine

Everything before her eyes really didn’t seem like the scenery one could see in the Imperial Palace.

Ning Xueyan didn’t know how she had come to this place; what place was this? 「 In the midst of desolate weeds, there were traces of burning everywhere, some unburned stones and scorched wooden boards, with a few words written on them. Unfortunately, they were almost burnt, and it was hard to tell what the original words were.

「 Across from her was a half-destroyed wall, with some yellowed weeds. 「 Although it was Spring Day, the grass here didn’t show a single bit of green, withered and fallen. 「 Looking at the pillars, leaning to the east and west, supporting half a palace that had fallen. 」 One side had completely collapsed, and the other side was also on the verge of collapse.

Looking at the traces of the fire and these weeds, this palace should have been burnt down some time ago. 」 This should be a palace from the Previous Dynasty that was burnt, but she didn’t know why it hadn’t been repaired. 「 It was allowed to remain in such a dilapidated image in the prosperous Palace.

」 For some reason, Ning Xueyan suddenly had an impulse to go in and take a look at this ruined palace.

“Young Lady.” Seeing her take a step, Lan Ning hurried forward, pulling at her dress and stopping her, “Young Lady, we don’t know what place this is, it’s better if we don’t go in.”

What kind of place was the Imperial Palace? 「 It was the most resplendent and magnificent place in the World, but what about the one before her eyes? 「 It represented ruin and decline, almost incompatible with this Imperial Palace. 」 But unfortunately, it existed like this, and it seemed to have existed for many years. 」 If it weren’t for certain special reasons, this phenomenon would certainly not be possible.

Often, such Places are dangerous!

“I won’t go in. I’ll just look here.” 「 Ning Xueyan nodded, knowing that Lan Ning was right. 」 She walked a few steps closer, and her willow leaf eyebrows furrowed slightly. 」 This place was really desolate and strange. 「 Who could have imagined that there was such a place in the Imperial Palace, moreover, what was that faint sigh just now?

“Madam, we should go back.” 「 A gentle voice came from behind the wall, once again reaching the two women’s ears. 」 There was actually someone behind the wall, and it sounded like it was an Imperial Concubine.

Ning Xueyan’s approaching body stopped, and she avoided behind a half-fallen pillar. 「 The pillar was very large; the two women were hidden behind it, and it was difficult to see for a moment. 「 Knowing more about some things, the faster one would die, not to mention this was the Imperial Palace, such an eerie place, the things encountered were often more eerie and more dangerous.

Compared to curiosity, Ning Xueyan would not be foolishly curious.

Another faint sigh, so light that it almost disappeared in the wind. 「 If Ning Xueyan hadn’t been concentrating and listening carefully, she almost wouldn’t have heard that sound, very light.

“Madam should go back; you haven’t taken your medicine yet. 」 The Emperor might come over later, and if he sees that you haven’t taken your medicine, he will punish the servants.” 「 The palace maid’s voice sounded a bit fearful, mixed with some Pleading, and one could tell that she was genuinely afraid.

To punish her palace maid because the Imperial Concubine hadn’t taken her medicine, this should be a favored Consort, but she didn’t know what this Consort was doing in this desolate place.

“Let’s go!” 「 With a hint of deep resentment in her gentle voice, it seemed nothing at a rough hearing, but when heard carefully, it made people feel a lingering charm. 」 Ning Xueyan’s body shrank further inwards, and she secretly peeked out to look.

At the location of the burnt hall door, two women indeed appeared.

「 A woman in the style of a palace maid, was supporting Another woman, who should be the previous “Madam.”

That was a woman dressed in pale purple Palace Attire, with her long hair tied up high in the most popular style in the Palace. 」 Ning Xueyan had seen this style on several Consorts on the Main Hall before, but the several Consorts at that time all had a Hibiscus Flower on their faces, while this one wore a long, light-colored veil that covered her completely, only revealing a pair of beautiful eyes.

】 Just from the eyes, one could see that the “Madam” before her eyes was a Beauty!

But was it necessary to wear a veil in this Imperial Palace? 」 The only man in this Imperial Palace was the Emperor; the rest of the Eunuchs could not be considered true men. 「 As for the Emperor’s several Princes, since she was a Consort, she naturally counted as their Mother Consort, and she didn’t need to cover her face.

But, unfortunately, this strange Consort not only hid her entire face behind the veil, but also went to such a desolate place to sigh.

She walked a few steps at the dilapidated Hall Doorway, and suddenly stopped, turned her head, looked at this empty and desolate Main Hall, sighed, which was indeed the sound Ning Xueyan had heard before.

“Madam, it’s all in the Past. 「 Everything is in the past, Madam, looking at it is also in the past.” The palace maid seemed to be persuading her.

“That one in the Past… was so wonderful!” The tender voice echoed deeply.

“Yes, really, such a wonderful person, now it should have been in Heaven, watching over Madam.” The palace maid saw that she wasn’t leaving and was somewhat anxious. 「 She Comforting her, the medicine was already prepared. 「 If she still didn’t take it, the Emperor would certainly be furious when he saw it later, and then it would be the palace maid’s and Eunuchs’ Faults.

“Yes, she, such a wonderful person, should be in Heaven!” “Madam” sighed again. 」 This time, she didn’t turn her head. 」 Coming from this side of the small path, Ning Xueyan’s gaze fell on her exposed eyes. 「 Something seemed to flash in her Mind, but she didn’t catch it for a moment. 「 She just looked blankly at her holding the palace maid’s hand and walked away slowly.

After they left, Ning Xueyan came out from behind the pillar, slowly walking towards the Hall Doorway. 「 There was a indescribable Feeling that made her footsteps unconsciously move towards that place. 「 She reached out and touched the pillar leaning at the Hall Doorway, and her slender fingers slowly caressed it. 「 Her Heart skipped a few beats unconsciously.

The Previous Dynasty, did this Consort express Regret for someone in the Previous Dynasty?

“Young Lady, let’s go back. 「 Maybe Noble Consort Ya and Third Young Lady will send someone to find you later.” Lan Ning said with a hint of Unease. 「 Although her Mind was Calm, she always felt that this place was dangerous. 「 She subconsciously stopped Ning Xueyan from going there.

“They won’t find me, especially at this time.” Ning Xueyan’s eyes flashed, and she stood still at the Hall Doorway, not taking another step forward. 「 However, her Corner of the Mouth held a faint Mockery.

Noble Consort Ya looking for her? 「 Hadn’t she already looked for her just now! 「 The little Eunuch was beaten to death in front of her, giving her a Show of Force. 「 So those two Eunuchs were so Arrogant as to wield the beating to death in front of her. 「 Noble Consort Ya was certainly a Smart Person. 「 To find Trouble with her at this time would only make people doubt her Relationship with Ning Qingshan.

Since Ning Qingshan had hidden in the Duke’s Mansion for ten years, that meant she had a goal. 「 Was it also for the Previous Dynasty’s Military Tally? 「 Grand Tutor Ya was really a person with deep thoughts, and from her perspective, how could Noble Consort Ya be the kind of person who would mess up her Footing over a small matter? 「 How could she possibly do something that would arouse suspicion when everyone was watching!

Therefore, she Certainly wouldn’t move against her directly now. 「 Of course, if it was Secret Privately, then it was hard to say. 「 She now was Urgent to leave the Palace, but for a Moment she had no Method. 「 She could only hope in Ao Chenyi, and she believed that he Certainly would have a Method.

“Then what about the Third Young Lady? 「 I’m afraid that the Third Young Lady’s hand won’t get better today. 「 I saw the Third Young Lady’s fingers when she came down earlier. 「 They were deep enough to see the bone. 「 Fortunately, Young Lady discovered it early, otherwise, this time it would have been Young Lady…” Lan Ning’s Glad words weren’t finished, but the Meaning was already very clear.

If today, Ning Xueyan had really been as Ning Qingshan had set up, what awaited her wasn’t just the loss of her Reputation and being eliminated from the first round, but also her hand. 「 Thinking about this, Lan Ning also couldn’t help but Shiver, the Third Young Lady’s Heart was really Poisonous!

Ning Xueyan didn’t stay there for long. 「 It wasn’t a place in this Imperial Palace where one could casually look and listen. 「 She came out from this side, following the only small path, and walked for a Long Time before encountering a palace maid. 「 She asked about the direction of the Suyugong Palace, and Ning Xueyan took Lan Ning back. 「 It was really a coincidence, going from here, after a short turn, it was the Back of the Suyugong Palace.

Ning Xueyan’s residence was also the last to enter. 「 Entering from the Back Door was just right, saving at least half the distance.

Returning to the Suyugong Palace, before she could sit down, Ning Xueyan already knew about the matter of Ning Qingshan. 「 Her hand was seriously injured; not only was the skin and flesh injured, but also the tendons and bones were injured. 「 Therefore, she had to be sent out of the Palace to Return to the Residence to Rest and Recuperate. 「 As for the words she had said before, the Explanation was nothing more than her abnormal Mind after Excruciating Pain, Nonsense that couldn’t be taken seriously.

Of course, this matter wasn’t without someone to take Responsibility. 「 The Eunuch who was looking at the Musical Instrument and the Eunuch who usually maintained the Musical Instrument had both been Beaten to Death. 「 If the damage to the zither string had been discovered earlier, and it had been repaired, this wouldn’t have happened. 「 Therefore, this Responsibility fell on the two Eunuchs.

The two Eunuchs being Beaten to Death was also a matter that should have been.

With such an Incident happening in the Palace, the so-called elimination round originally was no longer mentioned by anyone. 「 The several Candidates after the Incident, whether it was because they had been Startled, all performed abnormally. 「 How could they still serve as the standard for evaluation? 「 Of course, regarding Ning Qingshan, of course there were various Opinions. 「 Some said that she had really fainted, so she had talked Nonsense.

Some people refuted, saying that if she had really fainted, then she would have recognized that it was the Fifth Miss standing before her. 「 At that time, the way she was Gritting One’s Teeth Cursing, everyone had seen it. 「 That Fierce Complexion, could that really be something a person who had fainted could do?

Fortunately, these discussions had nothing to do with Ning Xueyan. 「 Regardless of who it was, when talking about Ning Xueyan, they all thought she was good. 「 Before, Ning Qingshan had made a Fault, and she had Cooperated, showing Sisterly Love. 「 After, Ning Qingshan had talked Nonsense and claimed that Ning Xueyan had a Poisonous Hand, and she was also Calm, showing a Lady’s Demeanor, Neith Haughty Nor Humble, and she had given a clear Explanation.

Therefore, compared to before, everyone’s Attitude towards Ning Xueyan was to look highly upon her because of this Matter.

The next few Days were also very Quiet. 「 Besides the Nurses, almost no Master came over to the Candidate side. 「 She didn’t know if it was because Noble Consort Ya was unable to attend to other matters due to the matter of Ning Qingshan, or because the Affairs in the Palace were really too busy, making it impossible to do two things at once.

After such Days passed for a few Days, suddenly one day, the Nurse who had been following Ning Xueyan these past few Days came to tell her that the screening would be held first tomorrow, and she should prepare first. 「 She would Bathe and Change Clothes tomorrow, and wait for the summons.

These words Immediately Spread throughout the entire Suyugong Palace. 「 Immediately, it was another commotion. 「 Although everyone didn’t know how the screening would be conducted, the necessary preparations were still needed. 「 One by one, they asked the people in the Palace for things like Petals, preparing to take a bath, and they had to be retained.

Each Noble Lady represented the Benefit of a Clan, so they couldn’t help but pay more attention. 「 Careful Dress was naturally indispensable. 「 The Palace’s demands on the Candidates were naturally to answer all requests. 「 Baskets of freshly bloomed Fresh Flowers were delivered to the Suyugong Palace and poured into buckets of Hot Water, allowing the Candidates to fully enjoy a flower bath. 】 For a Moment, the air of the Suyugong Palace was filled with the fragrance of Fresh Flowers.