Scent Of Time

Chapter 55

After returning to the courtyard and thinking about it, I called Hua Rongzhou and handed him a stack of money: “Help me do a thing tomorrow. Father will resign in a few days, and we’ll settle down at Yangtze River’s south. Take the money and search for a good place to live. We will move there.”

Hua Rongzhou frowned and disagreed: “Why do you want me to go in advance? It looks like you are leaving me.”

Without guilt, I smiled and said, “It’s better to have earlier preparations, so we don’t have to do it hurriedly. Go ahead and wait for us.”

Seeing the doubtful Hua Rongzhou, I shook the money and continued, “Now I only have you and Qian Zhi. Qian Zhi will stay in the capital at that time. So, only you are the ones I can use and believe. After all, this is a lot of money.”

Hearing me say this, Hua Rongzhou finally looked better but still didn’t take the money, “But I feel that Miss is driving me away.”

I jumped in my heart but frowned and spoke: “You were only going to leave for half a month, such a short time. Can I and Hua Family run away?”

Hua Rongzhou hung his head, still disagreeing: “I think it is better to leave together. I’m worried if I leave you alone.”

I pretended to be annoyed and said, “What are you worried about me? I gave you a task, and you kept refusing. If you don’t want to do it, say so.”

I was ready to retrieve the money, but Hua Rongzhou grabbed it, and I heard his hesitant voice: “Then …… I will set off tomorrow.”

“Okay, I’ll wait for your news. Remember to look at several places. Then, Father will decide. The house shouldn’t be in a place that’s too crowded or remote. That’s where we’ll live in the future, so you must be more attentive.” I made an uneasy face and instructed.

Hua Rongzhou was also worried and said, “Miss, you should keep your word. Find me after leaving the capital. Don’t lie to me.”

“Didn’t you say that I can’t lie? What else is there to worry about?” I rolled my eyes at him.

Hua Rongzhou finally stopped asking questions. I was relieved in my heart when I saw him retreat to pack up his things. I finally blinded him. This person was probably a mind reader; every time I thought of something, he could notice it.

Tomorrow’s matter—I was afraid to involve him; it would be terrible if he made a scene and annoyed other noblemen. Leaving for Jiangnan and house selection would take at least half a month. Even if he heard the news on his journey and wanted to rush back, someone wouldn’t let him return, and everything had already ended.

On the 5th, I didn’t bring Qian Zhi to the palace banquet. Hua Rongzhou insisted on sending me to the palace’s entrance. When I exited the carriage, he whispered, “Miss, remember to find me quickly, or I will come back to find you.” He straightened up and looked at me with a burning gaze before smiling and steering his horse away with his luggage on his back. I turned around and entered the palace gate as if it were a dividing line, pulling the distance between us apart. Not knowing how long this farewell would be, and the world was vast, how good would it be if I was not Hua Qian?

Entering the hall, Hua Xiang and I sat together on the seat. A few moments later, Noble Consort Qi entered. Thinking that the banquet had just begun and the time was still long, I passed a message to the palace maids before leaving. Zhong Xiwu watched my every move, so I did not want to avoid him. After all, he understood that I won’t mess around. I found a deserted place, and in a few moments, Noble Consort Qi arrived.

“Why is sister anxiously calling me?” As Noble Consort Qi approached, a fragrant breeze hit my face.

I did not reply and looked to her left and right. When she got the hint, she raised her hand and asked her attendants to step back. After the palace maids retreated a few steps away, Noble Consort Qi pulled my hand and spoke: “Sister, why did you look so gloomy? What happened to you?”

I smiled, pulled out the hand she held, picked up a handkerchief, and wiped it. Her face stiffened, and her smile became unnatural. “Noble Consort Qi better not play this sisterly love trick. You make me sick.”

Noble Consort Qi’s eyebrows flashed with a trace of anger, but she still pretended to be confused: “What’s wrong with sister today?”

Looking at her pretending face, I said directly: “The Emperor is allergic to honey. Did Noble Consort forget?”

Noble Consort Qi removed the handkerchief blocking her mouth and spoke surprisedly: “Really? I thought that because the Emperor likes sweets, he must like honey, too. Are you angry at me because of this thing? I really do not know.”

“Aren’t you tired of acting every day?” I interrupted her, “You should have thought that I would go and ask the Emperor directly.”

Noble Consort Q’s hand covering her mouth stopped momentarily but did not make a sound.

She only thought I was bent on currying favor with Zhong Xiwu to enter the palace, so she assumed I wouldn’t ask him directly. In other words, she would have nothing to lose if I didn’t buy her words. No one knew what she said in my ear that day. But if I did believe her, she could get away with it with her reason.

Noble Consort Qi’s eyes turn and reveal their actual color: “Sister wronged me.”

I didn’t buy her play: “If you continue like this, then we don’t have to talk anymore.”

Noble Consort Qi put down her handkerchief and collected her aggrieved expression: “Talk about what?”

“Talk about why you want to kill me.” Not waiting for her to continue showing a shocked face, I spoke again: “Since I asked, I’m certain. You don’t need to play the clumsy trick anymore. You must have also looked around here. There is no one else here except you and me. I am not tricking you, so you can boldly say it outright.”

Noble Consort Qi looked at me and suddenly resumed that lofty, noble consort appearance. She looked arrogant: “How do you know?”

“Aren’t you the one who told me?” I said with a raised eyebrow.

Noble Consort Qi frowned. I added: “I accidentally said that the target of the assassins of the Mid-Autumn Banquet is me, but Noble Consort Qi wasn’t shocked.” The ones who knew this matter, besides me and Mrs. Hua Xiang, there was only the real culprit. Initially, I was only suspicious, but Mu Yao’s letter made me sure.

“So you suspected me from that time. I’m really sloppy.” Noble Consort Qi sneered.

“After all, you have always treated me differently. I know I don’t have any strengths, so I’m inevitably skeptical. Originally, it was a casual question, but I didn’t expect an unexpected gain.” I replied, “What I didn’t realize was what made you kill me.”

“Blame it on your self-importance.” Noble Consort Qi snorted coldly.

I said nothing, and she continued, “You have played a trick to get Zhong Yelan. Why bother to mess with the Emperor? This kind of behavior is disgusting.”

I frowned: “When did I seduce the Emperor?”

Noble Consort Qi looked at me mockingly, “Do you think I am blind? Ever since you married, the Emperor has looked at you exceptionally differently. The Emperor has always emphasized brotherly love. If you have not provoked him, how could he have other thoughts?”

This woman had been trapped in the harem for a long time, so her mentality had become abnormal, and she found excuses for all the things that didn’t occur as she wished.

“You blame me because of the Emperor’s thoughts? Because I’m weak?”

Noble Consort Qi smiled and said, “If you are innocent, I naturally won’t intervene. Blame it on that you’re an outcast but still thinking about things that shouldn’t be there; how can I see you wreaking havoc in the palace.”

Hearing this, I suddenly laughed. Noble Consort Qi frowned: “What are you laughing at?”

“Laughing at your empty words,” my smile did not subside. “Fearing that I will rob you of your power, but still righteously saying it is for the Emperor’s sake.”

Noble Consort Qi’s eyes narrowed and looked at me with undisguised killing intent, “You ……”

“The Empress Dowager is still alive. When was it your turn to maintain the palace affairs?” I shot my cold eyes at her, causing her to retreat involuntarily. Then she looked annoyed, presumably angry and scared.

She took a deep breath and said, “You only rely on your identity as the prime minister’s daughter. You’re an abandoned woman. What qualifications do you have to accuse me?”

I smiled and looked at her as I spoke, “Because you are jealous of me. Doesn’t it mean that if I wanted to, I could easily trample you under my feet?”

Noble Consort Qi’s hands were shaking with anger, but her eyes were uneasy. When I saw this, I spoke again: “You should thank me for letting you go. I didn’t want to enter the palace, but you preferred to deal with me like this. I almost wanted to — turn your fear into reality.”

“Bitch, you, you are delusional ……” Noble Consort Qi raised her hand as if she wanted to hit me. I sidestepped. She stumbled and fell to the ground. A pampered life has indeed wasted people. She was hitting so slowly. Did she wait for others to send their faces to her hands?