Scented Pouch

Wen Chan: "Eh?"

Xu Yingluo: "Ah?"

She looked down at the scented pouch resting in Feixing's hands, then looked up at Wen Chan in a daze. Suddenly, a smile bloomed on her face, as if a backbone had instantly grown within her. Her entire demeanor perked up, and she covered her mouth in a gasp, "Oh my, what a coincidence. It was all a misunderstanding."

Wen Chan: "Why did you suddenly start acting?"

Xu Yingluo secretly tugged at her sleeve, her peripheral vision fixed on the Virtuous Consort. In a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, she smiled sweetly at Wen Chan and said, "Your Highness is like a timely rain, you've come at just the right moment! I was just strolling in the garden and happened upon Elder Sister Virtuous Consort. Seeing that she was upset, I asked and learned that she had lost her beloved scented pouch."

Her words made Wen Chan understand. Galamira was a specialty of Wuyuan. Besides the imperial supply, the Military Governor of Wuyuan, Xiao Dingfang, also had a considerable amount. He had just returned to Pingjing recently, so naturally, he wouldn't forget to send his daughter, Virtuous Consort Xiao, some fine things. Furthermore, the scented pouches made in the Imperial Palace were all more or less the same design. Wen Chan had only remembered the unique fragrance of Galamira and had assumed it was Xu Yingluo's pouch. But in fact, at this point, Xu Yingluo wasn't the only one using Galamira; Virtuous Consort Xiao was as well.

Wen Chan gestured to Feixing, "So that's how it is. Take it and let Lady Xiao have a look, see if it is hers."

The Virtuous Consort glanced at it from the palace attendant's hands, her expression shifting through a myriad of fascinating changes in an instant. She managed to squeeze out a smile to thank Wen Chan, "Yes, it is indeed mine. Thank you, Your Highness."

"You're welcome," Wen Chan said. "It's only right that it be returned to its owner."

Princess Chiming was naturally an excellent judge of character and would not embarrass someone without reason. Seeing the awkward atmosphere, she didn't press for details. Just as Virtuous Consort Xiao let out half a sigh of relief, she heard Xu Yingluo say softly and gently to the princess, "I should also thank Your Highness. Fortunately, Your Highness found Elder Sister's scented pouch today and cleared my name. Otherwise, I truly couldn't have washed myself clean even if I jumped into the Yellow River."

Wen Chan didn't want to get involved in their fight, but she couldn't resist Xu Yingluo's pleading, sparkling eyes, so she had to follow her lead and continue asking, "Mm, what do you mean by that?"

Virtuous Consort Xiao answered before Xu Yingluo could, "It's nothing, just a misunderstanding. I've made a fool of myself before Your Highness."

Xu Yingluo lazily fiddled with the silk tassel at her waist, feigning a nonchalant air as she complained to Wen Chan, "To be honest with Your Highness, the scented pouch I'm wearing is similar to Elder Sister's. It was a gift from His Majesty, and its origin is perfectly clear. Actually, if Elder Sister really liked it, I wouldn't be unwilling to part with it. Who knew that when Elder Sister saw it just now, she thought I had picked up her pouch and claimed it as my own. I have never suffered such a false accusation. I wanted to explain, and that's what we were arguing about just now."

Virtuous Consort Xiao felt a surge of rage rush to her head. Her willow-like eyebrows shot up in anger as she snorted coldly, "I was only asking a simple question, when did I ever wrong you? Consort need not be so sanctimonious in front of Your Highness, acting as if you are so innocent!"

Wen Chan: "..."

With tears welling in her eyes, Xu Yingluo clutched her chest and whimpered, "I'm truly frightened in retrospect. If Your Highness hadn't come, it would have been more than just a misunderstanding. How could I bear such a crime?"

Wen Chan's peripheral vision caught the Virtuous Consort gripping her maid's hand so tightly out of anger that the young maid was in pain but dared not make a sound. Unable to bear letting Xu Yingluo provoke her any further, Wen Chan stepped in to smooth things over, "In any case, the misunderstanding has been cleared up, and no one has been wrongly accused. You two ladies are sensible people who understand the bigger picture. Let bygones be bygones and make peace here."

Xu Yingluo was flexible and very obedient in front of Wen Chan. She immediately stated her position, "Your Highness is fair. I also understand the principle of prizing harmony. How could I stay angry with Elder Sister?"

The last time Virtuous Consort Xiao had punished Xu Yingluo for being defiant, Wen Chan had protected her. This time, when she had lashed out at Xu Yingluo, it was again Wen Chan who came to the rescue. Virtuous Consort Xiao was now certain that Wen Chan and Xu Yingluo were on the same side. However, due to the princess's authority, she dared not talk back to her. She reluctantly nodded at them both as a sign of submission and said in a bitter voice, "I am not feeling well. I will return to my palace first, please excuse me."

Once she was far away, Xu Yingluo boldly tugged on Wen Chan's sleeve, "Your Highness, look at her~"

"What's the use of throwing a tantrum at me? Go and try it on His Majesty." Wen Chan snatched her sleeve back from her hand. "The grudge between you and the Virtuous Consort is growing deeper and deeper. Be careful she doesn't get serious one day. The underhanded methods in the rear palace are endless. If you fall into a trap, you won't be so lucky as to have someone save you every time."

"Isn't this considered getting serious?" Xu Yingluo counted on her fingers, "The amount of drugs found in my food and belongings could supply an apothecary shop. I've been scared by cats, dogs, insects, and snakes countless times. Except when accompanying His Majesty, I never go to places with water or mountains alone. Even though I'm already extremely careful, things like today still happen every so often... Fortunately, I don't have a child yet, otherwise I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to see Your Highness."

As she spoke of these things, her tone was quite casual, as if they were a daily occurrence, and the smile on her face didn't even waver. In just a few short months, she had been completely transformed, no longer the little girl who cried her heart out in front of Wen Chan after being wronged.

Everyone had different expressions, but Wen Chan showed little sympathy, even hinting at a warning, "The days are long. You will have your day to shine sooner or later, provided you don't actively court death."

"His Majesty doesn't care much about women competing for favor, but he is very wary of men competing for favor. If a rear palace consort gets too involved with the front court, it's easy to get yourself played. Be careful not to go down the wrong path."

Xu Yingluo pressed her lips together and nodded lightly, saying in a low voice, "Thank you for the advice, Your Highness. I understand."

Currently, the Emperor's three Noble Consorts all had their own sons. As long as a son wanted to contend for the throne, his mother could never stay out of it. For the current Xu Yingluo, she was not yet pregnant, nor was she raising a prince. Her family's power could not be described as immense, so even if she wanted to meddle, she had no leverage. This reminder seemed unrelated to her, but Wen Chan knew very well that according to the course of her past life, after Duke of Xu Xiao Dingfang fell from power, the Virtuous Consort lost favor and became a nun. The Fifth Prince Wen Rui, who was raised under her name, did his utmost to curry favor with Xu Yingluo and formed an alliance with her. After Wen Rui came of age, left the palace, and was enfeoffed as the Prince of Jin, Xu Yingluo was promoted to Noble Consort. The Xu Clan wholeheartedly supported the Prince of Jin, which eventually led to the Crown Prince being deposed, and the years-long struggle between the princes turned from a hidden undercurrent into an open conflict.

So, while Xu Yingluo and the Prince of Jin had yet to gain power, it was necessary to give her a warning in advance, to prevent trouble before it started.

Wait...

An incredible thought suddenly popped into Wen Chan's mind: "The Fifth Prince under the Virtuous Consort... have you seen him?"

"I have seen him, but only from a distance a few times. I roughly remember his silhouette." Xu Yingluo puffed out her cheeks. "After all, the Virtuous Consort dislikes me and is as wary of me as if I were a thief. Of course her child hates me too."

This action was a stark contrast to her usual graceful and charming demeanor, but it had a lively cuteness. Wen Chan had the urge to reach out and poke her, but the image of the Prince Consort's broken, ash-hearted smile suddenly appeared in her mind, and she immediately withdrew her hand resentfully, offering a casual comfort, "It's alright. It wasn't meant to be. It's not your fault."

Xu Yingluo: ?

Wen Chan had never deeply investigated the reason why Prince of Jin Wen Rui and Xu Yingluo had joined forces in her past life, nor did she know what Xu Yingluo had encountered during her time as a Consort. However, a flash of inspiration just now made her realize that her two unintentional interventions in this life might have been the very opportunities for Wen Rui to befriend Xu Yingluo.

Virtuous Consort Xiao only had eyes for her own biological son; Wen Rui obviously did not have a good life under her care. And Xu Yingluo was repeatedly targeted by the Virtuous Consort. It would be natural for these two victims to meet when their wings were not yet full and huddle together for warmth.

As a result, due to a strange combination of circumstances, the princess had now taken Wen Rui's path, to the point that Xu Yingluo probably didn't even recognize who Wen Rui was.

Wen Chan had to start thinking about another question: it was best, of course, that Xu Yingluo didn't support the Prince of Jin. Wen Chan herself didn't want the past to repeat itself. So, in the future, who would be Noble Consort Xu's support in the court?

She was lost in thought. A more tactful person would have taken their leave by now, but Princess Chiming was the only person in the rear palace she didn't need to be wary of. Xu Yingluo could finally relax in her presence and didn't want to leave just yet. She asked curiously, "The scented pouch was just bestowed recently; even the Virtuous Consort thought it was hers. When Your Highness picked up that pouch, how did you know it was mine?"

Wen Chan came back to her senses and met her expectant gaze. She subconsciously repeated the same answer she had used to fool Feixing and the others, "Because the Galamira fragrance is special. I remembered it after smelling it once."

Xu Yingluo was puzzled, "But the Virtuous Consort has been using this fragrance for a longer time, right? After all, she's been in the palace for so many years."

Wen Chan: "..."

Why does everyone's brain suddenly become so sharp on this particular question?!

"I don't know. I have no impression of her." Wen Chan completely gave up trying to fool her and said coldly, "Anyway, I only remember you using it."

Xu Yingluo: "..."

Wen Chan: "Why are you blushing!"

"The weather is too hot."

As soon as her voice fell, a chilly spring breeze swept through the courtyard, making everyone shiver in unison.

"..."

Wen Chan suddenly raised her hand, signaling Feixing and the others to step back a few paces, leaving space to speak with Xu Yingluo alone. "There is something I'd like to ask Consort to help me with."

Xu Yingluo was startled at first, then broke into a radiant smile and said cheerfully, "Of course! Please feel free to instruct me, Your Highness."

"What are you smiling about?" Her smile made Wen Chan smile as well. "You're agreeing without even asking what it is?"

Xu Yingluo said happily, "Your Highness has given me a new lease on life. To be able to help Your Highness, no matter how big or small the matter, I am very happy."

She was so agreeable that Wen Chan felt a little bad. "Recently, some people have asked His Majesty to return to Zhaojing. But there are still unresolved matters in Pingjing. I would like to ask Consort for help in finding a way to make His Majesty stay in Pingjing for a few more days."

After a moment's thought, she added a promise, "After this is done, you will have one less major obstacle in the palace, and your future days... well, should be more comfortable than they are now."

"It's just a small effort, yet Your Highness is being so formal. It seems I'm the one taking advantage again." Xu Yingluo said happily, "Rest assured, Your Highness, I will not fail your trust. If there is anything else I can do in the future, I am willing to share Your Highness's burdens."