Rules of Horror: Survival Begins in the Haunted Harem - Chapter 80

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On her way back from the Palace of Phoenix Grace, Xie Nuange sent Xiao Yunzi to pay the Imperial Kitchen to prepare a box of pastries.

That afternoon, she visited Yikun Palace again.

Biyu was guarding the entrance. When she saw Xie Nuange, she came forward and curtsied, a hint of apology on her face.

“Lady Xie, Her Ladyship is taking her afternoon nap. She has been feeling unwell these past few days, and the imperial physician ordered her to rest quietly. This servant does not dare disturb her.”

Xie Nuange smiled. “Then this concubine won’t intrude.”

“What do we do?”

Su Ye was growing anxious. When they first entered the palace, there had been a high chance of seeing the Emperor.

But even if they met him, they could not immediately persuade him to take them to the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet.

And once that initial opportunity passed, seeing him again became exceedingly difficult.

“Your Ladyship, His Majesty went to the Palace of Phoenix Grace today,” Xiao Yunzi reported quietly with his head lowered. “According to the usual custom, tomorrow night should belong to one of the Four Consorts.”

Xie Nuange nodded. Leaving Su Ye to speak with Xiao Yunzi, she entered the side hall.

“The Emperor usually visits the Empress first, then the Noble Consort and Consort De.”

Su Ye entered soon afterward. “But Xiao Yunzi said that before we entered the palace, the Emperor selected Ye Wan’s plaque.”

“Consort Qi attended him that night. On the night your plaque was selected, the Noble Consort summoned him away. So tomorrow and the day after will most likely be Consort De and Consort Jing.”

Xie Nuange nodded. By the time the Emperor completed the rotation, half the month would be gone.

There was no hope for today.

Since the Emperor had gone to the Palace of Phoenix Grace, he would not select anyone’s plaque tonight.

Who would dare steal the Empress’s night?

“I learned something else.”

Su Ye leaned closer and lowered her voice. “The Emperor occasionally takes walks through the imperial garden in the afternoon.”

“Many people go there hoping to encounter him, though very few actually succeed.”

At the next morning greeting, a new face appeared in the Palace of Phoenix Grace.

The Empress sat on the phoenix throne, her fingers resting lightly on its armrest. After sweeping her gaze across the consorts below, she glanced at the woman standing beside her.

“We have another new younger sister today.”

She raised a hand. “This is Attendant Radiance.”

Xie Nuange and the others looked over. It was the palace maid from the second stage who had killed a palace candidate in Yinghua Hall and cleared the stage alone.

Attendant Radiance stepped forward and curtsied to the consorts seated on both sides.

Ye Wan had clearly recognized her as well.

Across half the hall, Xie Nuange’s and Ye Wan’s gazes met for an instant.

So even palace maids who cleared the stage alone would be presented to the Emperor as consorts?

“To keep you from confusing her with First Attendant Li, I bestowed the title ‘Radiance’ upon her.”

The Empress spoke unhurriedly after Attendant Radiance completed her salute.

“The Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet is half a month away. The opera troupe has already entered the palace. Be careful when you move about these days, and do not wander, lest you cause an offense.”

She raised her tea and skimmed the foam with the lid. “In particular, if you see anyone in opera costume, do not approach them. The troupe has its own rules, and an offense would benefit no one.”

The consorts answered in unison.

Xie Nuange lowered her lashes. There was another rule now: if she saw someone in opera costume, she must not approach.

At noon, Su Ye returned with their meal. She set the food box on the table, her expression strange.

“First Attendant Li copied Liu Feng and went to the Palace of Heavenly Purity to deliver something.”

Xie Nuange looked up. “And then?”

“She ran into the opera troupe. The Emperor confined her to her palace for three days and forbade her from leaving.”

Su Ye looked at Xie Nuange. “We need to be even more careful now. We can’t wander too far.”

Only half a month remained until the Empress Dowager’s birthday. Three days was not a short time.

They could not wander, offend the opera troupe, or be confined to their palace.

That afternoon, Xie Nuange returned to Yikun Palace with the pastries from the Imperial Kitchen.

This time, Biyu did not stop her.

The Noble Consort sat on a daybed in the main hall. She wore a moon-white informal jacket, with no red sachet in sight.

Only after confirming that the sachet was absent did Xie Nuange salute her.

“Sit.”

The Noble Consort looked at her. “What brings you here, Noble Lady Xie?”

Xie Nuange recalled her faction and hesitated.

“Even when this concubine was still at home, her parents spoke of Your Ladyship.”

She smiled with easy familiarity, as though making casual conversation. “This concubine wished to come and grow closer to Your Ladyship.”

The Noble Consort gave a soft laugh and studied Xie Nuange.

“Noble Lady Xie, too much imperial favor is not necessarily a good thing.”

Her gaze went unfocused for an instant.

Xie Nuange’s heart lurched. Afraid the Noble Consort might take out the red sachet again, she hurried to speak.

“Your Ladyship has misunderstood.”

“This concubine merely heard that an opera troupe will perform at the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet.”

“This concubine would like to see it…”

Xie Nuange glanced at the Noble Consort. Only after seeing her return to normal did she signal Su Ye to present the pastries from the Imperial Kitchen.

Using the movement as cover, Xie Nuange activated the ghost item—Divination Coins.

[When indecision strikes, toss three coins. Heads grants a 200% buff. Tails means, why aren’t you running yet? 6/15.]

[Three tails: Failure. Give up. She will not agree. Uses remaining: 5/15.]

[Three heads: Buff +200%. State your request at once. Chance of success increased. Uses remaining: 4/15.]

Xie Nuange immediately said, “This concubine is not qualified to attend the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet. She wondered whether Your Ladyship might take her along to broaden her horizons.”

The Noble Consort looked at Xie Nuange and nodded. “So that is what this is about…”

“I’ll remember it. However…”

She paused. “If the Empress Dowager does not wish for a lively celebration, remain quietly in the Palace of Eternal Spring. Some excitement is better avoided than joined.”

It was still early when Xie Nuange left Yikun Palace.

Rather than returning directly to the Palace of Eternal Spring, she strolled along the palace path.

“Let’s try our luck in the imperial garden.”

Su Ye was anxious too, but anxiety would accomplish nothing.

“Don’t worry. If all else fails, the two of us can join the opera troupe.”

Xie Nuange patted her hand. The moment they entered the imperial garden, they saw a pavilion ahead…

[Rule Ten: There are no pavilions in the palace. If you are standing inside a pavilion, move away immediately. Do not look back. Leave the pavilion’s vicinity as quickly as possible.]

“Let’s go back.”

Xie Nuange had just turned around when two small children—a boy and a girl—appeared before her.

She had no idea when they had appeared or where they had come from.

Holding hands, they tipped back their faces and stared at Xie Nuange with pitch-black eyes.

“Noble Lady Xie.”

They were Consort De’s two children.

The rules said Consort De had two children, the only two in the palace.

They might ask her to play games. If she refused, they might become unhappy.

And when they were unhappy, Consort De would fly into a rage.

“Greetings, First Prince and First Princess.”

Xie Nuange silently cursed her rotten luck. Then the young boy spoke.

“Noble Lady Xie, come play with us in the imperial garden.”

The little girl had already reached out and grabbed the hem of Xie Nuange’s banner gown.

“Let’s go to the pavilion. There are katydids over there, and they chirp so beautifully.”

Xie Nuange crouched until she was eye level with the children.

“It’s windy by the pavilion. The wind might give you a headache.”

Her voice was soft, as though coaxing her own younger siblings. “Why don’t we play something else?”

The boy’s brows drew together. The girl pouted. Both small faces darkened as they cried in unison,

“No! We want to go to the pavilion!”

Xie Nuange thought, Little brats…