Rules of Horror: Survival Begins in the Haunted Harem - Chapter 82

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Xie Nuange lowered her eyes. There was nothing inherently wrong with living in the Palace of Universal Happiness.

The problem was that Attendant Zhang might never have another opportunity to see the Emperor.

Much less persuade Consort Jing to take her to the birthday banquet.

“Very well. If there is nothing else, you may leave.”

The Empress waved a hand. Consort Jing rose, and when she reached Attendant Zhang, she looked at her.

“Attendant Zhang, I will await you at the Palace of Universal Happiness.”

With that, she left with her palace maid.

Xie Nuange saw that Attendant Zhang’s face remained pale and that her fingers were clenched tightly around her handkerchief.

As she and Ye Wan walked out together, Ye Wan looked at her.

“Which rule did she violate?”

Although phrased as a question, Ye Wan’s expression was certain.

“How do you know she violated a rule?”

Xie Nuange raised an eyebrow. “Couldn’t Consort Jing simply be angry because Attendant Zhang stole her night with the Emperor?”

“Her face looked terrible from the moment she entered.”

Ye Wan studied Xie Nuange. “And you know Consort Qi’s rule. So those of you who attended the Emperor received a second set of rules?”

Xie Nuange said nothing. She merely gave Ye Wan an innocent look.

Annoyed by the expression, Ye Wan rolled her eyes.

“What do you want? I don’t have many ghost items left.”

Xie Nuange paused. “When you were in Yinghua Hall, did you see the rosters in the cabinet?”

“I did.”

Ye Wan looked at her, unsure where the question was leading.

“Help me find out what other identities appeared on those rosters besides palace candidates and palace maids.”

Xie Nuange remembered seeing her brother’s name there too.

She looked at Ye Wan. “I suspect there are still… people involved this time, but I don’t know what roles they have.”

Ye Wan frowned. “That’s all?”

“That’s all.”

Ye Wan nodded. “Fine. I’ll investigate for you. The rules…”

“Come back to the Palace of Eternal Spring and read them yourself.”

Xie Nuange and Su Ye brought Ye Wan and Zhang San back with them.

There, Xie Nuange took out the second set of rules and showed it to Ye Wan.

“I kept them from you for your own good. You used those two key terms that day, but you didn’t violate any rules.”

Xie Nuange pointed to the final one.

[Rule Ten: From this moment onward, do not speak to anyone about the scenario or Chosen Players. If you accidentally do so, you will pay a terrible price.]

Understanding dawned on Ye Wan. No wonder everyone had stopped using those two terms.

“So you probably can’t say them anymore either.”

Xie Nuange looked at her. “See? I told you that not knowing was better for you, but you insisted on looking.”

Ye Wan placed the rules on the table. She and Zhang San made sure they had memorized every one before rising to leave.

“Don’t worry. I’ll investigate what I promised as soon as possible.”

Xie Nuange nodded. After seeing them off, she found Su Ye watching her.

“We could have investigated it ourselves. Why show them the rules?”

“Su Ye.”

Xie Nuange turned to her. “Wherever we are, we need a temporary partner.”

“My brother once told me never to entrust others with my heart, but never to reject cooperation either.”

She looked at Su Ye. “Besides, I don’t know whether investigating this information will cause trouble for us.”

If she were not afraid of causing trouble, she would have asked Xiao Yunzi immediately whether he had ever heard the name Xie Chaoyang.

But Xie Nuange could not predict what might happen if others learned she was seeking information about Xie Chaoyang.

Would they fabricate some baseless charge against her?

After lunch, Xiao Yunzi entered to report.

“His Majesty has gone to Consort De’s palace.”

Xie Nuange’s hand paused. As long as the children mentioned playing marbles in the Emperor’s presence today, or told him that they wanted some, Consort De would probably think nothing of it.

But would the Emperor suddenly remember that a Noble Lady Xie still lived in the Palace of Eternal Spring?

At the Palace of Eternal Longevity, Consort De was seated by the window when the Emperor arrived, watching the two children lie on the floor and play with pearls.

“Imperial Father!”

The young prince saw him first. He scrambled up, ran over, and hugged the Emperor’s leg. “Imperial Father! Imperial Father! I want marbles!”

The Emperor looked down at his young son and peeled him from his leg. “What kind of marbles?”

“Glass ones.”

The young prince tipped up his face, eyes shining, and formed a circle with his hands. “There’s a flower inside, and it spins when you hold it to the light!”

“Noble Lady Xie let us play with hers. They were beautiful. Can Imperial Father ask her to give us a few more?”

The Emperor’s gaze rested on the two children before he raised his head toward Consort De.

“Noble Lady Xie came here?”

Consort De saluted before answering. “The children encountered Noble Lady Xie in the imperial garden, and she played marbles with them for quite some time. They have been clamoring for them ever since. Where is this concubine supposed to find marbles like those?”

The Emperor walked to the daybed and sat, then lifted Consort De’s tea and took a sip.

“Noble Lady Xie seems good at coaxing children.”

Consort De had a palace matron take the children away to wash their hands, then sat beside the Emperor and gently waved a fan.

“Noble Lady Xie has a quiet disposition. The children like her.”

She looked at the Emperor. “This concubine heard that Noble Lady Xie is the only Noble Lady living in the Palace of Eternal Spring. It must be terribly lonely. This concubine wondered whether she might move to the Palace of Eternal Longevity. The children would have a playmate, and this concubine would have someone to talk with.”

The Emperor’s teacup stopped halfway to his lips. He glanced at Consort De and returned it to the small table.

“Only when I come here can I relax a little.”

He tapped two fingers lightly against his knee. “Let’s not bring anyone else in. It would be too noisy.”

Seeing this, Consort De said nothing more. She helped the Emperor wash, and the two retired to bed.

The next morning, after she rose and saw the Emperor off, the palace matron approached and curtsied.

“Your Ladyship, should we continue preparing the western side hall?”

Consort De thought of Xie Nuange. “Leave it for now.”

“My youth and beauty are fading, and they’ve all begun drawing new women into their palaces. I…”

The palace matron hurried forward to console her. “Your Ladyship is different from them. You have a prince and a princess. They do not.”

A smile appeared on Consort De’s face. “You’re right. I still have my children.”

The following day, Xie Nuange received word that the Emperor had selected her plaque for that night.

She guessed that Consort De’s children deserved the credit.

She separated out a portion of the Calming Incense and checked each of her ghost items carefully.

If the Calming Incense was not the Benzoin Incense, she had to be prepared.

She was just about to leave when footsteps sounded beyond the courtyard gate.

Zhang San entered and looked at Xie Nuange.

“Noble Lady Ye asked this servant to give this to Your Ladyship.”

Zhang San lowered her voice and spoke rapidly. “She asks Your Ladyship to do her a favor tonight and persuade His Majesty to visit Consort Qi’s palace for a while. This is a ghost item.”

Xie Nuange looked down at the item, then pushed it back.

“Tell your mistress I’ll do my best.”

“Keep the ghost item. She can owe me a favor instead.”

Xie Nuange did not care about the ghost item. She wanted a favor from Ye Wan.

Zhang San hesitated before nodding. “Yes. This servant will convey Your Ladyship’s words.”

The Phoenix Carriage of Spring Favor was already waiting outside. Clutching the Calming Incense, Xie Nuange boarded.

Whether her plan succeeded would be decided tonight.