USWHC -Chapter 516 The Talent of a Top Scholar (Part 6)

“Hua Feixue, stop crying!” Wan Yue sighed, handing her a handkerchief and gently urging her.

Just then, the door suddenly swung open with a bang, and the room lit up instantly. Several palace lanterns illuminated the small chamber, which was clearly a temporary resting place for the consorts.

A cold snort cut through the air. “Let her cry. She’ll have plenty of chances to cry later!” Then Zhu Jie’s voice rang out with hatred.

Indeed, it had been Wan Yue who had helped Hua Feixue down earlier—but it wasn’t out of kindness. She was simply following Zhu Jie’s orders.

Zhu Jie let out a faint sigh. “You all may leave now.”

Wan Yue immediately led the palace maids out in unison, gently closing the door behind them.

“You blind fool! Even my third brother could see it. Don’t you understand what day it is today? And you still dare to butt in? Those people are all like spiny hedgehogs, bristling with swords drawn. Did you think this was a time to show off? You stubbornly went up there… you’re just asking to lose your head!” Zhu Jie yelled harshly.

Hua Feixue, who had been sniffling, froze at this. “W-what are you talking about? I… I don’t understand.”

Seeing her like that, Zhu Jie sighed. Of course, a little girl wouldn’t understand all the politics. She said helplessly, “Who made you go up there and sing that poem?”

Hua Feixue, faced with a question instead of an answer, immediately went silent, biting her lip and refusing to reply.

Seeing her stubborn secrecy, Zhu Jie couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. “You idiot. People are sending you to the execution block, and you still think they’re helping you! Was it Consort Duan? What did she say? That if you sang well today, the emperor would favor you? Dream on! She sent you up there to die!”

“No way… why would they want to hurt me?” Hua Feixue exclaimed in shock.

Yet by her reaction, she more or less confirmed Zhu Jie’s suspicion. Zhu Jie poked her forehead in frustration and said through gritted teeth, “You fool! Bringing you into a place where people eat each other alive… that’s my mistake too!”

“But why would they want to hurt me?” Hua Feixue still couldn’t believe it.

“Why hurt you? Haven’t you thought about what you’ve done?” Zhu Jie shot her a sharp look. “Did you tell Consort Duan about what happened with Pingning County Princess? You were trying to curry favor with her? Really clever, aren’t you?”

Being called out so directly, Hua Feixue’s face immediately flushed with embarrassment. “I… I had no choice. Li Fei is always targeting me. How am I supposed to survive in the palace all alone?” She lifted the handkerchief again and tears streamed down her face. “And you won’t even help me!”

That was her honest truth. She had no backing, no allies, and Li Fei despised her at every turn. Surviving was already incredibly difficult; of course she felt wronged.

“How could I not help you? Didn’t I transfer you to the Imperial Garden?”

Hua Feixue was stunned. “You sent me to the Imperial Garden? Why… why would you do that?” She leapt up in anger, claws flailing as if she could tear Zhu Jie apart.

“Sent you there to harm you? I helped you, didn’t I! Look at you—if not for Ji Yi being your cousin, I wouldn’t even bother with you. How is going to the Imperial Garden a punishment?” Zhu Jie retorted, equally exasperated.

Hua Feixue dared not strike a princess in the face, so she could only grit her teeth and stand there, seething. “How is it not a punishment? I can’t even see the emperor there! Do you know? I still… haven’t become a woman yet!”

“Not a woman?” Zhu Jie rolled her eyes skyward, then immediately understood. She meant she still hadn’t… consummated yet.

“Isn’t that even better?” Zhu Jie laughed. “You really love that old father emperor of mine, don’t you?” She shook her head, smiling. “Everyone has their own way of thinking. Our sisters fought tooth and nail refusing to marry that old man from Qi, but you? You’re trying to attach yourself to my even older father. Why? Why not just be a pure and talented girl? In the Imperial Garden, tending flowers and watching grass, eating and drinking without worry… isn’t that happiness enough?”