A boring tale 24 - Second Victory (i)

When Ling Xuan bided Imperial Consort Su goodbye and returned to Imperial Concubine Mother Ling's Palace, the owner of the palace was waiting for her.

"How did it go?" were her first words.

To which Ling Xuan replied with a grin, "not bad."

Imperial Concubine Mother Ling gently sipped her tea as she eyed Ling Xuan, waiting for the details.

"Concubine Qi is out of the game and I made Imperial Consort Su lose something very important. Funny thing is, I don't think she realizes it." Ling Xuan took off her coat and changed into something comfortable while she enthusiastically recalled what happened in the Emperor's study hall for Imperial Concubine Ling.

"Does Your Highness know what the most important thing between a woman in the harem and the Emperor is?" Ling Xuan asked cheekily, making Imperial Concubine Mother Ling laugh at her cute antics.

"This Imperial Concubine Mother has been in the Harem for more than four decades and has survived to this day. Saying that I don't know would be a liar," Imperial Concubine Mother Ling smirked as she gently dapped the side of her lips with her handkerchief.

"Imperial Concubine Mother is a smart woman. Ling Xuan is of the same as Imperial Concubine Mother, the most important thing is not affection between couples but trust between a ruler and a supporter. Our Emperor does not like to be challenged nor does he like to be overwritten, that is why he wants his main supporter, his Empress, to be a good woman from a good household. A good wife would sit back and support him every decision, would not talk back, and would not stab him in the back."

Imperial Concubine Ling listened and nodded to her words. Indeed, she has woken up after having a close experience with death and this Lan Xuan Yi standing before her is no longer the person who does not interfere with matters of the harem and wanted to live the dream of living her life peacefully. That dream has shattered, she now understands that if she does not stand up for herself, she will be trampled by others even if she does not act first. She is now taking charge of her future, of her family's future and, of the country's future.

"The Emperor might not have realized that Imperial Consort Su was the one behind the incident, but he has seen how cold-hearted she is. Her image of the perfect wife in the Emperor's mind has been cracked and this caused the Emperor to be suspicious of her. The trust is no longer there, and this is the beginning of her downfall. Of any women's downfall if Ling Xuan is, to be honest."

Ling Xuan sat beside Imperial Concubine Mother ling and eyed her with glittering eyes, like a pet waiting to be praised for doing something good. Imperial Concubine Mother Ling laughed at her and patted her head as she wished.

"Yes, you did well. I didn't expect you to do so well at first, but you have proven me wrong, this Imperial Concubine Mother is liking you more and more."

"Ling Xuan likes Imperial Concubine Mother Ling as well," Ling Xuan replied with a happy grin.

"Good child." Imperial Concubine Mother Ling had two sons and no daughters so when she looks at Ling Xuan, she could not help but dote on her a bit. Ling Xuan is indeed a good child. When the previous Emperor reined, the Lan house supported her son to become the next Emperor. During those harmonious times, Imperial Concubine Mother Ling had sneaked out a few times to visit her good friend who is the wife of Lord Lan to see her beautiful daughter. After that, her son got into an accident and her other son disappeared and her secret visits to the Lan house stopped. She knows Ling Xuan does not remember her because she was so young back then but still, that does not matter. What matters now is that Ling Xuan is here, in the Imperial Palace as her niece, where she can protect her better.

Imperial Concubine Mother Ling arranged for the Madame Lan to enter the palace under the pretense of chatting with an old friend so that Madame Lan could see her daughter. When Madame Lan saw Ling Xuan, she immediately knew it was her baby daughter and teared up. The mother and daughter hugged each other tightly as they finally reunited.

Imperial Concubine Mother Ling smiled at the scene and asked Madame Lan to take Ling Xuan out for shopping and maybe a stayover to help with her "lost" of her daughter. The servants internally chuckled at their mistress's antics and knew her intention so they quickly spread the news around the Imperial Palace.