After being sentenced to death, she came to her senses.

Fang Xiaoran had seen this palace maid before; she was from Consort Hui's palace, and therefore treated her with great respect.

Fang Xiaoran was not surprised that Consort Hui would send someone.

She just didn't expect it to happen so soon. Now that Consort Hui has established herself, she naturally wants to consolidate her power. Fang Xiaoran has worked with her before, and she knows Fang Xiaoran's strength, so she is naturally willing to continue to contact her.

"Please lead the way." Fang Xiaoran stood up and spoke calmly.

After an incense stick had burned, Wei Mingyue finally had a chance to find Fang Xiaoran. However, she couldn't find Fang Xiaoran when she entered the room, so she asked the maid who had stayed behind, "Where did your princess go?"

"The princess has been invited away by Consort Hui," the maid replied in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, Wei Mingyue frowned. "Consort Hui? She should be extremely busy today, yet she still has time to see Xiao Ran. It seems her true intentions are not what they seem. Well, I'll go back first. If she returns, remember to inform me immediately."

"Yes."

After leaving the villa, Wei Mingyue was still worried about Fang Xiaoran. She was unaware of the cooperation between Fang Xiaoran and Consort Hui, but she felt that someone who could rise to power by stepping on the Empress and Consort Ning in that palace struggle was definitely not to be underestimated.

Getting close to someone like that is extremely dangerous; you could easily be tricked.

Consort Hui resided in Luoxia Palace, where it is said the evening scenery was exceptionally beautiful, with the sky ablaze with rosy light, making the entire palace appear as if it were bathed in flames, both magnificent and mysterious.

Fang Xiaoran stood outside Luoxia Palace, gazing at the palace gate shrouded in the sunset, but she had no intention of appreciating the scenery. She followed the palace servants inside, where Consort Hui was leaning against a soft couch by the window, holding a cup of tea in her hand. The sunset glow reflected on her gentle profile, making her appear somewhat soft.

In the past, Consort Hui was sickly, but in the blink of an eye, she has become very charming. Indeed, being in power makes all the difference; she has become radiant.

Fang Xiaoran stepped forward and bowed slightly, "Greetings, Consort Hui."

"You've arrived, please sit." Consort Hui raised her hand slightly, dismissing the woman's formalities, and beckoned her to sit beside her.

Fang Xiaoran showed no sign of surprise. She calmly walked over and sat down. After the palace servants brought hot tea, Consort Hui dismissed everyone, and soon only the two of them remained in the palace.

The sunset outside the window was dazzling, as if it had been tinged with rouge, and occasionally a kingfisher would fly by, emitting a series of clear chirps.

"It's been a long time. You always manage to surprise me." Consort Hui smiled gently at Fang Xiaoran, her eyes full of approval.

Upon hearing this, Fang Xiaoran was slightly taken aback and asked in confusion, "This humble woman does not seem to have done anything that would surprise Your Majesty. Your Majesty flatters me."

"It's not exactly outrageous, but I feel that I underestimated you back then." Consort Hui smiled, but that smile gave off an inexplicable chill.

Those who rise to power often experience a change in temperament, just like Consort Hui now.

She is currently extremely popular and enjoys the Emperor's exclusive favor. It is said that Emperor Zhao intends to promote her to the rank of Imperial Concubine, so it is clear that the Empress's position will be hers sooner or later.

After all, there were very few people in the palace who could compete with her. Those who stood out had long been dealt with by Consort Ning, and the rest were not worth mentioning.

Even the Empress was confined to her quarters. Although she was stripped of her title and empress status, she was left with only a nominal title. Apart from the affection between husband and wife over the years, Emperor Zhao was probably still observing the situation.

But these facts alone are enough to show that Consort Hui's position is secure, since even her maternal family has benefited greatly. However, with Consort Ning as a precedent, Consort Hui naturally dared not be too flamboyant. Emperor Zhao respected the Empress, indulged Consort Ning, and indeed pitied her, but this pity was not without cost.

Consort Hui knew that behind Emperor Zhao’s “pity” lay a balancing act of imperial strategy.

Fang Xiaoran's eyes flickered slightly, but she still wore a faint smile and did not respond to Consort Hui's words.

Consort Hui was not angry about this, as she knew Fang Xiaoran's temperament and that things should not be taken to extremes.

"Speaking of which, I owe my current status to you." Suddenly, Consort Hui looked at Fang Xiaoran with an ambiguous expression.

Upon hearing this, Fang Xiaoran first raised her eyes suspiciously, then paused slightly, and shook her head, saying, "Your Majesty, what are you saying? This humble woman dares not accept such praise. Your Majesty's success today is due to Your Majesty's talent and resourcefulness."

“If talent were useful, Consort Mei wouldn’t have been so depressed and died so tragically. In this palace, talent is the most useless thing. Only by knowing people and using them well, making proper plans, and taking things one step at a time can one have the last laugh. Do you think I will be the final winner?”

Consort Hui gazed at her, her smile deepening.

Although she hadn't directly experienced the power struggles within the imperial harem, Fang Xiaoran had heard about them, as the person before her was the best example.

She lowered her eyes slightly, her expression remaining calm. "This is a question I cannot answer."

In her previous life, Consort Hui was a loser with a tragic end. In this life, Fang Xiaoran's intervention has changed her life. As for how far she will end up, Fang Xiaoran has no idea.

All she knew was that if she wanted to control her own future, she had to rely on herself.

"You really are meticulous. Even though you're so familiar with me, you're still extra wary. Well, that's a good thing. It proves you're an extremely cautious person. How much of a chance do you have of winning this rebellion by Prince Duan? Or are you really sure he'll do it?"

The eldest prince believed it wholeheartedly, but Consort Hui still had some doubts.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Fang Xiaoran, but rather that he was afraid Prince Duan wouldn't dare.

Ultimately, although Prince Duan was Emperor Zhao's younger brother and had the Empress Dowager's protection, he had been a leisurely prince for too long. Even if he had the courage, he needed to have enough ability.

Consort Hui did not entirely believe this.

“A person who has been oppressed for too long will naturally want to rebel. As for how far he will go, I am not sure. Your Majesty only needs to be prepared. If something unexpected happens, Your Majesty will be the one who benefits the most,” Fang Xiaoran said calmly.

"I'm afraid of doing all the work for someone else." Consort Hui sighed helplessly. In the end, the eldest prince had not yet been adopted by her. If the eldest prince gained power at this time, and then turned around and supported his own birth mother, wouldn't she become a laughing stock?

Of course, given the current situation, the eldest prince would not dare to do so. His birth mother came from a humble background and her family had no power. If he wanted to compete for the position of crown prince, he could only rely on Consort Hui to have any chance of winning.

Fang Xiaoran tapped the edge of the table lightly with her fingertips and said with a faint smile, "Your Majesty is overthinking it. The First Prince is a smart man. He knows better than anyone that without your support, he wouldn't even be qualified to stand on the chessboard."

“I’m worried that I might also be a pawn,” Consort Hui said, gently rubbing the sandalwood prayer beads in her hand.

"If you can have the last laugh, what does it matter if you're just a pawn?" Fang Xiaoran's eyes were light and clear, and although there was a smile, it was clearly tinged with a hint of coldness.

Consort Hui paused for a moment, the prayer beads making a soft clinking sound. She looked up and met Fang Xiaoran's gaze, then smiled slightly: "The princess sees things very clearly."

Fang Xiaoran smiled faintly: "Since Your Majesty understands, why bother yourself? The difference between a chess player and a chess piece is just a matter of a single thought."

"To be honest, there is something I still don't understand," Consort Hui said, raising her eyes and smiling.

The smile clearly carried a hint of amusement. Fang Xiaoran's eyes flickered slightly, and she asked, puzzled, "What does Your Highness mean?"

"Is Consort Ning's sudden serious illness related to you?" Suddenly, Consort Hui's eyes turned serious, her gaze fixed on Fang Xiaoran, trying to find a trace of abnormality or flaw in her face.

However, she was disappointed. Fang Xiaoran remained unusually calm throughout, as if she were talking about something that had nothing to do with her. "This humble woman does not understand what Your Majesty means."

Consort Hui was a clever woman and naturally knew when to stop, especially when it came to such secret matters, which required her to be very careful.

"The tea has gone cold. I'll have someone pour you another cup. This plum tea from Qingzhou is the most refreshing."