She Really Is Ugly

Minister Zhuo listened to her and thought she was quite sensible. He personally ordered gifts to be prepared for her and sent her off to the palace.

Consort Vivian was rather surprised by her arrival, but didn't say much.

After greeting Consort Vivian, Grace told them that since she was already in the palace, it was only right to pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress.

Consort Vivian agreed and let her go.

However, instead of heading to the Empress, Grace went to see Lillian Lee.

Grace had heard plenty about Lydia the Unfavored, but she'd never actually met her.

She always felt that the rumors might be wrong.

After all, her own brother was pretty good-looking—how bad could the sister be?

Or maybe she just had some illness that caused spots on her face?

She could help treat it—maybe there was still hope.

But the moment she saw her, Grace was completely disappointed.

Turns out, the rumors were absolutely true.

She really was... hideous!

A cleft lip, a turned-up nose, freckles everywhere, and thin, yellow hair.

With looks like that... tsk tsk tsk, it's a miracle Colin Gu could even kiss her!

No wonder she was the only consort who'd never been favored—she was already the palace joke every time the ladies had tea.

Lillian Lee wasn't surprised at all by Grace's visit. Clearly, the Imperial Advisor had already told her.

"...My brother said you could help me, but before that, you wanted to see me. What's your reason for meeting me?" Lillian Lee asked.

"Your Ladyship, I was hoping to check your pulse, if that's alright? Since I'm already here, I might as well give it a try," Grace said.

"Check my pulse?" Lillian Lee was surprised. "You know how to do that?"

"I do," Grace replied.

"And why do you want to check my pulse?"

"To help you win the Emperor's favor, of course!"

"Just by checking my pulse?" Lillian Lee raised an eyebrow. "How does that work?"

"Actually, I wanted to see if there was any way to improve your looks and make you beautiful," Grace said.

"Oh, I see..." Lillian Lee chuckled and placed her wrist on the table. "Go ahead, then! I hope you can make me prettier."

Grace reached out to check her pulse.

When she finished, Grace glanced at Lillian Lee's face and raised her eyebrows slightly.

"Well?" Lillian Lee asked.

Grace didn't say anything. She just took out two little pills from her space—one white, one black—and said, "Lady Lillian, please take these."

"What are these?"

"If you take the white pill, you'll get sick," Grace said.

"Sick? Why would I want to get sick?" Lillian Lee's eyes widened.

Her eyes, though, were big and round—actually quite clear and pretty.

Grace smiled, "If you're ill, the Emperor will come to check on you. Even if he doesn't want to, if the Imperial Advisor shows concern, he'll have to come."

Lillian Lee smiled. "And then?"

"Crush the black pill and put it in the incense. It's colorless and odorless, and then... that's it."

"Oh?" Lillian Lee held the black pill to her nose and sniffed. "Is it... an aphrodisiac?"

"No, it's something that causes hallucinations and makes people pass out for a while," Grace said. "He won't suspect a thing the next morning."

"Pass out..." Lillian Lee raised an eyebrow at Grace, looking for trouble. "I'm trying to get the Emperor's favor—if he passes out, how's that supposed to work?"

"If you want the Emperor's favor, just take off your makeup. You don't need my help for that," Grace replied, raising an eyebrow right back.