CHAPTER 252: CHAPTER 251: NOBLE CONSORT IS SNUBBED

「Qingya Residence.」

Zhao Junyao was about to leave when he saw Noble Concubine Shih approaching. After they entered and paid their respective respects, she began to wipe her tears with her handkerchief. "It’s all my fault, Xia Jieyu! If I hadn’t insisted on seeing the cat, this wouldn’t have happened!"

Having said that, she didn’t wait for Xia Ruqing to react before turning around to present a gift. "I was so worried last night I couldn’t sleep, fearing that something might happen to Xia Jieyu! Thank heavens you’re safe! This modest gift can hardly express my apologies. Please don’t refuse it, Xia Jieyu!" After speaking, she personally handed over the box.

Xia Ruqing sneered inwardly. She had no idea when Noble Concubine Shih’s acting had become so convincing. Wiping tears and offering gifts, as if someone else had been at fault the previous day.

Xia Ruqing didn’t want to accept and said only, "I dare not accept." Then she made no further move, nor did she reach out for the gift.

Zhao Junyao, seeing she wasn’t accepting it, likely felt vexed himself and said indifferently, "If the Noble Consort acknowledges her fault, she should reflect upon it properly within her palace, instead of coming here to make her presence known." Frankly, palace women were quite averse to this sort of display, and he didn’t like it either.

Noble Concubine Shih’s face darkened. Always so proud, she had never been snubbed like this. To go out of her way to offer a gift only to be rejected... truly mortifying. However, with the Emperor present, she didn’t dare to show her anger. She reluctantly retracted the box and, with a strained smile, said, "That Palace Maid, Qiaoqiao, not only did she offend Xia Jieyu, but she also refused to take orders upon returning! I merely gave her ten strokes of the paddle, and she couldn’t bear it and died!"

This was her way of reporting to Zhao Junyao, meaning: I’ve killed a Palace Maid, and it was her own fault for not obeying orders!

Zhao Junyao didn’t know what offense a Palace Maid could commit, but he knew the Noble Consort’s temper. He disliked the arbitrary taking of lives, and his expression grew even colder. He glanced at Xia Ruqing, who was kneeling on the bed with a pale face.

Zhao Junyao then said to the Noble Consort, "If you have no other matters, you should return! If you truly feel remorseful, copy the ’Female Admonitions’ and ’Code of Conduct for Women’ a hundred times and submit them to the Empress!"

After speaking, he gave Xia Ruqing a concerned look and instructed the Palace Attendants to take good care of her. Then he left. From beginning to end, it took no more than the time for two incense sticks to burn.

Noble Concubine Shih had entered full of pride and left utterly dejected.

In Xifu Palace, Qiaoqiao was already dead. Gao Changyi had someone remove her from the palace. They hauled her off to the Mass Burial Mound and carelessly discarded her there. They said that human life was precious in the palace. But when such deaths occurred, they simply happened. To whom could one appeal? If there was anyone to blame, it was Qiaoqiao herself for not being favored, and for arrogantly taking advantage of her mistress’s status as Noble Consort to behave lawlessly and complacently. It just went to show that, no matter where one was, to live well, one still needed to understand the lay of the land.

Upon the Emperor’s return to the palace, coupled with Li Shengan’s decisive approach, the rumors finally ceased. Whether it was ’the Emperor establishing the Crown Prince’ or ’Lady Xia’s brother climbing the ranks through nepotism,’ no one dared to speak of it any longer. But it had, after all, caused quite a commotion. Though people might no longer speak of it aloud, who could say they dared not think of it in their hearts?

The Empress Dowager regarded Xia Ruqing as a thorn in her side. Even without concrete evidence, the Empress Dowager’s disdain for Xia Ruqing grew; in reality, she had never been fond of her. This blatant favoritism was blocking the Shih family’s girl from gaining the Emperor’s favor in the palace. Yet, there was nothing to be done. That woman was like a fox; one couldn’t grasp her tail, nor find a vital point to strike a fatal blow. Regardless of how displeasing Xia Ruqing was, the Empress Dowager had to tolerate her.

As for the Empress, she could remain composed for the time being. She had endured Noble Concubine Shih’s great favor back in the day, so the inconsequential Lady Xia was even less of a concern. If the Emperor could simply make the son of whomever he favored the Crown Prince, the Zhao family’s empire would have descended into chaos long ago. The rules were set by the ancestors; they could not be transgressed or challenged. Not even the Emperor could defy them! Therefore, she didn’t worry about her position at all.

What she did worry about, however, was a son. She needed a son.

When looking over the list of Fine Ladies, the Empress specifically paid attention to girls from humble backgrounds. If it truly comes to that, I can only adopt one.

"Sister Ji, when the Fine Ladies enter the palace, help me look for someone... suitable!"

By ’suitable,’ she meant someone easy to control and fertile. Ideally, someone with no significant backing, so even if I were to remove the mother and keep the child in the future, it wouldn’t be too conspicuous.

Sister Ji just smiled. "Rest assured, Your Highness, of course!"

Nowadays, even a mere Jieyu knows to scheme for the Crown Prince’s position, let alone others. With The Central Palace lacking an heir, the Harem will ultimately never be at peace. If Her Highness the Empress remains childless, her life will truly become difficult. Thinking of this, Sister Ji sighed deeply. I just hope the new ladies entering the palace can divert some of His Majesty’s favor from *that one*!

The Empress mused and couldn’t help but give a wry smile. Isn’t that the truth?!

With those words, her gaze turned cold again. "As the Empress of The Central Palace, I believe my conscience is clear regarding them. Whether they are favored or not, I would not readily make their lives difficult! Yet they lack even this modicum of respect, each one coveting what is mine. In that case, they can’t blame me for being unkind."

When Noble Concubine Shih returned to her palace, she erupted in a furious outburst. "’Female Admonitions! Female Code!’ she seethed. ’That cheap woman!’" This was the first time she had felt so utterly defeated. Back in the Eastern Palace, even the Empress hadn’t dared to offend her like this. "’Now, a mere Jieyu dares to show me such disrespect!’" As she spoke, Noble Concubine Shih smashed a teacup!

Without Ying Yue present, Gao Changyi wore a pained expression as he tried to console her, "Your Highness, getting angry now is useless, isn’t it? We should really think of a way to capture the Emperor’s heart—that’s what’s most important! As long as the Emperor still thinks of you, Your Highness, you still have a chance, don’t you? What’s the use of smashing teacups and saucers here?"

Noble Concubine Shih was beyond listening and angrily retorted, "The Emperor’s heart? His heart is entirely with that cheap woman!" If I could capture the Emperor’s heart, would I need to be here, fuming like this?

Gao Changyi fell silent then. If he pressed too hard, the Noble Consort’s fury might turn on him, and that would not end well.

Consort Yun Pin was restrained by Noble Concubine Shih and dared not leave her quarters. Any pretense between them had long been cast aside. Though she, too, held Xia Ruqing in low regard, earlier that morning, she had watched Noble Concubine Shih leave in high spirits, only to see her return utterly dejected. A sense of vindication welled up in her heart.

Who would have thought that the Noble Consort, once so dominant in the Harem, could fall to such a state! "Isn’t that right, Cai Die?"

Cai Die dared not make a sound. What could I say? If I spoke too much and caused a grave offense, my mistress would be the one to suffer. Alas...

「At Consort Zheng Pin’s chambers.」

The sentiment there was entirely different. The Emperor had gone straight to Qingya Residence after court. Noble Concubine Shih had also gone, and then, she had returned fuming.

Was there even a need to guess? She immediately gave a bitter smile. Not even this could bring her down; that Lady Xia certainly has some skill! The Empress Dowager hadn’t found any evidence and seemed disinclined to pursue it further. The Empress was busy with selecting Fine Ladies; as for the Crown Prince’s position for Lady Xia’s son? A pipe dream! And Noble Concubine Shih? Well, she had just suffered a setback.

Consort Zheng Pin simply couldn’t understand. We are all women, and I don’t see her as devastatingly beautiful. How is it that the Emperor just can’t seem to forget her? Gentleness? Beauty? The women in the Harem lack neither.