CHAPTER 81: CHAPTER 80 WATCHING THE OPERA 3

Consort Ning and Consort Hui Pin had served the Emperor for many years in the palace and had raised both The Eldest Princess and the Second Princess. Both were not inclined to stir up trouble and did not easily offend anyone. When invited by the Noble Consort, they naturally attended. However, they merely sat for a short while before leaving, just enough to pay their respects to the Noble Consort without offering any cause for criticism. After all, no sensible person would foolishly seek trouble with either of them.

As expected, Noble Concubine Shih greeted the two with a smile as radiant as a blossoming flower. After exchanging pleasantries for a while, she grandly took her seat at the head of the gathering. In no time, Consort Yun, Consort Zheng Pin, and the newly promoted Honored Lady Lan and Honored Lady Xi also arrived. Even Hu Liyi was not left out. All the concubines gathered together in a lively manner, adept at navigating such social occasions. When the performance began, the atmosphere grew even more spirited.

As for the Empress, Noble Concubine Shih merely stated, "My apologies, she simply slipped my mind."

「Meanwhile, in Jiaofang Hall.」

The Empress leaned by the window, watching the persistent drizzle outside. In her hands were the account books detailing this month’s expenditures from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. She wore a dark-patterned, silk-threaded Phoenix Robe, its hem trailing long behind her. Her thick hair was tied up high, adorned with a Phoenix Crown. Behind her, Yu Lan and Sister Ji attended to her.

Yu Lan frowned, at a loss for what to say, while Sister Ji stepped forward. "Empress, the Emperor has always valued frugality and disapproved of unnecessary extravagance. You need not take this to heart. I’m sure once the Emperor returns, everything will be settled!"

The Empress’s gaze was sharp, and the corners of her mouth held a cold smirk. "Sister, you are mistaken. Why would I be angry? The Empress Dowager has always been like this. I have tolerated it for years. What’s the big deal about an opera?"

In the palace, theatrical troupes were not typically invited unless for a grand banquet. Besides, even if a troupe were invited, it shouldn’t be a mere Noble Consort like her doing the inviting! And now, as she checked the books, indeed... The expense was charged to the Empress Dowager’s account! It was the Empress Dowager who was playing host!

Ha! Very well, then! Excellent!

On the third day of the third month, I hosted a spring banquet in the Imperial Garden, and Noble Concubine Shih came to stir up trouble. Now, she’s hosting an opera, inviting all the concubines of the Harem. And I alone was omitted! This... her intentions are as clear as day, known to all!

"What a pampered and spoiled Noble Consort!"

The Empress’s smile was as brilliant as a blooming flower. The more you all misbehave, the happier I become! Shih Wanxin, you want to be Empress? Well, I simply won’t allow it. We shall see!

Just as she was thinking this, a Little Palace Maid came to report that Consort Ning and Consort Hui Pin had arrived. Upon hearing this, the Empress promptly put away the account books, reseated herself, took a sip of tea to calm her nerves, and then called them in.

As expected, Consort Ning and Consort Hui Pin had stayed at Xifu Palace for less than half a Shi Chen before taking their leave. The reason was simple: the Princesses did not care for the opera and were tired. The Eldest Princess was only four years old (having turned four after the New Year), and the Second Princess had just recently passed her first birthday. They were just two little girls. Even Noble Concubine Shih could not rightfully insist on them staying. After bidding their farewells, they left.

Upon reaching Jiaofang Hall, the two paid their respects to the Empress, who then offered them seats. Consort Hui Pin handed the Second Princess to the Wetnurse Nanny and hesitated before softly calling out, "Empress?"

The Empress waved her hand dismissively. "Enough, I am aware of your intentions..." Saying this, she let out another cold laugh. "When I first entered the palace, the Empress Dowager personally taught me to understand propriety, to know when to advance or retreat, and to always consider the bigger picture.

"Now, while the Emperor visits the Imperial Mausoleum to pay homage to his ancestors and ventures out of the palace to understand the people’s plight, here in the palace, the Empress Dowager and the Noble Consort are colluding..."

The Empress was so angry that she could hardly catch her breath.

Consort Hui Pin quickly offered her some tea, and seeing this, Consort Ning also hurriedly handed over a handkerchief. "Empress, please don’t be angry..."

After taking a sip of tea and wiping the moisture from the corner of her mouth, the Empress continued, "Xifu Palace wants to stage a grand opera. Using the palace’s own actors would suffice, yet they insist on hiring the very best and most expensive from outside the palace! Humph! If I dared do the same, who knows what the Empress Dowager would say about me. Now that it’s her niece, it’s suddenly permissible. After all, they are family—it’s different for them!"

Seeing that the Empress was genuinely furious, Consort Hui Pin hurriedly advised her, "Empress, you are a wise person. Why can’t you see through this matter today? The Noble Consort must have done all this to provoke your anger. If you harm your health out of anger, it will only make others happy!" As Consort Hui Pin spoke, she personally poured another cup of tea for the Empress.

The Empress narrowed her eyes, a spark of intelligence flashing within. "You are right. By getting angry, I am playing right into their hands!"

Consort Ning, seeing that Consort Hui Pin had once again spoken first, also hurried forward to advise, "Yes, Empress, what’s most important for you right now is to take care of your health..."

The Empress regarded Consort Ning’s foolish eagerness with inner disdain, but she still drank the tea, let out a sigh of relief, and said with a smile, "Exactly! I’m not angry anymore..." Saying this, she gave orders with a smile, "Yu Lan, go get some snacks for the Princess to eat!"

Yu Lan complied and left.

Seeing that the Empress had finally calmed down, Consort Hui Pin also sighed in relief. After a while, the two of them had some snacks and chatted cheerfully with the Empress for a bit before leaving with the Princess.

The rain drizzled down all day outside, and Xifu Palace was bustling just as long. Consort Ning and Consort Hui Pin left early, but those who remained didn’t dare to leave. There was no need to mention Consort Yun, who was a staunch follower of Noble Concubine Shih. Consort Zheng Pin, who had no backing and was not favored, also didn’t dare to leave, and the same could be said for Hu Liyi, Honored Lady Lan, and Honored Lady Xi. Everyone just sat there the whole day.

When it was time to leave, Noble Concubine Shih was content, while everyone else felt relieved. Even someone like Hu Liyi, who loved the limelight and always tried to outshine others, was now drained and listless. Everyone was exhausted. Naturally, Noble Concubine Shih, who was less than three months pregnant and whose pregnancy was not yet stable, was even more tired than the others.

At first, she had indeed enjoyed herself, watching the opera and basking in the flattery of others—without the Empress present, she was the one in charge, unapproachably high and mighty. After a while, it became tedious, and she endured for the sake of keeping up appearances. Eventually, she grew tired but didn’t want the gathering to end. She wanted to thoroughly vex the Empress. She forced herself to endure until the very end. When the opera finally concluded, she was utterly exhausted and returned to her quarters leaning on her palace maid’s arm. She didn’t want to eat and simply lay down to sleep.

In the night, her stomach began to hurt. Yu Lan, not daring to delay, quietly summoned the Imperial Physician during the night. But no matter how discreetly it was handled, the palace gates had to be opened for the Imperial Physician to enter and leave. The comings and goings, despite the attempts at secrecy, couldn’t be hidden from the rest of the Harem, and word quickly spread.

The Empress heard about it early the next morning. This news dispelled all her anger from the previous day, and she was so pleased she almost burst into laughter. "Just as I thought! A Noble Consort so arrogant that even the heavens cannot bear to watch!"

The Empress Dowager, of course, also received the news. She was greatly alarmed at first and quickly sent Sister Qing to inquire personally.