Consort Hui's words made Consort Ping's face turn even worse.

Consort Ping was already exhausted and drained of energy due to her pregnancy, so she was destined to be in a bad state. However, Consort Hui's words of provocation almost drove her to the brink of depression.

The protruding abdomen contracted and undulated continuously, while the chest area rose and fell unevenly.

Judging from her expression and condition, Consort Ping looked as if she was about to faint at any moment.

Such an obvious change would be noticed by anyone who pays attention to the main hall.

Consort Hui immediately clenched her fingers, looking at Consort Ping with a wary expression, like a cat with its fur standing on end. "What do you mean by this, Consort Ping? Don't even think about slandering me."

There were witnesses around her. She was just telling the truth, so why did Consort Ping put on such a show of being on the verge of death? Did she think she was easy to bully?

Consort Hui was indignant, and her eyes were unusually angry, as if they could breathe fire.

Consort Ping sighed. She looked at Consort Hui, who was making small movements, as if she were a fool. She thought to herself that this person was really stupid. Everyone else was holding back, but she was oblivious to her own mortality. It was no wonder that the eldest prince back then was repeatedly plotted against.

After all, with such a mother (whose foundation was there), how much talent could the eldest prince possibly possess?

"Consort Hui, I haven't said anything yet, why are you so panicked?"

Furthermore, with so many concubines around, they know perfectly well about my health, so Consort Hui doesn't need to pretend to be all high and mighty.

Consort Ping's lips curled up, and her ambiguous smile made Consort Hui's heart pound with anxiety.

It wasn't that Consort Hui was afraid of Consort Ping, but Consort Ping's behavior was so different from before that Consort Hui couldn't understand it. She wondered in her heart if Consort Ping had been stimulated in some way or had gained some other confidence.

With a soft hum, Consort Hui decided to take the initiative. "I am not panicked at all. Consort Ping, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want."

Furthermore, everyone knows your health condition, so their pretense is only directed at you.

Anyway, Consort Hui doesn't admit that she's a clown. The Thirteenth Prince was injured in Consort Ping's palace. If the Emperor is dissatisfied, he will only target Consort Ping. What does it have to do with her?

Having figured this out, Consort Hui leaned her straight back against the chair behind her.

She raised her head slightly, revealing her weathered yet exquisite eyes and brows. "The imperial physician has been gone for quite some time. Someone should be sent to check on the Thirteenth Prince's injuries. After all, he is the Emperor's son."

"you"

Consort Ping pointed at Consort Hui, clearly annoyed by the other's change of topic.

"Chengxin, go and check on the Thirteenth Prince for Consort Ping," Consort Hui called to her maid.

Chengxin nodded in agreement and turned to walk outside.

Seeing this, Consort Ping did not stop her, but glared fiercely at Consort Hui before signaling her maid to follow.

Not long after the two maids left, there was a noise at the door, and Tong Jia Rongyue, Consort Yi, Consort Jia, and others arrived.

After another round of greetings and salutations, Xiu Ning, sitting in the main seat, smiled at Tong Jia Rongyue, who had walked up to her, and said, "Consort Tong has arrived rather late."

Tong Jia Rongyue said calmly, "I am certainly no match for Consort Jing."

"Your Highness Consort Tong, you've come at the right time," Consort Ping began to complain, her face full of grief and indignation as she pointed the finger at Consort Hui. "For some unknown reason, Consort Hui came to my palace in a fit of rage, causing trouble and disturbing the palace servants. She also verbally abused me. I beg Your Highness Consort Tong to do justice for me and handle this matter fairly according to palace rules."

"Oh? Is that so?" Tong Jia Rongyue turned to look at Consort Hui, whose eyes were wide open, and her lips curled up slightly. "Consort Hui, is what Consort Ping said true?"

Palace rules are in place; such indiscriminate behavior—running into other concubines' palaces without any regard for right or wrong—will at best result in a monthly stipend, and at worst, confinement to the palace for quiet contemplation.

Tsk tsk, these are the rules that the concubines in the harem have always followed; no one is allowed to break them.

Consort Hui realized what Consort Ping had said and scoffed, "Your Highness Consort Tong, this is of course false. How could I possibly violate palace rules?"

Moreover, these are merely Consort Ping's personal opinions. When I arrived, there were already several concubines in the main hall. "To say she deliberately came to cause trouble? Produce enough evidence; she's not afraid."

Upon hearing this, Tong Jia Rongyue looked at Consort Ping once again.

Xiu Ning watched this spectacle unfold before her and thought to herself that Consort Hui was probably about to be tricked.

Sure enough, Consort Ping pointed to the concubines who Consort Hui had told her to come early, "They are just here to visit me. They come here often on weekdays."

"What, Consort Hui herself isn't well-liked in the harem, does that mean I should follow your example?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the other lower-ranking concubines around her, who had been specifically pointed out by Consort Hui to have arrived early, also spoke up to defend themselves.

Although there were many of them, their tone and speed of speech were not chaotic, so Xiuning didn't find it irritating.

"Your Highness Consort Hui has misunderstood. I have come to thank Your Highness Consort Ping for taking care of me these past few days."

"Yes, I live here. I am deeply grateful to Consort Meng for her kindness and for allowing me to live in peace."

"..."

The concubines revealed various reasons, but without exception, none of them were what Consort Hui had imagined.

Realizing something was wrong, Consort Ling reached out and tugged at Consort Hui's sleeve, but Consort Hui angrily shook her off.

At this point, even if Consort Hui were foolish, she would know that Consort Ping had joined forces with Tong Jia Rongyue, and that she was the one being lured into the trap.

“Very well, very well,” Consort Hui turned her head and looked at Xiu Ning, who was watching the show from the side. “Noble Consort Jing, are you also going to let others distort the truth?”

Xiu Ning put down her teacup with one hand. "Consort Hui, I arrived late. I am unaware of what happened between you two." She couldn't make a clear judgment about who was telling the truth and who was lying.

Consort Hui was taken aback, then looked at the others around her. Even Consort Ling beside her had lowered her head, let alone those who arrived later.

Forced to clench her fingers, Consort Hui's expression turned hostile as she pondered how to escape her predicament. Unexpectedly, Chengxin, whom she had previously arranged to visit the Thirteenth Prince, returned at this moment.

Unlike when she left, Chengxin was somewhat flustered. After entering, she quickly walked to stand next to Consort Hui.

The other maid who accompanied Chengxin was perfectly normal; she even smiled when she came behind Consort Ping.

laugh?

Xiu Ning raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself that this trap had indeed been dug today, and if nothing unexpected happened, Consort Hui would most likely fall into it.

Seeing her maid's expression, Consort Ping breathed a sigh of relief and her body went limp.

Not far from her, Tong Jia Rongyue also looked on with interest. Sure enough, Consort Ping was right. Consort Hui was stupid. As long as she showed the slightest flaw, she would definitely fall for it.

Ha, with such a mindset, she still dared to remotely command Yinyu to attack her during the southern tour. What gave her the right?!

Thinking about how Yinyu hadn't received a kind word from Emperor Kangxi since the blow he suffered, Tong Jia Rongyue felt extremely annoyed.

Yes, it was indeed difficult for her to scheme against Yinti, the eldest prince who had already entered the court and participated in politics and had the support of the Yehenara clan, but dealing with Consort Hui and collecting the interest ahead of schedule was also a piece of cake.