Chapter 166 Testing and Newcomers

"Your Highness, I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince is currently receiving Mongolian nobles alongside Prince Li?"

Mei Qiyue sat to the left of Qi Yuebin, cautiously probing.

Qi Yuebin put down his teacup and glanced at her lightly. "It is true."

“Is that so…” Seeing that Qi Yuebin didn’t respond, Mei Qiyue clenched the embroidered handkerchief in her hand, somewhat hesitantly: “His Highness the Crown Prince is still young, yet he is busy all day long sharing the Emperor’s burdens. I was thinking, thinking…”

What are you thinking about?

"I was thinking, should I ask Hongyun to help out too? He's 10 years old now, he's a big kid." After hesitating for a long time, Mei Qiyue finally spoke up, looking at Qi Yuebin expectantly.

“Hongyun helped? Isn’t he always following behind the Crown Prince, disciplining his younger brothers according to the Crown Prince’s orders?”

Qi Yuebin didn't seem to care much, and his casual reply inevitably made Mei Qiyue feel a little dissatisfied.

“Disciplining my younger brother is no big deal!” Mei Qiyue blurted out, then realized her mistake and looked regretful. She quickly tried to make amends: “That’s not what I meant. I was hoping that Hongyun could help with other things as well.”

"Other things? What other things?"

“The previous dynasty was so busy, and Hongyun has become sensible and can now help his father, the Emperor. If you could mention it to the Emperor…” Mei Qiyue cautiously made her request, glancing at Qi Yuebin’s expression.

"Is this your idea or Hongyun's idea?"

Qi Yuebin's expression remained unchanged, revealing nothing to Mei Qiyue. She could only carefully consider her words before replying, "Naturally, it's my wish. Hongyun only knows how to study and doesn't understand anything. I... I also have some selfish motives, hoping that Hongyun will have a bright future..."

"I understand. Hongyun is my adopted son, so I will certainly not mistreat him. You should go back now and let me think about it."

"Yes, thank you, Consort Duan. This concubine will take her leave now."

Mei Qiyue breathed a sigh of relief and, not daring to disturb her any longer, quickly left. Watching her departing figure, Qi Yuebin's gaze was distant, his expression rather unreadable.

"What does Consort Ning mean? Hasn't Her Majesty treated Prince Hongyun well? Why does she need to interfere?"

Ji Xiang stepped forward and replaced Qi Yuebin's cup of tea, then couldn't help but complain.

"Consort Ning's heart is unsettled," Qi Yuebin replied softly, her eyes closed. It wasn't just Consort Ning who was unsettled; she observed the entire harem. With the Crown Prince gaining increasing favor, aside from the Empress, who had ever been truly at peace? All sorts of demons and monsters had emerged.

"Consort Ning has been living with Your Highness for so long, how come she hasn't learned any of Your Highness's demeanor? She's always so flustered, it's unbearable to watch."

“It’s not that she’s panicked, it’s that someone is making her panic,” Qi Yuebin said, looking out over the palace wall at the distant horizon. “Under the power of the emperor, even the deepest sisterly affection is a joke. How many people can see through the true nature of those around them? Consort Ning is clearly not that insightful.”

"This... Your Highness, should we remind Consort Ning?"

Seeing Jixiang's conflicted expression, Qi Yuebin laughed. "Remind her? Why remind her? I've protected her all these years and she hasn't improved at all, so why remind her? Besides, she wasn't wrong about one thing: Hongyun is grown up..." There's no need for both her birth mother and adoptive mother to be alive anymore...

Zhongcui Palace, now only occupied by Zhen Huan, appears somewhat dilapidated.

Everything has its ups and downs. Having experienced the glory of being favored by the emperor, even if it's just returning to a normal standard of living, it's difficult for both Zhen Huan and the palace servants like Huan Bi to adapt.

The court has been busy lately, and the Emperor has visited the harem only a handful of times. Zhen Huan's chances of regaining favor have visibly diminished. No matter how much she tries to comfort herself, Zhen Huan can no longer maintain her composure in the face of change.

"Your Highness, the news has spread throughout the palace that Qinghai has rebelled. The Emperor is busy with state affairs and will probably not be visiting the inner palace for some time."

Upon returning with the meal, Xiao Xu immediately went to Zhen Huan's side and reported the news he had overheard outside.

Upon hearing what Xiao Xuzi said, Zhen Huan immediately lost her appetite, put down her chopsticks, and remained silent.

"Your Highness, you should at least eat some more." Liu Zhu watched anxiously from the side and urged Zhen Huan to take a few more bites.

"Forget it, I have no appetite." Knowing that the Emperor could not enter the harem meant that she could not regain his favor and that she would have to continue living this kind of life, Zhen Huan had no appetite at all.

"With dishes like these, Your Highness naturally can't eat them. The Imperial Kitchen just serves dishes based on who you are."

Actually, the dishes on the table were exactly what Huanbi was used to, and not as bad as she complained. It's just that compared to before, the difference was quite significant, and it's understandable that Huanbi couldn't accept it at first.

"If you ask me, Consort Hui and Consort Zhuang are supposed to be such good sisters, but they haven't come to help you, young mistress..."

"Alright, Huanbi, how dare you say that?"

It was rare for Zhen Huan to speak so harshly to Huan Bi. If Huan Bi hadn't taken it upon herself to conceal the news, causing her to be unaware that someone was plotting against Sister Mei and not rushing to comfort her immediately, how could Sister Mei have become estranged from her?

As for Lingrong, it was Huanbi's sharp tongue that drove Lingrong away.

Only when she was truly isolated and helpless did Zhen Huan realize the consequences of indulging Huan Bi, and she couldn't help but regret it. She could only swallow her anger because of Huan Bi's presence. But seeing that Huan Bi showed no remorse, she finally couldn't help but get angry.

"Your Highness, I..." Huanbi was also frightened by Zhen Huan's angry appearance and dared not say more.

“I was originally of the same ilk as Sister Mei and Lingrong, and we helped each other. But now, because of you, they have both distanced themselves from me, and you still don’t repent. Don’t serve me for the time being, and reflect on your actions.”

"My lord, my lord, I was wrong, please don't send me away."

Despite Huanbi's pleas for mercy, Zhen Huan remained unmoved and determined to teach Huanbi a lesson: "Xiao Xu, take Huanbi outside the palace and do not allow her to enter the palace to serve for the time being."

"Yes, Sister Huanbi, please."

Without hesitation, Xiao Xuzi agreed. To be honest, Huanbi was not popular at all. Even those who served in the same place had offended everyone with Huanbi's sharp tongue, and Xiao Xuzi was no exception.

It was obvious that Xiao Xuzi was dissatisfied with Huanbi, which made Zhen Huan even angrier. She felt that she had made a huge mistake in the past by indulging Huanbi and causing disunity among the people in the palace.

A fall into a pit, a gain in your wit. This served as a reminder to her, and hopefully Huanbi can make some progress.

Xiao Xuzi had just left with Huanbi when he came back in: "My lady, the new head maid of Zhongcui Palace has arrived."

"Come with me and take a look." Zhen Huan stood up and walked outside with Liu Zhu. The previous head maid of Zhongcui Palace probably saw that she had fallen out of favor and used her connections to be transferred away. The Imperial Household Department has not sent a new person to replace her.

Now that someone has finally arrived, Zhen Huan is quite looking forward to it. After all, a capable head maid can be of great help to her.

The newly appointed head maid, dressed in a simple floral qipao and adorned with only two small silver hairpins in her hair, with a gentle appearance and proper demeanor, greeted Zhen Huan with a smile as she walked towards her.

"This servant, Cui Jinxi, greets Consort Wan."