"Your Majesty, this servant truly dares not. How could this servant possibly step onto the Emperor's dragon throne?" Ruixin said timidly.

"Don't treat it as a dragon throne, just treat it as an ordinary chair," Consort Yi scolded.

Ruixin was almost in tears, but she knew Consort Yi's temper. If she didn't obey orders now, she would definitely suffer the consequences when she returned.

Consort Yi immediately climbed down from the chair and then pushed Ruixin onto the chair.

"What are you doing?" Consort De, supported by her maid, had just reached the entrance of the Qianqing Palace when she saw that the gate was tightly closed. Curious, she pushed the door open and saw Consort Yi and Ruixin standing behind Emperor Kangxi's desk, talking.

Consort Yi froze, staring in horror at Consort De and her maid as they entered. She felt her heart nearly leap out of her chest. Never before had she felt such dread towards Consort De. She thought to herself, "It's over! It's over! She saw us! She witnessed it!"

Ruixin, who was standing to the side, did not share Consort Yi's burden. She quickly covered up the situation by saying, "Oh. Your Highness, we just saw a mouse. Your Highness was afraid that the mouse would run away, so she came with me to catch it."

"Then why was that round stool placed on the Emperor's dragon throne?" Consort De had obviously already seen the round stool on the dragon throne.

Consort Yi was on the verge of a breakdown. She was like a gourd with its mouth sawed off, unable to say anything. In contrast, Ruixin, who was usually the most eloquent, was much more quick-witted.

"Oh. That rat just climbed up that pillar. I was trying to hit it with a stool, but I accidentally put it on the Emperor's throne. Please forgive me this time, Your Majesty." Ruixin quickly pretended to have made a big mistake and casually took the stool off the throne.

Consort De knew that things were definitely not as Ruixin described, but since she hadn't seen them doing anything behind the imperial desk, she could only accept this explanation.

Consort Yi had already reverted to her usual arrogant and haughty self, saying, "Why is it so late, Consort De? It's almost midnight. Are you worried about me because you're not sleeping?"

Ignoring the provocation in Consort Yi's words, Consort De moved towards the West Warm Pavilion, saying as she walked, "Sister, you are really overthinking things. I just can't sleep. His Majesty hasn't woken up yet. Why don't you go back first? I'll watch over things here."

Consort Yi knew that Consort De always held Emperor Kangxi in her heart, sharing his bed and rising with him for many years. Even when Kangxi was elsewhere, Consort De would stay until he was sure he had gone to bed before she would retire. She also rose earlier each morning to attend court with him, a practice she maintained for years. Knowing this, Kangxi treated Consort De even more favorably. Consort Yi had always resented Consort De's skillful use of such methods to win Kangxi's heart, but she herself could not do the same.

"Sister, didn't we agree that you would come tomorrow?" Consort Yi was not about to give in, and quickly followed her inside. Ruixin followed suit.

The two women sat before Kangxi, having battled for most of their lives, from beautiful young women to their current state, both having long since retired from official positions. Consort Yi had never taken the other concubines who had gained Kangxi's favor seriously; she always felt that her greatest enemy was this woman of bondservant origin standing before her.