After the Lantern Festival, the festive atmosphere in the palace gradually faded.

Xu Lejin was in confinement after childbirth, so on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, none of the concubines came to pay their respects to her.

The seventeenth day of the first lunar month

Consort Wen sat upright in the main hall of Chuxiu Palace, smiling as she looked down at Consort An, Consort Duan, and the Noble Ladies, Attendants, and Ladies-in-Waiting, who were seated on her left and right sides respectively.

"Consort Duan has always been on good terms with the Imperial Concubine Gui. Now that the Imperial Concubine Gui has given birth to the Fourth Prince and the Twentieth Princess, and has been granted the title of Imperial Concubine Duan..."

She covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

"Look how confused I am! The Imperial Concubine was promoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine because of her merit in giving birth to the Fourth Prince and the Twentieth Princess. Consort Duan did not have any children. Why would His Majesty promote Consort Duan to the rank of Consort for no reason?"

Immediately afterward, Consort Wen changed the subject, saying in a gentle voice, "In the palace, Consort Hui has two sons, whose seniority is similar to Consort Duan's, yet neither of them has been promoted to the rank of Consort. How could Consort Duan be promoted to Consort?"

"I was really confused."

Consort An glanced quickly at Consort Wen, pursed her lips and remained silent, while Consort Duan's face turned from white to green.

After a short while, Consort Duan spoke softly, "Consort Wen's teachings are correct, but promotions in the palace have always been decided by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. This concubine..."

“Even if I have not given birth, if the Emperor or the Empress Dowager thinks I am worthy of the rank of Consort, then I will be promoted to the rank of Consort.”

Duan Pin glanced quickly at Consort Wen, her face showing disdain, and then said, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, if you feel that I am not worthy of being a consort, even if I give birth to a prince or a princess, I will not be promoted."

"Your Highness, what do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Wen's face turned ashen, and she glared fiercely at Consort Duan.

"Consort Duan has become increasingly eloquent by following the Imperial Concubine. She is truly a good dog of the Imperial Concubine, having inherited her true skills!"

Her face darkened, and Consort Duan raised her head, staring directly at Consort Wen. She spoke coldly, "Consort Wen, please be careful with your words. I am but a lowly concubine; if Consort Wen may humiliate me, so be it, but what about Your Highness, the Noble Consort…?"

"Your Highness holds a high position and has princes and princesses under your care. If Consort Wen's words today were to reach Your Highness's ears, I dare not guarantee that Your Highness would not blame Consort Wen."

Consort Wen's delicate face instantly contorted into a ferocious and terrifying expression.

With a trembling voice, Consort Wen pointed at Consort Duan and said sharply, "You, you, you wretched woman!"

"Guards, Consort Duan has disrespected me. Take her away and make her kneel for three hours."

Consort Duan straightened her back and looked sharply at Consort Wen. "Your Highness Consort Wen, I made an appointment with the Imperial Consort yesterday to visit her palace this afternoon."

"Please forgive this humble concubine for her disrespect, Your Highness."

Consort Wen was so angry that her back teeth clenched so hard they made a grinding sound, and a mouthful of old blood welled up in her mouth.

Xu Lejin learned about what happened in Chuxiu Palace in the afternoon from Consort Wan and Consort Ning, who came to visit.

After frowning and pondering for a long time, Xu Lejin said softly, "While Consort Wen is indeed being unreasonable, Consort Duan should not have contradicted her."

"Consort Duan has always been known for her composure and prudent manners. Why has she suddenly acted so out of character, openly contradicting and disobeying Consort Wen in front of all the other concubines? If Consort Wen were to take this matter to the Emperor, I fear Consort Duan would face dire consequences."

Xu Lejin was filled with worry.

At this moment, Consort Duan led the Thirteenth Princess into Yikun Palace.

"This concubine greets Your Highness, may Your Highness be blessed."

Following Consort Duan, the thirteenth princess, held in the wet nurse's arms, also bowed to Xu Lejin in a proper manner, saying in a childish voice, "Foerguochun greets Consort Yu, may Consort Yu be blessed."

With a smile, Xu Lejin asked Consort Duan and the Thirteenth Princess to rise.

Turning her head, Xu Lejin gave Ru Hua a wink. Ru Hua smiled and stepped forward, leading the thirteenth princess and her wet nurse to the side hall where the seventh princess, Wu Xiha, and the fourteenth princess, Wu Lingzhu, lived.

Xu Lejin's expression was grave as she looked at Consort Duan and said in a deep voice, "Consort Duan acted rather rashly in Consort Wen's palace today. Consort Wen, who holds power in the palace, has the right to punish the concubines."

With the help of her maids, Consort Duan stood up and knelt down before Xu Lejin.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I did not mean it. It's just that I am truly furious. I am an old servant who has served His Majesty in the palace. Although I am only a concubine,..."

"To be frank, I have always maintained a certain level of decorum in front of Your Highness, but today, Consort Wen openly humiliated me in front of the Noble Ladies, Attendants, and Ladies-in-Waiting."

"I was angry and lost my composure, causing trouble for Your Highness. Please punish me."

After speaking, Consort Duan lowered her head and stared at her toes, seemingly lost in thought.

Xu Lejin frowned and pondered.

Consort Wan and Consort Ning exchanged a glance, their gazes towards Consort Duan filled with a hint of wariness. They thought to themselves that Consort Duan's behavior was now completely different from before.

In the first month of the lunar calendar, the afternoon sun shone warmly.

An hour later, Consort Duan, Consort Wan, and Consort Ning got up to take their leave. Watching the three of them leave, Xu Lejin frowned.

"Qin Huai, what do you think of Consort Duan?"

Qin Huai was taken aback for a moment, then lowered her head and thought quickly before speaking softly, "Your Majesty, if I may be so bold as to say something, I think Consort Duan is becoming a bit arrogant these days."

"Yes, that's true."

Xu Lejin nodded.

With her slender fingers tapping rhythmically on the table, Xu Lejin pondered for a long time before murmuring softly, "I have been promoted to the rank of Noble Consort. Above the rank of Consort in the palace, there is only Consort Wen."

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