"Although the peony is beautiful and has the reputation of being the most beautiful flower, it is ultimately inferior to the peony, which is national beauty, elegant and noble."

After a pause, the Empress looked at Consort Tongjia and chuckled softly.

"Tong Jia, don't you think so?"

Consort Tongjia, having read poetry and books, naturally understood the meaning of the poem the Empress recited. Her expression was already unpleasant, and now, being questioned by the Empress, her hands, hanging in her sleeves, unconsciously clenched into fists.

After a long while, Consort Tongjia smiled and said, “Your Majesty the Empress is quite right. However, when I was young, I read in history books that Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty ordered all the flowers to bloom in the Imperial Garden in the dead of winter. All the flowers in the Imperial Garden bloomed, but only the peony refused to comply and was eventually demoted to Luoyang.”

"Although the peony is the queen of flowers and has the spirit of never yielding to death, it ultimately does not know how to adapt."

With a cold laugh, Consort Tongjia said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty the Empress calls herself a peony, but I wonder if she has the integrity of a peony? Consort Guoluo compared me to a peony, which I find very apt."

The Empress almost lost her smile after hearing those sarcastic remarks.

Xu Lejin sighed slightly, thinking to herself, "The Empress and Consort Tongjia are truly a pair of sworn enemies!"

The Empress was the head of the inner palace, and Consort Tongjia was Emperor Kangxi's childhood sweetheart and cousin. With these two in the harem, there was no peace.

Consort Niohuru smiled awkwardly and tried to smooth things over.

"Your Majesty, Sister Tongjia, whether it is peony or peony, they are both extremely precious flowers. Your Majesty is foolish and not as well-read as Your Majesty and Sister Tongjia. I only know that one should pluck a flower while it is in bloom, lest one break a bare branch when there are no flowers left."

"The flowers in the palace are countless, and the best are those that the emperor likes. If the emperor does not like them, even if they are celestial flowers descended to earth, they will eventually wither and turn to dust, and the dream of wealth and glory will ultimately come to naught."

After glancing at Consort Guoluo and Consort Xitala, who had their eyes lowered, Consort Niohuru smiled and said, "Today is an auspicious day for Consort Guoluo and Consort Xitala to be conferred the title of Consort."

"The increasing number of sisters in the palace is a blessing for the Emperor, a blessing for the Empress, and a blessing for our Great Qing Dynasty."