This was the first time he had spoken such heartless words, yet he did so with remarkable fluency, leaving Consort He with only a cold, unyielding back view in disbelief.

"I cannot joke with you."

"Your Majesty!" Consort He was terrified when she saw that he was truly determined this time.

She is now surrounded by enemies. On the outside, Consort Rong is making things difficult for her at every turn, and on the inside, the palace servants and eunuchs are mistreating her. If Emperor Hui leaves like this, she will not be able to live in the palace in the future.

The palace maids and eunuchs in this palace all have sharp eyes. When she secretly gained favor, although these palace servants dared not speak ill of her outside and anger the Consort, they treated her like an ancestor in their own palace.

But as soon as she showed signs of falling out of favor, these palace maids and eunuchs immediately became disobedient.

Even if it's just for one night, as long as Emperor Hui stays in his palace for one night, that's enough.

As long as she was favored, her days in her own palace would be much easier. Consort He became anxious. Seeing that Emperor Hui had stopped and was facing away from her, she hurriedly pulled open her brand-new and exquisite palace dress, revealing her fair and beautiful body that Emperor Hui had once cherished. With tears streaming down her face, she said, "Your Majesty, I have not seen you for a long time. I really miss you!"

She saw Emperor Hui slowly turn his head, about to reveal a deep smile, but was stunned by the shock in his eyes.

"I'm in such a bad mood, and all you do is curry favor?! Do you have any conscience?!" Emperor Hui looked at Consort He behind him with disbelief. She had turned around and stripped naked, showing no dignity whatsoever.

She was still pretty and delicate, but her former aloofness and refined taste were gone.

She's so eager to win his favor, but how is she any different from Consort Rong and the other concubines outside?!

"The Imperial Concubine would never be so lacking in self-respect!" He said that he would save the bridal chamber for later, and the Imperial Concubine truly stayed there at ease, without the slightest anxiety.

That kind of nobility and self-respect was worlds apart from that of Consort He before him, making Emperor Hui feel utterly disgusted. Emperor Hui could no longer conceal his loathing, but considering their years of affection, Consort He was still the woman he deeply loved. He closed his eyes, turned his head to the sun-drenched palace gate, and coldly said, "Put on your clothes! Don't let the servants look down on you!"

After he finished speaking, he felt a little nauseous and strode away.

He refused to believe, nor was he willing to admit, that the woman he had cherished for so many years was no different from the likes of Consort Rong outside.

"Your Majesty!" Consort He cried out as she saw that he had left without any mercy after she had undressed, and immediately tried to pull at his clothes.

But Emperor Hui walked too fast; she had barely run out of the palace gate when she saw him already much further away.

She was only focused on capturing Emperor Hui, but now she realized that she was cold and was shocked to find that she had forgotten to put on her clothes in her nervousness when she chased after him.

Facing the disdainful yet intrigued gazes of the palace maids and eunuchs, Consort He felt a chill run through her body. She was about to grab the clothes her trusted maid had brought when she saw a beautiful concubine with a surprised expression approaching from across the palace gates, accompanied by a large retinue of servants. The concubine's gaze fell on Consort He's snow-white body, swept over the tear stains on her face, and then returned to Emperor Hui, who had already walked away.

A chilling smirk curled at the corner of her mouth.

"Consort He has really lost all shame in order to gain the emperor's favor." She even ordered the eunuchs and maids beside her to admire Consort He's body.

Consort He's face turned deathly pale. Trembling, she hurriedly grabbed her clothes to cover herself and glared at the beautiful concubine with resentment.

"Consort Rong, what are you doing here again?!" she said coldly, looking up.

"I came here to see how you were doing, but I ended up watching a good show." Since Consort Rong gained the Emperor's favor, she has looked down on everyone. Except for Shen Wangshu, whom she dared not provoke because she was afraid of the Regent, who else did she care about?

At the height of her success, she had a good grasp on Emperor Hui's mind, so she only looked down on Consort He. Clapping her hands and tilting her head back, she said with a flirtatious smile, "Look at our Consort He, still pretending to be high and mighty! If you're so capable, then don't strip yourself naked in front of His Majesty!"

"The saddest thing is that Consort He stripped naked, but His Majesty left." Someone, wanting to curry favor with Consort Rong, said with a chuckle.

Even a deaf person could hear the contempt in those words. Consort He's eyes widened in fury, and she felt utterly humiliated and ashamed.

The servants weren't wrong; she was naked, but Emperor Hui didn't even glance at her.

“That’s right. Compared to Consort He, I am more favored by His Majesty.” Consort Rong looked down on Consort He’s aloof and self-important manner. They were both consorts serving His Majesty, and it was not shameful for them to use all sorts of means. Why did Consort He look down on her with eyes that said, “You are all filthy”?

Furthermore, the palace already knows that the Imperial Concubine is about to leave the palace. If she does leave, it will have nothing to do with Emperor Hui. Even if Consort Rong were to vie for the Emperor's favor, she wouldn't compete with the Imperial Concubine, and naturally wouldn't consider her an enemy. Besides, if the Emperor has no true love by his side, who among the concubines in the palace can rise to the top?

Emperor Hui must find another confidant, mustn't he?

Consort Rong naturally felt that she should not shirk her duty.

She came from a very noble family, being the daughter of a family of meritorious officials for generations. She was arrogant and looked down on many people.

Coincidentally, the most beautiful concubine in the harem was the only one she looked up to, or rather, feared.

"Compared to Her Majesty, she has gained Her Majesty's favor." Consort He was trembling with anger when someone stepped on her and spoke.

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