Chapter 665 Cultivating Appearance and Cultivating the Mind are Equally Important

Jiang Fenghua saw that everyone looked unwell, that they were only thinking of themselves and believed that they could win the emperor's favor by showing off their talents. She deliberately blocked their only chance to see the emperor.

If it were the old her, she would have taken the initiative to arrange for them to serve the emperor in his palace!

Jiang Fenghua looked at Shu Yan and said in a deep voice, "Shu Ronghua, it's no use taking your anger out on me. You might as well look for the reasons within yourself. Besides using the banquet to attract the Emperor's attention, that might not be enough. You might need to pay attention to something else." She wasn't going to tolerate Shu Yan.

Shu Yan asked, "Is there anything else I should be careful about?"

Jiang Fenghua's smile remained unchanged as she calmly said, "Appearance."

Shu Yan asked in confusion, "Appearance? What's wrong with my appearance?"

“Cultivating one’s appearance and cultivating one’s mind are equally important. Shu Ronghua is lacking in both, no wonder the Emperor is not interested,” Jiang Fenghua said calmly.

At this moment, Shu Yan realized that the Empress was scolding her for being ugly. She touched her face. She had been beautiful since she was a child. Everyone in her family liked her. She was the most beautiful woman in the Shu family. If she wasn't pretty, the Shu family would have pushed her into the palace.

Everyone stared at her face, as if mocking her. She was indeed not as beautiful as the Empress, and if she wanted to win the Emperor's favor, she would have to be more beautiful than the Empress.

Shu Yan's face turned deathly pale. What was so great about being pretty? She wasn't the most beautiful. She refused to believe she couldn't find a woman more beautiful than the Empress. Xin'er had been very beautiful back then, on par with the Empress. The Empress had even been jealous of Xin'er's beauty. It was just a pity she never had the chance to win the Emperor's favor, otherwise…

"Alright, everyone, if you have any other ideas, please tell Lady Hongxiu. If it's a request that's within the budget, I'll try my best to fulfill it." Jiang Fenghua couldn't bear to stop these women in the harem from showing off in front of Xie Shang; it was their right.

The concubines all said, "Your Majesty, we would like to borrow the musical instruments in the palace. We also have ready-made dance costumes that you may use!"

Jiang Fenghua smiled and said, "Sure, just have the Imperial Household Department register it. You can use any of the existing clothes and jewelry, and feel free to use the palace musicians and dancers."

Then she said to Song Qing, "I will have Lady Hongxiu and Chief Eunuch Cheng of the Imperial Household Department handle the places that need to be reduced or exempted. During my incognito visit with the Emperor, I was very grateful to Consort Song and Consort Gao for managing the harem. Now that I am back, Consort Song will not have to work so hard."

She roughly understood Consort Song's thoughts; she wanted to secure a position for herself in the palace, after all, she was the birth mother of the Second Prince.

Song Qing's eyes darted away, her heart pounding involuntarily. "I don't feel tired at all."

After finishing, Granny Wang said, "Ladies, please return to the palace to prepare!"

Song Qing also bowed to Jiang Fenghua, saying, "Your Majesty, I shall also take my leave."

She looked at Gao Qingtong and said, "Let's go together, Consort Gui!"

Gao Qingtong said, "Sister Shufei, please go back first. I have an embroidery pattern to ask Her Majesty the Empress for advice."

Song Qing nodded slightly. "Then I'll go check on the children at the school first, and then I'll be leaving."

After Song Qing left, Jiang Fenghua said, "Consort Song seems very nervous."

Gao Qingtong said, "Her Majesty didn't like the Lantern Festival banquet organized by Consort Song. She might be a little disappointed!"

"What is she disappointed about? I didn't blame her," Jiang Fenghua said calmly.

Gao Qingtong smiled and said, "His Majesty instructed me and Consort Song to assist Her Majesty in managing the harem. Just now, Her Majesty told her that she didn't need to work so hard, and she probably thought Her Majesty had dismissed her from her post, so she was a little panicked!"

Granny Wang chimed in, "During the days when Her Majesty the Empress was away from the palace, the Emperor entrusted the harem to Consort Gao. Consort Song went to see the Emperor, and he casually mentioned that Consort Song should assist Consort Gao. When Her Majesty returned to the palace, she held the coronation ceremony and received the Empress's golden seal and golden book. Naturally, the harem was returned to the Empress's hands. Consort Song thought that Her Majesty no longer allowed her to manage the harem, which is why she panicked. But then again, it's thanks to Consort Gao and Consort Song keeping an eye on things that the Empress wasn't so tired."

Gao Qingtong said, "I don't feel tired. Consort Song has been in charge of many things, including the Lantern Festival banquet. She has indeed put in a lot of effort."

After chatting for a while, Gao Qingtong left. Jiang Fenghua said to Granny Wang, "Granny Wang, didn't you realize that Consort Song loves to show off too much?"

"Her uncle is General Peng, the emperor's right-hand man, and Consort Song is the birth mother of the second prince. In this harem, any concubine who has a child, especially a prince, will more or less compete for her child's favor. Consort Song also has such thoughts."

“Granny Wang specifically stopped Consort Gao from talking about this just now,” Jiang Fenghua asked again.

"Your Majesty, just pretend you don't know. General Peng is the Emperor's man. If something really happens, it's best not to make a scene. Sometimes it's better to be a little oblivious in the palace. As long as it's harmless, turning a blind eye will make things look better for everyone." Granny Wang knew that the Empress was different now and acted more boldly. She was afraid that saying too much would expose the truth.

Jiang Fenghua was full of doubts. She knew that those who held power in the palace lived a good life. Having power meant having money. If the cost of a banquet was outrageously high, most of it would end up in the pockets of those in power.

According to Granny Wang, if Consort Song were to accept any bribes from others, she would have to consider her relationship with her uncle, General Peng, and turn a blind eye.

The world works this way; asking questions too explicitly can easily offend people.

She did indeed make too many enemies, and Granny Wang was only trying to help her.

Jiang Fenghua used to be a master of maintaining harmony and a peacemaker, so everyone liked her. Now that no benefits are flowing out of her hands, everyone has started gossiping about her.

Just then, Lin Feng sent someone to report, "The Marquis of Changping and his wife have entered the palace. The wife fainted from crying in the Golden Palace. She wants to ask the Empress about the disappearance of Consort Lan..."

Lin Feng wanted the Empress to help the Emperor. After all, she was the Empress and a woman, as was the Lady of Changping Marquis. Women could talk to each other more easily.

It is said that she was desperate to find her daughter and firmly believed that her daughter was not dead. She wanted the emperor to send people to search for Helan Yanran at the bottom of the cliff. However, Jiang Jinyan, the Imperial Guards, and local soldiers familiar with the terrain all went to search, and even the carriage was smashed. They found nothing. There was an underground river below. If Consort Lan fell into the underground river, her body would definitely not be found.

After understanding the situation, Jiang Fenghua said to Aoxue, "Send someone to Jishan Hall to bring Helan Jue to the palace as soon as possible. In the current situation, only Helan Jue can persuade his mother."

If Jiang Fenghua were to appear before Lady Changping, she would likely be even more excited.