Chi Xiexiang, who was sitting to the side, seemed to have picked up on something from the two sisters' conversation. She slowly stroked Chenxiang's fur, mostly lost in thought, so she didn't immediately respond.
Little Huo wants to move to Xianfu Palace? Then she's done a good thing! After all, if the Huo sisters moved in together, who knows what kind of trouble they'd cause.
Huo Yiyun's commotion today is nothing more than an attempt to disrupt the matter of Fu Shi moving into Xianfu Palace. The two sisters say one is willing and the other is mindful of palace rules, but does Huo Yiyun actually want Xiao Huo to move into Xianfu Palace as well?
Thinking of this, Chi Xiexiang immediately became wary.
She had just witnessed the scene where the Emperor reached out his hand to Xiao Huo. Seeing that Xiao Huo was gaining favor, she wondered what would happen to the two sisters if they were allowed to live together.
It was just at this moment that the two sisters' answers were enough to make Chi Xiexiang develop a long-term sense of wariness towards them.
When she came to her senses, she realized that the hall was rather quiet, and the Emperor seemed to have no reaction to Huo Yiyun's explanation.
Chi Xiexiang smiled and said, "So, you didn't mean to slander Consort Fu? Knowing that trouble had arisen, I thought it was because Consort Yi was not accepting the Empress and His Majesty's arrangements. If that's the case, I'm relieved. Consort Fu has just moved in, so you two should get along well from now on."
Pei Yuanhui listened quietly and understood the whole story. He raised his hand and pointed in the air, pointing at Fu Wenzhu, who had been keeping his head down and remaining silent.
“You, Mr. Fu, you speak.”
Huo Yiyun followed her gaze with a hint of threat, but Fu Shi kept her head down and naturally couldn't see it.
Her foolish half-sister couldn't bring herself to disobey her, but Madam Fu was far less obedient, and it was hard to say what she might say.
However, Huo Yiyun wasn't too afraid, since with her and Huo Qinghe's statements, no matter what, Fu Shi's statement alone wouldn't be entirely convincing.
Fu finally raised her eyes, her expression somewhat strange, almost wooden: "Your Highness, yes. It was when I went to mediate that I was accidentally injured by Consort Yi. But I'm also puzzled, Consort Yi is quite strong against Consort Huo. It's not a big deal that I was injured, but it would be a real pity if Consort Huo had been injured. Consort Huo once saved me, so of course I had to try to mediate."
Fu Wenzhu cleverly used Huo Qinghe's life-saving grace to gloss over the reason for her actions today, speaking with unusually respectful tone.
This is completely different from the Fu Wenzhu who just entered the palace.
Chi Xiexiang glanced at Fu Wenzhu a few more times, her tone ambiguous: "You are indeed grateful, willing to hurt yourself like this. If it weren't for you today, it would have been Consort Huo who was hurt. This is quite a coincidence. Consort Huo, since that's the case, don't be so petty. Did Consort Zhou mistreat you in Yanxi Palace?"
Having sat in the position of Imperial Concubine for many years, Chi Xiexiang's words were a direct dig at Huo Qinghe and Fu Wenzhu.
While Chi Xiexiang was speaking this long string of words, Chenxiang in her arms had already pounced into Pei Yuanhui's arms. Pei Yuanhui was not surprised at all, and instead let Chenxiang choose a comfortable position in his arms.
"That means Consort Yi has lost her sense of propriety and decorum. As a palace concubine, to lay a hand on another palace concubine is even more presumptuous than what Consort Zhou did last time."
Pei Yuanhui made the final decision.
Huo Yiyun had considered admitting her mistake, but she never expected that the emperor would be the one to convict her, and in such an indifferent tone.
"Your concubine... Your concubine knows she was wrong."
Huo Yiyun had served the emperor since he was a prince, so she knew his temperament very well. Therefore, even if she was unwilling, she dared not argue or say anything.
Chi Xiexiang added from the side, "However, it was Huo Meiren who started this by being temperamental."
Pei Yuanhui glanced at Chi Xiexiang: "Consort Huo, what petty tantrums are you throwing? Do you think I'm blind? Do I need the Imperial Concubine to remind me?"
Chi Xiexiang frowned, feeling that the Emperor's words were somewhat biased.
However, she also wisely refrained from refuting him, clearly indicating that the emperor had already made up his mind.
"You laid a hand on a concubine first, and also injured others. I see that you are regressing in your manners. As a former servant of the Prince's residence, you have failed to set a good example. I think you should be punished more severely than others."
No one in the hall dared to utter another sound.
"Therefore, Consort Huo is hereby punished, confined to her quarters for three months to reflect on her mistakes, and not allowed to see anyone without being summoned. Since the war has not yet ended, she is also to be fined an additional year's monthly allowance and ordered to copy scriptures to pray for the soldiers on the front lines."
Chi Xiexiang immediately stood up: "On behalf of my father, brothers, and the soldiers of the previous dynasty, I thank Your Majesty and Consort Yi."
Chi Xiexiang's words are simply disgusting.
But it really disgusted Huo Yiyun.
Pei Yuanhui didn't give the others a chance to speak: "Beauty Huo, feel free to move around. Last time it was Consort Zhou, this time it's Consort Yi, stay in your own palace."
This is hardly a real punishment, especially compared to the punishment given to Huo Yiyun, it's nothing at all.
"Noble Lady Fu, please stay peacefully in your own palace. Also, have the imperial physician examine Lady Fu's injuries." Pei Yuanhui ignored Chenxiang, who was causing trouble in his arms.
It was as if he completely ignored Consort Chi beside him.
Chi Xiexiang didn't mind. She stood up and bowed, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty is wise."
The crowd immediately knelt down, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty is wise."
The most resentful of them all was Huo Yiyun. Her intention in making such a scene today was not to be confined to her home for three months.
However, Consort Zhou had previously been confined to her quarters for half a month for injuring a palace maid, so the punishment would naturally be even more severe since she had injured a concubine.
In the past, injuring a concubine might not have resulted in such a severe punishment. The taboo lies in the fact that Zhou Pin was dealt with before. If the punishment were not handled properly, it would naturally cause controversy in the palace.
Especially Empress Dowager Zhou.
Now that Pei Yuanhui has spoken, there is nothing wrong with him.
However, this three-month confinement was far too harsh a punishment for Huo Yiyun.
Seeing that the Emperor was about to leave, Chi Xiexiang quickly stepped forward: "Your Majesty, Chenxiang has gained a lot of weight, let me carry her."
Indeed, the Emperor is still holding Consort Chi's cat in his arms right now.
Pei Yuanhui paused in his steps: "I'm going to visit your second brother."
Chi Xiexiang immediately smiled brightly: "Yes."
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