Chapter 103 Xiao Yan returns to see Consort Shu…
Xiao Yan Hui's first impression of Consort Shu was one of stunning beauty. Like Qin Ji's mother, Consort Chun, Consort Shu was also a first-rate beauty. However, their beauty was quite different. If Consort Chun was a woman of pure and delicate beauty, with a touch of naivety and fragility, like a glass bead, then Consort Shu was a golden, intricately patterned rose—brilliant, exquisite, and thorny.
"Your Majesty, I have come to pay my respects." As a junior, the first thing one should do upon meeting someone is to bow. However, unlike the first time one meets the Empress, which requires kneeling, a simple curtsy is sufficient when meeting Consort Shu.
However, Consort Shu's reaction was not as friendly as the Empress's. She did not offer her a seat, nor did she speak for a moment. Instead, she looked Xiao Yan Hui up and down.
And she made no attempt to hide the look in her eyes that was both amused and mocking, as if she were watching a monkey show on the street. Even the palace maids behind her had similar looks, as if they were seeing something rare. Xiao Yan even noticed that some of them were exchanging knowing glances and revealing meaningful smiles.
Even though she was already aware that they were on opposing sides, and even though she had mentally prepared herself, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel a sense of unease when faced with this atmosphere, wondering if she had unintentionally done something wrong and was making a fool of herself.
The people in Wanxiang Palace seemed to have done nothing and said nothing, yet they had already created a very strong atmosphere of bullying.
However, the self-examination only lasted for a very brief moment. Xiao Yan realized that she still possessed excellent qualities such as a stable mental state and composure in the face of danger.
So let's watch. If the enemy doesn't move, I won't move either. Just keep watching. Are you going to watch yourself until you're skinned?
The next moment, she not only calmly faced the gazes of everyone in Wanxiang Palace, but she also randomly picked people to look at, from Consort Shu to the palace maids.
Then an interesting scene unfolded. The dozen or so people in the reception hall, who had been whispering and watching Xiao Yan Hui standing in the hall, suddenly found that none of them dared to meet her gaze when she looked over.
Whether they were whispering, scrutinizing, or wearing smiles that held a hint of mockery and amusement, when Xiao Yan Hui's gaze clearly fell upon them, although it was clear they were trying their best to maintain their composure, they stiffened, turned their heads away, or fell silent, each of them appearing unnatural.
They were used to this tactic in Wanxiang Palace. Usually, when Consort Shu wanted to teach the lower-ranking concubines a lesson but didn't want to make the matter too open and ugly, she would use this method. It seemed like a gentle approach, but the suppression effect was very good.
But unexpectedly today... not only did it have no effect, but it also intimidated the other party.
Sensing the increasingly tense atmosphere, Xiao Yan curled the corners of her lips, even finding it somewhat amusing. She felt like a homeroom teacher checking up on students, with none of the "heroes of the world" daring to meet her gaze.
Even Consort Shu, after her gaze lingered on Consort Shu for more than ten seconds, Consort Shu shifted slightly uncomfortably, then covered the lower half of her face with a fan, seemingly whispering something to her personal maid. As she spoke, it was as if she had finally remembered, after being reminded by the person beside her, that she had not offered a seat to Princess Xiao Yanhui, the Princess Consort of the County.
"How could you be so insensitive? I forgot for a moment, and you just let the Princess Consort stand like this?" She reprimanded the palace servants beside her in a light but firm tone, as if the strange atmosphere in the hall for almost three minutes just now had not existed at all. Following the normal procedure, Consort Shu offered her a seat and tea.
But in reality, Consort Shu was already cursing in her heart: "They are daughters of merchants, whether they are young or old, they are all shameless bastards. Perhaps they are used to the days of welcoming and seeing off guests, which is why they are so thick-skinned."
After Xiao Yan Hui sat down, Consort Shu had completely composed herself. As if to redeem herself after her earlier defeat, she once again made it very obvious that she had seen through Xiao Yan Hui, and then asked, "I heard that you were personally chosen as Qin Yi Chun's daughter-in-law? Could it be that Consort Chun's illness has been cured all these years? You do have decent features, but... before I met you, there were rumors in the palace that you had an unparalleled beauty!"
Consort Shu's tone was not very pleasant, and her words were not very kind, but given her status, they were not considered outrageous.
"Qin Yichun?" Xiao Yan paused for a moment before realizing that Qin Yichun was the maiden name of Qin Ji's mother. This was the first time she had ever heard of her maiden name, and she never expected to learn it from Consort Shu.
It seems that Consort Shu really cares about this rival. Not only did she use all sorts of tricks back then, but after her mother-in-law was taken back to Jiangzuo by Qin Ji, she also deliberately turned her against her and made her a spy by her side, both to keep a close watch on her and to continuously poison her so that she could not get better.
Now, the first thing they say is that they bring her up again. It's been all that's on their minds all these years, but unfortunately, all that's on their minds is filled with malicious intent.
"Your Highness, you flatter me. Compared to you, my appearance can only be described as having decent features. Fortunately, you don't mind, and you have a good temperament. We get along very well," Xiao Yan replied with a smile.
The main point is that as long as you don't speak ill of me outright, I'll take everything as good. She also showered her mother-in-law, who lives far away in Jiangzuo, with praise, but completely ignored any mention of her illness.
"Consort Chun has been recuperating for many years, and it seems she is fully recovered now!" It seems that the topic of Consort Chun is something that Consort Shu can't get over.
Xiao Yan was about to give another perfunctory reply when she suddenly felt a chill. Of course, the reason Qin Ji was able to bring her mother back to Jiangzuo was largely due to her unstable mental state and confusion at the time. If she were to admit that Consort Chun's health had improved at this moment, would Consort Shu and the others use this as a pretext?
After all, the emperor is still alive and well, and Qin Ji is in the capital. Her husband and son are both in the capital, while she lives alone at her parents' home. According to the customs of this era, if someone were to nitpick about the etiquette, it would be somewhat unreasonable for her side to do so.
“My lady’s health was fine before. With careful rest, there shouldn’t be any major problems. She would only be a little weaker during the changing seasons. The main issue was her mental state. In addition, before the New Year, the nanny who had served her for many years had an accident, and her whole family died tragically. Alas…” Xiao Yan sighed with pity. “That nanny was also pitiful. My lady has always been a sentimental person, and she was very saddened by this, which caused her to fall ill again.”
When it came to the tragic deaths of the nanny's family, Xiao Yan paid special attention to Consort Shu's expression, but unfortunately, she couldn't discern anything.
"Indeed pitiful." Upon hearing these words, a flash of ruthlessness appeared in Consort Shu's slightly lowered eyes, but she only offered a nonchalant "pitiful" in response.
In the ensuing conversation, whether Consort Shu was subtly alluding to Xiao Yan Hui's status as a merchant's daughter, or mentioning three times how wonderful the noble ladies His Majesty had chosen for the Princess Consort of Cheng County were, or implying that Xiao Yan Hui was holding back the Sixth Prince, Xiao Yan Hui pretended not to understand.
Then came the old routine: she mentioned in the name of an elder that since she had been made a princess consort, she should maintain her status, be virtuous, and choose a few suitable women for the sixth prince. She even suggested that she had a few very useful palace maids who could be given to the Prince Cheng's residence.
Xiao Yan Hui isn't out of her mind; naturally, the only option in this situation is to refuse, and she refuses without any tact.
Finally, Consort Shu probably felt that she could no longer maintain a peaceful conversation with someone as unyielding as her, so she ended the meeting for the day.
......
Watching her graceful departure, Consort Shu's face darkened, and she gave a wink to her personal maid.
Her head maid immediately stepped forward and reprimanded the palace servants in the flower-filled hall: "Her Majesty is becoming increasingly lenient with you. Today you served the Princess Consort rudely. You are all to be slapped ten times and given fifteen doses of Caiwei and Linglan."
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone knelt down and kowtowed deeply to Consort Shu, saying, "Thank you for your reward, Your Highness."
"Remember, you are my people, and you always represent my dignity. Since you have been disrespectful to the Princess Consort today, these ten slaps are a small punishment. Get out!"
Consort Shu waved her hand, and everyone in the flower hall respectfully withdrew, leaving only her personal maid, Caihe.
Caihe first walked to the spot where Xiao Yan had just sat, and looked at the low table next to it. The teacup on it was full and untouched.
Although she had specifically observed the Princess Consort of Cheng County making several gestures of serving tea and water, it now seemed that it was merely a formality. This Princess Consort was clearly very wary of their Wanxiang Palace; she wouldn't even drink a sip of water.
After reading it, Caihe shook her head at Consort Shu, who was sitting at the head of the table. Consort Shu, who already had an unhappy expression, became even more displeased after seeing Caihe shake her head.
As it turned out, Xiao Yan's caution was entirely justified; the tea served in Consort Shu's palace did indeed have something added to it. It wasn't anything deadly; even Consort Shu herself couldn't, and didn't dare, use lethal drugs in the palace. What was added here was merely something that could amplify emotional fluctuations.
Once a person is controlled by their emotions, they are prone to doing things out of control, but unfortunately... it's all for naught.
"You shall also receive a reward," Consort Shu said coldly to Caihe with a stern face.
The rule was to give everyone ten slaps, and Caihe was no exception. After everyone else had left, she stood at Consort Shu's feet and slapped herself hard again and again.
The crisp sound of slaps hitting faces rang out one after another. In the past, hearing such sounds would have improved Consort Shu's mood, but today, the sound of slaps only made her more and more annoyed.
Consort Shu felt that the way Princess Cheng had responded and the words she had spoken today were like invisible slaps to her face.
The more she recalled the scene, the angrier she became.
But for some reason, the tricks that worked so well against that bitch Qin Yichun back then had absolutely no effect on Xiao Yan Hui.
Could it be that after so many years, Qin Yichun has finally become wise and figured out the mystery?
So that old woman also died.
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