With Ushiha's wedding day fast approaching, everyone in the palace is busy preparing her dowry. This is the first joyous occasion since the Fourth Prince ascended the throne, so naturally, it cannot be taken lightly. Everyone knows that the Fourth Prince dotes on Ushiha, and they all vie to put their efforts into Ushiha's wedding, hoping to gain his favor.
That day, Consort Nian wanted to change into some new clothes. Early in the morning, a palace maid went to the Imperial Household Department to inform her, as instructed by Consort Nian. The maid returned around noon, looking sullen. Consort Nian was resting when Bai Zhi, seeing the maid's aggrieved expression, stopped her and scolded her:
"Can't you see the Imperial Concubine is resting? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Knowing Bai Zhi's status was different, the palace maid was resentful and deliberately answered loudly, "Sister doesn't know, the Imperial Household Department is bullying us too much..."
Bai Zhi glanced worriedly into the room, then pulled the maid aside and said, "What did you say? The Imperial Concubine asked you to go to the Imperial Household Department to inform them, and you've been gone for so long before you came back, and you're already in a huff. Does anyone dare to bully our Yikun Palace?"
The palace maid said aggrievedly, "Sister, the Imperial Household Department doesn't even respect our Yikun Palace..."
Bai Zhi quickly covered the maid's mouth: "Keep your voice down. Her Highness has been in a bad mood these days, and the Emperor hasn't come to see her either. You can't even do this simple thing properly, are you going to make Her Highness angry again?"
The voices of Bai Zhi and the palace maid startled Consort Nian. She stretched slightly and impatiently called out, "What are you two doing sneaking around there?"
Bai Zhi and the palace maid were startled and respectfully stepped forward to pay their respects to Consort Nian.
When Consort Nian saw that it was the two of them, she asked indifferently, "Have you finished the task I asked you to do? Did the Imperial Household Department say when it would be ready? I'm waiting to wear it..."
When Consort Nian asked her this question, the palace maid, thinking of the grievances she had suffered in the Imperial Household Department, couldn't help but burst into tears: "Your Highness, I..." Bai Zhi was afraid that Consort Nian would worry, so she glared at the little palace maid and had no choice but to shut her mouth.
"Could it be that the Imperial Household Department has rejected my request?" Consort Nian glanced warily at the young palace maid, a hint of doubt in her eyes. Bai Zhi quickly explained, "Your Highness, perhaps she didn't explain clearly. This servant will go and inform her again later..."
Consort Nian stood up alertly and reached out to stop Bai Zhi from questioning the maid: "Tell me... what happened?"
The maidservant tearfully complained, "Your Highness, the Imperial Household Department said... that it's a crucial time for Princess Gulun's wedding, and they don't have time to rush out clothes for you. They told you to wait until after the princess's wedding..."
Empress Nian stood up angrily, slammed her hand on the table, and roared, "What? You actually expect me to wait? What's so great about Ushiha getting married? There are so many princesses in the Qing Dynasty, is she the only one who's different?"
Seeing this, Bai Zhi comforted her, "Your Majesty, please calm down. It's not worth getting angry over such a trivial matter..."
Consort Nian said, "Is this a trivial matter? It must be that wretched woman Lanqin who whispered something in His Majesty's ear that makes him so concerned about Wuxiha's marriage. Those snobbish servants in the Imperial Household Department, who think they're safe just because they've latched onto Lanqin, now dare to defy my wishes..."
Bai Zhi waved her hand, signaling the palace maid to leave. Seeing Consort Nian's fury, she naturally dared not linger and quietly retreated. Bai Zhi poured Consort Nian a cup of water and comforted her, "Your Highness, please don't upset yourself. We servants were ignorant and spoke nonsense. Everyone in the harem knows Your Highness's status; how can a mere concubine compare..."
Lady Nian calmed down slightly, took the water cup and drank it all in one gulp, muttering to herself in disappointment, "I just can't stand how the Emperor always gives in to that bitch Lanqin. Even her daughter gets the Emperor's attention. I'm not reconciled..."
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