Lanqin hadn't expected the Empress's summons to arrive so quickly. She took a deep breath, got ready, and then went to Jingren Palace with her two personal maids.
Just around the corner not far from Jingren Palace, Lanqin's soft chair came right up to Consort Nian's procession. Lanqin was slightly startled, raised her hand to signal for the chair to be put down, and slowly got down.
Opposite her, Consort Nian leaned against the soft cushions, quickly glancing at Lan Qin. Her phoenix eyes were slightly upturned, exuding an indescribable charm and sharpness.
Lady Nian's illness was not yet fully cured; her sallow complexion, though concealed by makeup, did not reveal her true condition. Only her weak, listless eyes suggested she was forcing herself to remain composed. Despite her gaunt and thin appearance, her attire was second only to the Empress's in opulence. Her long, dark hair was styled into an elaborate, intricate updo, adorned only with gold and ruby hairpins. Combined with her sickly, affected manner, this only made her appear more radiant. Lanqin sighed inwardly, truly a woman of natural beauty, her radiance beyond compare.
Seeing Lanqin alight, Lady Nian showed no intention of getting out of the sedan chair. She sneered and said, "Oh... what a small world! If the Empress hadn't summoned me, I would have thought that the dignified Consort Xi, who is in charge of the inner palace, had nothing better to do than follow and spy on me all day..."
Baoqin was about to step forward to argue when Lanqin stopped her. Baoqin stamped her foot in frustration and said, "Your Majesty, how can you be slandered for no reason?"
Lanqin smiled and said to Consort Nian, "Today, Her Majesty the Empress invited us to Jingren Palace. Although Lanqin is now in charge of the entire harem, Her Majesty the Empress still has the final say. If Consort Nian insists that Lanqin is doing nothing, is she implying that Her Majesty the Empress is making trouble out of nothing?"
Upon hearing this, Lady Nian was so angry that she could barely sit still, and she muttered angrily, "Hmph... Don't even think about using the Empress to suppress me..."
Lanqin stepped forward slightly, keeping a distance from Nian Shi, and said with a smile, "Lanqin will take her leave now..."
After Lanqin finished speaking, she turned to leave, but Lady Nian suddenly called out to her, "Stop! I haven't finished speaking yet, how can you just leave like that?"
Baoqin, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward to reason: "Your Highness, my lady is also a Noble Consort, and is on equal footing with you. When Your Highness meets our lady, she should, in principle, alight from her sedan chair and pay her respects. Our lady has already refrained from making a fuss because Your Highness is unwell, so why are you still being so demanding?"
"Slap him..." Madam Nian pointed at Baoqin and scolded angrily.
A maidservant stepped forward and raised her hand to strike, but Lanqin shielded Baoqin behind her and shouted, "Who dares?"
Lady Nian had already let go of her coquettishness. Two maids helped her down from her seat. She walked angrily to Lanqin's side, glanced at Lanqin, and said disdainfully, "Oh, you really think you're a Noble Consort? I've heard that you risked your life to get this Noble Consort title. You should cherish it, or you might have good fortune but not the life to enjoy it!"
Lanqin suppressed her anger, gritting her teeth and ignoring her, feeling pity for Madam Nian's grief over the loss of her son and not wanting to add to her troubles. Unexpectedly, Madam Nian chuckled and said to Lanqin, "Like master, like servant..."
After speaking, Lady Nian felt a surge of anger and dizziness, and her maidservant quickly supported her. Not wanting to lose face in front of Lanqin, Lady Nian steadied herself. Just then, a eunuch from the Empress's palace hurried forward, bowed, and said, "Your Highnesses, the Empress is already waiting in the main hall. Please proceed to Jingren Palace..."
Nian glanced at Lanqin and said, "Hmph, we'll see..." Then she got into Ruanjiao and left.
Lanqin finally calmed down and asked Baoqin with concern, "Are you alright?"
Baoqin said aggrievedly, "Your Majesty, you are now a Noble Consort, how can you put up with her temper?"
Lanqin smiled bitterly, "She's pitiful too, so sick and she's lost two sons. I don't want to argue with her, I'll just ignore it..."
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