Three days later
In Chuxiu Palace, Consort Wen and Consort Hui sat facing each other, their expressions thoughtful.
After pondering for a long time, Consort Hui frowned and spoke in a cold voice, "What is the purpose of Your Highness's sudden order to the palace servants to break off many apricot blossom branches from the Imperial Garden?"
"The apricot blossoms are white, and few concubines in the palace like them. I've never heard of the Imperial Concubine favoring white apricot blossoms before."
Completely baffled, Consort Hui looked utterly perplexed.
Consort Wen put down her teacup, a faint smile playing on her lips, and said calmly, "The Imperial Concubine had her reasons for having the apricot blossoms picked."
"We don't need to guess here. In a day or two, we will naturally know the Consort's intentions."
With a look of disdain, Consort Wen said coldly, "Old people don't wear flowers, and people are ashamed of themselves, not the flowers. The Imperial Concubine is over twenty-five years old, yet she likes flowers and plants now, hehe."
"That's really interesting!"
Consort Wen's silvery laughter rang out in the main hall of Chuxiu Palace. She was so happy and carefree that she was completely unaware of Consort Hui's ashen and ugly face.
Half an hour later
Consort Hui, her face cold and angry, stormed back to Yanxi Palace. With a 'thud,' she threw her clothes down, tossing the exquisitely crafted lily hairpin from her hair to the ground. Her face dark, she said, "Consort Wen is no longer fifteen or sixteen, not at the age of blossoming youth."
"Consort Wen is also over twenty years old. In a few years, she will be just like me. Now she has the audacity to say that old people should not wear flowers. Consort Wen is clearly doing this on purpose."
"Intentionally mocking me!"
With a ferocious expression, Consort Hui gritted her teeth, looking extremely grotesque and terrifying.
The palace maid Cunxin lowered her head slightly and gently comforted her, "Your Majesty, there is no need to be angry. Your Majesty is in the prime of your life. Consort Wen is only a few years younger than you."
"Your Majesty, you have the Second Prince and the Third Princess, while Consort Wen has no children. In a few years, the Emperor will forget her. But Your Majesty is different."
Upon hearing this, Consort Hui's expression softened considerably.
After frowning and pondering for a moment, Consort Hui spoke in a deep voice, "How is Yinqi doing lately? Has that palace maid who seduced Yinqi been dealt with?"
He deliberately took the lead and replied respectfully.
"Your Majesty, the palace maid who seduced the Second Prince has been sent to the Cold Palace. I have also had the palace maids and nannies around the Second Prince carefully reprimanded so that such a thing will not happen again."
"Um."
Consort Hui nodded.
After a pause, Consort Hui said coldly, "Yinti is still young, only ten years old now. It is not appropriate for him to be involved with women too early. I am doing this for his sake and for his future."
"Your Majesty is very thoughtful, and the Second Prince will understand Your Majesty's good intentions."
Resting her chin on her hand, Consort Hui looked exhausted.
Looking up at the sky outside, Consort Hui said softly, "Cunxin, I've been feeling tired and easily exhausted lately. Help me back to my room to rest for a while."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
A hint of doubt flashed in Cunxin's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.
One hour, two hours later
Consort Hui woke up groggily, sat on the bed, and said in a deep voice, "Cunxin, what time is it? Why is it so quiet outside today? Are Consort Li and the others from the inner palace not in the palace?"
Cunxin ran into the hall, her face grave.
"Your Majesty, it's past 5 PM."
Looking up at Consort Hui, Cunxin quickly lowered her head, murmured, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, this afternoon someone from the Imperial Concubine's palace came and invited Consort Li and Consort Yue to sing a little song at Yikun Palace."
"、、、、"
Consort Hui looked surprised and was wide awake.
"You said the Imperial Concubine invited them to Yikun Palace to sing? Did they all go?"
Cunxin glanced cautiously at Consort Hui and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, Consort Li and the others have all gone. People in the Consort's palace said that Her Majesty wished to hear music and watch dance performances. Consort Li and the others have been carefully trained and their skills are quite remarkable."
Upon hearing this, Consort Hui gave a cold smile.
"The Imperial Concubine really treats them as mere entertainment. But that's fine too. The Emperor has grown tired of them. They play the flute and sing every day in Yanxi Palace, making me very upset."
"Since the Imperial Concubine likes it, then let them sing for her!"
Chengqian Palace
Consort Que learned from the palace servants that Xu Lejin had summoned Li to Yikun Palace to sing a song, and she couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"The Imperial Concubine is truly amusing. Li agreed to let them sing and dance for her, which is putting them to good use. Otherwise…"
"The Emperor has grown tired of Consort Li and the others, and no longer summons them to his bedchamber. Their days in the palace are filled with good food and drink, but they are also quite bored. Being able to sing a song or something is quite nice."
After saying that, Consort Que chuckled.
The palace maid serving Consort Que smiled and echoed, "Your Highness is quite right. Consort Li and the others are from that kind of place, there to entertain people."
"Shut up."
With a darkening expression, Consort Que rebuked sharply with icy eyes, "Although Consort Li and the others come from humble backgrounds, they are now mistresses of the palace. What kind of decorum is it to gossip about the mistresses behind their backs?"
“Sang’er, you are my dowry maid, and your fate is intertwined with my rise and fall. Every word and action you take represents me.”
Sang'er immediately knelt down, her body trembling.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me, Your Majesty, I didn't mean it."
Consort Que snorted coldly and said in a deep voice, "Whether it was intentional or unintentional, you must be punished for saying these words today."
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