A few days later
Consort Wan suddenly visited Yikun Palace.
Covering her mouth, Consort Wan looked at Xu Lejin with a flickering gaze and whispered, "Your Highness, I heard that Consort Hui is in Yanxi Palace, cursing Your Highness to remain only an Imperial Noble Consort forever."
"Sister Huifei also said that Your Highness, the Imperial Noble Consort, has not yet undergone the investiture ceremony, so you cannot be considered a legitimate Imperial Noble Consort."
Her words were full of provocation, but Consort Wan pretended to be indignant on the surface.
Xu Lejin saw it all clearly, her stomach churning, feeling nauseous. She forced herself to endure the nausea, thinking to herself how Consort Wan had developed such an "iron-clad" constitution.
Consort Wan waited a long time for Xu Lejin's reply, but did not see any anger on Xu Lejin's face.
With her eyes darting around, Consort Wan said with great acting skill, "Your Highness, how could Consort Hui do such a thing?"
"Your Highness, the Imperial Noble Consort, was personally bestowed the title by the Emperor and has the most children. Although the Emperor was busy with state affairs and neglected to do so, causing your investiture ceremony to be delayed until now, but..."
"But Imperial Noble Consort, you are recognized as Imperial Noble Consort by all the sisters in the palace."
With a look of indignation, Consort Wan immediately spoke up, "Your Highness, Consort Hui, although she has served His Majesty for many years and is also the birth mother of the Second Prince, should not be treated with such contempt!"
"Your Highness, I believe that Consort Hui should be severely punished as a warning to others."
Xu Lejin had had enough of Wanfei's performance.
With a slight smile, Xu Lejin said casually, "Then, in Consort Wan's opinion, how should I punish Consort Hui? Should I make her copy the 'Palace Rules,' 'Admonitions for Women,' or...?"
Suppressing a smile, Xu Lejin looked at Consort Wan with amusement.
After a moment, she spoke slowly and deliberately, "Or should I inform His Majesty and ask him to demote Consort Hui to the rank of Concubine, then to the rank of Noble Lady, or even strip her of her title and make her a commoner?"
Consort Wan stared in disbelief, her mouth agape, speechless.
Why is everything not going as she expected?
At this moment, the Imperial Noble Consort should not have been furious, nor should she have immediately sent for Consort Hui to come and confront her. Then, the people she had previously arranged in Consort Hui's palace...
They exaggerated and slandered Consort Hui.
The charges against Consort Hui were escalated from insubordination and disrespect for the Imperial Noble Consort to insulting and cursing the Emperor.
Then, the Imperial Noble Consort sent someone to report to the Emperor, who was furious.
Enraged, the Emperor ordered a search of Consort Hui's Yanxi Palace, and then found...
Consort Wan's mouth was agape, her thoughts drifting far away.
Xu Lejin gave Wanfei a cold look and said in a deep voice, "Wanfei? Wanfei, what's wrong with you? Did you have a stroke? Why is your mouth open the whole time?"
"Consort Wan, you cannot be harmed. You are the daughter of the Prince of Khorchin, of noble birth, representing the friendly relations between the Qing Dynasty and Khorchin. You cannot afford to have anything happen to you."
Consort Wan stared blankly at Xu Lejin with a complicated expression.
After a cup of tea, Consort Wan, amidst Xu Lejin's ambiguous mockery, snapped out of her daze. She was instantly filled with shame and anger, hating Xu Lejin to the core, wishing she could disappear into the ground.
Forcibly suppressing the impulse in her heart, Consort Wan spoke blankly, "Your Highness, what are you saying? I was just momentarily lost in thought."
"It is my fault that I have troubled Your Highness, the Imperial Noble Consort."
As she spoke, Consort Wan lifted her skirt and bowed respectfully to Xu Lejin, her head lowered. A sharp glint flashed in Consort Wan's eyes.
Half an hour later
Consort Wan left in a huff with her palace servants, and Xu Lejin couldn't help but laugh out loud.
After laughing, Xu Lejin turned her head to look at Ruhua and Nongying, and said, "How was my acting just now? Consort Wan pretended to be clever, thinking she had everything under control, while I..."
"I pretended to be ignorant while knowing the truth, and played along with her feigned ignorance, hahaha."
Ru Hua and Nong Ying suppressed their laughter.
"Your Majesty's acting was superb. Consort Wan's face just now was so gloomy that it seemed like it could drip water. This servant and Ruhua found it very satisfying and almost couldn't help but burst out laughing."
Xu Lejin nodded, her face serious.
After a moment's hesitation, she said in a deep voice, "Consort Wan treats me like a fool, little does she know that she herself is the fool. She thinks I don't know what's going on in Consort Hui's palace."
"Although I have been granted the title of Imperial Noble Consort by His Majesty, the investiture ceremony has not yet been held. This was not only due to the obstruction of the former court officials such as Suo'etu, Nalan Mingzhu, and Tong Guowei, but also because of the great influence of Consort Wan's maternal clan, the Khorchin."
With a cold look in her eyes, Xu Lejin then spoke in a cold voice.
"Even without a formal investiture ceremony, I am still personally bestowed the title of Imperial Noble Consort by the Emperor, the highest-ranking woman in the palace. Even if Consort Wan and the others are resentful, they must still respectfully bow to me."
"Consort Wan,"
After a pause, Xu Lejin tapped her fingers on the table. "Consort Wan has been too idle lately, which is why she's been jumping around, trying to stir up trouble and make me and Consort Hui fight, so she can reap the benefits."
"It's just a pity that Consort Wan overestimated her own intelligence."
Entering the painting, playing with shadows, and speaking softly are all appropriate.
Enraged, Consort Wan returned to Yonghe Palace and stormed toward Consort Liang's residence in the rear palace. She ignored the two Attendants and the Noble Lady who bowed to her on the way.
The two attendants and the noble lady looked at each other, puzzled.
Yonghe Palace Rear Hall
"Consort Liang, come out here! You vile woman, you gave me such a terrible idea, making me lose face in front of the Imperial Noble Consort! I—"
Consort Wan's roar, like that of a shrew from Hedong, echoed through Yonghe Palace.
Consort Liang trembled slightly, her eyes darting around rapidly, and said respectfully, "Your Highness Consort Wan, what's wrong? Who has offended you to make you so angry?"
"Consort Liang, are you still pretending to be ignorant?"
Consort Wan's face was contorted with rage as she glared fiercely at Consort Liang, wishing she could skin her alive and tear her tendons apart. She gritted her teeth and said, "Didn't you tell me that the Imperial Noble Consort would fight with Consort Hui, and then I would reap the benefits?"
"I went to the Imperial Noble Consort's palace, but I was treated like a monkey by her."
Consort Liang looked up in surprise.
"Your Highness, what are you saying? I don't understand. When did I tell you that the Imperial Noble Consort and Consort Hui would fight? I'm innocent..."
"you,"
Consort Wan's eyes were bloodshot, and she raised her hand to slap Consort Liang.
Consort Liang nimbly dodged Consort Wan's slashing hand and said aggrievedly, "Your Highness Consort Wan, we are both concubines in the harem. How can you hit me?"
“Your Highness Consort Wan, even if I make a mistake, I will be admonished by the Imperial Noble Consort.”
Consort Wan snorted coldly and immediately began to speak recklessly.
"What is the Imperial Noble Consort? She's nothing but a lowly woman. What's wrong with me teaching her a lesson? Let me tell you, one day I will definitely kill the Imperial Noble Consort and become the Empress, the mother of the nation!"
"This Empress,"
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