Consort Hui was furious and began to hurl insults without thinking.
The palace maids serving Consort Hui tried to stop her, but it was too late. In the end, they could only stare at each other as Consort Hui continued to ramble on and on, spewing profanities.
After a cup of tea
Consort Hui finally stopped, picked up the teacup beside her, took a sip, and frowned.
"Cunxin, how are the servants serving you? This tea is last year's stale tea. Replace it with a fresh pot of Lu'an Melon Seed tea, the kind sent by the Imperial Household Department during the yearly rewards."
Cunxin paused for a moment, then spoke timidly. "Your Majesty, didn't you order the melon rinds from Lu'an that were sent by the Imperial Household Department during the year-end rewards to be delivered to the Second Prince a few days ago?"
"Now, all we have in the palace is last year's tea."
After speaking, Cunxin lowered her head and dared not utter a sound.
Upon hearing this, Consort Hui's face turned pale and then red. After a long while, she finally murmured, "Enough, enough. It's already quite good that I can drink last year's tea."
"Last year, during the annual rewards for the palace ladies, I offended the Imperial Household Department. My maternal family, the Ulanara clan, has been severely marginalized within the department, which has a complex and intertwined network of connections."
With a soft sigh, Consort Hui added, "In a few months, it will be the end of the year again?"
"What am I to do this year? I used to feel incredibly glamorous managing the six palaces, but now that the Imperial Noble Consort has been officially appointed and rightfully holds the same rank as the Vice Empress, what am I to do?"
"I'm being roasted on the spot by the Imperial Noble Consort!"
Consort Hui wanted to quit.
Yikun Palace
Consort Que softly reported to Xu Lejin regarding Princess Mingke's marriage, "Your Highness, I have prepared Princess Mingke's dowry according to the standards for a Heshuo Princess, but..."
After a pause, Consort Que lowered her voice.
"Consort Rong passed away early in her life, leaving behind four princesses. When Princess Rongxian married, she took some of Consort Rong's belongings with her. Princess Mingke has two daughters, the Ninth and Eleventh Princesses."
"In addition, Consort Rong has a son named the First Prince. It's not possible that all the things Consort Rong left behind before her death were given to the princesses as dowries, leaving nothing for the First Prince."
Nodding slightly, Xu Lejin said, "The First Prince and Lady Guarjia Shi have been married for several years now. Haven't you set aside a portion of the things left behind by Consort Rong before her death and sent it to the First Prince?"
"Your Highness, the Imperial Noble Consort, it was not sent."
Consort Que lowered her head slightly and spoke softly, "When the First Prince and the First Princess Consort got married, I was unwell at the time, so Consort Hui took care of all the wedding arrangements."
"Now, I am handling Princess Mingke's wedding at the behest of Your Highness, the Imperial Noble Consort. Only then did I learn that not only did the First Prince not receive any of Consort Rong's belongings, but Princess Rongxian, who married into the Balin tribe, also did not receive any."
With her brows furrowed, Xu Lejin was deep in thought.
After a long silence, Xu Lejin said coldly, "Consort Hui is truly muddle-headed, having forgotten such an important matter. Noble Consort Que, have someone collect Consort Rong's belongings and divide them into five portions. Send the belongings of the First Prince and Princess Rongxian immediately."
"yes."
Consort Que nodded softly.
A few days later
Consort Que reported to Xu Lejin with a solemn expression, "Your Majesty, half of Consort Rong's belongings have disappeared."
"Those in charge of sorting out Consort Rong's belongings said that when the eldest prince got married and Princess Rongxian got married, Consort Hui took some of them."
"、、"
Xu Lejin was so shocked by what she heard that her jaw nearly dropped.
What were Consort Rong's belongings after her death?
Those bearing the Imperial Household Department's mark were taken back by the department after Consort Rong's death; what remained were those bestowed upon her by the Emperor when she was favored and gave birth to sons and daughters.
Consort Hui, Consort Hui, how could you be so short-sighted? You even embezzled Consort Rong's belongings.
With a slightly somber expression, Xu Lejin instructed her maid, Nongying, to personally go to Yanxi Palace to invite Consort Hui. An hour later, Consort Hui arrived late, dressed in her finest attire.
With a stern expression, Xu Lejin said coldly, "Consort Hui, do you know your crime?"
"、、"
Consort Hui was stunned, looking at Xu Lejin in surprise, "Your Highness, I don't know what mistake I have made that Your Highness is questioning me like this?"
With a 'smack', Xu Lejin slammed her hand on the table.
She gave Consort Que a wink, and Consort Que said coldly, "Consort Hui, you were the one who arranged the wedding of the First Prince and the marriage of Princess Rongxian. Where did Consort Rong's belongings go? Shouldn't you explain?"
Upon hearing this, Consort Hui's heart skipped a beat.
This happened so long ago, why is it being brought up again?
In my previous life, I often did this kind of thing while assisting in managing the six palaces, and I never made a mistake. In this second life, won't it be the same as in the previous life, with no one holding me accountable?
Hesitantly, Consort Hui whispered, "Your Highness Consort Que, I don't understand what you mean?"
"Consort Hui, you—"
Consort Que was stunned. She didn't expect Consort Hui to be so shameless, pretending to be ignorant when she knew the truth. She was the birth mother of the Second Prince, so how could she act so petty?
Xu Lejin shook her head at Consort Que and said in a deep voice, "Consort Hui, since Consort Que and I have sent you here, it means that we have already obtained conclusive evidence."
“You are also a mother. For the sake of the Second Prince, you should spit out the things you swallowed that Consort Rong had left behind.”
After a pause, Xu Lejin continued.
"Furthermore, Consort Cui, Princess Gongjing's birth mother, must have left behind some belongings. Once you've sorted them out, have them sent out of the palace to Princess Gongjing."
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