Below the rank of Consort are Consort Luo, Consort Jiang, Consort Huo, and Consort Xiao.
Next up are Ning Jieyu and Zhang Jieyu.
The beauties, talented women, and virtuous women in the back all held the same high rank.
Therefore, Xia Meiren is now in front because she has a child. Qu Meiren and Ding Liangren took a step back.
Jin Lingyi followed.
Wang Xiaoyi was the last.
As for the three from Chuyun Pavilion, only Xiang Shi was qualified to come and pay her respects, so she had no seat and stood at the very back.
The two attendants were not qualified to pay their respects.
With the three princes now in a high position, the Murong clan clearly has the confidence to back up their position.
The eldest prince under the Empress's name has not yet been officially registered under her name.
Although he was raised by the Empress, in terms of background, he was still inferior to the third prince born to the Murong family.
As for the second daughter, Jin Lingyi fell out of favor after giving birth, and she is still only a minor concubine.
Although there was no rule in the Dayan Dynasty that concubines could not raise children, what status could a child raised by a concubine have?
However, His Majesty dotes on the two princesses more.
After giving some instructions, the Empress said, "Tomorrow is the first day of the new year. There have been many things to do this year, but we should still celebrate properly. Like you, this is my first time handling such matters. His Majesty's intention is that we cannot have a grand celebration this year, but the proper etiquette and customs must still be observed. We will hold the ceremony at Beichen Palace. Tomorrow morning, you will all come with me to pay our respects to the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager. There's nothing else to do today. If you have anything else to say, please do so. I've been very busy since entering the palace, and there are many things I haven't had time to do. If there's anything inappropriate about your accommodations, please let me know."
"It's true that it's inappropriate to say so, but Consort Yan is really something else. She went straight to His Majesty, bypassing the Empress," Consort Ye snorted.
“Now that she’s entered the palace, her status is different. Consort Ye is truly triumphant.” Yan Nangui smiled.
"Stop talking nonsense. Didn't you go to His Majesty the other day to get a small kitchen for you?" Consort Ye snorted.
Aunt Naru isn't here today, and she can't control her mouth again.
Now that this person has entered the palace and has the Empress's backing, he has indeed become arrogant again.
"Yes, I was looking for His Majesty, so do you admit to benefiting from this?" No one would believe Yan Nangui if he said no, and he couldn't ask Shu Chengfeng to explain.
Besides, no one would believe me even if I explained, so why bother?
"Hmph! This is the imperial palace, do you think it's your own residence?" Consort Ye sneered, "The palace has its own rules!"
"What a joke! The palace has its rules, but the manor doesn't? In the manor, the Crown Princess manages the inner palace, and in the palace, the Empress manages the inner palace—it's the same person. Even if the rules are different, they're still rules. Why do they seem different in your mouth?" Yan Nangui said coldly, "Don't think that just because you've entered the palace, you're any different. What's the difference between a Consort and a Noble Consort? You'd better not mess with me. Even if you enter the palace, I don't intend to restrain my temper."
Consort Ye was taken aback, and she did indeed recall the fear she felt over that teacup from years ago.
Staring wide-eyed, he didn't know what to say for a moment.
“Consort Yan has always been like this; now she is showing disrespect to the Imperial Concubine and the Empress.” Consort Xiao interjected.
"What's it to you?" Yan Nangui glared at her with her beautiful eyes. "What are you trying to stir up trouble for? Are you blind? Where did you see me disrespecting Her Majesty the Empress? I've always respected Her Majesty the Empress. Perhaps you've developed some ulterior motives?"
"What? Now that you're in the palace and have someone to rely on, you've gotten too big for your britches, haven't you? How dare you even think like that? Being a concubine is being a concubine, what are you thinking? Xiao Shi, stop trying to sow discord between me. Yan Nan Gui is naturally on the Empress's side. You'd better put away your ambitions as soon as possible. If this gets out, it won't look good for anyone. The Empress is pure and filial, His Majesty just praised her. Are some of you deaf to this?"
"Yan Nangui, you! You're a despicable woman! You've gone mad!" Consort Ye was so angry she almost wanted to pounce on him.
The phrase "wild geese return south" refers to Consort Xiao, but isn't it actually an insult directed at Consort Ye?
She deliberately brought up Empress Chunxiao's words to criticize Consort Ye for her wishful thinking. The Empress supported by His Majesty is a stable Empress.
The Empress was naturally pleased to hear this.
However, she couldn't openly say, "Alright! Give a proper greeting, what's all the fuss about? It's no secret that Lady Yan is unwell. As for the small kitchen, I just haven't had time to deal with it yet, but it will be done sooner or later."
"Your Highness, you've served His Majesty for so many years, and you're also the Empress Dowager's niece. You should know the meaning of composure. Things in the palace aren't settled yet, and you should be helping me instead of causing trouble."
"And you, Yan Shi, you're so sharp-tongued. I know what you're thinking. You should tone it down a bit."
Consort Ye reluctantly said yes.
The wild geese returning south also received a blessing.
"Consort Xiao, you've only just entered the palace and you're already sowing discord. What do you want? I won't punish you this time, but if it happens again, I can still make the decision to punish you." The Empress was utterly annoyed with Consort Xiao.
Xiao Guirong stood up and curtsied, without saying much.
She thought to herself that Lady Yan had truly aligned herself with the Empress. "Hmph, unable to bear children of her own, she can only rely on others."
"Now that things have come to this, I just remembered, Lady Yan, are you feeling unwell?" the Empress asked again.
"No, not at all. I didn't feel anything before. It was only the other day that I suddenly saw His Majesty. He hadn't seen me for a long time and noticed that I had lost a lot of weight, so he summoned Imperial Physician Huang. Actually, it's nothing serious. It's just that moving to the palace is different from living in the manor, and I'm not used to it yet. But I've gotten used to it now. As Your Majesty knows, that's just how I am. I lose weight easily and don't like to gain weight," Yan Nangui explained.
"I guessed so. It's good that nothing's wrong. We have a bigger place to live now, but we sisters should still be the same as before. In the future, many young and beautiful sisters will come to the palace, so we should be more patient," the Empress said earnestly.
Everyone agreed and then dispersed.
After Consort Xian returned to Wanchun Palace, Wang Xiaoyi took her leave.
"Your Highness, is Consort Yan truly devoted to you?" Fu'er said as she helped Consort Xian change her clothes.
"Just because she says it doesn't mean she's completely devoted? Now she's helping the Empress stand up for Consort Ye, it's just a matter of a few words." Consort Xian shook her head.
"But although the Empress Dowager hasn't interfered much, her attitude clearly shows that she supports Consort Ye. Isn't Yan Shi afraid of offending the Empress Dowager by being so straightforward?" Fu'er asked.
"She's not afraid; her family background is strong. As long as His Majesty needs her, she won't get into trouble," Consort Su sighed.
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