The three people, Zhen Huan and An Lingrong, were too frightened to make a sound by Xia Dongchun's miserable state. After Xia Dongchun was helped down, An Lingrong tugged at Zhen Huan's sleeve and said, "Sister, let's go quickly."
Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang shared the same idea, but just as the three were about to leave, they saw Songzhi looking at them.
"Who is there who sees the Empress and doesn't even greet her?"
Seeing this, Zhen Huan and the other two had no choice but to obediently come out.
"This humble concubine greets Consort Hua. May Consort Hua be blessed."
"Get up, everyone."
"Thank you, Consort Hua."
Seeing An Lingrong's fearful and guilty look, Consort Hua knew that the three of them had witnessed her punishing Xia Dongchun.
But this is good too. With Xia Dongchun as an example, they should know who in the palace they can and cannot mess with.
“The Imperial Garden is picturesque in autumn. My sisters have only been in the palace for a few days. They should take a good walk around the palace so that they won’t get lost in the future.”
[Huanhuan: My journey has just begun, and it is destined to be brilliant. Your path is getting narrower and narrower; you can already see the end.]
[Now that I am weak and helpless, you make me kneel and kowtow; but one day, when your empire crumbles, I foresee your life will be in danger!]
Zhen Huan glanced up at Sun Miaoqing, then looked away. It seemed that in the power struggle within the harem, she was the ultimate victor.
"Your Highness is right, I thank you for your guidance."
Consort Hua said, "She is indeed clever, but not just anyone can receive my guidance."
"Xia Changzai doesn't know the rules, and you're no pushovers either."
"Today has been quite a commotion; it's time for lunch. Everyone, please go home."
After saying that, Consort Hua took Sun Miaoqing's hand affectionately, "I hit it off with Sister Sun at first sight. There are crab roe pastries prepared in Yikun Palace. If you don't mind, please come and have a taste at my place."
Although she found it strange that Consort Hua treated her differently, Sun Miaoqing guessed that it was mostly because of her brother.
However, when it came to crab roe pastries... Sun Miaoqing's eyes lit up.
"That interests me! I've heard that the imperial palace uses genuine Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs, unlike hundreds of years later, when all you can buy are Yangcheng Lake crabs that have been 'washed' (i.e., simply 'washed' or 'bathed' in the lake.")
"Thank you, Consort Hua. I've heard people say that the pastries in your palace are extraordinary since I first entered the palace."
Consort Hua said, "Of course, even the Emperor praised it highly."
"Songzhi, have someone steam a few more hairy crabs and tell the imperial kitchen that they should be from Yangcheng Lake. Sister Sun is from Suzhou, so she'll probably like them."
As she spoke, Consort Hua pulled Sun Miaoqing toward Yikun Palace. Sun Miaoqing was overjoyed, but when she saw the trio beside her, she remembered Paofu in the Imperial Garden and shuddered. She also felt a bit more afraid of Consort Hua's enthusiasm.
[Fu Zi had become a giant in the well, and he's probably surfaced by now. Another sin has been added to Hua Pangpang's list.]
[As expected, there's only one capital offense in the palace: stupidity. Waaah, even though I didn't get into Tsinghua, Peking, Fudan, or Shanghai Jiao Tong University, I shouldn't deserve to die, right?]
[To be honest, the palace maids were all from the Eight Banners, and the bondservant families of the Imperial Household Department had served the royal family for generations, their relationships were deeply intertwined, and palace rules prohibited arbitrary executions. The Emperor became dissatisfied with Consort Hua after learning of this, though Consort Hua herself was unaware of it.]
What are Tsinghua, Peking, Fudan, and Shanghai Jiao Tong Universities? They require entrance exams, and they sound similar to traditional academies. Does this mean women will have to study like men in the future?
But speaking of Fu Zi, isn't she the spy that the Empress forced to be by her side?
Not only did she harbor ill intentions, but she also dared to seduce the Emperor right in front of her, relying on her good looks. The fact that she wasn't punished was only because she showed her special mercy.
But the emperor was displeased with her after he found out?
Consort Hua was troubled by this. With her power and influence, the death of a mere palace maid could not possibly implicate her in the slightest, even if everyone knew that she was the one who did it.
She could be indifferent to everything, but she couldn't be indifferent to the Emperor's feelings.
"I suddenly remembered something I need to instruct you on. Sister Sun, go with Songzhi first. I will be back in a little while."
Sun Miaoqing had no idea what Consort Hua had suddenly thought of, but it was better to avoid trouble. Consort Hua clearly didn't want to tell her, so she dared not ask.
After everyone had gone, Consort Hua looked at Zhou Ninghai with a solemn expression.
"How did you deal with that Fu Zi last time? Are you sure no one will find out?"
Zhou Ninghai said confidently, "It shouldn't be. After I knocked her unconscious, I deliberately found a secluded corner and threw her into a dry well."
“That place is remote, and very few people go there. I only left after watching her sink.”
Consort Hua always trusted Zhou Ninghai to handle things, and hearing him say that, she felt relieved. However, when she looked up, she saw several palace maids and eunuchs running towards her screaming.
Zhou Ninghai quickly stepped in front of Consort Hua, saying, "You blind fool, how dare you run around in front of Her Majesty?"
When the eunuchs and palace maids saw that it was Consort Hua, they dared not act as they had when facing Shen Meizhuang and the others earlier, and immediately trembled and begged for forgiveness.
"Your Highness, please forgive us! Your Highness, please forgive us! It wasn't that we were careless, it was just... it was just..."
Zhou Ninghai asked, "What is it? Tell me quickly!"
The young eunuch said, "This servant was checking the wells in the Imperial Garden to see if there was any water, but who knew, who knew that a woman's corpse was found in one of the wells over there."
Consort Hua glanced at Zhou Ninghai speechlessly. He was truly more trouble than he was worth. Who was it that just now confidently told her that they would not be discovered?
Zhou Ninghai shrank back, unaware that people could float back up even though they had already sunk.
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