Lady Song was originally gentle and kind. For the sake of her daughter, she was even more patient in the Prince's mansion, and she did not become arrogant even after becoming a concubine.
I don't know how I tripped over it today, but Consort Qian brought it up to talk about me.
Consort Shu, Zhang, considered herself the Empress's number one lackey and couldn't stand Consort Qian's smug look. So she spoke up to explain for Consort Mao: "Consort Mao has always been respectful to Her Majesty and has never been late for her greetings. Today, she must have tripped by accident. Why is Consort Qian so angry before Her Majesty the Empress has even arrived?"
Consort Qian refused to give her any face, sneering, "Consort Shu is insubordinate and disrespectful. What, now that I am a consort, can't I criticize her? Or you?"
Zhang was exceptionally talented and eloquent: "Your Highness Consort Qian is certainly eloquent. However, the matters of disciplining concubines and administering rewards and punishments in the harem are the Empress's duties. It is not appropriate for Your Highness Consort Qian to overstep her bounds. Let's wait until Your Highness arrives before discussing this further."
Consort Qian wanted to lash out on the spot, and she was so angry at Consort Shu’s fearless attitude that she gritted her teeth. However, she remembered that this was Chengqian Palace, not a place where she could run wild. In addition, Consort Shu was the Empress’s lackey. As the saying goes, even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner. So she had no choice but to swallow her anger.
Meanwhile, Tingfeng had already witnessed this minor disturbance. He turned around and went into the inner room to report everything that had just happened to Changning.
Changning was being dressed and groomed by two newly appointed palace maids, Meixiang and Hexiang, when she heard this and sneered.
"Consort Qian has become arrogant. If we don't teach her a lesson, she'll really think she's nothing."
Zhuiyu and Chuixue quickly helped her up, and Changning asked again, "What happened to Consort Mao?"
Tingfeng shook his head: "There's still no news."
"Is anything wrong in Yierha?"
Tingfeng thought for a moment and said, "Ah, today should be the eldest princess's birthday."
Changning was also surprised. It turned out that it was Yierha's birthday. She had been too busy lately and had completely forgotten about it.
Just then, Yu Xia came to deliver a message, saying that Consort Mao was on her way and had just lost her temper at the South Third Palace, punishing many people.
Changning frowned: "But what happened? Is something wrong?"
Princes and princesses live in the South Third Palace. If any of the people serving Yierha are not honest, then ultimately, she also bears some responsibility.
For someone as good-natured as Consort Mao to fly into a rage, the matter must be quite serious.
Yu Xia shook her head: "Mao Fei is keeping a tight rein on things, and she has specifically instructed the people in the South Third Bureau to keep their mouths shut and block the news. She only said that she would come to explain to you in person later."
Changning felt even stranger, and had a vague sense of unease.
The fact that Consort Mao was so nervous and didn't want any word to leak out suggests that this matter was no small thing, and might even affect Yierha's reputation.
Thinking too much is pointless. Supported by Chuixue, Changning slowly walked towards the main hall of Chengqian Palace.
As soon as she entered, all the concubines quickly sat down, their expressions solemn, and bowed in unison.
Seeing the respectful and polite expressions of everyone, Changning was satisfied. After all, they all knew the rules and were afraid of her. This was the effect she wanted. They all behaved themselves and didn't cause her any trouble.
However, she still gave them a taste of their power, slowly sitting down on the high seat in the center, her expression languid and casual as she swept her gaze across the faces of every concubine present.
The Empress was slow to wake everyone, and everyone was getting anxious. This was especially true for Consort Qian, who had just had a minor argument with Consort Shu, and the Empress must have heard about it.
At this moment, she suddenly regretted it. No matter what, this was Chengqian Palace, the Empress's territory. If she was too presumptuous, she would be disrespecting the Empress.
The Empress has a terrible temper and is never gentle or tolerant. Anyone who offends her will be severely punished, and she never shows any mercy to anyone.
Consort Qian became increasingly frightened as she thought about it.
Seeing her flustered appearance, Changning sneered inwardly. With such a small amount of courage, she still dared to act wildly.
"Consort Qian, I heard you're going to discipline the concubines on my behalf?"
Here she comes, the Empress is here with punishment.
Changning's long-standing influence was not for nothing. Upon hearing this, Consort Qian's legs went weak, and she immediately knelt down, protesting aggrievedly, "Your Majesty, please understand! This concubine dares not! It was all Consort Shu's fault; she deliberately misinterpreted my meaning!"
Consort Shu wanted to retort, but out of consideration for the Empress, she remained silent and could only signal with her eyes to show her innocence.
Changning slightly adjusted her hair and casually called out "Rise!" The concubines breathed a sigh of relief and quickly thanked her and sat down. Their legs were a little numb from squatting for so long.
However, Consort Qian and Consort Shu were still kneeling, and neither of them dared to get up.
Seeing that the two girls were somewhat sensible, Changning slowly spoke: "In this harem, only I have the right to discipline the concubines. No one else needs to overstep their bounds. If anyone covets my phoenix robe and does something despicable, then don't blame me for being merciless."
Consort Qian and Consort Shu both nodded in agreement.
“Chengqian Palace is not a place for you to run wild. If everyone comes here to argue, it will turn into a vegetable market.” Changning frowned again, her tone impatient. “If you all have nothing better to do and are just bored, you might as well go back and copy the Diamond Sutra a thousand times by hand. That would be a way to pray for the soldiers on the front lines.”
A thousand recitations of the Diamond Sutra—it'll take at least five or eight years to copy it all, otherwise I won't be able to leave the house.
Consort Qian was on the verge of tears, but dared not bargain. She could only say with a mournful face, "I know I was wrong, and I will never do it again."
"Alright, alright, all of you better behave yourselves. The Golden Banquet Festival is coming up soon, and there's also Mulan Qiumi. There are so many things to do in the palace, big and small, and I don't have time to chatter with you all. From now on, just come to pay your respects once every five or ten days."
Changning felt that she couldn't wrong herself by constantly dealing with these trivial matters like a primary school student, always complaining about whether someone had taken her silk or someone had stolen her bird's nest. She had nothing to do all day.
These concubines in the harem had nothing better to do, so they spent their days looking for trouble and arguing.
Changning simply assigned them tasks and jobs to exhaust their energy and prevent them from causing trouble.
"If you are free in the future, go to the Imperial Garden at dawn every day. I will have someone set up a special playground for you to run laps there. Run ten laps a day. It will not only strengthen your body but also relieve your boredom. I think it is very suitable for you."
Changning thought about it more and more and it seemed feasible.
These old women don't like to exercise. They're always complaining of this or that ailment. Running around more can strengthen their bodies and tire them out. Then when they go back to the palace, they'll just sleep. Who will have the energy to argue?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
