Even a Noble Consort, in the eyes of the Empress, is but a high-status concubine.
However noble, she remains a concubine!
Therefore, the Empress spoke with complete confidence!
Noble Concubine Shih’s face nearly turned green.
This... what is this all about! The Empress, she actually dares... she dares...
Her eyes were almost popping out. She opened her mouth several times, but in the end, she swallowed her words back.
"You... HMPH!"
The Empress glanced at her, her expression filled with disdain.
With a cold snort, she ignored her and readily dismissed the matter.
Then, she smiled faintly and said, "Enough, enough. The Emperor has a new Princess; it is, after all, a joyous occasion!"
"However... there are still too few Princes. You must all be more considerate, serve the Emperor well, and strive to bear His Majesty a dragon heir as soon as possible."
Everyone lowered their eyes submissively.
"We humbly accept the Empress’s teachings!"
The Empress, pleased, waved her sleeve and said, "All rise!"
After everyone expressed their thanks and was seated, she then inquired after each person she found reasonably agreeable.
"Honored Lady Jiang, have you been well recently? If you need anything, remember to speak up."
"Consort Xian Pin, how is the Little Prince? Is he eating well? Is he growing well?"
"Honored Lady Cheng, Noble Lady Song, are your allowances sufficient?"
If Xia Ruqing hadn’t witnessed the Empress’s viciousness before, she might have actually believed it.
This... is she really just acting? After all, her acting skills are superb; it’s truly difficult to see through.
So, Xia Ruqing had no choice but to put on an act herself.
Suppressing her conscience, she said with a grateful expression, "Thank you for your concern, Empress. The Little Prince is eating well and growing well!"
"Later, I will personally bring him to pay his respects to the Empress Mother!"
Hearing the words "Empress Mother," the Empress’s smile bloomed brighter than any flower.
"Consort Xian Pin truly knows how to ease my worries!"
Then, she showered her with praise.
Xia Ruqing felt incredibly awkward.
She discreetly lifted her eyelids to look, and Noble Concubine Shih’s face had turned green!
Sigh... Did the Empress set me up again?
「Half a Shi Chen later」
The Empress, satisfied with the performance, waved her sleeve. "This Palace is weary. You may all disperse!"
Everyone offered their thanks and dispersed.
Xia Ruqing didn’t dare to linger a moment longer and hurriedly slipped away via the side paths.
After all, Noble Concubine Shih’s glare could kill!
They all returned to their respective palaces.
The moment Noble Concubine Shih entered the gates of Xifu Palace, she flew into a rage.
Upon entering her chambers, she began smashing everything in sight. Porcelain teacups shattered across a table.
CRASH!
BANG!
The loud noises startled the sleeping Little Princess.
The two-day-old infant began to wail. The terrified Wetnurse Nanny hurriedly picked her up to soothe her.
But she was a step too late.
Noble Concubine Shih stormed over to the Little Princess.
"Cry, cry, cry! What is there to cry about!"
With that, she grabbed another vase and smashed it beside the Little Princess.
CRASH!
The vase shattered on the floor.
The Little Princess was terrified. Her tiny body convulsed, her eyes rolled back, and she looked as if she couldn’t breathe.
The Wetnurse Nanny quickly knelt.
"Noble Consort, the child is still so young..."
Noble Concubine Shih glared at the Little Princess. In the end, she didn’t continue, merely shouting impatiently, "Get out!"
The Wetnurse Nanny quickly carried the Little Princess away.
Noble Concubine Shih sat down to catch her breath. Then she recalled the Empress summoning the Imperial Physician for Honored Lady Shih the previous night.
She sneered.
"Empress, oh Empress, she is determined to suppress This Palace!"
Ying Yue quickly tried to console her.
"Your Ladyship, you still have the Little Princess! Look at Consort Ning and Consort Hui Pin; they are faring so well!"
"Even with Consort Ning in her current state, the Emperor still visits her!"
This implied that Her Ladyship still had plenty of opportunities.
"As long as the Little Princess is here, the Emperor will surely visit. If you speak some gentle words then, His Majesty will certainly have a change of heart..."
Noble Concubine Shih sneered.
"A change of heart? Just look at that vixen, Lady Xia!"
"I don’t even know what the Emperor sees in her!"
"Unwittingly, This Palace has been outshone by her. Now, I’m not even equal to a mere Pin!"
The more Noble Concubine Shih thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. Her heart ached, and tears welled up.
Ying Yue: "..."
For a moment, she didn’t know how to console her. Weren’t we comparing her to the Empress? Why suddenly bring up Consort Xian Pin? Speaking of Consort Xian Pin, she’s intelligent, and... she has a Prince. Even the Empress doesn’t dare to casually provoke her. How could the Noble Consort possibly compare? Constantly fixating on her is just asking for trouble!
In the end, Noble Concubine Shih didn’t say much more.
She had a hasty meal and then went to see Honored Lady Shih.
「At Honored Lady Shih’s quarters.」
Honored Lady Shih had already awakened.
The area of her body felt as if it had been torn open; it was still aching.
Zhaoer brought over the medicine and said, "Honored Lady, please drink your medicine."
Honored Lady Shih’s face was very pale. Except for her deflated belly, the rest of her body was still swollen.