"Outrageous!"
Consort Cheng’s expression was very solemn, and her voice carried the dignity and authority befitting a First-Rank Consort position.
The few brazen young Ladies were instantly intimidated, each kneeling on the ground, not daring to utter a single word, and the atmosphere immediately became tense.
Consort Cheng swept her sharp gaze over them and reprimanded coldly.
"She is a Selected Attendant personally appointed by the Emperor. Even if she is at fault, it is up to the Empress to handle it impartially. How dare you make mischief here?"
"If this happens again in the future, even if the Empress says nothing, I will not tolerate it!"
After all, she holds a First-Rank Consort position.
After all, she is a concubine with a Prince under her knee.
After all, she is the Consort Cheng to whom Xia Ruqing personally delegated palace authority.
Her poised and imposing demeanor indeed did justice to her status.
Those few young Ladies were so chastened they didn’t dare say a word.
Consort Cheng let out a haughty sigh, slightly turned her head, and instructed the person beside her.
"Send Attendant Luo back!"
"No matter the reason, first punish her by making her copy the ’Female Rules’ a hundred times!"
"Yes!" the Palace Maid responded.
She turned to look at those few Ladies again.
"You all disperse as well!"
"Go back and properly learn the palace rules. There’s no need to go out for the next few months!"
Those few Ladies were thunderstruck.
Not go out? Does this mean... confinement?!
They were completely terrified.
Wanting to protest and plead, they were scared back by a single glance from Consort Cheng.
In the end, they shrank away, leaving timidly.
Consort Cheng let out a cold laugh and left without a backward glance, taking her people with her.
As for how the Imperial Physician treated Attendant Luo afterwards.
As for... whether she would continue to be bullied in the future.
Consort Cheng did not concern herself with it at all.
A mere Ninth-Rank Selected Attendant was not worth her concern.
After leaving the Imperial Garden.
Consort Cheng went directly to Duanning Palace to report the news to Xia Ruqing one by one.
Upon hearing the news, Xia Ruqing smiled and said.
"You did well! They needed to be disciplined properly!"
Consort Cheng gave a faint smile.
"Thank you for the praise, Empress!"
"This concubine was able to handle it thanks to the Empress’s trust, and I dared not disappoint you, so I exerted my utmost effort!"
Her tone was neither flattering nor pretentious, like a spring breeze brushing across one’s face.
Xia Ruqing suddenly admired Consort Cheng greatly.
She saw in her the appearance of a true ancient lady of noble family.
Highly talented yet not arrogant, highly emotionally intelligent yet not cunning, calm and composed in dealing with things, yet able to subtly influence everywhere.
Such a woman, if put in modern times...
Ahem!
What was she thinking?
Xia Ruqing quickly pulled her thoughts back and, after chatting with Consort Cheng for a few more words, excused herself for feeling weary.
After Consort Cheng left.
Xia Ruqing lay down on the couch.
Unsure if it was some stimulus from the past two days or something else, she began to let her mind wander.
One moment thinking about what virtues and abilities she had for Zhao Junyao to cherish her so deeply.
The next moment, she inexplicably felt insecure.
Then wondering if in a modern free-love setting, would Zhao Junyao truly like her?
Thinking back and forth.
Xia Ruqing became increasingly self-conscious and finally decided not to think anymore.
"Ah!"
This was also why she didn’t like meeting with the other wives.
She always felt especially awkward when she saw them.
Forget it, forget it, better to see them less in the future!
...
At Attendant Luo’s place.
The entire harem knew she was the Emperor’s former lover.
And also knew that she was sent away by the Empress Dowager and, after spending a decade or more in ambiguities outside the palace, had returned to the palace as a concubine.
Ha!
Who knows if during that time she had been with other men? Whether she has been unfaithful to the Emperor?
She’s so old, maybe she even had children outside the palace.
Tsk tsk, at her age, still competing for wealth in the harem, she must be crazy for silver.
So, when the Ministry of Internal Affairs was allocating her residence.
Even the Honored Ladies voiced their unwillingness to live with someone so unclean, fearing she would bring misfortune and rob them of their favor.
Not to mention the other noble ladies.
No one in the Ministry of Internal Affairs dared to offend any master, so they arranged for her to reside in a small house near the Cold Palace.
This place couldn’t even be considered a palace and had no name—just three shabby rooms.
It was reportedly a house for the gardener in the Imperial Garden, and after the gardener moved out, the house was left behind.
The front of the house faced Zhaohua Pavilion.
And behind, there was just a courtyard wall separating them from the Cold Palace.
Anyway, the status of a Selected Attendant is not much higher than a Palace Maid or fit to live in a palace.
Even when going to the royal ladies’ palaces, they usually stay with the servants, without having a private courtyard.
So, the Ministry of Internal Affairs arranging such a house for her was considered reasonable.