The Empress's brother was beheaded. Although a gag order forbade discussion, it was impossible to keep such a matter secret, as the palace attendants were always gossiping. After the news circulated throughout the palace for some time, the uproar gradually subsided.
The Empress's misfortune was Noble Concubine Shih's greatest delight. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief, laughing and mocking her.
"The Empress must have had a moment of foolishness despite her usual cleverness, actually asking Xia Jieyu to plead for her brother…"
"How brazen!
"Besides, would that despicable wretch Lady Xia, with her unsightly table manners, actually help her?"
"What a pipe dream!"
Ying Yue, seeing Her Highness so pleased, chimed in with flattering remarks.
The laughter of the master and servant echoed far beyond the room.
Aside from Noble Concubine Shih, others in the palace who had once fawned over the Empress now seemed to harbor secret schadenfreude, though they dared not speak of it.
