"Momo, what should we do now? Cousin has already sent people over!"
Ma Momo sighed inwardly. It's too late. This time the mistress has made far too big a mess. What can a servant like me possibly do?
Seeing her old nurse so helpless, the Noble Consort felt her heart turn cold. But thinking of the bond she had once shared with her cousin, she forced herself to pull it together, straightened her robes, and prepared to step outside.
Eunuch Yuan, waiting outside, was growing impatient, itching to push the door open, but mindful of palace rules, he restrained himself.
Just as he was about to call out again, the door opened from within.
The Noble Consort still carried herself with poise, but her sleeve-covered hand trembled uncontrollably. Ma Momo, knowing her mistress's panic, hurried forward to support her.
Eunuch Yuan, seeing the Noble Consort's bravado barely concealing her weakness, pretended not to notice. After all, he was just a servant, and it wasn't his place to meddle in his masters' affairs.
Once everyone was assembled, he led the imperial guards, escorting the group in grand procession toward Tinglan Pavilion.
Such a spectacle quickly alerted all the concubines in the Six Palaces. None dared to appear before the emperor now—His Majesty was like a powder keg, and whoever approached would be the unlucky one to set him off.
In Qingliang Hall, Noble Lady Li was fawning over Consort De:
"Your Ladyship truly has foresight. With just a few light words, the Noble Consort went charging ahead in your stead."
"Mind your tongue, Noble Lady Li. Attendant Rou's matter has nothing to do with this palace. If I hear any rumors outside, watch your skin!"
Though Consort De knew her words weren't wrong, such things could never be said aloud. If gossip spread, her carefully cultivated reputation would be ruined.
Noble Lady Li's smile froze. This old woman—criticizing me even when I praise her. Truly impossible to serve.
But thinking of her humble family background, and how her future prospects depended on this woman, she forced herself to endure.
"Yes, Your Ladyship is right. This concubine was out of line."
After that, their conversation became perfunctory, mostly Noble Lady Li flattering Consort De until she beamed with satisfaction.
Meanwhile, Xiao Qianming looked at his so-called cousin with growing disgust. When did she become so vicious, so intolerant of others?
"Cousin, it was my fault. But I truly didn't know Attendant Rou was with child…"
"Enough excuses! By palace rules, you should address me as Your Majesty. Isn't the Noble Consort always fond of wielding palace regulations to suppress others? Yet when it comes to yourself, you demand leniency?"
The emperor's icy tone made the Noble Consort's heart seize. Cousin is blaming me, standing up for that wretch. How could he?
Seeing her mistress about to speak recklessly, Ma Momo, kneeling nearby, tugged discreetly at the hem of her robes—their agreed-upon signal to hold her temper.
But Xiao Qianming, who had been watching closely, caught the gesture. To him, it was open defiance.
"Guards! Drag this insolent servant out and beat her thirty strokes with the rod!"
At once, two eunuchs stepped forward.
The Noble Consort rushed to block them, shouting sharply:
"I am the Noble Consort! Who dares lay a hand on my nurse?"
"What are you waiting for? Do you not know who your true master is? Xiao Yuanzi, pull Consort Zhao aside."
Consort Zhao.
Zhao Ying felt a chill in her heart. The emperor was truly ruthless. For the sake of that lowly fox, he actually intended to strip her of her Noble Consort rank? How could she accept that?
"Your Majesty, you can't! I am the Duke of England's legitimate daughter, your aunt's niece!"
At these words, Xiao Qianming's heart grew colder still. Even now, she dares to invoke my mother?
"Zhao clan woman, you harmed the imperial heir. I would not be wrong to execute you and implicate nine generations of your kin. Were it not for Empress Dowager Ci'an's sake, you would already be finished. Since you are dissatisfied—then from this day, you are demoted to Noble Lady Zhao."
Zhao Ying no longer dared utter another word. She knew if she said even one more, the emperor might strip her down completely.
"As for the palace servants who dared abuse Concubine Rou—beat them to death at once."
"Yes, Your Majesty. At once."
Concubine Rou.
Zhao Ying's chest burned with rage. Heartless! Cousin actually intends to promote that vixen to Concubine Rou. Why?
The thought that the woman who once groveled at her feet was about to leapfrog into a higher rank, outranking her current position, made her nails dig deep crescents into her palms.
But she could not act rashly. She must send a pigeon dispatch to her father immediately. He had to stop the emperor—she could not allow that wretch to climb over her head.
Yes. The edict had not yet been issued. There was still room to turn things around.