Princess Consort Wan was already struggling to stand. Hearing the other two use her as a pretext, her face grew even paler. She ignored them and looked directly at Zhang Maoquan. "Chief Steward Zhang, I am just recovering from a serious illness and truly cannot endure this much longer. Please have someone bring a chair over so I may rest for a moment. Today is the grand occasion of the Empress Dowager's return to the palace. If I were to faint from the sun, it would bring misfortune upon the Empress Dowager, and that would be my fault."
Zhang Maoquan immediately waved for someone to bring a chair. He said not a word more than necessary to the three high-ranking concubines. He simply did as he was told, siding with no one and offending no one. He was as slippery as an eel.
