Chapter 727: Chapter 727 You Are Presumptuous
Xiao Linzi said methodically, "Master, you got it a bit wrong. Her exact words were ’We are all to be released from the palace, yet she still acts like she is a Consort?’"
Upon hearing this, Lian Hua responded, "Isn’t that the same thing?"
She turned her head and asked Xiao Jizi, "Once released from the palace, one cannot be considered to have any rank of the palace anymore, right?"
"Of course. Once you leave the palace, you become a commoner and can no longer claim any rank from the palace. If you wish to have a rank again, you must earn an imperial decree," Xiao Jizi answered loudly, secretly pinching Xiao Linzi, wishing he could scold this fool on the spot for making things worse.
Cui Laner hurriedly defended herself, "Beauty Lian, what the concubine meant was about Sister Kong... The concubine has already petitioned to stay in the palace, I believe, I believe His Majesty will soon decree..."
By the end, her voice grew weaker and more uncertain.
Such words might intimidate others, but the Emperor spent his days with Lian Hua, so Cui Laner’s statement lacked conviction.
Lian Hua’s gaze fell back on her, sizing her up and down, thinking to herself that unless His Majesty was blind, he would surely not keep Shaded Eyes, a troublemaker.
She looked around, oh dear, these Shaded Eyes (Cui Laner), Pie Faces (Daying Jia) all dressed up flamboyantly, all dressed up for nothing since His Majesty only favored her now. Thinking about it, she really had a big advantage, ha ha ha.
Thinking this, she could hardly keep the corners of her mouth from turning up, wishing she could throw her hands on her hips and laugh uproariously.
Ahem, she quickly composed herself, mimicking someone’s gesture by clenching her fists near her mouth, cleared her throat, and said earnestly, "Today, His Majesty is busy with many affairs, how could we bother him with such trivialities? Since you do not wish to brightly and openly receive the decree to leave the palace, when His Majesty has time, I will inform His Majesty on your behalf—"
These words made Cui Laner panic. Before Lian Hua could finish speaking, she interrupted urgently, "Beauty Lian, the concubine didn’t mean that, not that, the concubine doesn’t want to leave the palace, but not, but not..."
As she spoke, she suddenly felt unable to clarify herself, her mind overwhelmed and confused.
Listening to Lian Hua’s words, Xiao Jizi silently praised her. The master was indeed an expert in leading others astray. The phrase ’not wanting to brightly leave the palace’ clearly sounded like Cui Laner disrespecting the decree, denying the decree, yet it was technically impeccable. Wanting not to leave the palace indeed meant not wanting to brightly leave the palace. It was an irrefutable statement.
Hearing Cui Laner anxiously interrupting Lian Hua, he fiercely looked at Cui Laner, knowing this person outwardly complied but inwardly defied, still not holding their master in high esteem. If the Noble Consort were here, would she dare to interrupt like this? Even others of slightly higher rank wouldn’t dare!
He was indeed a master of servility, and immediately rebuked displeased, "How audacious, to interrupt the master before she finished speaking, Lady Cui, you presume too much."
His stern words instantly made Cui Laner change color.
With a pale face, she shook her head and waved her hands anxiously, "Beauty Lian, the concubine was just panicked, it wasn’t intentional, please be magnanimous..." her explanation even more urgent than before.
Who would dare admit to such an accusation of presumption?!
Nearby, Daying Jia shrank like a quail, keeping her head down, trying her best to reduce her presence, not daring to say another word.
Back when she had provoked this scourge at a small banquet, it was because of this that she had been demoted by the Emperor. Once bitten, twice shy; even if she were foolish, there was a limit, knowing that she shouldn’t provoke the person before her eyes, otherwise, His Majesty would have to stand up for them, and with her already lowest possible rank, she might just be moved to the Hetai Temple!
Lian Hua looked at Xiao Jizi appreciatively. Previously, others interrupted her without any consideration, just whenever they wanted, but now, with this clever eunuch by her side, a label pinned down just like that, ha ha, this feeling really was great.
She felt immensely pleased inside, but she restrained herself on the surface, waving her hand dismissively, "Enough, enough, seeing that it was unintentional, I won’t hold it against you that much."
Cui Laner sighed with great relief; if she had really been saddled with the crime of presumption, she would have been doomed.
She, too, was a witness to Daying Jia’s demotion. Although filled with resentment and unwillingness, she knew well that the harem’s first Favored Concubine wasn’t to be trifled with. Qing Jia had merely made a few pointed remarks and was demoted from Talented Lady to Daying, nearly having her tongue cut out. Who would dare provoke such a concubine?
She feared not the tender-faced Beauty Lian before her, but His Majesty behind her.
It was also because she was in a bad mood today. Seeing Kong Yinyin here, she had rushed over, looking to vent her frustrations, only to inadvertently cause offense. Who knew when Kong Yinyin, that good-for-nothing, had ingratiated herself with Beauty Lian? Truly a master of manipulation and scheming.
With this thought, she secretly glared at Kong Yinyin with resentment.
Beauty Lian felt very comfortable, suddenly trying to remember what she had intended to say earlier. Had she lost her train of thought?
After thinking it over, she finally remembered and felt confused. Her delicate eyebrows raised, she said somewhat impatiently, "You just said that wasn’t what you meant and also said you didn’t want to leave the palace. So, do you or do you not want to leave the palace?"
Such a simple matter, why had it become so complicated?
Upon hearing this, Cui Laner immediately denied it, feeling confused, but one thing was clear to her, "I, the consort, do not want to leave the palace!"
She was very decisive and firm.
Beauty Lian shook her head greatly, "But I see your virtues are also insufficient to continue being a mistress in the palace. What should we do about that?"
Her question seemed naive, her brows furrowed in worry, as if she really was pondering what to do.
She couldn’t help but give Cui Laner a vexed look, her gaze conveying a full message of, "You’re such a mess, how can you have the audacity to stay in the palace, even unfit to be a servant?"
From the side, a few barely suppressed snickers escaped, Xiao Jizi and the others all bowed their heads, their lips tightly pursed, in fear of bursting out laughing.
Kong Yinyin, who was continuously fiddling with her handkerchief, felt a slight ease in her mood, a hint of amusement appearing in her eyes. She thought that Beauty Lian’s words were very straightforward, yet hit right at the core, and found them quite amusing.
Cui Laner felt a surge of blood rushing to spit out, her chest heaving in turmoil, her breath quickened, "You, you, you..."
She repeated "you" a few times, wanting to retort, but ultimately didn’t dare. Her head spun, eyes brimming with tears, nearly fainting.
What did Beauty Lian mean by this? How were her virtues inadequate? Not even the Noble Consort had ever spoken to her this way before, and she had never been so humiliated.
Daying Jia’s body curled even tighter. In a few sentences, Beauty Lian had already set the tone for Cui Laner. For some reason, she had a strong premonition that Cui Laner might not be able to stay in the palace much longer, nor could she leave the palace as before...
Beauty Lian no longer bothered with the person before her; this was no longer her concern.
Going round and round, she had almost forgotten she was defending Kong Yinyin. She needed to wrap this matter up quickly so she could participate in the pitching pot game and win that bag of golden melon seeds.