Yun Xiao, unaware of Xiu Xiu's thoughts, took the tea urn and looked at Xiao He from the side, speaking faintly.
"This is the only time. If there's a next time, don't blame me for being ruthless."
She smiled as if the warm breeze of spring, yet her words carried a hint of biting cold.
Xiao He shivered. She had no doubt that this woman would do as she said. She had heard that she had not only intimidated the Emperor but also struck the people of Consort De, and finally pushed Consort De into the koi pond.
Was this something an ordinary person could do? Therefore, she had to be more careful than ever. Thinking of this, Xiao He became even more cautious.
"Yes, Your Highness. Your servant remembers and will behave properly from now on."
"That's good. Get up," Yun Xiao waved her hand. Although this palace maid named Xiao He was snobbish and mean, she had already taught her a lesson and would let her off this once.
"Thank you, Your Highness," Xiao He stood up and stepped aside. She looked up at Xiu Xiu beside her. The moment she saw this girl, her anger flared.
They all disliked this simpleton back then, and they were all involved in what they did. Why was it that in the end, only she was punished, while the three of them lived prosperously?
Not only did they live prosperously, but they also received gifts from the Empress, which were incredibly valuable items. It was only her who had met with great misfortune. Xiao He had a bitter expression, daring not to say anything, and stood quietly to the side.
The hall fell silent. Yun Xiao held a cup of fragrant tea and savored it. A thin layer of warm mist enveloped her face, her beautiful eyes curved into crescents, looking cute and sly, like a little fox.
The eunuch Xiao Yuan ran in from outside the hall and spoke quickly, "Your Highness, Consort Zhaoyuan is coming with people?"
Yun Xiao's eyes flickered. She did not move, wondering why this woman was coming.
The Empress Dowager had just issued a decree forbidding anyone from bothering her again, yet this woman had come at this critical juncture. She must have had an unavoidable reason.
"Let her in. I'll go and get ready."
Yun Xiao placed the tea urn on a high table nearby and then descended. She led the two maids, Xiu Xiu and Xiao He, into the inner hall.
This time, she only applied a few strokes of makeup, nothing too exaggerated. Her eyebrows were defined, her lips were red, and her hair was adorned with a few more beautiful ornaments. She immediately looked radiant and opulent. When she walked out of the inner hall.
Consort Zhaoyuan Liu Binglian was standing quietly in a corner of the main hall. She looked at the woman approaching her, observing her carefully, estimating whether she would indeed strike.
She did not want to suffer a loss for no reason. Although this woman was foolish, the Empress Dowager had forbidden anyone to harm her, and she was from the Yun family, with much more powerful backing.
"Your concubine pays her respects to the Empress."
Liu Binglian was unusually polite. Usually, she was arrogant and disdainful of speaking to this simpleton, but the situation was different now, and it was better for her to be careful.
Yun Xiao looked at the affected woman before her. Although she was good-looking and dressed fashionably, she was neither the most beautiful nor the smartest.
In the palace, these people could only be cannon fodder. Her backer, Consort Xian, was likely the formidable one.
Yun Xiao walked over calmly, smiling and tilting her head to look at Liu Binglian.
"Sister is so beautiful," she said, then reached out to tug at the embroidery on Liu Binglian's clothes, acting out the role of a fool to perfection.
Seeing her behavior, Liu Binglian breathed a sigh of relief. She reached out and took a long hairpin inlaid with pearls from Yun Xiao's hair, saying with a smile.
"Empress, could I borrow this pearl hairpin? I'll return it immediately after using it, alright?"
Yun Xiao looked at the pearl hairpin in her hand. A cold glint flashed in her eyes, and a sneer curled on her lips. Good, very good. It seemed she wouldn't have to act this time; someone else was helping her, so why not.
The Empress Dowager was still a person of great authority. How could she allow anyone to defy her decree? This Liu Binglian was truly foolish.
"Alright."
Yun Xiao agreed. Liu Binglian immediately became happy and said repeatedly, "Thank you, Empress. I will have it sent back after I use it."
With that, she eagerly led her people away from Jinhua Palace.
In the hall, Xiu Xiu looked at Yun Xiao with confusion, "Your Highness, who are they?"
"It seems someone is fighting, but to use me, they are truly asking for trouble," Yun Xiao narrowed her eyes, smiling like a summer flower.
"Xiu Xiu, go to Changxin Palace immediately and say that the Empress is going home."
This time, Xiu Xiu understood what to do without needing further instruction. She replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Highness. Your servant will go and do it now."
She walked out, while Yun Xiao went to a soft couch on the side and continued reading the book she had not finished.
It was a historical record she had found in the study of Jinhua Palace. It contained information about everything in this era.
The place she was currently in was still the Eastern Qin Dynasty.
Eastern Qin had more than ten tributary states surrounding it, which paid tribute in large quantities of jewels and beauties to Eastern Qin every year.
Besides Eastern Qin, there were Xiliang, Nan Jin, and Beiyan. The other three were also powerful and prosperous, with strong national strength comparable to Eastern Qin. Each country had more than ten tributary states on its borders, so their military strength was also formidable.
Currently, Eastern Qin and Beiyan were on good terms. As for the other two, there were no detailed descriptions, which probably meant their situation was not ideal.
Zhaoyang Palace.
Liu Binglian presented the pearl hairpin, a smug expression on her face, and said slowly, "Look, I took this from the Empress's hair. That simpleton didn't get angry or hit me."
Her implication was clear, suggesting that Consort De and Lady Lan had lied. The women in the palace all looked at Consort De.
Ye Su Xue's eyes flickered, her lips tightly pursed. She looked up coldly at Ye Yuyun. She had originally intended to discipline this woman, but now she had gained an advantage, which was truly infuriating. She couldn't say a word.
Ye Yuyun had no intention of letting her off. She said with a smile.
"She's still that simpleton, but I wonder why she's particularly fond of hitting Sister and Younger Sister with her fists."
After speaking, she stood up, preparing to leave Zhaoyang Palace.
At this moment, a eunuch from Zhaoyang Palace rushed in in a panic.
"Your Highness, it's not good! The Empress Dowager is furious and has sent a eunuch to order all the imperial consorts in the harem to immediately go to Changxin Palace."
As soon as the young eunuch finished speaking, Ye Su Xue, who had been angry earlier, started to laugh, while Consort Xian and Consort Zhaoyuan Liu Binglian's expressions turned grim.
Especially Liu Binglian, who was trembling with fear. She wondered why the Empress Dowager was angry, suspecting it was related to her taking the Empress's pearl hairpin.
"Sister?" she looked anxiously at Consort Xian, Ye Yuyun. Ye Yuyun reached out and patted her hand, "Don't be nervous, it will be fine."