Xiu Xiu followed the eunuch into the grand hall and knelt respectfully in the center, cautiously opening her mouth, "Your servant greets the Empress Dowager."
In this harem, the Empress Dowager was the most authoritative figure. As the attendant of the foolish empress, Xiu Xiu had never had direct contact with the Empress Dowager, only seeing her from afar a few times. The Empress Dowager's beauty was so breathtaking that it commanded reverence.
"Speak, what is it?"
The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow, looking at the timid and frightened maidservant below. Her voice softened, no longer as aloof as before.
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, the Empress is making a huge commotion in the Jinhua Palace, demanding to go home. We servants could not stop her, so we have come to report to the Empress Dowager."
As soon as Xiu Xiu finished speaking, Consort Lan, kneeling beside her, changed her expression. She lowered her head, gazing at the deep red carpet, wishing she could bore a hole through it. She inwardly cursed herself for seeking trouble by involving the Empress Dowager.
She feared she would be reprimanded, or even punished. Consort Lan's face grew paler the more she thought about it, wishing she could slap herself again. Her attempt to gain something had backfired, and even Consort De couldn't help her.
The Empress Dowager's pupils suddenly turned cold. She released Consort De Ye Su Xue's hand and raised her eyebrows, "Why would she want to go home all of a sudden?"
Xiu Xiu, sensing the Empress Dowager's displeasure, quickly turned to glance at Consort Lan kneeling beside her and replied cautiously, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, this morning Consort Lan went to visit the Empress and saw a precious jade hairpin. She wanted to take a look, but unexpectedly shattered it. The Empress, seeing the jade hairpin broken, started to make a scene. Not only did she hit Consort Lan, but she insisted on returning to the Yun Mansion."
"There's such a thing?"
The Empress Dowager's dark eyes instantly filled with a chilling glint. She swept a sinister gaze down at Consort Lan below, thinking, "This good-for-nothing is really causing trouble for me."
The hall fell silent, with wisps of cold air circulating.
Consort Lan was already panicking. She quickly begged for mercy, "Empress Dowager, this concubine did not do it intentionally. This concubine reached out to take it, but it slipped from my grasp and shattered the jade hairpin. I beg the Empress Dowager to forgive me this once."
"Is there no law in this harem? Do you think this Empress Dowager doesn't know your schemes? From now on, you'd best behave yourselves, or you will face palace discipline."
The Empress Dowager's cold words were not only a warning to Consort Lan but also to her niece, Consort De, not to let the tail wag the dog.
Consort De's face turned pale, while Consort Lan dared not even breathe, her body trembling slightly.
Before she even entered the palace, Consort Lan had heard much about the Empress Dowager's ruthlessness. Therefore, as soon as she entered the palace, she had used her connections to curry favor with the Empress Dowager, the great tree, which was why she had been able to thrive in this harem.
"This concubine knows her mistake, Empress Dowager, please forgive this concubine once."
"Very well, you shall confine yourself to Zhaoyang Palace for a month, and you are not permitted to leave."
With the Empress Dowager's command, Consort Lan dared not utter another word. She repeatedly kowtowed and agreed, "Yes, this concubine obeys."
"You may go," the Empress Dowager waved her hand. Consort Lan quickly withdrew, feeling that she had lost both the battle and the dame, and it had all happened inexplicably. She had no idea where she had gone wrong.
However, a deep unease settled in her heart, a feeling that something was not right. But she had no time to ponder further, and it was better to return to Zhaoyang Palace for her confinement.
After dealing with Consort Lan, the Empress Dowager's alluring peach blossom eyes swept towards Xiu Xiu, her sternness softening. She spoke gently, "Where is that jade hairpin?"
"It's here?"
Xiu Xiu immediately raised the jade hairpin in her hand. The Empress Dowager glanced at her trusted eunuch, Lin An. Lin An walked down the steps, retrieved the jade hairpin, and handed it to the Empress Dowager.
"Your Majesty, look?"
With fingers as white as jade, she took the hairpin, examining it up and down. A faint, hidden smile played on her lips. This hairpin was a good item, originating from Feng Tang Jiao in Yan Jing.
For a foolish person to possess such a treasure, it seemed that despite her foolishness, Yun Mo still doted on her.
"Alright, go back and appease her. I will immediately order someone to purchase a replacement for her."
"Yes, Empress Dowager."
Xiu Xiu slowly retreated. Just as she was about to leave the hall, a voice suddenly called out, "Wait a moment."
Xiu Xiu froze, unsure what had happened. She quickly knelt with a thud, "Empress Dowager?"
"Get up. From now on, if anything happens in the Jinhua Palace, report it to me immediately."
Xiu Xiu was taken aback. What did the Empress Dowager mean by this? Was she asking her to monitor the Empress? However, she dared not ask further and respectfully replied, "Yes."
"Serve me well, and I will not treat you unfairly."
"Your servant understands," Xiu Xiu could only reply like this.
She dared not speak of everything. In this palace, it was better to have fewer troubles than more. Although the Empress Dowager said so, she was merely a pawn. If she displeased her one day, it would be a dead end. It was better to protect herself, feign ignorance, and pretend not to know anything.
"You may go."
"Yes," Xiu Xiu responded and withdrew.
The hall fell silent again. The Empress Dowager idly played with the broken jade hairpin. After a long while, she smoothed her brows and ordered Lin An by her side, "Little Anzi, immediately send someone to Feng Tang Jiao to buy an identical piece of jewelry and send it to the Empress."
"Yes, Your Majesty, your servant will attend to it now."
Lin An walked out. The Empress Dowager turned to Ye Su Xue by her side, her gaze gentle and full of affection. She reached out and held Ye Su Xue's hand.
"Su Xue, Mother knows your intentions, but you cannot be impatient. Impatience will only ruin things. That position will be yours sooner or later. Do you not trust Mother's words?"
"Mother, this concubine understands. I will not scheme anymore. Please rest assured, Mother."
Ye Su Xue knew how formidable her aunt was. It was likely that nothing in the palace escaped her notice. Her previous leniency was simply because she turned a blind eye. Now that she had spoken, if Ye Su Xue dared to act recklessly again, she would surely become angry. Therefore, it was best to be well-behaved for the time being.
"You should focus more on winning over the Emperor. The Emperor is a romantic. If another woman becomes pregnant, you will be in trouble."
A ruthless glint flashed in Ye Su Xue's eyes. Another woman becoming pregnant? Not even a thought. The position of Empress was hers to claim, and it must belong to the Ye family. Since her aunt could reign supreme over the six palaces, why couldn't she?
"This concubine understands," Ye Su Xue said charmingly, nestling into her aunt's embrace with great affection...
Inside the Jinhua Palace.
Yun Xiao nodded slightly after hearing Xiu Xiu's report, indicating that she understood. In fact, she had already expected this outcome. The Empress Dowager would be angered by the Regent King because of a jade hairpin. Having established herself as the head of the six palaces and eventually becoming the Empress Dowager, she was bound to be extremely shrewd. How could she possibly do something that would result in a greater loss than gain?
"Did the Empress Dowager say anything?"
Yun Xiao, who was applying makeup in front of the mirror, paused. Her eyes met Xiu Xiu's reflection in the mirror. Xiu Xiu was startled, surprised that her mistress had guessed correctly. She did not dare to conceal anything and reported cautiously, "The Empress Dowager asked me to report any matters to her."
"Heh heh, how interesting. They won't even let a fool go?"
Yun Xiao chuckled sarcastically and continued her actions, painting her eyebrows while instructing Xiu Xiu, "You can go over there often from now on."
"Uh, Mistress?"
Xiu Xiu was stunned, not understanding her mistress's intention. She stared blankly at the bronze mirror. Reflected in the bronze mirror was a face that was crude and ugly. Her eyebrows were thickly and darkly drawn, her lips were smeared with bright red rouge, and her cheeks were also painted with blush. The entire person looked like a matchmaker, or a madam of a brothel.
Seeing Xiu Xiu's confusion, Yun Xiao grinned, her blood-red mouth opening wide.
"However, you must have discretion about what to say and what not to say. Also, bring me information about their movements. This is called fighting fire with fire."
"Yes, your servant understands."
Xiu Xiu suddenly understood. So this was what Empress meant. She respectfully replied. However, looking at the mistress's face, she still felt a chill. She quickly whispered, "Mistress, why have you drawn yourself like this?"
"To wander the palace, and incidentally, to scare people," Yun Xiao said with a forced smile. Xiu Xiu felt a cold wind blowing down from the top of her head...