"I have some newly supplied Dragon Well tea from before the rains in my quarters. I'll have Songzhi bring some over for Your Majesty to taste later!"
Jiang Ling said haughtily, adopting a condescending air. Anyone who didn't know better would think she was dismissing a beggar.
The Empress, provoked by her taunts, responded with a cold laugh, "Thank you, sister. His Majesty has also granted me some, but thinking that Third Prince enjoys it, I asked Consort Qi to take it."
So what if she was young, beautiful, and favored?
Our Empress has children; you don't!
The remark struck a nerve. Jiang Ling, however, remained unfazed. She set down her teacup and said with a smile, "Indeed. Consort Qi's quarters rarely have such fine tea. If Third Prince needs anything in the future, please don't hesitate to ask me!"
Once again, the tone was one of lofty condescension.
Having children makes you superior? Consort Qi is brainless and out of favor, and Third Prince is even dumber, unable to even read properly. You mother and son are like beggars on your knees!
At this, Consort Qi's face darkened beyond recognition.
Consort Qi thought to herself, "I wish I could personally poison Consort Hua and have Cui Guo smash her mouth!"
Looking at Jiang Ling on camera, Zheng Xiaolong felt that her performance, while seemingly casual and unconstrained, was in fact effortlessly masterful and subtly profound.
Her acting was, in a word, superb!
In two words: absolutely superb!
In three words: beyond superb!
This woman was brimming with drama, a true genius born for acting!
Her performance was too good, too beautiful!
And Jiang Yushuang as Consort Qi was practically acting as herself, adorably foolish, and the chemistry was perfect!
Seeing Consort Qi rendered speechless by Consort Hua's few words, the Empress shook her head helplessly.
"Fourth Prince and Fifth Prince are still young. Third Prince is a role model for the princes, thus Third Prince naturally holds great personal value."
If not for Third Prince, there were still Fourth and Fifth Princes. You, Consort Hua, are the only one without children.
The Empress spoke in a roundabout way, circling back to the issue of Consort Hua having no children.
Jiang Ling, cornered, changed her tone, glancing around and saying with a soft smile, "His Majesty's ascension was sudden, and the palace is lacking in many things. I regret that Your Majesty has to reside in Jingren Palace. I was thinking of choosing a clear, bright day to decorate Jingren Palace properly, so that Your Majesty may live more comfortably."
Jingren Palace has poor feng shui and is not a comfortable residence. It's perfect for you, the illegitimate, older, less attractive woman.
"His Majesty has just ascended the throne, everything is kept simple. We shall discuss this later!"
The Empress continued to force a smile, reluctantly employing the skill of being "unavoidably virtuous" to create an image of virtuousness in front of the consorts.
Jiang Ling smiled, "The Empress is indeed magnanimous. My Yikun Palace is too extravagant. Whenever I come to pay my respects to the Empress, I feel uneasy!"
My Yikun Palace is sumptuously decorated, and every time I come to pay respects at the Empress's palace, I feel that Jingren Palace is so shabby.
The Empress was immediately choked.
Consort Qi, seeing the Empress flustered, quickly chimed in, "Yikun Palace was the residence of the late Empress Yifei, so it is naturally extraordinary!"
The Empress seized the opportunity to add a jab, "Empress Yifei was favored and had many children; the late Emperor truly doted on her."
You have no children. Even if you gain temporary favor now, you will eventually fall out of it!
Every time they paid respects, Consort Hua would always mock the Empress with topics such as aging, loss of favor, and being of lower birth.
The Empress's only retort was, "You have no children, you have no children, you have no children!"
Consort Hua was furious but helpless.
She also wanted to insinuate that the Empress had no children, but the Empress was the legal wife, the matriarch. Any children born to the consorts could be considered hers.
This time, like all previous times, Consort Hua arrived excitedly and left fuming.