May this trial pass quickly so the family can reunite soon!
The Sixth Prince, taking on a major responsibility for the first time, was quite spirited.
Alas, his mother's peaceful days in the palace were thus shattered.
Ever since the Duke of Wei lost his sight, Noble Consort Wei found fault with everyone, causing trouble in the harem daily.
Despite being punished by the Empress several times, she remained unrepentant, constantly claiming others were trying to harm her, the Wei family, and the Ninth Prince.
Emperor Qi was deeply displeased to see his once-favored consort transform into this "madwoman."
Furthermore, Consort Shu had recently been quite adept at charming the Emperor, making him even less attentive to Noble Consort Wei.
Unexpectedly, unable to bite stones, Noble Consort Wei turned her attention to softer targets.
And the softest target in the harem was undoubtedly Virtuous Consort Liu.
She immediately made a grand procession towards Virtuous Consort Liu's palace, naturally accompanied by Consort Zhen.
Consort Zhen was also quite annoyed at this moment. She had thought following Noble Consort Wei was a sure bet, but she hadn't expected such disappointing behavior.
If she were the Emperor, she too would dislike such an arrogant, past-her-prime consort.
After all, the Emperor was never short of beauties, especially young and delicate ones.
The recent favor shown to Consort Shu was a clear indication of this.
Noble Consort Wei, it seemed, was already a relic of the past.
But no matter how dire her situation, she still had Prince Li as her trump card. If he were to ascend the throne in the future, Noble Consort Wei would undoubtedly become the Empress Dowager, and staying by her side would still offer some prospects.
Thus, Consort Zhen remained "loyal" to her.
Ever since the Sixth Prince was entrusted with important duties by Emperor Qi, Virtuous Consort Liu's palace had been bustling with visitors.
One day it was an imperial gift from the Empress, the next it was a visit from other consorts.
Her palace, which had been quiet for decades, suddenly became lively, making her feel somewhat unaccustomed to it.
Just as she managed to catch her breath, a palace maid announced that Noble Consort Wei and Consort Zhen had arrived.
Virtuous Consort Liu took a deep breath, her face filled with bitterness.
"Your Highness, you must pull yourself together, or Noble Consort will find fault again and cause trouble for days."
Virtuous Consort Liu had no choice but to rise, adjust her clothes, and stand obediently at the entrance to welcome this Noble Consort, whose airs were even grander than the Empress's.
"Your humble servant greets Your Highness. Your Highness, please be well."
"Oh, Consort Liu, your complexion has been quite rosy these past few days. I suppose the Sixth Prince has finally caught the Emperor's eye, and you've been too happy to sleep, haven't you?"
Before she even entered the room, the sharp words were already spoken.
Consort Zhen's brows furrowed tightly behind her. It didn't matter if Noble Consort Wei offended Virtuous Consort Liu; with the backing of the Wei family and Prince Li, she wouldn't be afraid.
But if Virtuous Consort Liu took her anger out on her, wouldn't that be unfair?
So, she stepped forward with a fawning smile and said to Noble Consort Wei.
"I heard that Prince Li recently obtained a fine piece of ink and presented it to His Majesty. His Majesty praised the Prince highly, saying he was very thoughtful."
Upon hearing this, Noble Consort Wei's arrogant demeanor subsided slightly. She raised an eyebrow at Consort Zhen and said.
"Naturally. His Majesty has always doted on Little Jiu. Not everyone is blessed with such fortune."
"Your Highness speaks the truth."
After helping Virtuous Consort Liu defuse the situation, Consort Zhen offered an apologetic smile.
Virtuous Consort Liu had never offended anyone in the palace and had always been polite to her. So, she would help her as much as she could.
Virtuous Consort Liu gave her a grateful look and then said to both of them.
"Your Highness, please come in. I've prepared some of your favorite tea inside."
Virtuous Consort Liu was not eloquent and rarely spoke much, a fact both of them knew.
However, if Noble Consort Wei wanted to find fault, she would succeed with ease.
First, the tea was too hot, then it was too cold. She fussed over the tea for three or four rounds until sweat beaded on Virtuous Consort Liu's forehead and her face was etched with embarrassment. Only then did Noble Consort Wei relent.
Then, she lazily asked a palace maid to bring a box of pastries, adopting a condescending posture.
"These are the Hibiscus Pastries made in my kitchen. They are exceptionally fragrant and delicious. I brought some for you to try, my dear. You mustn't refuse my kindness."
With that, she had someone take them out of the food box.
The Hibiscus Pastries were made into large pieces, each one as big as four or five regular pastries.
Hibiscus Pastries were very rich and greasy. Eating one or two wouldn't matter, but eating too many would not only be cloying but also lead to indigestion.
Virtuous Consort Liu was accustomed to a vegetarian diet, and her appetite had long been extremely light.
If she ate these Hibiscus Pastries, she would likely be bedridden the next day.
Consort Zhen watched Noble Consort Wei's behavior. She wanted to say something but dared not. Offending Noble Consort Wei for Virtuous Consort Liu seemed like a bad deal.
A palace maid beside Virtuous Consort Liu stepped forward and knelt, begging.
"Noble Consort, please forgive us. Our Highness has been unwell these past few days. The imperial physician said she cannot eat sweet and greasy foods, lest it affect her condition."
"Oh, when did it become your place, you lowly servant, to speak when I'm talking to my sister? Guards, give her twenty slaps to teach her a lesson!"
"Yes!"
Before the palace maid could react, slaps rained down upon her.
The slappers were clearly prepared, their fingernails long and sharp. The slaps not only reddened her cheeks but also caused scratches that drew blood.
Within a few slaps, her entire mouth was bleeding, and her face was red, swollen, and streaked with blood.
The palace maid dared not cry, fearing that her cries would alert Noble Consort Wei and lead to further scolding.
Virtuous Consort Liu sat in her seat, listening to the sound of the slaps, her eyes welling up with tears. She was helpless, being naturally inarticulate and unable to even protect her own servant.
Seeing her embarrassed and distressed, Noble Consort Wei felt somewhat appeased. She then continued.
"Sister, aren't you going to try these Hibiscus Pastries? They're freshly made. If you don't eat them, you're showing me no respect."
"Th-thank you, Your Highness, for the gift."
Virtuous Consort Liu forced herself to eat the Hibiscus Pastry. It was fine at first, but halfway through, the rich, greasy taste became nauseating.
Her stomach was already full, but she couldn't stop.
The palace maid who had been slapped outside now bowed her head, not daring to utter another word.
With her as an example, no one would dare offend Noble Consort Wei for Virtuous Consort Liu, not even Consort Zhen.
They could only watch as Virtuous Consort Liu forced herself to eat the entire Hibiscus Pastry. Her face had already turned pale, and it was clear she was feeling unwell.
Seeing that her objective had been achieved, Noble Consort Wei's smile widened.
She affectionately took Virtuous Consort Liu's hand and said.
"Sister, you truly understand my intentions. Since you like them so much, I'll send more to you another day."
Upon hearing this, Virtuous Consort Liu felt a chill run down her spine, but she had to maintain a happy facade.
Noble Consort Wei left cheerfully. However, not long after, news spread of Virtuous Consort Liu's poisoning, causing a huge stir.