"Consort Lu," Consort Chen said, "my Yao Yao is young and ignorant. Please don't hold it against her."
Ah, so the favoritism had begun.
Consort Lu feigned distress, her beautiful eyes welling up with tears. "Your Majesty, the palace has its rules. I never imagined you..."
Before she could finish, she clutched her chest and gasped for breath, as if she might faint at any moment.
Bi Cha quickly supported her and pleaded with Consort Chen, "Your Majesty, my mistress is delicate and frail; she cannot bear such agitation. I beg you to let her rest in your palace for a moment. The truth can be determined later!"
A hint of hesitation flickered across Consort Chen's face. She shifted her weight, and Bi Cha, overjoyed, helped Consort Lu toward the entrance.
Unexpectedly, Wang Qingyao darted in front of them, spreading her arms wide to block their way.
How arrogant!
Consort Lu, who had initially been faking anger, was now genuinely furious.
Clearly, Consort Chen's family did not respect her!
She was, after all, one of the Emperor's women. Regardless of her rank, how could a mere commoner insult her so freely?
Feeling insulted, Consort Lu's delicate features flushed with anger, and a cold glint flashed in her tear-filled eyes.
Then she would not be blamed for being impolite!
She went limp in Bi Cha's arms, gasping for breath. "Quickly, send someone to summon the Emperor! Hurry! If he's even a moment late, you'll never see me again!" She wept as she spoke, her tears falling like pear blossoms, making her look exquisitely beautiful.
Bi Cha immediately instructed a young palace maid to fetch the Emperor, then sat on the ground hugging Consort Lu, the mistress and servant weeping together.
Consort Chen glanced at Wang Qingyao, who remained composed, a look of amusement on her face.
Consort Chen felt reassured. The Princess of Ding'an was not someone who acted rashly.
Besides, even if she did, with the Prince of Ding'an behind her, the Emperor would not hold her accountable.
As for Consort Chen herself, she was already out of favor and had little to lose.
Consort Chen thought with a clear conscience, standing tall and aloof with Wang Qingyao, watching as if at a circus, a playful glint in her eyes.
Consort Lu found it increasingly difficult to maintain her tears.
Fortunately, the Emperor arrived soon after.
As soon as she heard the eunuch announce his arrival, Consort Lu's cries grew louder.
To her surprise, Consort Wei also accompanied him. She thought, "Perfect! I'll let Your Majesty witness my power to manipulate events!"
After everyone paid their respects to the Emperor and Consort Wei, the Emperor swept his gaze across the scene, his brows furrowing.
"What is going on?"
"Your Majesty, they are bullying me! You must be my protector!" Consort Lu wailed pitifully.
Consort Wei's delicate brows twitched. She cast a fleeting glance at Consort Lu, and the latter's wailing subsided, leaving only sobs.
The Emperor turned to Consort Chen. "What is going on? You are the mistress of this palace. How can you allow such a commotion outside your gates?"
Consort Chen's expression was indifferent. "This concubine does not know."
Her nonchalant attitude slightly irked the Emperor. It was then that he noticed Wang Qingyao, and his brows furrowed even more deeply. "Why are you here as well?"
Consort Lu wondered, "How does His Majesty recognize Consort Chen's family member?"
Wang Qingyao, however, had plenty to say, especially since the Emperor had asked her.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, it was like this. I was visiting Consort Chen earlier, and as I was leaving, I encountered this Consort Lu. She insisted I kowtow and pay my respects. When I refused, we had a verbal dispute. She then ordered her people to drag me into Ruhuai Palace to seek Consort Chen's judgment. My maid, in her eagerness to protect me, injured those palace maids. Consort Lu then demanded to enter Ruhuai Palace for the Consort's judgment, and when I refused, she cursed me."
"Consort Chen heard the commotion and came out. She had no idea what was happening? Later, Consort Lu, for some reason, seemed unable to breathe and wanted to rest in Ruhuai Palace. The Consort agreed, but I did not. She then cried and cried and cried..."
Wang Qingyao spoke clearly and crisply. Her account made the situation understandable to everyone.
Consort Lu grew even more perplexed.
Wang Qingyao's narration was factual and did not exaggerate. She even omitted the part where she had sarcastically commented on Consort Chen's background.
"Is she out of her mind?"
Before Consort Lu could ponder further, she nodded vigorously at the Emperor. "Your Majesty, it is exactly as she said! This shrew disregards palace rules, and Consort Chen is protecting her to bully me. Can anyone enter the palace now?"
"Fool," Consort Chen glanced at her.
"Fool," Consort Wei also glanced at her.
Consort Lu completely missed these disdainful glances, completely immersed in her fantasy of making Wang Qingyao suffer.
The Emperor understood, but he was confused.
He had never been particularly pleased with this Princess of Ding'an that Xiao Yun had married. Now, with her causing such a scene, his displeasure deepened.
Suppressing his inner annoyance, and for Xiao Yun's sake, he patiently inquired, "Why did you not allow Consort Lu to enter Ruhuai Palace?"
Wang Qingyao turned her head, bared her teeth at Consort Lu, and pointed at her trusted head palace maid, Bi Cha. "Because I suspected this palace maid was an assassin, intending to assassinate Consort Chen!"