Prompted by Consort Hua's remarks, Yongzheng suddenly recalled what he had done earlier and felt a twinge of guilt. However, seeing her question him with such righteous self-assurance, he grew somewhat irritated.
Before Yongzheng could speak, the Empress arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, accompanied by Shen Meizhuang.
Catching sight of Consort Hua in the hall, Yixiu paused for a moment. Then, noticing the Emperor's strained expression, she assumed she understood the situation and spoke first, "Since Consort Hua is here, this concubine happened to hear of a matter and couldn't quite decide what to do. I have come to ask the Emperor to make a ruling."
Upon hearing the Empress's words, Yongzheng's expression darkened. He couldn't help muttering inwardly: *The Empress has always been level-headed; why is she being so tactless today? And as for Shen Meizhuang—it's just a few green chrysanthemums, is it really worth making such a huge fuss?*
Though that was what he thought, he still had to address the situation. "What on earth has happened that could warrant bringing this before the Imperial presence?"
Yixiu caught the underlying meaning in Yongzheng's tone, but Shen Meizhuang did not. Moreover, she was still mindful of Consort Hua's previous hostility toward Huan'er.
Shen Meizhuang stepped forward directly. "Replying to the Emperor, this concubine originally had no wish to disturb Your Majesty, but the green chrysanthemums Your Majesty personally bestowed upon this concubine yesterday were delivered by the florists' servants today. They happened to run into Consort Hua, and she had the flowers destroyed."
"This concubine cannot understand what she did wrong to deserve such targeting from Consort Hua!"
Hearing this, Yongzheng's expression grew even worse, though Shen Meizhuang kept her head lowered and failed to notice.
Before Yongzheng could respond, Consort Hua said with disdain, "These green chrysanthemums were never anything rare to begin with. It's just that what belongs to this palace would rather be destroyed than let anyone else lay a finger on it!" Turning back to Shen Meizhuang below, she continued, "Although this palace was not present on the day of the selection, I certainly heard of Noble Lady Shen's impressive deeds."
"How is it that Noble Lady Shen, who supposedly only reads *The Analects for Women* and *Exhortations on Chastity*, can not only utter such principled words as 'Rather die holding fragrance on the bough than be blown down by the northern wind,' but also dare to flout the rules so brazenly? To question this palace while merely a noble lady—just who gave you the audacity?" Consort Hua's voice turned sharply severe.
Realizing her own impropriety, Shen Meizhuang hurriedly knelt to plead for mercy.
"Enough! The Hall of Mental Cultivation is not a place for you to throw tantrums. They are merely a few chrysanthemums—hardly worth such a squabble. Both of you shall be penalized by copying the palace rules ten times. Later, I will have the florists cultivate better ones and send them to the Palace of Earthly Quintessence." Yongzheng's verdict was clearly biased.
Had this happened previously, Consort Hua would long have been pacified by this method of wielding a stick and offering a carrot. But now, she simply lifted her chin and met Yongzheng's gaze directly. "Your Majesty, right is right, and wrong is wrong. This concubine will not accept such an ambiguous verdict."
"Since Your Majesty had already bestowed those flowers upon this concubine, they were mine to dispose of. Whether I smashed them or kept them was entirely my freedom. Now that Your Majesty speaks this way, it is merely out of a desire to shield Noble Lady Shen. No doubt it is because I am aging and losing my looks, unable to compare with Noble Lady Shen's youthful tenderness and ability to capture Your Majesty's heart."
Yongzheng was somewhat angered by having his authority challenged to his face, but hearing the latter half of her sentence, he suddenly understood: Shilan was merely acting spoiled. Yet, her present behavior showed a total disregard for imperial dignity.
"Consort Hua has shown a lack of decorum before the Emperor—confined for half a month! Noble Lady Shen has committed an offense against her superior—confined for two months, and ordered to copy the palace rules fifty times to properly learn her place."
Yongzheng's words caused Shen Meizhuang to collapse weakly to the ground. Although she had not known beforehand that the flowers were already promised to Consort Hua, they had been a personal pledge from the Emperor. Yet now, simply because of a few words from Consort Hua, she was the one being punished.
Shen Meizhuang cast a resentful look at Yongzheng, only to be met with his evasive gaze. Seeing this, she understood the reality of the situation.
"Since Your Majesty has spoken, this concubine will take her leave and return to her quarters for confinement." With that, Consort Hua spun around and walked away.
Seeing how Consort Hua had acted, Yixiu took Shen Meizhuang and also offered her farewells to return.
Along the way, Yixiu remarked, "Noble Lady Shen need not take it to heart. Consort Hua has always been prone to temper tantrums, and even this palace must occasionally yield to her by three points. There is truly no need to dwell on it." Immersed in her own misery, Shen Meizhuang was in no state to register the Empress's deliberate stirring of discord.
On the other side, Songzhi was also offering persuasion. "Your Ladyship, the Emperor had already given his promise just now. Why did Your Ladyship have to act like that? This slave could see that the Emperor seemed quite displeased."
"What do you know? Since everyone in the harem already calls me arrogant and despotic, I might as well act self-willed. As for the Emperor, the war in the Northwest is far from settled, and there are still matters where he must rely on my brother. No matter how upset the Emperor is, he has to swallow it. Just like how I endure that cheap woman Consort Qi sitting on equal footing with me."
Songzhi looked at her mistress with heartache, knowing that after all these years, her Ladyship still had not let go of the past. "Your Ladyship, if the little prince knew, he wouldn't want to see you grieving like this."
The news of Consort Hua and Noble Lady Shen being placed under confinement spread quickly, accompanied by accounts of the exchange outside the hall.
It caused the people of the harem to exercise much greater caution where Consort Hua was concerned. The fact that the Emperor had let her off so lightly despite her extreme arrogance was proof enough of her standing in his heart.
Upon hearing the news, First Attendant Xia felt a surge of regret. Had she known that Consort Hua held such favor with the Emperor—surpassing even the Empress—she would never have spoken those words before.
Acting on the thought, First Attendant Xia immediately took inventory of the finest treasures she had brought into the palace. Though reluctant, she hardened her heart, packed the items up, and had them carried directly to the Palace of Earthly Quintessence.
To her surprise, she ran into Imperial Concubine Li inside.
Speaking of Imperial Concubine Li, ever since she obtained that secret formula, she had put it into practice immediately. Within just a few days, the results were visible. Gazing at her snow-white skin and appearance more radiant than before in the mirror, she knew in her heart that Consort Hua must value her greatly to have bestowed such a remedy—unlike Noble Lady Cao, who had received nothing, proving that she herself remained her Ladyship's most favored.
Looking at the two women before her, each convinced she had fallen out of favor, Consort Hua couldn't help finding it somewhat amusing.
In her past life, she had always regarded such people as fierce rivals, never realizing they could also possess such a endearing side.
"Songzhi, bring them some crab-roe pastries so they won't accuse this palace of neglecting them."
"Yes, Your Ladyship!"
Just as they were speaking, the gate-keeping maid entered and reported, "Your Ladyship, Noble Lady Cao is outside and requests an audience!"
Consort Hua's gaze narrowed. "Tell her I have no time to see her, and let her go back from wherever she came!"
Everyone in the Palace of Earthly Quintessence had sensed the mistress's aversion toward Noble Lady Cao, and as a result, their usual respect when dealing with her had noticeably waned.