Consort Yu smiled and replied, "Consort Xiao said she admired the unparalleled beauty of the Imperial Noble Consort. Today, even if she were just a palace maid, she would come to pay her respects. I had no choice but to bring her along. I hope the Imperial Noble Consort won't take offense?"
A beauty of the eighth rank was not qualified to pay respects according to palace rules.
But those rules applied to the Empress, not the Imperial Noble Consort.
Consort Yu was using Consort Xiao to challenge Jiang Xinyue, both openly and subtly.
Moreover, praising someone's beauty was rarely done so bluntly.
If Jiang Xinyue said nothing, wouldn't it imply that she agreed she was exceptionally beautiful, surpassing all the other women in the harem?
Although this was indeed true, no woman would willingly admit that her looks were inferior to others.
Especially since they were all the Emperor's women, rivals in love.
If she said something, others might think her moody and unable to take a compliment.
No matter how Jiang Xinyue responded to Consort Yu, she would be in the wrong.
But was Jiang Xinyue one to play by the rules?
She glanced sideways at Consort Xiao and said, "Is Consort Yu so ugly? Do you find it painful to look at her every day and need to come see me to cleanse your soul?"
She then turned to the angry Consort Yu, her lips curling into a smile, "I understand. After all, they say you become what you look at every day. Consort Xiao must be afraid of becoming more like Consort Yu and losing the Emperor's favor, right?"
As Consort Xiao was about to say "No," Jiang Xinyue raised her hand to stop her, giving a look that said everyone understood, and there was no need for further explanation.
The next moment, sitting in the main seat reserved for the Imperial Noble Consort, her gaze turned sharp, "While I understand, if I ever see someone who shouldn't be here in Hexi Palace again, I'll throw you all out together. Don't say I didn't warn you when you lose face."
Consort Xiao had rarely interacted with Jiang Xinyue before. After all, one was a lowly beauty in a disfavored consort's palace, while Jiang Xinyue had always been a favored consort of the Emperor since she first gained her title.
Consort Xiao couldn't even reach Jiang Xinyue's knees if she jumped.
She had only heard Consort Yu complain about and insult Jiang Xinyue in Shunan Palace, leading her to believe that Jiang Xinyue was young and easily manipulated, merely protected by the Emperor due to her beauty.
But in this first encounter, it was clear who was more formidable.
The Imperial Noble Consort wasn't weak; she was clever enough to use the Emperor as her mouthpiece, packaging herself as a kind and fragile white lotus, arousing the Emperor's pity and keeping her under his protection.
In fact, such women were the smartest.
Instead of exhausting herself fighting and scheming against other consorts, everything she wanted could be obtained through the Emperor.
It was the Emperor who tired himself out, along with the other consorts who received his warnings. Jiang Xinyue simply had to open her hands, and others would offer her rare treasures.
Look at her now...
When the Emperor wasn't around, her sharp tongue showed no signs of backing down.
But Consort Xiao had already chosen her side, and even if she didn't want to oppose Jiang Xinyue, it was no longer possible.
Steeling herself, and urged on by Consort Yu's gaze, she carefully spoke, "The Imperial Noble Consort is the model for the six palaces and should... should help the royal family prosper. The Emperor hasn't entered the harem for almost a year. I... I risk my life to request an audience today to ask the Imperial Noble Consort to advise the Emperor to... to spread his favor equally."
Oh!
So admiring her unparalleled beauty was just a pretense. The real purpose was that Consort Yu had pushed her forward as a pawn to seek benefits for the harem consorts.
"Consort Xiao speaks wisely," Jiang Xinyue said, taking a sip of fragrant light green tea, her face wearing a gentle smile. "I will speak to the Emperor about this today."
"Huh?"
She agreed so easily? Just like that?
Consort Yu still had more tricks up her sleeve!
How could she use them now?
"I hope the Imperial Noble Consort won't say one thing to our faces and do another behind our backs," Consort Yu said sarcastically, not believing a word. "If you had spoken to the Emperor earlier, we sisters wouldn't have been left alone in empty chambers for nearly a year."
The implication was that the Imperial Noble Consort was not only the instigator of their loneliness but also had no intention of persuading the Emperor to favor the harem and spread his attention equally.
This wouldn't do!
Among the consorts who had come to pay respects to Jiang Xinyue, while none were as bold as Consort Yu, survival in the harem depended heavily on the Emperor's favor. If the Emperor didn't visit the harem, what was the point of all their scheming and fighting?
Immediately, the eyes of all the consorts in the palace turned unfriendly towards Jiang Xinyue.
Someone must have "advised" Consort Yu, teaching her how to incite everyone's anger.
Jiang Xinyue's gaze turned to Consort De, who merely raised her teacup in response and then drank her tea as if the matter didn't concern her.
This was a high-level provocation.
The low-level kind was exemplified by Consort Yu, a darling being used as a pawn.
However, Consort Yu's survival in the harem for so long was largely due to her lack of intelligence.
In this palace, the clever ones died early.
The foolish ones...
Were kept around to alleviate boredom in the deep palace.
The arrow-like gazes of the consorts couldn't penetrate Jiang Xinyue's bulletproof facade. She leaned back slightly, her posture becoming more alluring without appearing lazy. Instead, it exuded a relaxed nobility, her aura dominating.
"Xi Que, go inform the Palace Eunuch Office to start sending green plaques to Chengqian Palace from today. If the Emperor asks, tell him that I've requested he visit the harem and spread his favor equally."
Xi Que immediately complied and withdrew from the great hall.
A few other consorts signaled their palace maids, who followed Xi Que out.
Xi Que indeed went to the Palace Eunuch Office and relayed the same message to the eunuchs there.
Only then did everyone feel reassured that the Imperial Noble Consort was indeed a woman of her word.
In Chengqian Palace, candles burned brightly as Li Zhong, the head of the Palace Eunuch Office, stood nervously before the Emperor for the first time in eight or nine months.
"Oh? You say the Imperial Noble Consort is advising me to spread my favor equally?" the Emperor asked.
Li Zhong swallowed hard. "Your Majesty will know when you turn over the plaques."
He dared not say a word more, as the Emperor now looked as if he might devour someone.
The Xuanwu Emperor exhaled frustratedly through his nose. Did Jiang Xinyue have no heart?
Didn't she understand his feelings for her?
He could withstand the pressure from his court officials to favor her alone, so why couldn't she endure the discontent of the harem consorts and not push him away?
Fine!
She wanted him to turn over the plaques? Then he would comply with her wishes.
The Xuanwu Emperor turned over a green plaque: Imperial Noble Consort.
He turned over another: Imperial Noble Consort.
He continued, turning over four or five in a row, each one bearing the words "Imperial Noble Consort."
Li Zhong and Wang Dequan exchanged glances. The Imperial Noble Consort's method was indeed effective.
Going to Hexi Palace was still visiting the harem!
She had given her advice, and whether the Emperor listened or not was his own business.
Jiang Xinyue had provided options; another small eunuch from the Palace Eunuch Office held a tray with green plaques for the other consorts.
