The next day when Noble Consort Ru went to pay her respects to Noble Consort Chen,
Noble Consort Chen looked at the red swellings from the slap marks all over Noble Consort Ru's face, and first casually comforted her with a few words,
"Look at you, such a fine beauty, now beaten to this extent? The hand was too cruel and malicious."
Then her gaze drifted lightly and settled on Consort Ying, and she sternly said:
"Even though all consorts are like sisters once entering the palace, even if Noble Consort Ru committed a grave mistake, you should not have beaten her like this."
Consort Ying was indifferent and said: "As overseer of the six palaces, I naturally have the authority to punish her for her presumptuous and reckless behavior."
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Noble Consort Chen laughed mockingly,
She slowly got up, walked lotus steps to Consort Ying,
'Slap!'
Before Consort Ying could react, Noble Consort Chen suddenly raised her hand and fiercely slapped Consort Ying.
The other consorts were all stunned, timid Consort Hui even cried out in shock, nearly spilling the tea cup in her hand.
Consort Ying glared fiercely at Noble Consort Chen, covering her flaming red cheek, "You..."
Noble Consort Chen didn't give her a chance to retort, and said loudly:
"I am a Noble Consort, you are a Consort. You didn't address yourself as this servant when seeing me, yet you dared to address me as 'I'?
If Noble Consort Ru was presumptuous, you as overseer of the six palaces have the authority to punish her. Then with your rude behavior before me, as overseer of the six palaces, how can I not hit you?"
Consort Ying trembled with anger,
But Noble Consort Chen's words were reasonable, so she could not refute and could only reluctantly swallow her anger.
Seeing Consort Ying get hit, Noble Consort Ru felt very comfortable.
When they left the greeting and went back to their own palaces, because Rongyue walked slower, she happened to be on the same road as Noble Consort Ru.
She quietly comforted Noble Consort Ru:
"Sister Ru suffered yesterday. Today the Noble Consort reprimanded Consort Ying, it can be considered giving sister her justice."
Noble Consort Ru glanced at her, the swollen corners of her mouth arduously pulled into a smile,
"Will Consort Ying accept Noble Consort's reprimand? She just can't do anything about it for now. It seems that to survive in this palace, gaining Noble Consort's favor may be the best strategy. The emperor favors and respects the Noble Consort. And now she is pregnant with the imperial heir, looks like she has overshadowed even the Empress. "
Rongyue silently pondered for a moment, and also agreed:
"That's right, the Noble Consort's background and status is clear, no matter how much Consort Ying dislikes her, what can she do? Even if she hates the Noble Consort, she can only endure it?"
Saying that, she moved closer to Noble Consort Ru, covered her mouth and whispered with a grin:
"Could she go as far as using witchcraft and curses on Noble Consort Chen and the imperial heir in her belly?"
Rongyue's casual jest, upon being heard by Noble Consort Ru, was like a flash of inspiration.
She knitted her brows, lost in thought about something. After a while, she no longer paid Rongyue any attention and walked faster ahead, while Rongyue turned back towards Song Zhao's palace.
The new consorts have already been in the palace for three months. During this time they were allowed to move around privately. And because Song Zhao had an imperial son, old and new consorts would often go to her palace to curry favor.
So at this time Rongyue could openly go in and out of Chang Le palace without arousing suspicion.
When the two sisters met, Song Zhao immediately had everyone else withdraw to serve outside, and had the wet nurse bring Cheng Yu over.
Rongyue loved this child very much, and would hold and kiss him whenever she saw him, treasuring him like nothing else.
"It is said that with seedlings you need not worry about growth. Look how in just two more days he will be one month old. I also have a gift prepared for him."
She took out a white jade pendant from her waist. This jade piece was translucent, exquisitely carved, and of very fine quality.
"This is top quality icy jade. My father gave me two pieces before I entered the palace. After you gave birth, I took out one piece and made this pendant. The tassels on top are made of dried Buddha's hand citron, soaked in water to extract the strands, twisted together strand by strand, meaning auspiciousness, to protect Cheng Yu's safety and smooth growth."
For such a valuable gift, if it were others Song Zhao would definitely not accept.
But she and Rongyue were very close, so there was no need to stand on ceremony.
Song Zhao laughed and accepted the pendant, then dangled it in front of Cheng Yu,
"Look, auntie Rongyue gave this to you, do you like it?"
Cheng Yu stared at the swaying tassels, entertained to laughter.
Seeing the child laugh, Rongyue also laughed happily.
Seeing her smile, Song Zhao asked her, "Sister Rongyue also really likes children right?"
Hearing this, a fleeting sadness flashed through Rongyue's eyes, then she quickly smiled again,
"Of course. Which woman does not look forward to having children? Moreover having entered the palace, serving His Majesty, it is also better for the future if we have children. Even when we grow old and lose favor, having a child by our side, at least we will not end up destitute in our old age."
Rongyue deeply understood the way of survival in the palace.
She clearly knew the importance of children, yet she was still secretly taking contraceptive medicine, unwilling to conceive Xiao Jingpeng's child. This showed her true feelings against having any further entanglements with Xiao Jingpeng.
After all, she did not have a choice about entering the palace or not,
But her womb was hers to decide.
That day, Song Zhao had by chance seen the tussle between Prince Ang and Rongyue behind the maple terrace.
She had never mentioned this incident to Rongyue from beginning to end.
And because of this matter, Song Zhao understood one thing.
Rongyue's heart was never with Xiao Jingpeng to begin with. She didn't even want children, needless to say competing for favor.
So she and Rongyue were unlikely to reach the point of becoming sharply opposed.
Later, after playing with Cheng Yu a while longer and seeing the child getting drowsy, Song Zhao had the wet nurse take him away to coax to sleep.
After the wet nurse left, Rongyue softly said to Song Zhao:
"I've passed on everything you wanted me to say to Noble Consort Ru. She is rash and foolish, she will most likely fall right into it."
Song Zhao had a faint smile and calmly said: "That is her own matter, we did not force her to do anything."
Rongyue said: "Actually I do hope that she can be a little smarter, and successfully wrest the authority to oversee the six palaces from Consort Ying, so that His Majesty grants this authority to you."
Then earnestly holding Song Zhao's hand, she sincerely said:
"The greater your favor and grace in the palace, the more steady your foothold, to fight for a good future for you and your child."
Rongyue did not say the following words,
After all, once Song Zhao gained power, her days in the palace would also become easier.
If she could endure until the day Cheng Yu becomes Crown Prince, or even ascends the throne, then perhaps she may also gain permission to leave the palace?
Only she did not know if by that time,
her young sweetheart would still be waiting for her...
