"Outrageous!"
Xiao Jingheng was infuriated, slamming the table and standing up, ready to reprimand Consort Yao.
"Consort Dai has already been punished with banishment, yet she refuses to behave and dares to curse the pregnant concubines. It's truly malicious! Jiang Deshun, immediately take people to Yao Hua Palace and send Consort Yao to the Cold Palace. No one is to attend to her, let her live or perish on her own!"
Jiang Deshun bowed and accepted the order, but he glanced at Concubine Li, who was crying incessantly outside the door, feeling troubled.
"May I ask, Your Majesty, how should we handle Miss Li, who is kneeling outside?"
Xiao Jingheng's anger did not waver as he replied, "Demote her to a court lady, and give her eighty slaps as a deterrent!"
"Your servant obeys."
After Jiang Deshun left, not long after, cries of desperation filled the air from outside the door. The eighty slaps were meant to make her remember the consequences of spreading gossip within the palace. Although the instigators had been punished, the words that Princess Zhaohua had already heard could not be expelled from her ears.
When Yun Shan finished wiping Princess Zhaohua's body and Xiao Jingheng entered to visit her, he saw her eyes were red, as if she had just finished crying.
He took a seat in front of the bed and tightly held Princess Zhaohua's cold hand, filled with anguish as he said, "Consort Dai spoke nonsense, and Li's actions caused trouble. I have already punished them severely. Those idle talk, Zhaohua, you don't need to take them to heart."
Princess Zhaohua weakly shook her head. "Xiao Lang, there's no need to punish them. Consort Yao's words were hurtful, but she spoke the truth. In fact, I don't care what others say about me. I know that I have a place in your heart, and that's enough. But our child..."
She protected her abdomen and couldn't help but choke with sobs.
"Being a child of a concubine is not something honorable. Chenghuan is also a child of a concubine, yet no one would discuss his identity. But if our child with you is later gossiped about as a 'successor,' it would seem as if he gained some kind of undeserved advantage. Just thinking about it makes me feel distressed."
As she finished speaking, tears flowed uncontrollably, trickling down Princess Zhaohua's smooth jawline, splashing onto Xiao Jingheng's hand, causing a painful ache in his heart.
The position of the Empress had already been determined, and it was only a matter of time. Princess Zhaohua had no need to compete for anything anymore. She didn't want to be the Empress in the first place. If not for hearing those vile words today, she wouldn't be so heartbroken.
Women tend to be more pensive during pregnancy. Xiao Jingheng, on one hand, felt heartache for Princess Zhaohua, and on the other hand, he was afraid that her excessive worries would affect her childbirth, which was imminent.
Therefore, in order to console her and stabilize her emotions, Xiao Jingheng immediately said, "I won't let anyone gossip about Zhaohua and our son. The ceremony for your enthronement has already been scheduled, and the Ministry of Rites needs to make proper arrangements. Considering your current condition, it's not suitable for you to go through the rituals and labor. Although the formal ceremony hasn't taken place yet, I have already favored you, and you are already my Empress."
As he spoke, he called in Xiao Yinzi, who was guarding outside the door, and loudly instructed, "Spread my decree to the six palaces of the imperial consorts. Noble Consort Luo, virtuous and auspicious, honorable and meritorious, gentle and amiable, virtuous and serene. From this day forth, you shall be crowned as the Empress, residing in the Imperial Palace, and the formal ceremony will be held on the eighth day of the fourth month."
While issuing the decree, Xiao Jingheng held Zhaohua tightly in his arms.
He held her tightly, listening to her gasping breaths mixed with sobs, and tightened his grip even more.
Lowering his head, he gently kissed Zhao Hua's forehead, overflowing with tenderness as he said,
"From now on, you are my wife. No one in this world can make you cry or suffer. With me by your side, you have nothing to fear."
"Xiao Lang..."
Zhao Hua was deeply moved and buried her head in Xiao Jingheng's embrace,
Clutching his slender waist even tighter with her hands.
*
The next day, the Ministry of Rites sent the phoenix robe that had been prepared early in the morning to Zhao Hua.
Everyone in the palace knew that Xiao Jingheng doted on Zhao Hua even more than he did on Ning Wanshuang in the past.
The servants were trying their best to elevate Zhao Hua's status,
"Empress, please have a look at this phoenix robe and let us know if any modifications are needed. The Ministry of Rites will make adjustments according to your preferences until you are satisfied."
Zhao Hua gently stroked the yellow imperial robe embroidered with phoenix and peony patterns, feeling a lot of emotions in her heart, but it all turned into a smile,
"You have done well in your work. I just find the phoenix eyes decorated with pearls a bit too flashy. It would be better to replace them with ordinary zircon stones."
The little eunuch nodded repeatedly. After receiving Zhao Hua's praise for a few more words, he happily followed the little servant and left to receive his reward.
Today was the first day the decree of bestowing the title of empress was announced, and it was also Zhao Hua's first day as the empress.
Although the formal ceremony of enthronement had not taken place yet, with Xiao Jingheng's protection, Zhao Hua's position in the imperial harem was now legitimate.
When she first entered the palace, Zhao Hua had said that she came to become the empress, but it was just a youthful and frivolous lie.
Now, step by step, she had truly achieved her wish, but she didn't feel particularly happy.
She looked at the woman in the mirror,
Truly beautiful and graceful,
Everything seemed unchanged,
But everything had already changed completely.
At this moment, Yun Shan entered and bowed, whispering,
"Miss, all the concubines in the imperial harem are waiting outside."
He leaned closer to Zhao Hua and deliberately lowered his voice, "Consort Hui is also there."
Zhao Hua coldly smiled, "I am the empress. It is her duty to pay respects to me. Let her come."
She picked up the agate and gilded armor from the jewelry box and put them on one by one,
Then, with Yun Shan's support, she slowly stood up, composed herself in front of the mirror, and said in a deep voice,
"Let's go. It's time for us to settle things with her."
