Even though she was extremely shocked in her heart, Zhao Hua did not show the slightest bit of it on her face.
She decided to go find Ning Wanshuang to discuss this matter, feeling that something was not right about it after Xiao Jingheng left.
But just as she was about to leave, the little eunuch Xiao Fuzi who had gone to Chengqian Palace to pass on the decree came back.
He said, "Empress, Noble Consort Ru is waiting outside the palace gate, overjoyed after hearing the decree. She insists on following me here to thank you for your grace. Should I let her in?"
Since Noble Consort Ru was already waiting outside, Zhao Hua would run into her anyway if she went out now.
So she said, "Since she's here already, go ahead and invite her in."
Zhao Hua received Noble Consort Ru in the main hall.
When Noble Consort Ru came in, the corners of her lips were lifted so high they almost reached the sky.
As soon as she saw Zhao Hua, she fell to her knees with a thud, giving Zhao Hua a tremendous shock.
"What are you doing?"
Noble Consort Ru said, "I know Empress must have said good things about this concubine to His Majesty, which led to me being spared from punishment and having my noble status restored. That's why it was Eunuch Fu instead of Eunuch Jiang Deshun from the imperial presence who came to pass on the decree. Empress's great kindness and virtue, I have no way to repay. Please accept my Mongolian ceremonial kneel!"
After speaking, she respectfully performed the Mongolian ceremonial kneeling to Zhao Hua. After getting up, she had her confidante Saiji bring out many Mongolian treasures to give to Zhao Hua.
But Zhao Hua declined them.
"I helped you not because I wanted to get close with you, but because you were clearly not involved in this matter. I govern the imperial harem strictly and will never wrong anyone.
You have caused much trouble in the past with your restlessness. From now on you have to behave yourself and stop making trouble, then you won't fail my kindness today. Otherwise..."
Her piercing eyes landed on Noble Consort Ru's beautiful face as she said mockingly with a slight smile,
"I was able to reinstate you as a Noble Consort today, and I can also demote you back to a commoner tomorrow. Do you understand?"
"Of course, of course! This concubine will remember Empress's teachings." Noble Consort Ru cleverly agreed, then muttered under her breath,
"With that example of Consort Hui, how can people still not learn their lesson? But I still don't understand, what malicious thing did she do that His Majesty couldn't tolerate her anymore and sentenced her to death..."
"Watch your words, Noble Consort." Zhao Hua sternly cut her off, "Consort Hui died from an illness, His Majesty did not sentence her to death."
Noble Consort Ru quickly said, "Yes, yes, this concubine misspoke."
Although she admitted her mistake verbally, she still couldn't change her gossipy nature and kept chattering like a fly,
"I just wonder what she did... tsk tsk, she was so young yet schemed heavily, she deserved it. If I say..."
Listening to her endless blabbering, Zhao Hua felt a headache coming. So she got up and said,
"If you like to gossip, keep gossiping by yourself. I still have things to do and shall take my leave first."
But just as she reached the door, she suddenly heard Noble Consort Ru mutter to herself,
"Still, she deserved it! Everyone in the palace hid from the Eldest Prince that Noble Consort Chen was not his birth mother... Yet she actually dared tell the Eldest Prince about it..."
Hearing this, Zhao Hua stopped dead in her tracks and turned back with shock and astonishment in her eyes, sternly pressing Noble Consort Ru, "What did you just say!?"
