The news that Prince Chenghui was seriously ill swirled through every corner of the palace, carried on the summer wind soaked with moisture, overnight.
The next morning, Zhao Hua halted paying respects in the Six Palaces. After accompanying the children to finish breakfast, she hurried to the Yonghe Palace. Only then did she discover that the imperial concubines of the rear palace had already mostly arrived.
Ning Wanshuang had lorded over the rear palace for many years. Under her, there was no shortage of imperial concubines who had suffered defeat. Now that they had learned the Crown Prince was at death's door, Zhao Hua didn't know how many had come to watch the lively scene under the pretense of caring.
Thus, Ning Wanshuang didn't even open the door to the main hall, letting them stand in the courtyard being roasted by the newly-risen sun.
When Zhao Hua entered, all the imperial concubines had their backs to the palace gate and faced the door of the main hall. Therefore, no one noticed her arrival.
Thus, Zhao Hua was able to hear Consort Yun pulling Noble Consort Ru along, speaking in a voice neither loud nor soft,
"Ai yo, the child Grand Consort Dowager wants to raise is about to meet his end? Look at how the Noble Consort cares for the Crown Prince. If this child really dies, won't the Noble Consort be grieved to death?"
Noble Consort Ru, who usually chattered away without end, was actually silent now.
But Consort Yun seemed unable to stop, speaking nonstop, "Ai, now you've become a clam! Weren't you the one who hated the Noble Consort the most before? Now that she's in this state, who knows if it isn't her retribution?"
"Consort Yun should say less," Noble Consort Ru said impatiently, knitting her brows. "Even if the Noble Consort has done many wrongs, Prince Chenghui hasn't offended us..."
Consort Yun rolled her eyes at her. Just as she was about to continue speaking,
Someone in the crowd suddenly called out, "Empress, ten thousand blessings."
Only then did she slowly turn back. Her gaze directly met Zhao Hua's.
Zhao Hua looked at her expressionlessly. Although she didn't speak, the invisible yet extremely oppressive aura she naturally emanated still frightened Consort Yun badly. Consort Yun hurriedly bent her knees and greeted Zhao Hua along with everyone else, "Empress, ten thousand blessings and good fortune."
Zhao Hua slowly walked toward her. Only after standing in front of her did she smile thinly and say,
"Consort Yun is quite spirited today."
"Consort Yun?" Consort Yun didn't understand what Zhao Hua meant for a moment and asked doubtfully, "What does Empress mean by this?"
"Oh? You don't understand?" Zhao Hua lightly arched a brow. The lingering smile on her face slowly dissipated as she solemnly said,
"Noble Consort Dong is truly muddled. Come, bring Noble Consort Dong back to Changchun Palace under house arrest. Take back her edict granting the title of Imperial Consort and her robes as an imperial consort. From today on, there is no longer a Consort Yun in this palace, only Noble Consort Dong."
Hearing this, Consort Yun was like someone who had been slapped hard across the face, stunning her and leaving her dazed for a long time.
It was only when the palace maid came to take her away that she cried out in shock,
"Who dares touch me!"
Her arrogance surged forth. She actually yelled at Zhao Hua,
"I have been one of the four imperial consorts since His Majesty ascended the throne. I have served His Majesty for many years without mistake! How can the Empress be so tyrannical, saying she wants to strip me of my rank just like that!"
Consort Yin watched coldly from the side. She lazily said,
"The Empress oversees the Six Palaces and naturally has the authority to punish errant consorts. For a consort's promotion in rank, they need a decree or oral edict from His Majesty. But to demote in rank, the Empress has the authority to 'punish first, report later'."
"I'm talking to the Empress, what's it to you, slut!" Consort Yun looked back with a vicious glare at Consort Yin. Then she said, "I've done no wrong! With just one side of the story, the Empress wants to strip me of my rank. I refuse to accept this!"
"You refuse to accept it?"
Zhao Hua advanced step by step toward Consort Yun. She was already half a head taller than Consort Yun. Now, facing each other, she naturally lowered her eyes to look at Consort Yun. Her smile was cold as she said,
"As the official wife, I have the authority to punish you concubines without needing a reason. But since you refuse to accept it, while everyone is still here, I ought to make it clear so no one thinks I'm as tyrannical as you say."
Her expression turned solemn as she slowly and clearly enunciated,
"Your father's occupation of Jizhou was already told to me by Noble Consort Cheng earlier. But she wanted to give you a chance to repent and reform, so she didn't tell His Majesty.
Now, both Noble Consort Cheng and I have given you this chance, yet you don't know to keep your head down. It seems I have no choice but to give His Majesty a detailed report on your family's dirty business..."
At this point, Zhao Hua suddenly stopped.
Seeing Consort Yun's complexion visibly turn deathly pale, she silently pondered for a good while before biting off each word,
"You just wait for His Majesty to thoroughly investigate before seeing if you can still keep your current noble consort rank, then come yell at me again."
Hearing Zhao Hua's words, Consort Yun seemed to have her soul sapped away. Her body instantly went limp like mud.
No matter what, she never expected that Ning Wanshuang would tell Zhao Hua about her family occupying land in Jizhou!
After all, if it wasn't for the Ning family's protection back then, this would have been exposed long ago. What's more, Ning Wanshuang had used this matter to threaten her several times.
Although the Ning father and son were dead, if this matter was brought to light, Xiao Jingheng would definitely have opinions about Ning Wanshuang.
Amidst Consort Yun's shock and bewilderment, she also felt it was strange.
Wasn't Ning Wanshuang the one who valued her relationship with Xiao Jingheng the most?
Why would she...
There was no time for Consort Yun to think carefully amidst her anxiety.
She suddenly knelt before Zhao Hua and begged for mercy, in stark contrast to her arrogance earlier.
"Empress...this concubine has caused you much trouble before. My remarks earlier were just to vent your anger. Why must you oppose me to the bitter end?"
Yet Zhao Hua didn't even deign to glance at her once. Her tone was cold and detached.
"No one is opposing you to the bitter end. It's you who cannot tolerate yourself. Come, take her away."
Xiao Fuzi responded at once and brought people to surround her.
After all, Consort Yun was his mistress, so he didn't dare to directly lay hands on her. He was still relatively courteous as he said,
"Consort Yun...no, I should call you Noble Consort Dong now. Please come with me."
He waved his horsewhip towards the palace gate, but Noble Consort Dong paid him no heed. She frantically rushed at Zhao Hua, trying to cling on.
Xiao Fuzi hurriedly went up to pull her back. She actually struggled against Xiao Fuzi.
"Let go of me! Don't touch me! You..."
Slap!
Before she could finish her tantrum, a slap with full force landed on her cheek.
Noble Consort Dong held her burning red cheek. When she looked closely, she saw the person who had slapped her was...
Yun Shan!
Yun Shan met Noble Consort Dong's astonished gaze. Before she could speak, Yun Shan angrily roared,
"If Noble Consort Dong dares to be impudent again and startle the Empress, don't blame this slave for calling people to carry you back to Changchun Palace! Letting you walk back yourself is already giving you face from the Empress. I ask you, do you not want this bit of face!?"
After taking this slap, Noble Consort Dong also saw the situation clearly.
If she caused more trouble now, when Xiao Jingheng came, it would be even harder to salvage the situation.
So she could only swallow her grievances and meekly follow Xiao Fuzi's people away.
After she left, the imperial consorts looked at each other, not even daring to breathe loudly. They were all frightened by Zhao Hua's extremely oppressive aura.
Seeing Zhao Hua slowly walk to the front of the crowd, she looked back at each imperial consort.
After a moment, she finally assumed a fully majestic air and solemnly said,
"Chenghuan is His Majesty's eldest son. If I hear anyone daring to gossip about the Crown Prince behind his back in the future, what happened to Noble Consort Dong today will be an example for those recklessly disrespectful."
"Do you all understand clearly?"
