20demayo Chapter 233
Chapter 233
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?"0
a beauty of the eighth rank was not qualified to pay respects according to palace rules.0
but those rules applied to the empress, not the imperial noble consort.0
consort yu was using consort xiao to challenge jiang xinyue, both openly and subtly.0
moreover, praising someone's beauty was rarely done so bluntly.0
if jiang xinyue said nothing, wouldn't it imply that she agreed she was exceptionally beautiful, surpassing all the other women in the harem?0
although this was indeed true, no woman would willingly admit that her looks were inferior to others.0
especially since they were all the emperor's women, rivals in love.0
if she said something, others might think her moody and unable to take a compliment.0
no matter how jiang xinyue responded to consort yu, she would be in the wrong.0
but was jiang xinyue one to play by the rules?0
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?"0
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?"0
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.0
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."0
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.0
consort xiao couldn't even reach jiang xinyue's knees if she jumped.0
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.0
but in this first encounter, it was clear who was more formidable.0
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.0
in fact, such women were the smartest.0
instead of exhausting herself fighting and scheming against other consorts, everything she wanted could be obtained through the emperor.0
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.0
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.0
"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."0
xi que immediately complied and withdrew from the great hall.0
a few other consorts signaled their palace maids, who followed xi que out.0
xi que indeed went to the palace eunuch office and relayed the same message to the eunuchs there.0
only then did everyone feel reassured that the imperial noble consort was indeed a woman of her word.0
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.0
"oh? you say the imperial noble consort is advising me to spread my favor equally?" the emperor asked.0
li zhong swallowed hard. "your majesty will know when you turn over the plaques."0
he dared not say a word more, as the emperor now looked as if he might devour someone.0
the xuanwu emperor exhaled frustratedly through his nose. did jiang xinyue have no heart?0
didn't she understand his feelings for her?0
aliali: 6720f54c2bffb2b7bc4c0e560
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?0
fine!0
she wanted him to turn over the plaques? then he would comply with her wishes.0
the xuanwu emperor turned over a green plaque: imperial noble consort.0
he turned over another: imperial noble consort.0
he continued, turning over four or five in a row, each one bearing the words "imperial noble consort."0
li zhong and wang dequan exchanged glances. the imperial noble consort's method was indeed effective.0
going to hexi palace was still visiting the harem!0
she had given her advice, and whether the emperor listened or not was his own business.0
jiang xinyue had provided options; another small eunuch from the palace eunuch office held a tray with green plaques for the other consorts.0