Seeing the two maids’ nervous appearance, Qin Yining couldn’t help but sigh softly.

Qin Yining didn’t want to make things difficult for the servants. These people below were just following orders, and besides, she had never been picky about food.

If she didn’t eat, how would her body recover? No matter what she ate, eating was the right thing to do.

After Qin Yining had a hearty meal and rinsed her mouth and washed, she planned to go outside for a walk.

Who knew that just after giving the order, women’s voices came from outside.

“…We are consorts, so of course we’re qualified to meet the Divine Maiden. What, is the Divine Maiden perhaps ugly and cannot be seen?”

“Exactly! You’d better step aside, or this consort will have the Prince chop off your heads!”

The women’s voices were melodious like orioles and swallows. If not for the domineering content of their words, they would actually sound quite pleasant.

Biyu nervously whispered, “Divine Maiden, the consorts have come.”

Qin Yining rubbed her temples, then rose and came to the outer hall, sitting in the main seat in the center. “Please let them in.”

Biyu nodded and was about to go out to receive them, but those women had already swept in with their entourage.

The leading woman was about thirty years old, tall and voluptuous, with an oval face and regular features. Her hair was styled in a high chignon adorned with a pair of gold-inlaid ruby tasseled hairpins. As she moved, the red flowers on her high-waisted ruqun embroidered with peonies echoed the red gems in her hair. Illuminated by the hall’s lamplight, it was somewhat dazzling.

Behind her, two women walked side by side, both in their prime years. The taller one had a slender figure, while the other was of medium height. Both were dressed in flowery splendor, resplendent with jewels. Though their clothes were made of fine cotton rather than silk, the patterns and styles showed their extraordinary status.

Biyu whispered in Qin Yining’s ear, “Divine Maiden, the one wearing the peony ruqun is the First Consort, the one in azure ruqun is the Second Consort, and the one in the delicate floral ruqun is the Third Consort.”

Hearing this, Qin Yining nodded slightly, then raised her eyebrows to look at the three consorts who had come together with a group of maids.

The three consorts and their numerous attending maids had already stopped in their tracks, staring dumbstruck at Qin Yining seated in the place of honor.

As the saying goes, beauties look even more stunning under lamplight.

Under the orange glow, Qin Yining in her red dress appeared to have even more raven-black hair and skin whiter than snow. Most importantly, her features were exquisite and her bearing noble. Simply sitting quietly in place, looking at them calmly, she gave off an inviolable sense of nobility that could not be slighted.

After quite a while, the Third Consort coughed, breaking the silence in the room.

“Oh my, so the Divine Maiden is such a beauty! No wonder the Prince granted her the finest palace and visited her twice in one day.”

Qin Yining raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

It seemed this consort’s upbringing wasn’t very strict—being a consort yet speaking like a marketplace shrew.

Seeing Qin Yining’s silence, the Second Consort adjusted the pale blue cloak on her shoulders and said, “The Third Consort speaks too harshly. The Divine Maiden was sent by the gods to bring us grain. The holy scriptures long prophesied that when the Divine Maiden arrives, she will surely become the Prince’s principal consort. This is the decree of the holy scriptures—how could the Prince not obey?”

Qin Yining found this amusing. The Second Consort was much more scheming than the Third Consort. Her words just now meant that the Prince’s special treatment of her was only because of what was recorded in the holy scriptures, not because he particularly valued her.

The First Consort adjusted the gold hairpin on her head and laughed lightly, “The Second Consort speaks truly.”

She slowly walked up to Qin Yining and extended her pale hand, seemingly wanting to touch Qin Yining’s cheek. “Tsk tsk, this sister is born so fresh and lovely. Youth is truly wonderful.”

Her frivolous words made Qin Yining frown. She leaned back to avoid the reaching hand and said displeasedly, “Do you ladies have business coming to see me?”

The First Consort’s hand met empty air, and she frowned with some annoyance.

The Third Consort beside her openly laughed behind her hand, “Oh my, First Consort, you shouldn’t try to get close like that. She’s the Divine Maiden—how could we mere mortals be allowed to touch her? Haven’t you seen how infatuated our Prince is?”

The First Consort ignored the Third Consort’s mockery and provocation, only saying to Qin Yining, “Though you are the Divine Maiden, you will be the Prince’s consort in the future. You’ll be the Fifth Consort then. We’re all women who serve the Prince, so we’re like sisters. We’ll be spending much time together in the future, so we should get to know each other, shouldn’t we?”

Saying this, she familiarly sat down beside Qin Yining, poured herself a cup of tea, and said, “Come, tell me—where are you from? Are you really the Divine Maiden mentioned in the holy scriptures? When do you plan to consummate your marriage with the Prince?”

Hearing this, Qin Yining couldn’t help finding it very amusing.

It seemed the Prince’s consorts were just like the Prince himself—all people with good opinions of themselves, birds of a feather.

Qin Yining didn’t want to answer, so she looked at Biyu beside her and said, “I’m tired. Attend me to rest.”

Saying this, she stood up, signaling for Biyu to lead the way, planning to go sleep in the inner hall.

The First Consort’s expression changed. Having never been so slighted, how could she tolerate the attitude of a wild girl who had suddenly dropped from the sky?

What Divine Maiden—others might believe it, but she didn’t!

Wasn’t the Prince just one who fell for every woman he saw? Usually taking concubines was one thing, but wanting to please a stunning beauty, what excuse couldn’t he find? Why claim she was some Divine Maiden who should become the principal consort!

Simply absurd!

The First Consort had borne the Prince three sons and two daughters. The position of heir apparent must belong to her son! How could she tolerate some upstart girl stepping over their heads?

The First Consort felt a sense of crisis. After all, she was no longer young and knew how many young, beautiful women in this palace were waiting to climb into the Prince’s favor. For those of ordinary beauty, she didn’t mind much. Not because she was confident in herself, but because she knew the Prince was fickle—even those temporarily favored couldn’t guarantee continued favor.

But now that she had seen Qin Yining with her own eyes, she no longer felt that certainty. She even had a premonition that once Qin Yining became the Prince’s woman, none of them would have good endings.

Watching Qin Yining’s back as she was helped toward the inner room by the maid, a crazy idea suddenly arose in the First Consort’s heart.

If this woman disappeared now, that would be perfect!

She gritted her teeth and looked at a maid in gray-blue dress beside her.

That maid, receiving the First Consort’s hint, hesitated briefly but still gritted her teeth and rushed out to push Qin Yining.

“How can you be so rude! Didn’t you hear our First Consort speaking to you!”

Qin Yining sensed someone behind her and quickly dodged, but the maid used great force. When this push missed her, it instead sent Biyu, who was supporting Qin Yining, crashing into a wooden cabinet in the corner. Blood immediately flowed from a gash on her head.