Qin Yining frowned slightly at the sight, lowering her head in a bow to conceal the emotions that had inadvertently leaked through.
Though the beauty’s curtsy was graceful like a dance, strictly speaking, her posture was exceptionally arrogant, her manner perfunctory, making no attempt to hide her disrespect toward the Empress. She didn’t even wait for the Empress to speak before standing up on her own, twisting her slender waist as she approached with her bright red cloak billowing around her swaying skirt.
Qin Yining and the other palace maids straightened as the approaching figure’s bright red cloak came into view.
Bright red meant pure red, and according to Great Zhou’s customs, only legitimate wives were permitted to wear this color. Could this be some minister’s newly married family member?
The Empress maintained a calm expression, her voice still gentle as she introduced to Qin Yining, “This is Consort Yun. The Empress Dowager’s cousin’s daughter.”
Qin Yining’s eyebrows lifted slightly.
Consort Yun, a mere consort, dared to transgress palace rules by wearing pure red?
One must know that in this palace, apart from outside noble ladies who came to pay respects, only the Empress was qualified to wear this color.
Wasn’t this a blatant provocation!
Because she was the Empress Dowager’s cousin’s daughter, did she act so brazenly? If this was truly the case, then this Consort Yun had nothing to fear. Behaving so wildly without understanding caution, completely failing to leave herself any escape route – only someone without brains would act this way.
“So this is Consort Yun. This subject’s wife pays respects to Your Ladyship.” Qin Yining didn’t look at the naturally seductive beauty, curtsying in salute.
Consort Yun glanced sideways at Qin Yining, and upon seeing clearly Qin Yining’s appearance and bearing, immediately pursed her lips in displeasure, feeling a strong sense of crisis.
Seeing Consort Yun’s expression, the Empress understood and hurriedly introduced: “Sister Consort Yun entered the palace late, perhaps she doesn’t recognize Princess Consort Zhongshun? This is Princess Consort Zhongshun, who just returned to the capital from the south.”
Upon hearing this woman was a princess consort, half of Consort Yun’s anxiety subsided. She sneered contemptuously, raising her hand to adjust her hair at the temples. What did a mere little princess consort amount to? Her man was the current Emperor!
Consort Yun completely ignored Qin Yining, mockingly saying in a sweet voice: “The Empress truly keeps busy, coming so late to pay respects now. Could it be that you’ve developed disrespectful thoughts toward the Empress Dowager? Don’t wish to show filial piety?”
Standing to one side, Qin Yining observed this person imperceptibly, her impression of Consort Yun reaching rock bottom. However, she was merely an outside noble lady and had no place to interject at this moment.
The Empress smiled with remarkable good temper, only saying: “This hour isn’t particularly late, the Empress Dowager has likely just risen. Since we’ve encountered each other, let’s go together.”
Consort Yun pouted, and even such a disrespectful and rude expression still appeared somewhat charming and endearing on her face.
“The Empress is so clever with words. If we’re going, this concubine should go first, with the Empress following – otherwise the Empress Dowager might think we came together.”
How utterly presumptuous!
Qin Yining frowned lightly, her gaze gaining additional depth as she observed Consort Yun.
Consort Yun had been beautiful since childhood, accustomed to being stared at her entire life. But after entering the palace, with the Empress Dowager’s favoritism and the Emperor’s doting love, it had been a long time since anyone dared to stare at her so “brazenly” in her presence.
Consort Yun looked coldly at Qin Yining.
Seeing her dressed in a pure red arrow-sleeved short jacket, ivory brocade eight-panel skirt below, draped in a snow-white fox fur cloak, holding an exquisite small brass hand warmer, the entire person refined and beautiful like someone from a painting, Consort Yun’s smile grew several degrees colder.
“You servant, how dare you stare at this palace! Just now I hadn’t yet punished you for your negligent bow, and now you deliberately put yourself in my path! What, do you rely on the Empress’s favor to disregard palace rules and act as you please before the Empress Dowager’s palace gates?”
Finally, some fluctuation appeared on Qin Yining’s calm features. Her bright almond eyes that seemed able to see through everything looked coldly at Consort Yun as she replied without servility or arrogance: “Consort Yun should restrain her temper.”
“What did you say?” Consort Yun’s eyes widened, her voice rising, unable to believe Qin Yining would say such a thing.
“You, what kind of thing are you! A mere lowly servant, yet you dare criticize this palace! Do you really think that having the Empress backing you means you can despise this palace!”
Qin Yining replied coolly: “Consort Yun speaks of palace rules – how laughable. If you truly understood palace rules, then this subject’s wife asks what’s the meaning of the cloak you’re wearing? The Empress is His Majesty’s legitimate wife. In this palace, apart from outside noble ladies, only the Empress is qualified to wear pure red. Consort Yun despises palace rules and shows disrespect to the Empress – what crime should this warrant!”
Consort Yun was so angry her pretty face flushed completely red. She looked down at her bright red cloak, her lips moving for a long while before saying: “Even the Empress Dowager and Empress haven’t said this palace shouldn’t wear this cloak, yet you, a lowly servant, what right do you have to criticize this palace!” Her eyes rolled as she spotted Qin Yining’s inner jacket, mocking: “Look at yourself – you say I shouldn’t wear pure red, yet aren’t you wearing it too!”
Qin Yining smiled mockingly: “This subject’s wife is Prince Zhongshun’s legitimate consort married with proper ceremonies. Dare I ask which one are you?”
“You! Presumptuous! How dare you speak to this palace like that! Someone, throw this presumptuous servant out!”
“Presumptuous? This subject’s wife holds a super first-rank imperial mandate personally bestowed by His Majesty. Dare I ask what rank you hold? You call this subject’s wife ‘lowly servant’ and ‘servant’ repeatedly – this subject’s wife would like to ask, if a super-rank noble lady like this subject’s wife is merely a servant in your eyes, what does that make Prince Zhongshun? His Majesty shows consideration for his subjects, yet here you brazenly demean his subjects. Dare I ask, who gave you such audacity!”
“Presumptuous! Presumptuous! You’re the one who ate a bear’s heart and leopard’s gall, you dare be insolent to this palace! Someone, give her one hundred strokes of the rod! Beat her out! Beat her out!”
The palace maids behind Consort Yun exchanged glances, hesitating as they tried to step forward.
“Let me see who dares.” Qin Yining straightened her spine, her cold gaze sweeping over those people.
The palace maids hesitated and didn’t dare move.
“The Empress is benevolent, filial and compassionate, yielding to Consort Yun at every turn, yet Consort Yun relies on favor to act spoiled and aggressive. A mere consort dares transgress palace rules by wearing pure red! She even dares shout and yell before the Empress. The Empress hasn’t said anything, yet you, with a consort’s status, dare attempt to punish a super first-rank princess consort. Dare I ask Consort Yun, who gave you this authority, and who gave you this courage?”
“You, you…” Consort Yun panted heavily, her delicate jade finger pointing at Qin Yining.
She was the Emperor’s woman, Qin Yining was merely a prince’s woman. In her mind, she was far more noble than Qin Yining. She never expected Qin Yining would humiliate her so publicly!
In front of so many palace people, this matter could spread throughout the palace in the blink of an eye. How would she face people in the future?!
Consort Yun was so angry her pretty face turned completely red, and she actually began crying with sobs.
Seeing that Consort Yun was the type to throw tantrums when she couldn’t argue, Qin Yining looked speechlessly toward the Empress and bowed respectfully: “Your Majesty the Empress, this subject’s wife believes Consort Yun should learn rules and etiquette with the nannies alongside this subject’s wife. Unable to distinguish palace rules from hierarchy, if the Tatar princess and her entourage arrive and encounter such behavior, wouldn’t we become a laughingstock for the Tatars?”
At this moment, the Empress felt more refreshed than ever before. She never expected Qin Yining would so thoroughly discipline Consort Yun on the spot.
This was also because Consort Yun was foolish. Qin Yining’s father was Minister of Rites Qin Huaiyuan, known for his intelligence and handsome appearance. Her husband was the meritorious Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall and Grand Marshal of Pingnan, Prince Zhongshun Pang Xiao. She herself was no simple person – she was the current Alliance Leader of the Azure Sky Alliance, had helped His Majesty reclaim the imperial palace, and even His Majesty treated her with the courtesy due to a scholar-official.
Facing such a super first-rank noble lady, with Consort Yun’s own improper standing, she dared to provoke such a person. It would be strange if Qin Yining yielded to her.
The Empress nodded with a pleasant mood, smiling: “You speak correctly. Sister Consort Yun is clever and intelligent. It’s likely because she hasn’t been in the palace long that she doesn’t fully understand palace customs. Having her study more with the nannies would be proper.”
Consort Yun gritted her teeth, glaring at Qin Yining with tearful eyes.
If Qin Yining hadn’t humiliated her so, why would she need to endure such shame from the Empress!
Though Qin Yining didn’t wish to cause trouble, when someone deliberately sought conflict with her, she absolutely wouldn’t fear it. With Consort Yun glaring at her like this, she simply stared back openly and generously.
“Did Consort Yun not hear the Empress’s instructions?”
“Don’t get too pleased with yourself!” Consort Yun gritted her teeth, turning angrily to the Empress and saying stiffly: “This concubine obeys the command!”
“Mm,” the Empress smiled, “Since that’s the case, please have Sister Consort Yun first correct what doesn’t conform to palace rules.”
What did that mean?
The non-conforming aspect was her cloak, wasn’t it?
Correct it – did that mean making her remove the cloak in public?
Consort Yun looked at the Empress in disbelief, tears welling in her eyes, appearing truly pitiable as the tears threatened to fall.
If she truly had her cloak removed here today, how could she walk through the palace in the future?
“In doing this, has the Empress considered this concubine? Has she considered His Majesty’s and the Empress Dowager’s feelings?”
The Empress frowned, thinking of the Empress Dowager and Li Qitian. The pleasant and refreshing feeling in her heart was immediately replaced by stuffiness, once again feeling disheartened.
What was there to look forward to in her days? Such needle-point confrontations held no meaning for her either.
Seeing the Empress’s imposing aura from moments before deflate with a single sentence, Qin Yining understood that the Empress must have some deep-seated concerns.
The Empress said indifferently: “Tomorrow Consort Yun will come to Kunning Palace to learn rules together. Nanny Sun.”
“This servant is here.” A woman of about forty from behind the Empress stepped forward.
“Go to Consort Yun’s palace and fetch a proper cloak, then help Consort Yun change.”
“Yes.”
Nanny Sun bowed and quickly departed.
Consort Yun bit her lip and shed tears, feeling she absolutely couldn’t suffer this loss. She glanced at the nearby Ci’an Palace, then simply shook off the palace maid supporting her, lifted her skirts and ran toward the Empress Dowager’s palace, calling out as she ran: “Cousin aunt, cousin aunt! You must seek justice for Yun’er!”