Zhangzhi Hall.

Ever since the morning’s imperial edict had been read, Consort Xiao’s mood had been exceptionally joyful.

She had the palace maids bring over some flower seeds to plant in her small garden.

The flowers in the courtyard were being cultivated very well.

Some flowers had passed their blooming season but were still kept there, being cared for excellently. Some early autumn flowers were blooming perfectly.

She held a flower seed in her hand and buried it in the soil.

While saying, “This season is most suitable for cultivating flowers. The flowers that bloom will definitely be gorgeous.”

A palace maid beside her said, “The flowers that Your Ladyship cultivates bloom the most beautifully in the palace.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

“Of course. Your Ladyship has skillful hands. Under Your Ladyship’s care, these flowers bloom brilliantly, each and every one.”

“You little maid, you just have a sweet mouth. I shall reward you with a box of candied fruit.”

“Thank you, Your Ladyship.”

The little palace maid was so happy she couldn’t stop grinning. One must know that receiving a reward from Consort Xiao was an immense honor!

No matter how many people begged, they couldn’t obtain such favor.

This little palace maid seemed to want even more rewards, so she continued with a beaming smile, “Prince Yi’s grand wedding this time—Your Ladyship must be very happy, yes? That Miss from the Ji family doesn’t know what good fortune she cultivated to be able to marry Prince Yi and become his consort.”

“Good fortune?”

“Isn’t it so? This servant has heard that Prince Yi now has many ministers standing in support of him in court.”

“Who told you this?”

“Many people. Prince Yi is so intelligent and deeply favored by His Majesty. Your Ladyship is also blessed.”

“How am I blessed?” Although Consort Xiao’s face still wore a smile, that smile was becoming increasingly sinister.

The palace maids beside her all sensed something amiss, each showing fearful expressions on their faces, their hearts uneasy.

But that little palace maid remained completely oblivious, still wearing a fawning expression as she said, “If Prince Yi becomes Crown Prince, then Your Ladyship will naturally gain status through your son’s honor.”

Gain status through your son’s honor!

What she said wasn’t wrong.

Consort Xiao twisted the flower seed in her hand that hadn’t yet been buried in the soil, and that small section of flower stem immediately snapped.

With a crack.

The little palace maid finally realized she had said something wrong—her face instantly turned deathly pale.

She stepped back a few paces, lowering her head deeply, while saying, “This servant… this servant spoke wrongly.”

Consort Xiao smiled with hidden daggers. “Wrong? Where was it wrong?”

“Wrong…” She actually couldn’t say where exactly she had erred, stammering in panic, “This servant spoke out of turn and displeased Your Ladyship. That’s this servant’s fault.”

Hah.

Consort Xiao reached out and grabbed the palace maid’s chin, forcefully lifting it upward.

The palace maid’s gaze fell upon Consort Xiao’s eyes, and she immediately tried to look away, her whole body trembling.

However, Consort Xiao’s red lips still curved upward as she gripped the palace maid’s chin and moved it side to side, as if admiring some object. Her smile gradually tightened bit by bit, while her brow slowly furrowed.

“Your Ladyship? This servant…”

“Why so nervous? I’m not going to behead you.”

“Uh…”

After Consort Xiao released her, the palace maid immediately lowered her head.

“Lift your head.” Her voice was cold and severe.

The palace maid raised her head again.

Frightened until her eyes went straight, sweat beading on her forehead.

Consort Xiao suddenly picked up the scissors she had set aside and pressed the sharp end against the palace maid’s face.

She applied force with her fingers.

As her hand moved downward, the scissors sliced open a gash on the little palace maid’s face.

“Ah! Your Ladyship…”

“Don’t scream, and don’t move.”

“Ugh!”

One scissor cut went all the way down.

On that tender, young face, a gash was cruelly sliced open just like that. Fresh blood flowed from the torn flesh, streaming down to her neck, onto her clothes, onto the ground…

A sea of red.

The palace maids beside them were all too frightened to make a sound, each one terrified in their hearts.

Consort Xiao put down the scissors and threw them on the ground.

A palace maid handed her a handkerchief to wipe her hands.

That little palace maid endured the pain and knelt on the ground, her hands weakly supporting her, crying, “I beg Your Ladyship to spare my life. This servant… this servant knows I was wrong.”

Tears mixed with the blood on her face.

Consort Xiao asked, “Where were you wrong?”

She still couldn’t answer.

Where exactly had she been wrong?

Wasn’t what she said correct? If Prince Yi gained power, wouldn’t Consort Xiao gain status through her son’s honor?

But her lips trembled—she couldn’t speak a single word.

Consort Xiao’s phoenix eyes narrowed, carrying bone-chilling coldness. She looked down, staring at the palace maid kneeling on the ground, trembling all over, and said, “Having ambition is good for a person, but one must not be too transparently greedy. Otherwise, it will bring fatal calamity.”

Greed!

The little palace maid finally understood.

“Today I’ll give you a small lesson. Prince Yi’s grand wedding is a joyous occasion, so I won’t take your life. But if there’s a next time, I’ll have someone tear your mouth to shreds.”

“This servant will never dare again… Thank Your Ladyship for your mercy, thank Your Ladyship for sparing my life.”

The little palace maid cried until her voice broke.

Consort Xiao covered her nose with her hand. “How inauspicious. What should have been a wonderful day has been ruined by you.”

At this moment, Sanglan came over. Seeing the scene before her, she was slightly stunned for a moment, then immediately reported, “Your Ladyship, the celebratory gifts for the Princess’s marriage—the Ministry of Rites has already drafted everything and asks you to review the list.”

She handed over a register.

Consort Xiao opened it and looked—the gifts listed were all extremely precious, far more precious than what His Majesty had sent to that woman Ji Muqing.

After glancing at it a few times, she closed the gift list and asked, “How is the Princess doing?”

“Reporting to Your Ladyship, the Princess has been very quiet recently, neither making noise nor causing trouble.”

She had gained some sense!

“That’s good then.”

She glanced again at the little palace maid kneeling on the ground and ordered, “Take her to be bandaged. Don’t let the blood stain my hall.”

“Yes.”

After giving these instructions, Consort Xiao left with Sanglan.

As soon as they left, the little palace maid collapsed on the ground. The ground was completely covered in blood—it felt as though blood was flowing like a river.

Several palace maids hurried to help her up.

One of them said, “You really are something—just arriving at our palace and already speaking without restraint. That Your Ladyship didn’t kill you means your life is fortunate.”

She covered her bleeding face, crying, “How was I supposed to know these things?”

“Didn’t the person who briefed you tell you? Never speak recklessly in front of Consort Xiao. It’s better to say nothing at all, hear nothing, and want no rewards—just don’t speak out of turn.”

She was a girl who had only just entered the palace—how would she know these things?

“You need to be more careful next time. Only because of Prince Yi’s grand wedding did Your Ladyship spare you this time.”

“I… I understand now.”

“When you go to the Imperial Pharmacy later, just say you fell down. You absolutely must not say it was Your Ladyship. Otherwise, you can forget about keeping your life.”

“Yes.”

She was helped along to the Imperial Pharmacy by the others.

Everyone said Consort Xiao was kind and treated people well, and that the maids in her palace received many rewards. She had thought that with her sweet mouth, if she went there, she would surely receive even more rewards. The facts proved that she had barely opened her mouth when Consort Xiao indeed rewarded her with candied fruit, and she had thought she had followed the right master.

Who would have known—

She clearly had the heart of a snake and scorpion!

This also teaches us that as a person, one must never be greedy.

Otherwise, things will turn into their opposite when they reach the extreme.