Qin Yining had her own calculations. Rather than trying to please everyone and being caught in the middle, ultimately offending both sides, she preferred to choose one side to support.

Since she had already offended this delicate Consort Yun, there was nothing left to hesitate about.

Qin Yining smiled and said: “It’s nothing serious, just that this subject’s wife noticed Consort Yun’s cloak was inappropriate and offered a few reminders, not expecting Consort Yun to be so fond of this cloak.

“This subject’s wife was thinking that the Tatar princess will arrive in a few days. To display our national prestige and show the Tatars our Great Zhou’s proper etiquette, this subject’s wife must certainly study diligently with the nannies. Finding Consort Yun quite congenial, I thought to invite her to join as a companion. However, I don’t know the Empress Dowager’s wishes and must await your instructions before deciding.”

Qin Yining’s words stopped at the right point, not directly stating before the power-conscious Empress Dowager what transgression had occurred, lest the Empress Dowager again seriously challenge the Empress. She merely touched upon it.

But even though the Empress Dowager had occupied this position for only a short time, she naturally knew what rank of person was entitled to wear pure red.

However, the Empress Dowager’s first reaction was that Qin Yining and the Empress were making something from nothing – it was just a piece of clothing, what was all this about who could and couldn’t wear what.

But then Qin Yining mentioned studying etiquette and proper conduct, which served as a reminder.

She was now a proper Empress Dowager, no longer the village woman she once was. These troublesome rules she truly had to take seriously, otherwise wouldn’t all those former ministers of Northern Ji, the noble families, and the surrendered officials of Great Yan laugh at them?

The Empress Dowager felt irritated but was caught by this argument and had to nod in agreement: “Zhixi’s daughter-in-law speaks reasonably. These rules must be taken seriously. Our Great Zhou has been established for only a short time and must learn more from the old hands from Northern Ji’s time.”

“The Empress Dowager’s broad mind and reasonable nature are truly the fortune of this subject’s wife and all under heaven.” Qin Yining gazed at the Empress Dowager with admiration, displaying a completely convinced expression.

Her sincere appearance truly pleased the Empress Dowager, whose smile made even her wrinkles appear much more amiable.

Consort Yun knelt to one side with her mouth agape, her watery eyes wide as saucers, seemingly unable to understand how things had ended up this way.

She was young and beautiful, deeply favored by His Majesty, with the Empress Dowager as her backing. Even that ugly old woman the Empress didn’t dare act presumptuous before her, yet today she had stumbled before a mere princess consort!

Consort Yun straightened her kneeling posture, stretching her neck as she said sweetly: “Cousin aunt, must Yun’er really study rules with this lowly servant? Where are Yun’er’s manners lacking!”

“How dare you still speak?!” the Empress Dowager scolded angrily.

If not for the Empress and Qin Yining’s presence, not wanting others to see her humiliation, she would have already slapped Consort Yun across the face.

Now she could only suppress her temper while instructing: “How well Princess Consort Zhongshun spoke and explained things! To display our Han people’s proper etiquette before the Tatar princess, that’s why study is necessary. Moreover, since you two have met and found each other congenial, and you have free time, what’s wrong with studying rules together as companions?”

Others had already refrained from direct accusation or exposure, providing such a good way to save face – how could this blockhead not know to use it!

Consort Yun’s eyes filled with tears as she looked up at the Empress Dowager, both aggrieved and angry, clearly not receiving the Empress Dowager’s eye signals.

The Empress Dowager had already given Consort Yun meaningful looks from an angle she thought the Empress and Qin Yining couldn’t see, but Consort Yun remained stubbornly obtuse, causing the Empress Dowager’s chest to ache with frustration.

Qin Yining lowered her eyes, pretending not to understand the exchange between these two. If the Empress couldn’t gain the upper hand against such opponents, it could only mean she had no heart for struggle and put no effort into these matters.

Actually, Qin Yining disapproved of the Empress’s passive response.

She was Li Qitian’s legitimate wife and should display the status and authority of a legitimate wife, doing what a legitimate wife should do while also enjoying the treatment a legitimate wife deserved. She couldn’t allow others to seize her power or take away her rightful treatment.

Setting aside all else, purely for the children’s sake, as a mother she needed to establish herself first. Otherwise, when His Majesty had more and more children in the future, with more and more favored consorts, wouldn’t that leave their mother and sons completely suppressed without any breathing room?

When mothers become strong – as a mother, even if not fighting and seizing for herself, she must strive and struggle for her children.

The Empress Dowager lectured Consort Yun in front of the Empress and Qin Yining, while both pretended not to see.

Just as the scene grew awkward, a palace maid arrived at the hall entrance, curtsying as she reported: “Your Majesty Empress Dowager, Princess Imperial An’yang has arrived.”

Before the words had finished, and without waiting for the Empress Dowager’s permission, Li Helan strode in, removing her fur-collared cloak and tossing it to a palace maid while walking, smiling: “Mother Empress, you…”

Turning around the standing screen to reach the side hall, seeing Qin Yining standing with the Empress, Li Helan’s smile immediately faded.

“Oh my, what wind blew you here.” Li Helan slowed her pace, extending a pale fingertip from her narrow sleeve trimmed with red fox fur, pointing disdainfully at Qin Yining, curling her lip as she approached and circled around Qin Yining once. “How does the southern climate nourish people so well – you seem to have gotten fatter? Ha!”

That mocking, contemptuous tone was extremely unpleasant.

Qin Yining shook her head inwardly. Li Helan’s attitude was predictable. Ji Zeyu had won the battle, and as Ji Zeyu’s wife, Li Helan was the most suitable choice as marriage envoy, yet His Majesty’s decree had chosen her instead.

Outsiders wouldn’t understand the complexities involved, only thinking this was honor and prestige bestowed upon her.

Li Helan already harbored hostility toward her, and this was truly adding fuel to the fire.

Qin Yining could already foresee that in future encounters with Li Helan in the palace, there would be no pleasant outcomes.

“Thank you for Princess Imperial’s concern. This subject’s wife has indeed gained considerable weight. Since having two children, this figure is no longer something I can control.”

Qin Yining spoke the truth.

But this truth sounded like blatant boasting to Li Helan’s ears.

Li Helan lived permanently at the Princess Imperial’s mansion. Ji Zeyu was either at the Prince Consort’s residence, in the military camp, or leading troops in battle. Though she kept several male favorites, those men always acted submissively toward her, lacking Pang Xiao’s domineering strength or Ji Zeyu’s cold, frosty handsomeness. She had long grown tired of them.

Moreover, after playing around for a while, she had actually become somewhat disillusioned with intimate affairs, instead wondering when she might have children with Ji Zeyu. Even if her keeping male favorites displeased Ji Zeyu, they were an imperially bestowed marriage that couldn’t be dissolved.

Yet here was Qin Yining flaunting before her – who didn’t know of her double blessing, bearing two sons for Pang Xiao at once? Such good fortune was envied by countless others.

Li Helan smiled coldly as she approached Qin Yining: “Is that so.”

Qin Yining became alert, muscles tensing, yet smiled and nodded: “Yes.”

Yes?

What nonsense!

Li Helan raised her foot to kick Qin Yining’s knee: “Let you show off, you think you’re… Ah!”

Before the curse was finished, Li Helan was already hopping on one leg while clutching her foot, finally losing balance and falling with a thud to sit on the ground.

Qin Yining looked at the bronze three-legged incense burner on the floor, even feeling pain on Li Helan’s behalf.

The Empress Dowager anxiously went to help Li Helan: “Oh my, what’s wrong with you, you really are…” The Empress Dowager didn’t know what to say about Li Helan.

Li Helan winced in pain, gritting her teeth as she cursed: “Why did you dodge!”

Qin Yining replied: “Princess Imperial inexplicably extended her noble foot – this subject’s wife, being of humble status, dared not delay Princess Imperial’s step.”

“You, you did it on purpose!”

“Obviously.”

Li Helan nearly fainted from anger.

The Empress Dowager now looked at Qin Yining with fury in her eyes. But today it was indeed Li Helan who kicked first, and Qin Yining’s dodging was beyond reproach. Even if the Princess Imperial was of noble birth, she wasn’t the current emperor and didn’t have the authority to demand absolute submission unto death.

Qin Yining smiled: “Princess Imperial, please calm down. This subject’s wife has some bruise-healing ointment – I’ll send it to the Princess Imperial’s mansion tomorrow. Your toe should heal quickly.”

Li Helan glared, breathing heavily through her nose, her face already distorted.

Seeing the situation becoming truly unseemly, the Empress Dowager darkened her expression: “Enough. Everyone be peaceful.”

Except for Li Helan, everyone lowered their heads and said no more.

Li Helan, supported by a palace maid, stood and coldly sat in a nearby rose chair.

The Empress Dowager waved dismissively at the Empress and Qin Yining: “You still need to return to study etiquette – go now, don’t delay. You needn’t serve here.”

The Empress nodded calmly: “Yes, this subject and the princess consort will withdraw first.”

Qin Yining also bowed accordingly.

The two left the hall one after the other, departing Ci’an Palace with their attendants.

Only then did the Empress Dowager completely darken her expression, glaring at Li Helan before looking displeasedly at Consort Yun, taking the initiative: “What’s wrong with you two today? Aren’t you embarrassing me enough?”

She poked Li Helan’s forehead with her finger: “How did you become so weak the moment you saw her? You can’t compete for men, and you’re actually stupid enough to kick someone with your own foot – you’re a Princess Imperial, noble-born! Couldn’t you find fault with her and have servants punish her? Do you think this is back in the village fighting in groups?”

Li Helan realized her mistake, saying shamefacedly: “Mother Empress, wasn’t I just confused by anger? You saw how smug she looked – just because she bore twins, what’s there to be proud of!”

“Nothing to be proud of, but you don’t have any! And you!” The Empress Dowager glared at Consort Yun. “Your brain isn’t sufficient – from now on, stop provoking Pang Xiao’s wife. Do you think she’s easy to mess with? If truly angered, ten of you tied together couldn’t match her.”

“That’s not true – the Empress is trampled under Yun’er’s feet, so what does a little princess consort amount to? Cousin aunt is being too cautious.”

The Empress Dowager shook her head, impatiently waving: “Do whatever foolish things you want, just don’t drag me into your embarrassment, you…”

Just as she said “embarrassment,” a palace attendant came to report: “Empress Dowager, the Empress has sent someone to request Consort Yun come to Kunning Palace to study rules.”

The Empress Dowager’s fists clenched in fury, finally unable to contain her rage as she violently smashed her tea bowl to pieces.