The Empress Dowager was currently speaking with the Empress when she saw Consort Yun and Princess Tana approaching side by side, with Qin Yining following behind them. Both turned to look.

Upon seeing the Empress Dowager, Consort Yun was like a charming little butterfly flying toward a flower, happily walking up to the Empress Dowager: “Grand-aunt, what time did you rise this morning? This subject observes that you seem to have dark circles under your eyes—did you not rest well yesterday?”

The Empress Dowager lowered her eyes and said indifferently, “This dowager is advanced in years. How could I be like you young ones—carefree and without a worry in the world, not thinking about anything, naturally unable to fall asleep the moment my head touches the pillow like you do.”

Consort Yun’s smile stiffened on her face, and she laughed awkwardly, “Yes, this subject is foolish and cannot help grand-aunt.”

She had felt the Empress Dowager’s alienation and dissatisfaction countless times already.

The Empress Dowager now disliked her. When matters arose, she neither liked to consult with her nor let her handle anything. Although Consort Yun had become a consort based on her beauty, she understood in her heart that if she weren’t the Empress Dowager’s grand-niece, she absolutely wouldn’t have reached her current position.

The Empress Dowager’s current alienation was equivalent to gradually stripping away all the advantages that had been placed upon her. In the future, there would surely come a time when she completely lost His Majesty’s favor, lost her value to her maternal family, and was discarded like worn shoes…

Consort Yun’s heart was filled with panic. If the Empress and Consort Shun weren’t present, she would definitely kneel and beg the Empress Dowager’s forgiveness.

But showing weakness before enemies was something she couldn’t do.

The Empress Dowager glanced sideways at Consort Yun, then turned to look at Princess Tana with a smile, “Consort Shun should have become accustomed to palace life by now, shouldn’t you?”

“Yes.” Princess Tana nodded instinctively, then remembered palace etiquette and changed to a curtsy instead. However, her Great Zhou speech still had a strange accent: “Replying to the Empress Dowager, this subject has adapted quite well.”

The Empress Dowager frowned slightly, very dissatisfied with Princess Tana’s stiff posture and strange accent. She wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief and looked away, saying, “All of you sit down.” Catching sight of Qin Yining from the corner of her eye, she added, “Oh, Lady Qin may sit as well.”

“Yes, many thanks to the Empress Dowager.” Qin Yining respectfully curtsied, then took a seat at the lowest position.

The Empress Dowager continued questioning the Empress, “Why have the palace expenses increased so much this month? As Empress, you should also find ways to share His Majesty’s burdens. We reside in the inner palace and cannot expand territories, but at the very least we should know how to economize and give His Majesty fewer worries.”

The Empress knew the Empress Dowager was asserting her authority in front of everyone with these words, so she deflected skillfully: “The Empress Dowager speaks most correctly. This subject also believes that increasing revenue and reducing expenditure should be the primary concern. First of all, the monthly allowances for the consorts and concubines in each palace are never fully used each month…”

The Empress then cited many examples of extravagance and waste in the palace, as well as many places where money could simply be eliminated.

Didn’t the Empress Dowager say they should know how to economize and help reduce His Majesty’s troubles?

The Empress simply went along with the Empress Dowager’s wishes.

Now there were more and more people in the palace, and expenses were growing. The consorts had long been accustomed to their luxuries. If their monthly allowances were suddenly reduced, they would inevitably complain behind closed doors. The first person they would curse wouldn’t be the Empress who implemented the policy, but the Empress Dowager who had brought up the topic.

The Empress Dowager frowned, feeling her temples throbbing with pain.

How had she discovered that the Empress had become increasingly difficult to deal with ever since she had contact with Qin Yining?

Seeing the Empress like this, Qin Yining couldn’t help but want to smile. It seemed that although the Empress had grown cold toward imperial family affection, for the sake of the First Prince, she was finally determined to fight once.

Qin Yining didn’t interject in the matter between the Empress Dowager and Empress, only lowered her eyes to drink tea while listening to the confrontation between these palace mother and daughter-in-law.

After arguing for a while, the Empress Dowager became increasingly irritated.

“Enough, enough, all of you withdraw.” The Empress Dowager urged impatiently, “Doesn’t Lady Qin still need to teach Consort Shun Great Zhou language and proper conduct? I see your teaching isn’t very effective.”

“Yes, this subject’s wife will certainly teach with dedication.” Whatever Princess Tana managed to learn had nothing to do with her.

Princess Tana understood these words from the Empress Dowager, and her face instantly flushed red. If not for considering the Empress Dowager’s status and remembering her purpose in coming to the Great Zhou for the marriage alliance, she really wanted to draw her whip and give this malicious woman a good lashing.

Consort Yun naturally could see the Empress Dowager’s irritation. She didn’t dare linger before the Empress Dowager lest she touch a sore spot. She turned to follow behind the Empress and others as they left Ci’an Palace.

Who knew that just as they exited the hall, a senior palace maid from the Empress Dowager’s side approached her, curtsying and saying, “Consort Yun, the Empress Dowager requests to speak with you.”

Consort Yun’s steps halted, and she nearly laughed out loud.

Was grand-aunt finally no longer annoyed with her?

Consort Yun flew back into the hall.

Both the Empress and Princess Tana saw this, but since Consort Yun was the Empress Dowager’s grand-niece and they had always interacted this way before, neither paid it much mind.

When the group reached a fork in the path, the Empress smiled and said to Qin Yining, “Now that the Princess Consort resides in Chuxiu Palace, are there any inconveniences? If there are any issues, please speak freely to this palace—don’t be polite at all.”

“Yes, this subject’s wife thanks the Empress for her consideration.” Qin Yining smiled in gratitude.

Princess Tana snorted coldly, “Too bad that no matter how close you are, you still have to stay in this princess’s palace.”

After saying this, regardless of status and propriety, she turned and left.

Qin Yining smiled helplessly at the Empress, curtsied and said, “This subject’s wife takes her leave,” then brought her people to catch up with Princess Tana’s pace.

The Empress frowned with worry.

On the way back to the palace, Nanny Sun consoled her: “Your Majesty need not worry. Princess Consort Zhongshun is clever and resolute—even staying in Consort Shun’s palace, she shouldn’t suffer any losses. This servant is more worried about Your Majesty instead.”

“This palace is perfectly fine. What is there to worry about?” the Empress asked in confusion.

Nanny Sun said, “Your Majesty is simply too good-natured. Originally there was just Consort Yun, who always used the Empress Dowager’s influence to work against Your Majesty. Now there’s also Consort Shun, who enjoys great favor. Isn’t Your Majesty being attacked from both front and back?”

The Empress shook her head, “No matter how many favored consorts there are in this palace, this palace’s days won’t be easy. Just as Princess Consort Zhongshun told this palace before—if I don’t strive, my Hao’er will only be bullied in the future because he has such a weak and useless Empress mother. So for this palace, having a few enemies is all the same thing.”

Nanny Sun smiled, “Your Majesty sees things more clearly than before.”

“Yes, this palace also feels this is thanks to Princess Consort Zhongshun.”

On Qin Yining’s side, following Princess Tana back, she inevitably had to listen to many more of her complaints.

However, unlike Princess Tana and the Empress, she was very concerned about Consort Yun being specifically retained by the Empress Dowager. Qin Yining had a strong sense of crisis. In the mountains, she had relied on beast-like crisis awareness to avoid danger many times, and this time was the same.

She always felt that something would happen during this palace visit.

That night, Li Qitian chose Princess Tana’s tablet.

Qin Yining was able to sleep well for a night.

When she saw Princess Tana again the next day, she discovered that this person actually had smugness written all over her face.