Li Helan’s proud and wild laughter echoed throughout the warm pavilion. The Empress Dowager and Consort Yun also laughed until they swayed back and forth, as if they had seen the most amusing thing.
Princess Tana laughed so hard that Tatar words spilled out, pointing at Qin Yining and chattering away. The Empress Dowager and others couldn’t understand what she was saying, which made it even funnier!
Watching this scene, Bingtang and Ji Yun had long since begun crying in anxiety. Ji Yun stood up to rush forward, but Bingtang grabbed her firmly.
“No, you can’t ruin the Princess Consort’s affairs. If you charge over now, wouldn’t the Princess Consort’s previous endurance be wasted? We’re of humble status with little influence. If we anger the Empress Dowager, our master will have to find ways to protect us!”
Ji Yun slowly knelt back down. She knew Bingtang was right, but watching Qin Yining being publicly humiliated like this while she was powerless to help…
If only the Prince were here! The Prince would definitely tear these scoundrels apart!
Qin Yining wasn’t as agitated as the two maids. She continued as if deaf to it all, still performing the standard three kneelings and nine kowtows toward Qianqing Palace.
She didn’t know how long she had been performing the ceremony, nor did she remember how many times she had kowtowed. She only knew her legs and knees had gone completely numb, that she kept repeating “Long live His Majesty,” and even her voice had become hoarse.
She knew she couldn’t resist. As long as she let the Empress Dowager have her fill of fun, today’s ordeal would be over. If she gave them any handle against her, it could become Li Qitian’s reason to punish her.
“Enough, watching this makes me tired.”
After a long while, the Empress Dowager yawned behind her hand and waved impatiently.
Qin Yining swayed, struggling to straighten her body. Her knees hurt like needle pricks as she said respectfully, “Yes.”
Princess Tana hadn’t had enough fun yet. Having barely stopped laughing, she suggested, “Empress Dowager, why not have Princess Consort Zhongshun perform a curtsy for you?”
The Empress Dowager chuckled again, “Good, good. The curtsy is commonly used—Princess Consort Zhongshun should do it very well. Do one for me to see.”
“Haha!” Li Helan once again laughed without regard for her image, even slapping her thighs repeatedly.
With Li Helan and the Empress Dowager laughing like this, Consort Yun naturally also laughed until her whole body shook. The palace servants attending in the warm pavilion also laughed appropriately.
Ji Yun and Bingtang knelt on the ground with lowered heads, gritting their teeth as they secretly wiped away tears.
Amid the mocking laughter, Qin Yining respectfully agreed. Her body couldn’t help swaying as she placed her right hand over her left at her left waist, supporting herself on her right leg behind, painfully curtsying, “Paying respects to the Empress Dowager.”
The Empress Dowager watched her swaying form and continued laughing, “Again, again.”
Princess Tana also chimed in, “Again.”
Qin Yining complied and continued the motion. Each time she bent her knees, they stabbed with sharp pain, making her want to kneel directly down.
The more she endured the pain, the more expressionless her face became, forming a stark contrast with the Empress Dowager, Li Helan, and Consort Yun who had burst into wild laughter again.
This curtsy continued for another incense stick’s worth of time before the Empress Dowager finally laughed enough, covering her stomach, “Good, good, enough. I’ve laughed so much my stomach hurts. Your etiquette studies are truly marvelous.”
“Indeed, cousin aunt. To make you laugh, Princess Consort Zhongshun’s etiquette studies have truly served a great purpose. It wasn’t a waste of our time watching her boring performance here.”
“Exactly, back and forth like that—watching it was annoying.” Li Helan snorted coldly, feeling unprecedentedly refreshed inside.
Princess Tana took her seat at the Empress Dowager’s indication.
The Empress Dowager pointed at Qin Yining, “Speak up, what insights do you have from today’s ceremony practice?”
Qin Yining endured the pain to maintain a dignified standing posture, smiling, “The Empress Dowager’s good health is a blessing for all under heaven.”
The Empress Dowager didn’t react immediately, “What do you mean by that?”
Qin Yining smiled, “The Empress Dowager could laugh heartily for so long without feeling short of breath, proving your heart and lungs are very healthy. This shows good health, which should be celebrated.”
The Empress Dowager’s expression quickly darkened.
“You dare mock me?”
Qin Yining said seriously, “Every word this subject’s wife spoke came from the heart, with no mocking intent. I’m truly happy for the Empress Dowager’s good health. Moreover, that this subject’s wife could amuse the Empress Dowager today is a beautiful deed worth spreading.”
Spreading?
Indeed, Qin Yining’s experience in the palace today would spread throughout the inner court within half a day, and soon even the families of court officials would know. Those ministers would naturally also know.
Wouldn’t that mean Pang Xiao would also know?
Qin Yining had no threatening intent, but when the Empress Dowager thought of Pang Xiao, her satisfaction cooled by half.
Pang Xiao’s accumulated authority ran deep. He commanded heavy troops, and just standing in the military was equivalent to holding the tiger tally. He dared flip tables before the Empress Dowager, yet she didn’t dare pursue it and could only apologize with smiles. When Pang Xiao returned, wouldn’t he settle accounts with her?
But thinking further, the Empress Dowager felt relieved again.
For him to settle accounts with her, he’d have to return alive first.
The Empress Dowager laughed coldly several times, looking away, “Sit.”
“Thank you, Empress Dowager.”
Qin Yining sat in her original position. No matter how much her legs hurt, she didn’t reveal any signs, gritting her teeth to prevent giving people more to laugh at.
The Empress Dowager kept a stern face, turning to ask the palace servants beside her, “Is the milk bird’s nest ready?”
“Responding to the Empress Dowager, it’s already prepared.”
“Mm. Go fetch it. Everyone have some. That’s blood bird’s nest the Emperor specially sent for me.”
“Then we must thank cousin aunt.” Consort Yun laughed sweetly, “His Majesty is truly extremely filial to the Empress Dowager. Usually what’s distributed to this subject’s palace is white bird’s nest.”
Li Helan mocked, “Ignorant. There’s only so much blood bird’s nest total. Besides supplying Mother, could there be surplus to provide to you consorts?”
Consort Yun’s smile froze for a moment before she continued smiling.
Soon, the bird’s nest was carried up by Ci’an Palace servants in food boxes.
Palace maids served the bird’s nest to each person.
Qin Yining received hers, slowly stirring the bird’s nest with a spoon while watching the Empress Dowager and others from the corner of her eye. She didn’t immediately eat.
The Empress Dowager and Li Helan had both eaten, Princess Tana ate even faster. Consort Yun had also consumed most of her bowl before Qin Yining slowly took a bite.
Consort Yun smiled, “Oh my, such fine blood bird’s nest, but the Empress and First Prince unfortunately aren’t here. What a pity.”
“Mm, yes.” The Empress Dowager paused her actions, suddenly realizing, “We should also send a bowl to the First Prince. Hao’er can eat supplementary food now—this would be best for him.” She pointed at Qin Yining, “You go to Kunning Palace and deliver it to His Highness.”
Qin Yining was startled, her hand holding the spoon stopping its motion as she looked up at the Empress Dowager in surprise.
Consort Yun slowly set down her bird’s nest, covering her mouth as she laughed sweetly, “Cousin aunt, she’s a Princess Consort—how could she agree to do errands? Wouldn’t that lower the Princess Consort’s status?”
“I am the Empress Dowager! Who dares disobey my words!” The Empress Dowager’s sharp gaze glared at Qin Yining as she violently smashed the porcelain bowl onto the side table.
This sound of breaking porcelain startled everyone in the warm pavilion to stop their actions and bow in unison.
“Empress Dowager, please calm your anger.”
The Empress Dowager pressed her lips together, saying coldly, “I don’t care who it is or where they are—don’t let me forget whose realm this world belongs to. Unwilling to do even such a small thing—do you truly harbor rebellious intentions?”
“Empress Dowager, your words are too heavy.” Princess Tana apologized with a smile.
She hadn’t forgotten her purpose in coming for the marriage alliance.
Qin Yining lowered her head, enduring the pain in her knees to maintain her bowing posture, her brow tightly furrowed.
Everything about today’s events seemed strange.
“Qin woman, are you going or not?” the Empress Dowager asked sternly.
Qin Yining smiled slightly, bowing, “Responding to the Empress Dowager, this subject’s wife will naturally obey your instructions.” If she said even half a “no,” she would probably be immediately charged with a crime. The Empress Dowager was probably waiting for exactly that.
Only then did the Empress Dowager’s expression slightly clear as she instructed the palace servants behind her.
“Mm. Go fetch a bowl of milk blood bird’s nest and give it to Princess Consort Zhongshun.”
“Yes.”
The palace servants immediately obeyed. Soon they brought an exquisite small food box of black lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay.
Ji Yun and Bingtang’s faces had become tense by now.
The Empress Dowager was actually treating Qin Yining, a dignified Princess Consort, like a palace maid or eunuch, making her run errands and deliver things. What was the meaning of this? Wasn’t the humiliation in the warm pavilion today enough—did she have to drag her before others to continue the humiliation?
As soon as Qin Yining stepped out that door carrying the food box, the moment other palace servants saw her, news that Princess Consort Zhongshun had been reduced to the Empress Dowager’s errand runner, shamelessly flattering the imperial family, would spread instantly. How could Qin Yining associate with noble ladies in the future?
Ji Yun gritted her teeth, and Bingtang’s eyes also reddened.
They both wanted to stand up and replace Qin Yining, but their lowly status meant they had no right to speak. Instead, they would only bring greater trouble to Qin Yining.
They remembered today’s humiliation!
Qin Yining took the food box.
The Empress Dowager instructed, “Go quickly and return quickly. Don’t let the bird’s nest get cold—if Hao’er eats it and feels uncomfortable. After delivering it, come back quickly. I still have things to discuss with you.”
“Yes, this subject’s wife will go now.”
Qin Yining carried the food box, curtsied, and walked outside with stiff steps. Her knees grew increasingly painful, but she could only grit her teeth and endure without showing any unusual reaction.
Bingtang and Ji Yun also bowed with lowered heads and followed Qin Yining’s pace. Bingtang could see that Qin Yining’s knees should already be swollen, thinking to examine Qin Yining properly once they reached a place without people.
Li Helan picked up her bird’s nest again and took a bite, laughing lightly, “Tsk, a dignified Princess Consort reduced to delivering bird’s nest. This Princess Imperial can only eat bird’s nest then, ha!”
This single sentence made Consort Yun and Princess Tana laugh.
Even after Qin Yining had walked far away, she could still hear the cheerful laughter coming from the warm pavilion.
Turning a corner, Ji Yun reached out to take the food box from Qin Yining’s hands, “Princess Consort, let this servant carry it.”
“That wouldn’t be proper. I received the Empress Dowager’s decree to deliver bird’s nest to His Highness. Having already agreed and endured this far, if someone else carried it midway and the Empress Dowager found out, I’m afraid it would create more incidents. I might as well accept the humiliation and endure this ordeal before speaking of other things.”
Qin Yining’s face was pale, her knees hurt terribly, and sweat had formed on her forehead.
Bingtang gritted her teeth, “Princess Consort, do your knees hurt badly? I’ll apply medicine when we return.”
“Good.” Qin Yining smiled reassuringly at her while walking, “It’s nothing, just a small matter. I just don’t know what’s happened outside to make the Empress Dowager change like this.”