The previous court was intimidated by the matter of heavenly punishment. Censors Ye Wendao and Shen Guiwen both declared that if ministers were loyal to the sovereign, they would not offend Heaven. Four people from the Wen family had died, three from Scholar Fu’s faction. Scholar Fu deeply believed in heavenly punishment, though some strategists still harbored doubts.
“The deaths were all by blade and fire, not lightning strikes or thunderbolts. How could this be Heaven’s doing?”
Scholar Fu said, “This old man personally witnessed flying swords from the sky kill the former palace Consort Jiang. Who says heavenly punishment cannot come by blade and sword?”
Elderly people were just stubborn like that—they would never admit their thinking was wrong and would fabricate many words to cover their lies.
Like Scholar Fu now, who clearly hadn’t witnessed it personally, but to convince others, he too began lying. By the end, even he believed he had truly seen Consort Jiang killed by a heavenly sword with his own eyes.
Scholar Fu still held considerable standing, so when he spoke thus, more than half the court officials believed him again and began inclining their hearts toward the Emperor’s faction.
Gu Chaobei had been attending court with such ease lately. Political decrees were issued without the slightest obstruction. The officials were all so obedient, like schoolchildren—whatever he said, they listened to.
Correspondingly, Shen Hanlu’s position in the rear palace also rose steadily. She wore gold-embroidered peony maternity gowns, donned golden hairpins, jade rings, and agate bracelets. Her entourage was arranged entirely according to an Empress’s ceremonial standards. Her eyes had become fixed at a thirty-five-degree upward angle, looking at everyone without directly facing them.
Right now, she was heading to Yonghe Palace.
Everyone in the palace knew that aside from the Empress’s chambers, the most comfortable residence was Yonghe Palace. Today, Shen Hanlu was coming to flaunt her authority and cause trouble.
Consort Hua’s words had been too infuriating. She wanted to test whether in His Majesty’s heart, she—this celestial being—was more important, or Shen Guiyan, who had consistently been out of favor, was more important.
But when her sedan chair arrived at Yonghe Palace, the palace gate was tightly shut, likely with a wooden bolt fastened from behind.
Many in the palace knew her intentions before she came and were waiting at the Yonghe Palace gate to watch the spectacle. But Shen Guiyan wouldn’t open the door.
Shen Hanlu was half-dead with anger, though her face still wore a smile. “Noble Consort Yan must have overslept. Xiuping, go knock on the door.”
“Yes.” Xiuping responded and stepped forward to pound on the door.
Consort Hua and Imperial Concubine Fu both hurried over to watch the excitement, with Consort Ye following along. Gao Jinxiu, hearing the news, frowned and walked in another direction.
The entrance to Yonghe Palace was surrounded by people, making it even harder for Shen Hanlu to back down. Standing on her sedan chair, she looked over the palace wall and simply lifted her skirts, calling loudly, “Open the door! Open the door! I know you’re home!”
Everyone was startled by her sudden outburst. The disgust in Imperial Concubine Fu’s eyes grew heavier—this woman who lacked both dignity and brains was about to become Empress.
The Yonghe Palace gate still didn’t move. Inside was utterly quiet, as if no one were there.
Consort Hua laughed. “Younger sister Consort Shen, forgive this palace for being blunt, but you are currently only at the consort rank, while the one inside is a Noble Consort. Younger sister’s behavior is somewhat insubordinate.”
“Insubordinate?” Shen Hanlu laughed coldly. “In a few days, she’ll have to bow when she sees me. Yet now she dares shut this palace out—clearly she’s afraid.”
Imagining Shen Guiyan inside, pale with fear, Shen Hanlu smiled. Today she absolutely had to break down this door!
“Ram the door for this palace,” she ordered.
Several eunuchs complied and began ramming with loud bangs. However, this palace gate was sturdy, not like the shoddy construction in television dramas. No matter how swollen the eunuchs’ shoulders became from ramming, they couldn’t open it.
The Noble Consort wouldn’t open the door—what could you do? Shen Hanlu narrowed her eyes. Consort Hua fanned the flames from the side. “Your Highness, you should return. If His Majesty learns of this, he’ll be angry.”
“This palace merely came to pay respects to Her Highness the Noble Consort. She keeps people at a distance, putting on airs. How would His Majesty be angry with this palace?” Shen Hanlu snorted. “If he’s angry, it would be at Shen Guiyan for not knowing propriety.”
Consort Hua smiled without speaking.
Gao Jinxiu wanted to seek an audience with His Majesty, to summon reinforcements to rescue Shen Guiyan. But before she even reached the Imperial Study, she was stopped by guards. Palace rules prohibited consorts from moving freely in the front palace.
Feeling somewhat anxious, Lady Gao didn’t believe Yan’er could withstand that Shen family shrew, especially since she was the future Empress. What if Yan’er was wronged?
Just as she was frantically pacing, the Imperial Study door opened.
Gao Jinxiu looked up—the one emerging was actually a woman, dressed as a noble lady.
“Madam, this way please.” Zhuiyun respectfully bowed to the woman, about to escort her out of the palace. Gao Jinxiu couldn’t worry about propriety anymore and rushed forward, calling, “Lord Zhuiyun!”
Zhuiyun turned back, looking at her with confusion. The noble lady also glanced over.
“Isn’t this Noble Lady Gao? Why have you come to the front hall?” Xu Mengdie laughed lightly.
Gao Jinxiu was startled and looked at this woman more carefully. She was certain she didn’t know her, yet how did she know her identity?
“Does Noble Lady Gao wish to seek an audience with His Majesty?” Xu Mengdie asked.
Lady Gao nodded warily, looking her up and down. “And you are, Madam?”
“This humble one is Xu Shi of the Gu residence.” Xu Mengdie smiled. “I’m also on good terms with Her Highness the Noble Consort. Noble Lady need not worry about Her Highness—you might as well return to watch the spectacle.”
Lady Gao was dumbfounded. She hadn’t said anything, yet this woman knew the Noble Consort was in trouble? And said there would be a spectacle to watch?
After saying this, Xu Mengdie bowed and followed Zhuiyun out of the palace. Gao Jinxiu stood there stunned for quite a while before decisively running back.
The sound of ramming the door was irritating. Shen Guiyan leisurely finished her grooming. Estimating that Shen Hanlu outside was sufficiently enraged, she said, “Baoshan, go open the door.”
“Yes.” Baoshan walked somewhat reluctantly to the door, using a rope to pull the wooden bolt. Listening to the “one, two, three” chants from outside, she timed it perfectly and yanked hard.
“Bang!” All four eunuchs ramming the door tumbled inside, their heads and faces covered in dust.
Outside, Shen Hanlu rejoiced, thinking the door had finally been breached. Just as she was about to enter and argue, she saw Baoshan’s gloomy face at the doorway. “Consort Shen cuts quite an imposing figure.”
She still held the wooden door bolt, with four eunuchs lying on the ground unable to get up at her feet.
Though Shen Hanlu had so many people behind her, somehow she seemed less imposing than a single palace maid.
“This palace came to pay respects to Her Highness the Noble Consort,” Consort Shen said with a dark expression. “Yet Her Highness the Noble Consort shut her door—how narrow-minded.”
Baoshan respectfully bowed to her and straightened. “Before the imperial edict is issued, Consort Shen is still merely a consort. My mistress is a Noble Consort. If she’s willing to see Your Highness, it’s because she’s in a good mood. If unwilling, it’s not the slightest breach of propriety. Rather, it’s Your Highness who led a crowd to force your way into Yonghe Palace. If His Majesty learns of this, one wonders what he would think.”
Maids took after their mistresses—spending time together made them all sharp-tongued. Being lectured by a little palace maid, Consort Shen couldn’t save face. She stepped forward angrily. “Impudent! When has it been your turn to lecture this palace on how to conduct myself?”
“This servant dares not. Your Highness, please come inside.” Baoshan moved aside.
Shen Hanlu snorted, glanced at the empty courtyard, but instead felt some hesitation.
“Consort Hua elder sister has also come to pay respects. Why don’t you go in first?” Consort Shen turned to say.
Such little courage. Consort Hua laughed coldly and stepped right in. Consort Shen leisurely followed behind, then came Imperial Concubine Fu and Consort Ye.
The massive entourage outside also wanted to follow, but Baoshan snorted coldly and slammed the door shut, fastening the wooden bolt again.
Having cut off a large portion of her tail, Consort Shen was left with only Xiuping beside her. Like a peacock stripped of its feathers, her previously arrogant flame diminished considerably.
Shen Guiyan reclined on her noble consort’s couch. Seeing this procession of consorts enter, she smiled slightly. “How lively today is.”
“Indeed, though we wonder if we’ve disturbed Her Highness the Noble Consort.” Consort Hua said with a smile. “Your Highness’s complexion looks quite good—you seem to have filled out a bit.”
Shen Guiyan laughed lightly. “The Imperial Kitchen’s meals have been excellent lately. This palace was greedy, and sleeping so soundly at night, I’ve unknowingly gained some weight.”
Imperial Concubine Fu flattered, “Your Highness looks good even with the weight.”
Shen Hanlu snorted lightly, her expression still not recovered. “No wonder it took so long to open the door. Your Highness was sleeping soundly?”
“Indeed.” Shen Guiyan said. “I thought the palace had been invaded by thieves or something, with people making such a ruckus so early in the morning. This palace hasn’t had time to ask—who did it?”
Everyone present immediately looked toward Shen Hanlu.
“It was this concubine,” Shen Hanlu said, chin raised. “Sleeping too much isn’t good—it damages the brain. This concubine specially came to wake Her Highness the Noble Consort. It was done with good intentions.”
“Thank you.” Shen Guiyan wasn’t the least bit annoyed, completely ignoring Shen Hanlu’s words as if asking casually with no intention of pursuing the matter. She picked up the tea beside her and drank.
Shen Hanlu had come determined to flaunt her authority, but Shen Guiyan didn’t even care that she’d rammed the palace gate. His Majesty hadn’t been visiting her lately either, so there was nothing provocative to say. How was she supposed to show her authority?
Consort Hua and Imperial Concubine Fu were both watching her with expectant expressions. She was caught in a dilemma.
“By the way, His Majesty said he would invest this concubine during the ancestral worship ceremony.” Shen Hanlu smiled. “Does Your Highness know?”
Shen Guiyan nodded. “This palace naturally knows. Congratulations.”
Her face showed not the slightest trace of disappointment. Shen Hanlu suddenly felt like a child who had put on new clothes and run to show off, only to have the other person not even glance at her.
This was the most infuriating thing.
“His Majesty also bestowed some items upon this palace. This palace thought Your Highness’s quarters were rather bare, so I specially brought them for Your Highness to see.”
Shen Hanlu gritted her teeth and waved for Xiuping to come forward.
“Oh?” Shen Guiyan seemed very interested and sat up. “What is it?”
Xiuping opened the box in her hands—it was a pair of coral hairpins, reportedly quite rare, bestowed by His Majesty just the other day.
Who knew that Shen Guiyan only glanced once before lying back down, her tone full of disappointment. “Oh, this. Thank you, younger sister Consort Shen.”
Shen Hanlu frowned, quite dissatisfied. “Your Highness is displeased?”
“No, it’s just that this palace doesn’t lack such things.” Shen Guiyan yawned, and Baoshan brought over the red coral hairpins from her dressing table.