Page 278
The Noble Consort’s teeth were clenched so tight, they might have shattered, but she managed a strained smile and said, "It’s just a matter of seating arrangement, let’s change it then, it’s no big deal.
Today’s Mid-Autumn Banquet is a family feast, it’s good for the sisters to relax.
However, this must not happen again in the future; one must not forget their rank and the propriety of hierarchy. "
"Thank you for your understanding, Consort," Xu Zhaoyi immediately ordered someone to move Beauty Zhao’s entire table away and replace it with a new one, placing it extremely close to Lian Hua’s table so that there was not even a sliver of space between the two; they could touch each other by merely reaching out their hands.
Last of all she said to Beauty Zhao, "It was I who wanted to switch to a lower seat; you’re not disrespecting the ranks by sitting here. Please, take a seat."
The Noble Consort’s heart was thumping with anger; Xu Zhaoyi’s words were ostensibly directed at Beauty Zhao; but were actually a retort to herself.
Beauty Zhao answered, "Yes," and sat down, trembling with fear. She was now sitting in Xu Zhaoyi’s place, and her status did not justify her position, which made her extremely anxious.
Lian Hua settled down comfortably, her eyes continuously bright and sparkling as she watched Xu Zhaoyi.
Once Xu Zhaoyi had taken her seat, Lian Hua leaned over excitedly and said, "Sister, why are you so late? I’ve missed you so much."
Her excitement was plain to see, like a wilted cabbage that had been watered, springing back to life.
Xu Zhaoyi looked at her cute expression, couldn’t help but reach out to pinch Lian Hua’s face, and replied with a smile, "I was delayed by some matters and arrived late. I have some things to deal with first, and then I will come and talk to you."
Lian Hua was curious. They had already changed seats, so what else was there to handle? However, she trusted whatever her sister said and waited obediently.
At this moment, the hall was somewhat quiet, apart from the Noble Consort, everyone else was surreptitiously watching Xu Zhaoyi and Lian Hua. Seeing their intimate behavior, nobody knew when the two of them had become so close.
Xu Zhaoyi patted Lian Hua, telling her to sit up straight, then looked back at the hall.
Those swept by her gaze immediately lowered their heads, feeling that Xu Zhaoyi’s eyes were very sharp, carrying an imposing aura that captivated people.
With a smile that was not quite a smile, Xu Zhaoyi looked around slowly and then murmured, "Just now, who was it that forced my sister to serve tea?"
Her gaze swept around and finally settled on the face of Consort Zhen, who seemed like a weak person.
Consort Zhen’s face paled, and she said in a panic, "No, I didn’t mean that, Sister Xu, I was thinking of Beauty Lian’s best interest. It’s just a tea to exchange sisterly affection, it was for her own good."
Xu Zhaoyi let out an ironic laugh, her gaze coldly fixed on Consort Zhen, "Oh? For her good?"
As she spoke, her hand reached for the whip she carried with her, bringing it to the table and caressing it repeatedly.
Consort Zhen’s face drained of all color, and she stood up shakily, saying, "Sister Xu, I’m feeling a bit unwell, Noble Consort, please allow this consort to retire."
With that, she turned and fled, supported by her palace maid.
The Noble Consort immediately burst into rage, slamming her hand fiercely on the table, and could no longer hold back her shout, "Rong Ying, you’ve got some nerve, don’t you have any respect for rank and propriety?
Consort Zhen is higher than you by two ranks, and you’ve bullied her into leaving her seat as soon as you arrived! "
Her anger rose and fell in her chest; the barbarian dared to intimidate a high-grade consort under her watchful eye, and who’s to say she wouldn’t dare to do the same to her in the future!
Xu Zhaoyi raised her eyebrows mockingly and said, "What are you talking about, Noble Consort? I haven’t done anything."
Turing her head towards Consort Zhen, who was heading to the door of the hall, she continued, "Please wait, Consort Zhen. The Noble Consort is saying that I forced you to leave your seat; how could I dare to take such an accusation? Please come back."
Consort Zhen’s legs went soft with fear, causing her to stagger, but she was supported by a palace maid and didn’t fall.
She hastily looked back and said, "It’s my own weakness, it’s the frailty of my body as a concubine, and has nothing to do with Sister Xu.
Noble Consort, please forgive me for being unwell and unable to join my sisters in celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. I beg to take my leave, my leave."
She had entered the palace early and knew that Xu Zhaoyi was a battle-hardened woman who killed without batting an eye. The blood on her hands was more than anyone could fathom, far beyond what any sheltered maiden could compare to.
Xu Zhaoyi’s temperament had become much more restrained nowadays, so many of the later concubines had never seen her like a ruthless warrior.
But Consort Zhen had witnessed with her own eyes how Xu Zhaoyi used her whip to lash those who disrespected her, without a word she would whip someone until their skin split and flesh opened. That bloody scene still haunted Consort Zhen to this day.
Who dares to reason with the unreasonable!
Hence, in this palace, everyone could be provoked, even the Noble Consort herself, because the Noble Consort was reasonable and would consider her dignity, but Xu Zhaoyi was the one person who absolutely could not be provoked.
After Consort Zhen finished speaking, she glanced at Xu Zhaoyi in alarm, and seeing that there was no intention of retaining her, she hurriedly, flustered and flurried, let people help her to quickly exit the hall, in a panic to escape, fearing that she might not be able to leave later.
Concubine Fang was also among the first group of concubines to enter the palace! She had some knowledge of Xu Zhaoyi and didn’t dare to make a sound. Luckily, she had not spoken out of turn just now, that was close.
Aside from the Noble Consort, Xu Zhaoyi, Concubine Fang, and Lian Hua, everyone else was dumbstruck and looked at each other in disbelief, unable to believe that a consort had been frightened away by a Zhaoyi.
Lian Hua was also dumbfounded, but unlike the others, her eyes were filled with admiration, and her mouth slightly open, she twisted her head and looked at Xu Zhaoyi as if she were looking at a hero.
The Noble Consort’s lips quivered with anger, yet she could not refute or say anything in response.
Changzai Zhou lowered her head, her eyes thoughtful. She was also greatly shaken by today’s events. Consort Zhen, though appearing weak, had managed to maintain her rank as a consort and had a peaceful coexistence with the Noble Consort. She had never thought her to be simple.
And yet such a person had been scared away by Xu Zhaoyi, which was very comical and a great contrast.
She stole a glance at Xu Zhaoyi and reconsidered the daughter of the military family anew...
In the hall, only Xu Zhaoyi was calm and collected.
She sensed the gazes upon her, turned her head to look, and couldn’t help but smile brightly at the person next to her.
She reached out to pinch Lian Hua’s chin, and looked her over from left to right: "Today, this makeup isn’t bad, you don’t look so easy to bully anymore. "
Lian Hua held Xu Zhaoyi’s hand, and looking around sneakily like a thief, she whispered, "Sister, you are so fierce!"
"Hahaha, you are truly cute, my sister." Xu Zhaoyi laughed out loud, then imitated Lian Hua’s manner, whispering, "Sister, do you feel better now?"
Lian Hua’s eyes crinkled with her smile, nodding vigorously like pounding garlic, following Sister Zhaoyi’s lead in getting immediate revenge felt utterly exhilarating!
Unlike His Majesty, whose vendettas seemed so refined, she had to ponder a bit to discern whether he had avenged her or not.
She preferred the kind of retaliation where if someone struck her, she would return the blow forcefully and directly, satisfying and swift. Just look at how Sister Zhaoyi had scared someone away just now, haha.
Speaking of the Emperor, he was at that moment having just finished offering sacrifices to the moon with his ministers, and the elaborate and complex rites had certainly been time-consuming.
After descending from the Moon Worship Altar, he was heading toward the Taiji Hall. On the way, an inconspicuous young eunuch reported something to him, to which he responded expressionlessly, "Deal with them all tomorrow."
It was a festive day today, and it was not suitable for shedding blood.
Little did he expect that there were still remnants from Lady Wei’s harem corruption case, colluding with Zhang Sancai, to take revenge on his Little Concubine.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143
- Page 144
- Page 145
- Page 146
- Page 147
- Page 148
- Page 149
- Page 150
- Page 151
- Page 152
- Page 153
- Page 154
- Page 155
- Page 156
- Page 157
- Page 158
- Page 159
- Page 160
- Page 161
- Page 162
- Page 163
- Page 164
- Page 165
- Page 166
- Page 167
- Page 168
- Page 169
- Page 170
- Page 171
- Page 172
- Page 173
- Page 174
- Page 175
- Page 176
- Page 177
- Page 178
- Page 179
- Page 180
- Page 181
- Page 182
- Page 183
- Page 184
- Page 185
- Page 186
- Page 187
- Page 188
- Page 189
- Page 190
- Page 191
- Page 192
- Page 193
- Page 194
- Page 195
- Page 196
- Page 197
- Page 198
- Page 199
- Page 200
- Page 201
- Page 202
- Page 203
- Page 204
- Page 205
- Page 206
- Page 207
- Page 208
- Page 209
- Page 210
- Page 211
- Page 212
- Page 213
- Page 214
- Page 215
- Page 216
- Page 217
- Page 218
- Page 219
- Page 220
- Page 221
- Page 222
- Page 223
- Page 224
- Page 225
- Page 226
- Page 227
- Page 228
- Page 229
- Page 230
- Page 231
- Page 232
- Page 233
- Page 234
- Page 235
- Page 236
- Page 237
- Page 238
- Page 239
- Page 240
- Page 241
- Page 242
- Page 243
- Page 244
- Page 245
- Page 246
- Page 247
- Page 248
- Page 249
- Page 250
- Page 251
- Page 252
- Page 253
- Page 254
- Page 255
- Page 256
- Page 257
- Page 258
- Page 259
- Page 260
- Page 261
- Page 262
- Page 263
- Page 264
- Page 265
- Page 266
- Page 267
- Page 268
- Page 269
- Page 270
- Page 271
- Page 272
- Page 273
- Page 274
- Page 275
- Page 276
- Page 277
- Page 278 (Reading here)
- Page 279
- Page 280
- Page 281
- Page 282
- Page 283
- Page 284
- Page 285
- Page 286
- Page 287
- Page 288
- Page 289
- Page 290
- Page 291
- Page 292
- Page 293
- Page 294
- Page 295
- Page 296
- Page 297
- Page 298
- Page 299
- Page 300
- Page 301
- Page 302
- Page 303
- Page 304
- Page 305
- Page 306
- Page 307
- Page 308
- Page 309
- Page 310
- Page 311
- Page 312
- Page 313
- Page 314
- Page 315
- Page 316
- Page 317
- Page 318
- Page 319
- Page 320
- Page 321
- Page 322
- Page 323
- Page 324
- Page 325
- Page 326
- Page 327
- Page 328
- Page 329
- Page 330
- Page 331
- Page 332
- Page 333
- Page 334
- Page 335
- Page 336
- Page 337
- Page 338
- Page 339
- Page 340
- Page 341
- Page 342
- Page 343
- Page 344
- Page 345
- Page 346
- Page 347
- Page 348
- Page 349
- Page 350
- Page 351
- Page 352
- Page 353
- Page 354
- Page 355
- Page 356
- Page 357
- Page 358
- Page 359
- Page 360
- Page 361
- Page 362
- Page 363
- Page 364
- Page 365
- Page 366
- Page 367
- Page 368
- Page 369
- Page 370
- Page 371
- Page 372
- Page 373
- Page 374
- Page 375
- Page 376
- Page 377
- Page 378
- Page 379
- Page 380
- Page 381
- Page 382
- Page 383
- Page 384
- Page 385
- Page 386
- Page 387
- Page 388
- Page 389
- Page 390
- Page 391
- Page 392
- Page 393
- Page 394
- Page 395
- Page 396
- Page 397
- Page 398
- Page 399
- Page 400
- Page 401
- Page 402
- Page 403
- Page 404
- Page 405
- Page 406
- Page 407
- Page 408
- Page 409
- Page 410
- Page 411
- Page 412
- Page 413
- Page 414
- Page 415
- Page 416
- Page 417
- Page 418
- Page 419
- Page 420
- Page 421
- Page 422
- Page 423
- Page 424
- Page 425
- Page 426
- Page 427
- Page 428
- Page 429
- Page 430
- Page 431
- Page 432
- Page 433
- Page 434
- Page 435
- Page 436
- Page 437
- Page 438
- Page 439
- Page 440
- Page 441
- Page 442
- Page 443
- Page 444
- Page 445
- Page 446
- Page 447
- Page 448
- Page 449
- Page 450
- Page 451
- Page 452
- Page 453
- Page 454
- Page 455
- Page 456
- Page 457
- Page 458
- Page 459
- Page 460
- Page 461
- Page 462
- Page 463
- Page 464
- Page 465
- Page 466
- Page 467
- Page 468
- Page 469
- Page 470
- Page 471
- Page 472
- Page 473
- Page 474
- Page 475
- Page 476
- Page 477
- Page 478
- Page 479
- Page 480
- Page 481
- Page 482
- Page 483
- Page 484
- Page 485
- Page 486
- Page 487
- Page 488
- Page 489
- Page 490
- Page 491
- Page 492
- Page 493
- Page 494
- Page 495
- Page 496
- Page 497
- Page 498
- Page 499
- Page 500
- Page 501
- Page 502
- Page 503
- Page 504
- Page 505
- Page 506
- Page 507
- Page 508
- Page 509
- Page 510
- Page 511
- Page 512
- Page 513
- Page 514
- Page 515
- Page 516
- Page 517
- Page 518
- Page 519
- Page 520
- Page 521
- Page 522
- Page 523
- Page 524
- Page 525
- Page 526
- Page 527
- Page 528