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Noble Consort gazed blankly at the Emperor; such vibrant demeanor was something she had never seen before. It made her feel as if he were flirting with Beauty Lian, causing an uncomfortable block in her chest...
Lian Hua bit her lip as she looked up, thinking what a big scoundrel he was, only wanting to embarrass her. She had thought about going back to kiss him, but now, she wouldn’t!
With so many people watching, she felt she had to say something. Thinking of the festival, she could only muster her courage and say, "Today is the joyous Mid-Autumn Festival, this concubine... this concubine wishes to say, may you be blessed with health and safety..."
The Emperor raised an eyebrow. That’s it?
Lian Hua herself felt that this half-statement was too short, but unlike others who could speak eloquently, she struggled to come up with another line, "Uh..., may you eat well and drink well..."
Consort Xu De was drinking tea and suddenly "pff..." burst out laughing, laughing heartily.
Her sister was just too adorable, even her blessings were so endearingly straightforward.
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly relaxed, with Consort Xu De leading the laughter, and others couldn’t help but laugh along, covering their mouths.
Lian Hua’s face turned bright red, even the tips of her ears were thoroughly red. How could her sister be so bad, laughing at her publicly?
The Emperor smiled, realizing he had indeed put her in a difficult position. He looked at Lian Hua with a doting gaze and teased, "The Emperor also wishes the Beloved Consort eats well and drinks well."
Lian Hua hung her head, biting her lip, not daring to look at anyone, and slowly sat down. This time, she even refused to utter words of thanks for His Majesty’s concern.
Only Noble Consort Xue, with her eyes lowered and no expression on her face, wasn’t laughing. It was unclear what she was thinking.
Outside the main hall, Consort Liu used a handkerchief to cover her mouth as she slowly walked away with her entourage.
Her health was poor, and she moved slowly. Not far from the main hall, she heard Zhang Qing loudly proclaiming orders to Xu Zhaoyi and stopped to listen.
Upon hearing that Lady Xu was being conferred the title of consort, a slow smile spread across her face.
From now on, the Harem would no longer be dominated solely by Noble Consort Xue. His Majesty appointing Rong Ying as a consort was surely intended to weaken the faction led by Xue Wanjun.
From then on, a formal confrontation between the faction led by Noble Consort Xue and those allied with Consort Xu De and Beauty Lian had officially formed; things would certainly become lively in the future.
Today’s excitement had been sufficient, making her venture out worthwhile.
In the hall, Consort Xu De, with eyes wide open but feigning ignorance, laughed and said, "This concubine has lost her composure. It’s just that sister spoke so well, this concubine truly couldn’t hold back. I hope His Majesty can forgive me."
"No harm done, Beauty Lian indeed spoke well." The Emperor also agreed, laughing along.
Lian Hua fumed silently to herself, sitting alone. Her sister could tease her, and His Majesty too; both were so wicked, hmph.
Once the laughter died down, the Emperor looked towards Noble Consort Xue and asked, "Noble Consort, are you... unhappy?"
Noble Consort Xue returned to her senses and managed a forced smile, saying, "Your Majesty jests. With today’s celebrations, how could this concubine be unhappy? It was just that I drank too much earlier, and I’m feeling a bit unwell."
"Could it be a headache acting up?" the Emperor asked, his expression showing a trace of concern.
Noble Consort Xue was a bit shocked by the sudden concern from His Majesty, it had been a long time since he had paid attention to her like this; she felt a hint of joy in her heart.
She looked softly at the Emperor, her voice tender as water, "It is indeed a slight headache, perhaps it is acting up again. Thank you for your concern."
Then she gently lowered her head, revealing her graceful neck.
"After so many years, how come it still hasn’t gotten better?" the Emperor said, his tone slightly reproachful yet also sighing lightly, as though he was genuinely worried for Noble Consort Xue.
Noble Consort Xue couldn’t help but feel warmth in her heart, and her expression greatly improved as she put on a gentle smile.
The Emperor then looked around the hall, and upon seeing Lian Hua gazing at him curiously, he uncomfortably looked away, his glance void of jealousy, as if he could see through his intentions.
His gaze fell on Consort Xu De, and he said indifferently, "Consort De, as Noble Consort has been unwell for many years, and you have become a consort, you should take up the responsibilities of Consort De.
From today, you will assist in managing the harem together with Noble Consort Xue to lessen her burden. There must be no mistakes."
Noble Consort’s smile froze on her face as she looked up in astonishment, "Your Majesty..."
The other concubines also looked towards the upper seat in surprise. Was Consort Xu De going to manage the harem too? Was it no longer just Noble Consort Xue alone?
This was a change unseen for many years, even more shocking than when Xu Zhaoyi was appointed as Consort De.
Consort Xu De stepped forward, her face solemn, and kowtowed, "Yes, I will certainly not fail in my duty."
"Hmm," the Emperor responded indifferently.
Consort Xu De then went back to her seat, but as she walked, she inwardly cursed. The Emperor was truly dark-hearted; first, he feigned concern for Xue Wanjun, then he threw out this statement, probably making Xue Wanjun think that she had brought trouble on herself.
This decision had been discussed with her by the Emperor earlier; he wanted to appoint her as a consort and let her assist in managing the harem.
If it weren’t for protecting her sister, she would be reluctant to bother with these vexing affairs.
She was not Xue Wanjun, who fixated on this small piece of territory, fighting bitterly within her love nest. If it didn’t concern her, she would rather turn a blind eye; if the Emperor didn’t care, why should she speak out?
However, in this palace, with her sister Lian Hua being there, innocent and lacking schemes, surrounded by many who watched eagerly, she had no choice but to step up.
Oh, her sister! She must pinch her cheeks later, pinch enough to get her due.
The Emperor, so possessive, his desire to control was too strong. She was even willing to manage these mundane matters, and yet he still wouldn’t let her reap some benefits, tsk.
Noble Consort regained her composure, hastily forced a smile, and struggled to say, "Your Majesty, Sister Xu is not familiar with the affairs of the multitude, and my headache is not a significant trouble, perhaps..."
The Emperor raised his hand to interrupt her, "There is no need for further discussion on this matter. I am aware of your hardships over the years, let it be so."
He had made this decision long ago, and could have been more forceful, but he opted for a nuanced approach to preserve her last shred of dignity. If she still failed to appreciate this, he would not blame himself for being ruthless.
Noble Consort’s expression was a mixture of smiling and crying, akin to a sob, as she responded, "Yes..."
Her heart was filled with sorrow, and she barely managed to keep from crying on the spot.
The Emperor no longer looked at her, addressing those below, "Very well, today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, enjoy yourselves to the fullest before returning, I will take my leave first."
As he spoke, he strode down, but upon reaching the entrance of the hall, he turned back to look at Lian Hua.
Lian Hua was still lost in the recent events, struggling to keep up with the pace set by His Majesty.
Earlier, seeing His Majesty’s concern for Noble Consort, she had a strange feeling, akin to how she herself would behave on a regular day, flattering His Majesty first before suggesting what she wanted to do, thereby getting his approval.
Of course, His Majesty wouldn’t need to flatter the Noble Consort, which was why she was very curious about what His Majesty intended to do.
She didn’t think His Majesty’s concern for the Noble Consort stemmed from a flirtatious care between a man and a woman. It was an intuition, or perhaps it was based on her trust in His Majesty.
His Majesty had said that from now on, it would be only her, and she trusted this fully, thus she had never thought about it in that light.
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