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It was because of the delay in dealing with other matters that she hurriedly made her way to Huaying Hall, and upon arrival, she witnessed the scene of the Noble Consort dominating over everyone.

With the Noble Consort’s words at this point, it could only be a swift cut through the mess.

Nanny Qi sighed inwardly, Consort Xu De still didn’t understand Lady Xue.

If one has a way out, then they will have reservations.

Noble Consort Xue, clinging to power, would surely stop holding back if she knew there was no reversing her fate.

Then let her be the villain, and let Lady Xue’s anger be directed at her; after all, this old woman had lived to a ripe old age and wouldn’t live many more years anyway—let whatever come at her, come.

With this in mind, Nanny Qi no longer showed any mercy, and with a stern face said, "Hmph, the Noble Consort is quite adept at avoiding the important matters and dwelling on the trivial. Why did Consort De hit someone? Why doesn’t the Noble Consort explain the reasons?

The guilty must be punished; are we to keep them around for the New Year celebrations? "

Pang Ya, who was supporting Nanny Qi, twitched her eyebrows slightly. The phrase "keep them around for the New Year" had a bit of Master Lian’s style; Master Lian also loved the New Year...

The eyes of the Noble Consort were moist, and she said in a sorrowful voice, "Nanny, she overstepped her boundaries with me..."

In Nanny Qi’s eyes, everything she said was wrong. What had she done wrong to be so disliked by Nanny Qi!

Nanny Qi looked at her with sharp eyes and interrupted, "Noble Consort Xue, know your place. You are but a Noble Consort, nothing more. Do you delude yourself into thinking you can make rules for the Harem like the Empress? Realize this sooner and be at ease sooner; do not cling to power, for what is yours will always be yours, and what isn’t won’t come to you no matter how much you fight for it. "

This statement pierced deeply into Noble Consort Xue, making her eyes red with fury, her teeth nearly shattered with hatred!

Not becoming the Empress was the greatest hidden scar in her heart, keeping her awake at night, becoming her obsession and her illness.

The Noble Consort had even fallen into madness at one point, desiring to paste the Late Empress’s birth date on talismans, wishing her soul never to find peace, and was even eager to whip the Late Empress’s body posthumously, to have her relinquish the position of Empress.

In order to become the Empress, she had strived so hard over the years, yet always remained just a Noble Consort, unable to advance any closer, and she was in pain.

Why was fate so unfair to her!

Why did His Majesty treat her this way?

If only she had been pregnant, if only she had borne a Prince, then the throne would have been hers, wouldn’t it?

If she truly could bear a Prince, even if His Majesty were unwilling, her father would certainly find a way to support her ascension to the throne.

It was all Liu Lingyi’s fault; otherwise, she would have long given birth to His Majesty’s first child!

Cai Qin saw that Noble Consort Xue looked unwell and hurried over to support her.

Noble Consort Xue clutched her chest, her forehead began to throb with pain, emotional turmoil flooding her eyes. Now publicly humiliated by Nanny Qi, she felt her heart bleeding, the pain unbearable.

She pushed Cai Qin away and, unable to control her emotions, demanded, "Nanny Qi, why have you never approved of me all these years despite my efforts? Even though the Former Great Empress Dowager favored me so much, you were always lukewarm towards me, why!"

This had been a long-standing question weighing on her heart, and she needed answers to be at peace.

Nanny Qi looked at the woman before her, dressed in splendid attire but now somewhat hysterical.

She sighed inwardly, some people never look for the fault within themselves, always blaming others, it’s always someone else’s fault.

Why didn’t she approve of Lady Xue? It was up to Lady Xue’s actions to be worthy of respect.

Over the years, Lady Xue spoke eloquently, but every deed she did had a purpose driven by self-interest, and she knew best why she sought to win her over.

Thinking she had done so much, caught up in self-pity, she used others to the extreme limits and still expected her to be grateful, didn’t she?

A woman dominated by ambition and desire, truly pitiable and sigh-worthy.

Nanny Qi’s eyes held a trace of pity as she calmly said, "This old servant does not look down upon the Consort, but the Consort wants too much, too much for this old servant to give."

Noble Consort Xue’s throat choked up, and she couldn’t help but ask resentfully, "Then why can you give so much to others?"

Nanny Qi knew she was referring to Lian Hua. Back when Xue Wanjun was pregnant, she had wanted to ask Nanny Qi to look after her on the sly, but at that time the Great Empress Dowager was not well, and she did not like Xue Wanjun, so she had not agreed.

So many years had passed, and Xue Wanjun still held a grudge.

Alas, she’s a pitiful person too.

Nanny Qi let out a sigh, "Some things are a matter of fate, and this old servant doesn’t have that fate with the Consort. The Consort shouldn’t force it. Besides, this old servant doesn’t have the ability to give the Consort anything."

Looking at Nanny Qi in front of her, the last shred of hope in Noble Consort Xue’s eyes dissipated, and her gaze gradually turned cold as she came to her senses from her earlier emotions.

In the past, she always tried to please Nanny Qi, hoping that Nanny Qi would support her, making her path a little easier. His Majesty held Nanny Qi in such high esteem that if Nanny Qi fully supported her, her chance to ascend to the Empress’ position would greatly increase.

But over the years, this old woman was like a stubborn stone in a latrine, both stinky and hard, always cold, and she had had enough!

What she had tried so hard to achieve had been obtained by a Beauty who came from a Palace Maid background, obtained so effortlessly, how could she accept that?

A strong resentment welled up in Noble Consort Xue’s heart as she asked in a cold tone, "Does Nanny truly wish to become an enemy of this palace?"

Nanny Qi shook her head, "The Consort is mistaken, it is not this old servant who wants to become an enemy of the Noble Consort, but the Consort who is too persistent in troubling this old servant, this old servant can only refuse."

Noble Consort Xue’s smile slowly widened, filled with a chilling coldness, "Good, very good, such a firm refusal, hahaha, I understand now!"

She finally understood, no matter how much she respected and feared this old woman, she would never gain a shred of recognition.

It had been so in the past, and so it was now.

If that were the case, then what was there for her to hesitate about, and why should she try to please someone she could never please!

The smile on Noble Consort Xue’s face deepened, giving one chills, as she stared at Nanny Qi as if to etch her into her very bones, "Then here and now, I wish Nanny a long life of a hundred years!"

With those words, she flung her sleeves and turned around, her smile vanishing, her face filled with malevolence, and she walked towards Huaqing Palace!

The people of Huaqing Palace quickly followed. Soon, not a single one was left behind, and they all followed the Noble Consort, leaving the front of Huaying Hall.

Watching them go, Nanny Qi called out loudly with her head bowed, "Thank you for the Noble Consort’s auspicious words, this servant respectfully sends off the Consort."

The remaining others echoed in unison, "Respectfully sending off the Consort."

After the others had walked far away, Consort Xu De approached Nanny Qi, unease in her eyes.

This Noble Consort Xue felt so unfamiliar, as if she had become a completely different person, finally unveiling her true face without any disguise.

Over the years, she had been disgusted by Noble Consort Xue’s hypocrisy, yet now that this veil of pretense had been torn aside, she did not know whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.