Consort Hua’s expression stiffened. That was hardly a flattering thing to say.
“The Empress jests. I was merely thinking that today is the first time all the sisters have gathered, and it’s an important occasion, so I applied a little extra powder.”
With that, Consort Hua had no desire to discuss the matter further and turned to look at Consort Qi.
“I heard His Majesty looked over the Third Prince’s lessons yesterday and was furious. Consort Qi, why didn’t you try to persuade him?”
Consort Qi’s expression changed at once as she clutched her handkerchief.
Concubine Li chimed in with a smile, “It’s a good thing that His Majesty cares about the Third Prince. Elder Sister Consort Qi, you shouldn’t ask His Majesty not to be angry. You should urge the Third Prince to apply himself more, so His Majesty won’t be angered again.”
After saying this, Concubine Li glanced at Noble Lady Cao, signaling for her to add a few words as well.
Noble Lady Cao managed a strained smile, lowering her head and not daring to speak.
Concubine Li rolled her eyes.
Consort Qi tightened her grip on the handkerchief.
Seeing this, Consort Hua chuckled softly.
As the others took turns needling Consort Qi, Yixiu watched the show. The rest were afraid to offend Consort Hua, so the few Mistresses continued kneeling on the floor.
After quite some time, Yixiu finally interrupted Consort Hua’s deliberate antics.
“They’ve been kneeling for a long time. You should let them get up now.”
Consort Hua smiled. “Look at me. I was so busy chatting with my sisters that I forgot they were still kneeling. All of you, rise.”
Yixiu couldn’t be bothered to call her out. After reminding her, she picked up a fresh cup of tea and toyed with it in her hand.
Consort Hua looked at the several young and beautiful selected maidens, her smile not reaching her eyes.
“Which one is First Class Female Attendant Xia?”
Xia Dongchun stepped forward and curtsied, her eyes bright.
Consort Hua glanced at her clothes and said in a faint, drawn-out voice, “That outfit of yours is quite nice.”
Xia Dongchun failed to grasp what she meant and took it as a genuine compliment. Smiling, she replied, “The Empress bestowed this fabric on me a few days ago. I thought it was quite nice, so I had the servants hurry to make this outfit. I wore it especially for today’s audience.”
Consort Hua’s gaze turned cool as she adjusted the nail guards on her fingers.
“How thoughtful of you. The Empress’s gift of fabric wasn’t wasted. You may rise.”
Xia Dongchun didn’t notice the chill in Consort Hua’s eyes and thought she was truly praising her. Her smile never faded.
At this point, Consort Hua looked toward the others.
“Which two of you are Attendant Wan and Noble Lady Shen?”
Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang immediately stepped before Consort Hua to pay their respects.
Looking at their lovely faces, Consort Hua thought of how they too would one day become the Emperor’s women, and her gaze turned icy.
“I’ve long heard that Attendant Wan and Noble Lady Shen are exceptionally beautiful. Now that I’ve seen you for myself, the rumors are true. His Majesty certainly has a discerning eye; every imperial consort he selected is outstanding.”
Shen Meizhuang smiled gracefully and replied with poise, “I am but a humble willow, nothing compared to Your Ladyship’s peerless beauty!”
Consort Hua paused, then suddenly smiled meaningfully. She glanced at the Empress seated above them and asked in feigned puzzlement,
“Sister Shen certainly has a sweet tongue. But ‘peerless beauty’ is usually used to describe the Empress, isn’t it?”
The smile on Shen Meizhuang’s face instantly froze. Her hand tightened around her handkerchief, and she looked somewhat flustered.
A faint smile curled Consort Hua’s lips. She glanced provocatively at the silent Empress seated above them.
Seeing trouble brewing, Zhen Huan immediately stepped forward and bowed to Consort Hua.
Consort Hua gave her a cold glance, her eyelids lifting slightly.
Zhen Huan first addressed Yixiu. “The Empress embodies the virtue of the realm and blesses all its people. She is like the radiance of the bright moon, shining upon all living things.”
Consort Hua’s expression changed at once, but Zhen Huan turned and addressed her next.
“And Consort Hua is peerlessly beautiful, one in ten thousand, like a dazzling pearl, brilliant and radiant.”
“We lowly attendants are no more than faint fireflies, unable to match even a fraction of Your Ladyships’ splendor.”
Yixiu raised an eyebrow and lowered her eyes with a faint smile.
With the crisis averted, Shen Meizhuang stole a glance at Zhen Huan, lips pressed together, her eyes full of amusement.
Consort Hua, however, was in no such good mood. She fixed a chilly stare on Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang, then settled her gaze on Zhen Huan.
“Attendant Wan, you certainly have a way with words. I’m impressed.”
Zhen Huan curtsied again.
Consort Hua asked irritably, “Which one is Answering Lady An?”
An Lingrong took small steps forward and curtsied.
Consort Hua stared at her, her gaze as cold as ever.
Just as An Lingrong was wondering what she had done to offend Consort Hua, Consort Hua said lightly, “You may rise.”
An Lingrong rose uneasily and looked into Consort Hua’s unsmiling eyes, feeling a chill seep through her entire body.
Only then did the bullet comments belatedly realize that the plot had changed again.
【Consort Hua’s gaze is like a knife. She’s terrifying.】
【Wasn’t the Empress always pretending to be virtuous early on? Why didn’t she say anything to Consort Hua this time when she saw the Mistresses kneeling?】