Instantly, everyone present turned to look in the direction from which the voice had come.
Although Shen Meiren and Liu Cairen had not yet received the Emperor’s favor, they had both seen His Majesty’s sacred countenance at the Mid-Autumn palace banquet the previous night.
Seeing this, everyone hurried forward to pay their respects.
Shen Meiren and Liu Cairen: “May Your Majesty be blessed with peace and prosperity.”
When Yang Jieyu saw the Emperor, her eyes instantly welled up with tears, and she spoke to him with a pitiful, weeping expression. “Your Majesty, you must uphold justice for your servant. I only spoke a few words with Consort Chen, and I don’t know how I offended her, but Consort Chen ordered this maid to forcibly make me kneel in public as punishment and even to slap my face.”
As soon as Qin Shu saw Xuan Yuan Che, she couldn’t help but recall his words to her the previous night. Hearing the voices of those paying respects and offering greetings, especially Yang Jieyu’s, she couldn’t resist rolling her eyes. Oh my, this little girl has two faces.
She collected her thoughts and looked at Xuan Yuan Che, mostly surprised. At this hour, shouldn’t he be in the Imperial Study reviewing memorials? Why was it such a coincidence that he had also come to the Chrysanthemum Garden? But she didn’t dwell on it and also bowed to Xuan Yuan Che in greeting. “Your Majesty, may you be well.”
Xuan Yuan Che walked up to Qin Shu, reached out to help her up, and said, “You have a weak constitution, rise first.”
Qin Shu: “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Seeing the Emperor’s attitude toward Consort Chen, Yang Jieyu’s heart pounded like a drum. As far as she knew, hadn’t the Emperor only visited this sickly Consort Chen that one afternoon when he happened to pass by Yuehua Palace? Consort Chen’s green head plaque had been hung up by the Office of Imperial Affairs, indicating that the Emperor had no intention of favoring her. So why…
Shen Meiren and Liu Cairen, maintaining their bow with heads lowered, glanced sideways at each other. At this moment, they were filled with extreme regret. Why had they followed Yang Jieyu to the Chrysanthemum Garden!
After helping Qin Shu up, Xuan Yuan Che looked at Yang Jieyu and the others. The gentleness in his eyes faded, replaced by an icy coldness.
Although the autumn sun was warm at this moment, Yang Jieyu, Shen Meiren, and Liu Cairen felt as if they had fallen into an icy abyss, surrounded by endless cold that made them tremble uncontrollably.
Shen Meiren understood clearly that in the Emperor’s heart, he obviously valued Consort Chen more and had paid no heed to Yang Jieyu’s complaints. She had reminded Yang Jieyu earlier, and now she needed to quickly clear herself of any involvement. Yang Jieyu had brought this trouble upon herself and should bear it alone; she didn’t want to be implicated. With her mind made up, she directly said, “Your Majesty, your servant has shown no disrespect toward Consort Chen, nor have I overstepped any bounds. I beg Your Majesty to see this clearly.”
Seeing Shen Meiren’s action, Liu Cairen didn’t hesitate. After all, she had to choose between offending Consort Chen or Yang Jieyu. Given the current situation, she couldn’t be foolish enough to offend Consort Chen. Without a second thought, she echoed Shen Meiren’s words: “Your Majesty, Sister Shen and I have shown no disrespect toward Consort Chen. I beg Your Majesty to see this clearly.”
Hearing their words, Yang Jieyu’s face twisted nearly out of shape. “You… you…”
“Silence! I witnessed everything that happened earlier. There’s no need for you to say more.” Xuan Yuan Che’s cold and stern voice cut off Yang Jieyu’s words. He then continued, “Since your mistress has already decided on her punishment, carry it out accordingly.”
Upon hearing this, Xin Yi understood that she had received the Emperor’s decree and replied respectfully, “Yes, Your Majesty. This maid will ensure it is done properly.”
Xuan Yuan Che fixed a cold gaze on Yang Jieyu. “The palace hierarchy is clear, with distinctions between noble and humble. As the daughter of the Minister of Rites, you show such disregard for propriety. When you first entered the palace, the Empress granted you the rank of Jieyu, but it seems this was a mistake. Since you fail to understand this distinction, you must thoroughly relearn it. As for you two,” he turned to the others, “return to your palaces and reflect on your mistakes behind closed doors.”
Shen Meiren and Liu Cairen: “Yes.” Thank goodness, they only had to reflect behind closed doors, but Yang Jieyu was likely in for a rough time.
Upon hearing this, Yang Jieyu’s worst fears and anxieties surged uncontrollably from the depths of her heart.
Xuan Yuan Che: “Li Mo.”
Li Mo: “Your servant is here.”
“By my decree, demote Yang Shi to Cairen. Have someone thoroughly teach her the palace rules.”
“Yes, your servant obeys the decree.”
Yang Jieyu collapsed to the ground. She had anticipated a demotion but never imagined it would be to the lowest rank. She pleaded, “Your Majesty, your humble consort admits her mistake…”
Xuan Yuan Che ignored her entirely and instead said to Qin Shu, “Let’s go. I’ll escort you back to Yuehua Palace.”
Qin Shu merely responded with “Yes,” then left the Chrysanthemum Garden with Xuan Yuan Che, heading toward Yuehua Palace.
Shen Meiren and Liu Cairen remained kneeling until the Emperor and Consort Chen had walked far away and disappeared from sight. Only then did they rise, glancing at Yang Jieyu—now under the supervision of Consort Chen’s maid—still kneeling there.
No, she was now Yang Cairen.
Shen Meiren cast a disdainful look at the kneeling figure. She had kindly warned her earlier, but it had been ignored. Now, she had fallen from the fifth-rank Jieyu, above both her and Liu Cairen, to the lowest ninth-rank Cairen, nearly dragging them down with her. Served her right.
Liu Cairen hadn’t expected the Emperor to demote Yang Shi so severely either. But ultimately, it was her own fault—she had become arrogant after being the first among the new consorts to receive the Emperor’s favor.
Though Consort Chen was also new to the palace, her family background and initial rank were beyond comparison. Even if her father was a second-rank official, what was that compared to the Duke Stabilizing Country Residence?
Shen Meiren: “Sister Liu, let’s go.””
Liu Cairen: “Yes, sister.”
Shen Meiren and Liu Cairen departed, leaving Yang Shi alone in despair…
The distance between Yuehua Palace and the Chrysanthemum Garden was short, and soon Qin Shu and Xuan Yuan Che arrived at Yuehua Palace.
Inside the hall, Xin Lian served tea and discreetly withdrew to the outer chamber.
Qin Shu: “Your Majesty, please have some tea.”
Xuan Yuan Che picked up the fragrant tea, took a sip, and looked at Qin Shu seated beside him. “Yang Shi’s father is the Minister of Rites, and she is the Empress’s person. No further demotion is possible.”
“Before Your Majesty arrived, I had already vented my displeasure. Such a person isn’t worth expending extra energy on. Yang Shi is impulsive—she became arrogant immediately after receiving favor. Her temperament was likely influenced and nurtured from childhood; her maternal family is probably much the same.”
“By saying this, are you implying ‘like father, like daughter’? Yang Shi is the legitimate daughter of Yang Shen, the Minister of Rites. Father and daughter share the same traits. If I wish to control Yang Shen, I could start from this angle?”
Qin Shu coughed lightly. “Your Majesty jests. I merely spoke casually without any deeper meaning.”
Really, why couldn’t she keep her mouth shut? But Xuan Yuan Che’s insight was truly sharp.
Indeed, like father, like son, and by the same logic, the reverse inference holds true in seven or eight out of ten cases.
For someone so prone to arrogance upon minor success, with proper control and precise timing, it is entirely possible to bring them down in one fell swoop.