In the distance, the palace maid left behind by the Empress saw this and walked over with a calm and composed demeanor, her voice infinitely indifferent.
"Lady Jieyu, the Empress has not yet spoken, so you may not rise, nor may you collapse!"
Everything before Zhang Wanrou’s eyes was blurry, and her mind was blank. The last shred of her reason was telling her that it was not yet time!
She struggled to prop up her body and said weakly, "Elder Sister, please rest assured. Please convey to the Empress that your subject can still hold on!"
After speaking, she knelt straight again. Even though the pain coming from her knees made her skin crawl, she could only grit her teeth and hold on.
Seeing this, a glimmer of light flashed in Su Yun’s eyes, though she did not reveal a hint of it on her face.
She bowed slightly and withdrew into Kunning Palace.
At this moment, the Empress Jiang Yunfu was receiving greetings and speaking with the imperial concubines.
Rong Gu, the personal nanny by Jiang Yunfu’s side, made eye contact with Su Yun before leaning over and saying, "Empress, Consort Zhang is about to reach her limit."
Jiang Yunfu’s expression remained unchanged, as if she had heard nothing at all.
Yuan Pin, sitting at the very back, saw this scene and looked toward Consort Shu in the distance.
Consort Shu was dressed in a rose-red robe with large sleeves, draped with a ceremonial cape. The collar and cuffs were embroidered with crabapple blossoms, and she wore gilded hairpins and pearl flowers... Her attire was the most luxurious among all the imperial concubines, second only to the Empress.
Receiving Yuan Pin’s gaze, she looked toward the Empress and Nanny Rong above.
At this moment, Nanny Rong was just withdrawing her body and glanced at Su Yun. Receiving the signal, Su Yun immediately bowed and exited the main hall of Kunning Palace.
Watching the small interaction between the mistress and her servant, a smile appeared on Consort Shu’s face as she asked, "Empress, I heard that the Emperor did not go to the Imperial Study to handle state affairs yesterday afternoon, but instead went to the side room of a lowly Jieyu and stayed until deep night before leaving. This matter, surely it cannot be true, right?"
Consort De, sitting opposite Consort Shu, sneered upon hearing this, "How could it not be true? I heard that the little hussy’s cries lasted for several hours; I don't know how many palace maids and eunuchs passing by heard it!
As a dignified Jieyu, acting like a woman from a brothel—she truly knows no shame!"
The imperial concubines present changed their expressions repeatedly upon hearing Consort De’s words.
The smile on Consort Shu’s face also stiffened, "Elder Sister Consort De, aren't your words a bit exaggerated?"
She had also been favored by the Emperor, so she knew very well that the Emperor never wasted much time on such matters. After half an hour, the Emperor would usually leave; how could it possibly be... several hours?!
"Whether it is true or not, you can ask the Noble Consort from Yonghe Palace... oh, the Noble Consort hasn't arrived yet..." Consort De did not know if it was intentional, but after speaking, she glanced at the Empress.
Seeing no reaction from the Empress, she continued, "It doesn't matter that the Noble Consort isn't here; Younger Sister Consort Shu can ask Yuan Pin and Consort An from Yonghe Palace. Especially Consort An, as Consort Zhang is in Consort An’s west side hall; she must have heard it the most clearly! Right?"
At this moment, everyone’s gaze shifted to Consort An.
Consort An’s face was pale, and her brows were filled with signs of illness, but her appearance was clear and elegant, with exquisite features; she could be considered a sickly beauty.
She lifted her eyes slightly and, suddenly feeling so many gazes upon her, a flash of panic appeared on her face.
She had been ill for two years and had been ignored for two years. Although she held a rank, she had never had any presence in the harem. Now, being stared at by so many eyes, she appeared very uncomfortable.
Seeing her dazed, a flash of disdain and dissatisfaction crossed Consort Shu’s eyes, "Consort An, Consort De is asking you a question!"
Consort An hurriedly stood up and took two steps forward, saying respectfully, "In reply to all the elder sisters, this younger sister has been bedridden and is dizzy every day, so I did not hear any sounds..."
"How unlucky!" Seeing her sickly appearance, Consort Shu waved her handkerchief and said irritably, "Since you don't know, why don't you step down? Don't infect us with that strange illness!"
A flash of embarrassment crossed Consort An’s face, and she bowed before retreating.
At this time, the Empress sitting in the seat of honor spoke: "Enough! Is the Emperor’s conduct something you can discuss?"
The words were not loud, but they were full of authority.
Consort De and Consort Shu also became more serious, not daring to speak casually again.
After the intimidation, Jiang Yunfu continued, "As imperial concubines, this palace hopes you will always remember your status and responsibilities! The Emperor bears a heavy burden, and his primary duty is the great affairs of the state!"
"If this palace finds out that anyone dares to seduce the Emperor during the day again and delay state affairs, do not blame this palace for being merciless!"
Everyone knew that the Empress was using this matter to warn them and to make them restrain the inappropriate thoughts in their hearts!
After all, once the matter of Zhang Wanrou came out, some were jealous, some were disgusted, but others were restless, wanting to imitate her to gain an opportunity!
Jiang Yunfu’s gaze swept across the faces of the imperial concubines, and her heart grew even colder.
Seeing everyone silent as cicadas in winter, Consort De said to the Empress, "Empress, please rest assured. We are all women of status and standing from noble families, born of legitimate lines, unlike those lowly concubine’s daughters or children of maids!"
"They can do such shameless things, but our status does not allow us to be shameless!"
Seeing this, Consort Shu also chimed in, "Elder Sister Consort De is right. Empress, please rest assured, we will definitely manage the imperial concubines in our respective palaces well and will not let such situations occur!"
Seeing the imperial concubines below nodding, the Empress’s expression softened slightly.
The main hall fell into a brief silence and oppression. Consort Shu looked at the empty seat above her and a flash of dissatisfaction crossed her eyes.
"What time is it already? Why hasn't the Noble Consort arrived yet? Isn't this showing too little respect for the Empress?"
Consort De hummed, "Isn't the Noble Consort always like this?"
Who let her be deeply favored by the Emperor? What is strange about her being a bit arrogant?
At this moment, Su Yun entered the main hall again. After receiving Nanny Rong’s nod, she stepped forward to report: "Empress, Consort Zhang could not hold on and has fainted!"
Who in the room did not know who Consort Zhang was? Hearing this, most of them felt a sense of schadenfreude.
"She fainted after less than an hour?" Jiang Yunfu was somewhat surprised.
She had thought she could hold on for a while longer, as the Empress Dowager’s people had not yet arrived!
Su Yun said, "The palace maid by the Jieyu’s side said that her body was already in poor health, and coupled with being too exhausted these past two days, therefore..."
A crack suddenly appeared in Jiang Yunfu’s dignified expression, but it was quickly hidden, "Since she has fainted, send her to the Side Hall and summon an Imperial Physician!"
Consort Shu was puzzled: "Empress, Consort Zhang has committed such a grave mistake, why are you still summoning an Imperial Physician for her?"
Wouldn't it be cleaner if such a person died? It would prevent her from seducing the Emperor in the future!
Jiang Yunfu slowly picked up her teacup, took a light sip, and only after a long while did she speak: "She is currently the apple of the Emperor’s eye. If she dies, will you go and explain it to the Emperor?"
Consort Shu was choked, a breath stuck in her throat, unable to go up or down. Being rebuked in public caused a burning embarrassment to rise on her face.
At this moment, another palace maid walked in from outside the hall and reported: "Reporting to the Empress, Nanny Chu from the Empress Dowager’s palace has arrived, and she has dragged Consort Zhang to the center of the front courtyard to carry out the punishment of the rod on the buttocks!"
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