The Noble Consort remained expressionless, while Consort Jiang looked both pleased and furious at the same time.
Zhi Zi’s face had already turned pale; she looked like she desperately wanted to dig a hole and hide herself away.
Just then, a eunuch from Longquan Palace arrived with an imperial decree:
“By His Majesty’s oral decree: Zhi Zi is hereby conferred the rank of Cai Nü (palace woman).”
Everyone was shocked.
So sudden?
Wasn’t it said that the Emperor had spent the night in the Empress’s chambers and did not favor Zhi Zi at all?
He hadn’t even slept with her—and yet she was promoted?
Zhi Zi was first stunned, then shocked, and finally overjoyed.
Her days of suffering had finally come to an end.
Consort Jiang’s expression became extremely complicated.
Although Zhi Zi had been rather foolish, she was still technically her person. Now that her maid had become a laughingstock, it reflected badly on her face.
But now, with Zhi Zi suddenly promoted to Cai Nü—the lowest rank of concubine—the situation had taken a dramatic reversal. At least it gave her a bit of dignity back.
The Empress must have realized Zhi Zi belonged to her, which was why she had staged last night’s situation to humiliate her. She hadn’t expected the Emperor to act unpredictably and instead embarrass the Empress herself.
Before Consort Jiang and Zhi Zi could even feel pleased for long, the eunuch continued:
“By His Majesty’s oral decree: Concubine Lin Qiuye, for diligent service and consistent loyalty, gentle and virtuous conduct, and strict adherence to propriety—now, in light of her punishment of kneeling in the rain and subsequent illness, she is to be promoted to Meiren (Beauty), titled ‘Yue Meiren’.”
At these words, the entire hall erupted in confusion.
Even Lin Anran was surprised. She hadn’t expected the Emperor to stand up for Yue Concubine—and even promote her to Yue Meiren.
But after thinking about it briefly, she quickly understood.
The Emperor was not foolish. He knew very well about the constant scheming in the harem. He simply chose to turn a blind eye unless it crossed a line.
This time, by promoting Yue Concubine, he was likely warning the Noble Consort.
The Noble Consort had used the excuse of a sick prince to take the Emperor away, which led to everything that followed.
So this promotion was likely a reminder: scheming for favor was acceptable—but using a child’s health as leverage was not.
The Noble Consort clearly understood this as well. Her already pale face grew even paler, and her beautiful eyes turned sorrowfully toward Consort Jiang.
If Jiang hadn’t foolishly gone to trouble Yue Concubine, the Emperor wouldn’t have issued this warning.
And if she had caused trouble, she should have cleaned things up properly—she had left traces behind.
Consort Jiang’s face turned even uglier. Her heart rose to her throat, as if a blade were already pressed against her neck.
The Emperor’s reason for promoting Lin Qiuye was actually because she had been punished to kneel in the rain and fell ill? To compensate her emotional grievance?
This was clearly dissatisfaction toward her punishment of Lin Qiuye!
Then… Zhi Zi’s promotion was also a warning to her?
At this thought, Consort Jiang panicked completely and looked toward the Noble Consort, hoping for help.
The Noble Consort gave her a subtle “stay calm” glance.
Seeing this, Consort De smiled knowingly and said, “And who exactly was the one who punished Yue Concubine… oh no, I should say Yue Meiren now?”
As she spoke, her gaze landed on Consort Jiang’s face, then meaningfully drifted toward the Noble Consort, her eyes full of schadenfreude.
Consort Jiang gritted her teeth in anger but did not dare speak.
The Noble Consort only smiled faintly, pretending not to understand the mockery, maintaining the posture of someone uninvolved.
For now, she had no intention of openly opposing Consort De.
Consort De was the Emperor Dowager’s niece. Although she was not as favored as the Noble Consort, she had the backing of the Empress Dowager, and even the Empress did not dare offend her—let alone the Noble Consort.
In truth, Consort De looked down on the Noble Consort’s methods.
Using a child’s health to compete for favor—utterly unworthy of a mother.
It was a pity she had no child herself. If she did, she would cherish them endlessly and never use them as tools.
Unfortunately, she would never have a child in this lifetime.
Thinking of this, Consort De cast a resentful glance at Lin Anran. That look of hatred—if it could kill—would have taken Lin Anran’s life a thousand times over.
It was because the Empress had caused her to miscarry at six months pregnant that she lost her child and could never conceive again.
Lin Anran raised an eyebrow in confusion.
Had the original host offended Consort De before?
But no matter how she searched through the original host’s memories, she couldn’t find anything related at all.