Lin Anran had previously promised the Empress Dowager that she would bring Luo Li to pay her respects every day, so the procession of consorts visiting the Empress Dowager now included a three-year-old girl.
With Luo Li present, the concubines restrained themselves considerably in their speech.
It wasn’t because they were careful around a child, but because Luo Li was the most beloved “Shengshi Princess” of both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. None of them dared to cause trouble in front of her—especially not trouble directed at the Empress.
After all, the Shengshi Princess had always been protective of her mother, the Empress.
The Empress Dowager was in low spirits that day. After a brief exchange, she kept only Consort De behind and dismissed everyone else.
Consort Noble and Consort Jiang both looked uneasy upon seeing Consort De stay, clearly afraid she would speak ill of them before the Empress Dowager.
Lin Anran, however, showed no change in expression. Calm and composed, she left with Luo Li and returned to Fengyi Palace. After Luo Li went off to her lessons, she had Chunhua prepare gifts and went to Qinxing Hall.
Upon arriving, she saw that many consorts had already sent gifts to Yue Meiren in celebration of her promotion.
Among them, Consort Jiang’s gift was the most valuable.
Not only did she send numerous precious jewels and jade ornaments, she also personally came to visit Yue Meiren.
However, her mind was clearly elsewhere. Though she claimed she was there to visit Yue Meiren, her eyes kept drifting toward the entrance, distracted and uneasy.
Only when a palace servant announced the Empress had arrived did her attention snap back.
Yue Meiren lowered her gaze.
So Consort Jiang had been waiting for the Empress.
“Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress.”
Yue Meiren stood behind Consort Jiang and also paid her respects, then glanced at Chunhua, silently signaling that Consort Jiang had ill intentions.
Chunhua caught the hint and was about to warn the Empress—when Consort Jiang suddenly dropped to her knees in front of Lin Anran and began crying out.
“Please forgive me, Your Majesty! This concubine knows her mistake! I should not have, without checking the weather, punished Yue Meiren for her disrespectful words, causing her to kneel in the rain!”
“But as the master of the Yaoguang Palace, it is not inappropriate for me to punish a concubine in a side hall.”
“However, I was still blind and offended Your Majesty. I have realized my wrongdoing and will henceforth strictly abide by proper conduct and assist Your Majesty in managing the harem.”
“I only ask that Your Majesty, seeing my sincere repentance, speak well of me before His Majesty and ask him not to remain angry with me.”
Although she claimed to be admitting fault, every word made it clear she did not think she was truly wrong—only that Yue Meiren was too weak to endure punishment.
At the same time, she was subtly implying that she was far more useful than a former maid like Yue Meiren. As long as the Empress helped her regain favor with the Emperor, she would be willing to switch sides from the Noble Consort and join the Empress instead.
She assumed the Empress, given her “simplicity,” would eagerly accept such an offer.
In her mind, everything was already settled.
The Empress was already recruiting consorts without children, and she fit the criteria perfectly.
Moreover, she was already the Noble Consort’s person. If she defected, it would only make the Empress more satisfied.
But the outcome was not what she expected.
The Empress rejected her flatly:
“His Majesty is wise and discerning and has his own judgment. How could he be swayed by others? If Consort Jiang wishes to ease his anger, perhaps she should reflect on herself three times a day.”
Let go of the urge to “help others”—it can prevent emotional burnout (and even physical stress).