“If I hear you address me like that again, I’ll have you punished for disrespecting the late empress!”
Imperial Consort Li was stunned, her face flushed with a mixture of shame and anger at Yun Chaorong’s words.
The frustrating part was that Yun Chaorong wasn’t wrong—it was just that no one had ever been so blunt as to tear off the facade before.
“With such an overbearing attitude, aren’t you afraid of ruining your reputation if word gets out? You haven’t even been betrothed yet!”
Imperial Consort Li’s tone carried a veiled threat. In the past, merely mentioning reputation had been enough for her to easily manipulate Yun Chaorong!
What teenage girl didn’t dream of marriage? Who didn’t have a handsome gentleman in mind?
If her reputation were tarnished, she would be looked down upon even before marriage. Even a princess had to care about her reputation.
Yet Yun Chaorong remained unruffled, her expression unchanged:
“Even if my reputation is ruined and I never marry, I’ll still live a life of luxury and honor. That’s none of your concern.”
Imperial Consort Li: …
“Guards, go inside and search according to the list. Find the items.”
“I am an imperial consort! Who dares to search Linhua Palace?”
Imperial Consort Li brandished her final deterrent.
Unfortunately, it was useless.
“Search!” Yun Chaorong waved her hand. “At worst, after we find the items, I’ll confess to Father and lay out the facts.”
The people from Morning Sun Palace filed in one after another.
Seeing that they were serious, Imperial Consort Li panicked. If her palace were truly searched today, how could she ever hold her head high in the palace again? Not to mention Yun Chaorong intended to bring this matter to the Emperor.
She nearly gritted her teeth to dust: “Stop! I… will have someone bring them out.”
“That would have been much better earlier.” Yun Chaorong sat steadily in her chair.
“What are you standing there for? Hurry and serve the princess some tea,” Yingxia urged the palace maid standing nearby.
The maid didn’t dare look at the consort and bowed her head as she went to pour the tea.
Before long, Liu Ye led several palace maids and eunuchs, carrying out numerous items and placing them one by one in the hall.
Hair ornaments, jade bracelets, calligraphy and paintings, vases… even a large rosewood screen.
Yun Chaorong couldn’t help but exclaim inwardly: Good heavens! You really had the nerve to take this much!
“Princess, three items are still missing: the Blue Phoenix Pendant, the Xiangyun Silk, and a set of Red Leaf White Porcelain tea ware.” Michun carefully checked the list.
Seeing Imperial Consort Li’s expression, Yun Chaorong knew these three items were likely irrecoverable.
“Fine, I’m not one to nitpick over every detail. If these three items can’t be found, we’ll compensate with other objects instead.”
Yun Chaorong pointed her slender fingers in the air a few times.
Yingxia cleverly understood her meaning and had someone bring out a gilded relief-carved plum blossom incense burner, then took down a painting of a court lady with hairpins by a famous artist from the previous dynasty from the wall.
Imperial Consort Li protested anxiously: “Do you know how valuable these are? How can you exchange them for a few bolts of fabric and some tea ware?”
Yun Chaorong: “I am the owner of the items. I say they’re worth ten thousand gold. If you claim my things aren’t worth that much, then show me yours.”
Imperial Consort Li nearly tore her handkerchief to shreds.
Show them? The items had long been given away as gifts—how could she produce them?
Over the years, Yun Chaorong had always granted her every request. She never imagined a day like this would come.
Yun Chaorong: “And that pair of large celadon vases by the entrance—take one.”
Imperial Consort Li straightened up: “Those were bestowed by the Emperor!”
Yun Chaorong: “Given by Father? Oh, then take the other one too.”
Imperial Consort Li: “…”
The people of Linhua Palace watched with bitter expressions as the staff from Morning Sun Palace carried away all the belongings. The aura of wealth and luxury in Linhua Palace instantly diminished by half.
Yun Chaorong had her people move the items but was in no hurry to leave. She continued to sip her tea slowly.
“Princess, are you still planning to stay here?” Imperial Consort Li wished she could drive her away immediately.
“Ah, that’s not the right way to put it. Didn’t you say before that you and I share a deep bond?”
Yun Chaorong suddenly wore an affectionate expression. “Out of consideration for our bond, I actually have some good news to tell you.”
Imperial Consort Li’s expression cracked: …?
Yun Chaorong dismissed all the palace attendants and continued unhurriedly:
“With the tense situation on the front lines and the unrest in the capital, we in the rear palace should do our part to ease the Emperor’s worries. Isn’t that right?”
Imperial Consort Li remained wary and did not answer, fearing a trap.
“To reassure the ministers, I discussed with the Emperor about hosting a Lotus Viewing Banquet, inviting the family members of the capital’s nobility to the palace.
By calming these inner household members, the court officials and nobles will also settle down.”
Imperial Consort Li sneered: “Are you trying to mock me for not being able to appear at this palace banquet?”
Yun Chaorong: “No, I’m letting you organize the Lotus Viewing Banquet.”
Imperial Consort Li could no longer understand Yun Chaorong’s train of thought.
Wasn’t this an opportunity to gain great prestige? If Yun Chaorong organized it herself, she could use the chance to build a positive image and be admired by women across the land.
Imperial Consort Li: “…Why?”
Yun Chaorong: “I’m lazy.”
Imperial Consort Li: …
“Hmph, the Princess has quite the scheme. What if I refuse, or if I mess it up?”
“Tsk tsk, then you’d be making a poor choice. Don’t you want a good reputation?”
Yun Chaorong analyzed for Imperial Consort Li:
“Look, you’ve angered the Emperor, lost his favor, and lost face in the palace.
The news of your house arrest has surely spread outside the palace, so you’ve lost face there too.”
Imperial Consort Li: …And whose fault is that?!
“If you don’t seize an opportunity to reestablish yourself now, in a few months, Linhua Palace will be completely forgotten. Those beautiful and talented women in the rear palace are not to be underestimated.”
Imperial Consort Li wanted to retort: “My family—”
“Don’t tell me your family will support you. If you can’t win the Emperor’s favor, how long will your family stand by you?
You come from the Du family, and there’s more than one daughter in the clan.
Wouldn’t it be simpler to abandon you and send a younger, more sensible one into the palace?”
Yun Chaorong finished her tea, stood up from her chair, and gave Imperial Consort Li a kind smile:
“So, what do you say? Do you want to earn a good reputation?”