With the Emperor's dedicated care throughout the three days, Imperial Consort Lan recovered fairly quickly. Since it was thanks to the Emperor's efforts, Imperial Consort Lan have to prepare a gift in thanks. Imperial Consort Lan ordered her maidservant to prepare a bag of her personal tea leaves and sent it to the Emperor's Main Hall personally.
When she arrived, she found out that she was not the only person seeking an audience with the Emperor. Sitting on the Emperor's lap was the currently most-favored concubine in the harem, Concubine Jin.
Concubine Jin was feeding the Emperor some of the snacks she made personally and threw a fleeting glare at Imperial Consort Lan when she entered. Standing up, concubine Jin gave a short bow as a form of respect for her rank but did not say a word to her. Imperial Consort Lan cannot be bothered with her. She is just here to deliver her gift in thanks so that she does not come off as an ungrateful person.
"This Consort greets the Emperor." The Emperor nodded in reply before asking about her health.
"Thanks to the Emperor's care, this Consort is feeling better. Remembering the Emperor's kindness, this Consort has come to give the Emperor a gift." Holding out the bag of tea leaves in her hands, she waited for the Emperor to take it.
Concubine Jin frowned and snatched the bag before the Emperor could take it and rolled her eyes.
"Does Sister think that the palace is lacking in tea leaves? Why would Sister give such a meaningless and useless gift? Doesn't Sister know that everything his Highness eats has to be checked for poison?" Concubine Jin was deliberately finding trouble with her and she sighed. This is why she did not want the Emperor's favor.
Before Imperial Consort Lan could retort, the Emperor had already stood up and bellowed, "imprudent!"
Both Imperial Consort Lan and Concubine Jin kneeled down at his angry tone. The servants kneeled down as well as they chorused, "quell your anger, your Highness."
Concubine Jin was feeling gleeful inside, happy that the Emperor is angry at Imperial Consort Lan. She was someone who Concubine Jin can trample on anytime but now she has to bow and kneel to her? In her dreams!
Concubine Jin waited for the Emperor to punish Imperial Consort Lan but was shocked when he suddenly kicked her. Holding her side, Concubine Jin looked up from where she has fallen in tears.
"Your Highness?" Concubine Jin croaked out in pain.
"Shut your mouth! Slandering the Imperial Consort like this in front of this Emperor, do you have no shame or do you not put this Emperor in your eyes?" The Emperor took up the teacup by his side and threw it at her. The teacup smashed onto the floor, shattering into pieces.
Imperial Consort Lan shook her head before she stood up and retrieve the bag of tea leaves from Concubine Jin. Helping her to stand as she gestured for the servants to clean up the shattered glass, she turned towards the Emperor and gave him a small smile.
"Your Highness, Concubine Jin was just concerned for you. Also, what she said was not wrong. Indeed the palace is not lacking in tea leaves but she does not know that this bag of tea leaves are not common tea leaves. It is one of a kind. Your Highness cannot blame Concubine Jin because your Highness is not aware of this either." Imperial Concubine Lan handed the tea bags to the Emperor gently.
"Xuan-er," the Emperor said helplessly. He really wanted to punish Concubine Jin for saying such mean things about her but if she defends her like this, how can he hand down the punishment?
"Ignorance is not a sin," Imperial Consort Lan reminded the Emperor in a gentle tone. "Besides, your Highness might not know but this is my personal tea that my family has grown for me. This Consort is sure that the Emperor knows that each member of my family is gifted a unique tea leave when they come of age. This is my personal tea gifted by my Lord Father, this is rose tea, your Highness."
"Rose tea? I have never heard of it before," the Emperor opened the bag and took a curious sniff. The sweet scent of roses wafted into his nose and he widened his eyes pleasantly.
"Roses cannot be found in our kingdom, your Highness. It is grown in our personal field where strict conditions are applied for roses to grow and bloom." Imperial Consort Lan answered him before gesturing for her maidservant. The maidservant was holding onto a teapot all this while, waiting for her mistress's orders. She nodded and went forward, placing the teapot on the table and served two cups.
"This Consort has made some tea before coming so that Your Highness could taste it. Concubine Jin, do have a cup as well." Imperial Consort Lan gave her a friendly smile and her maidservant took the hint. Pouring another cup for Concubine Jin, the maidservant went to stand behind her mistress with her head bowed low.
"Since Xuan-er has defended you, I shall not pursue this matter. Know your place from now onwards," the Emperor barked at Concubine Jin before taking a sip of the tea handed to him by Imperial Consort Lan.
Concubine Jin trembled at the harsh tone she was spoken to and nodded obediently. She gingerly took the teacup and sip it as well.
As expected of one of the tea bestowed onto a family member of Imperial Consort Lan. It was truly unique and the flavor was fragrant. Even Concubine Jin sighed in content after tasting the rose tea.
"This tea is light and flavored. A little sweet but not overwhelming. Good tea," the Emperor smiled at Imperial Consort Lan.
Imperial Consort Lan accepted the praise with a small smile. After finishing her cup of tea, Imperial Consort Lan stood up and said in a gentle tone.
"Since this Consort has done what she has come for, this Consort shall excuse herself first." She bowed and left the main hall.
"Xuan-er?" The Emperor raised an eyebrow at her while Concubine Jin hastily stood up as well.
"This Concubine shall excuse herself as well," Concubine Jin hurried after Imperial Consort Lan as she ignored the stares of the Emperor.
"Wait!" Concubine Jin shouted and Imperial Consort Lan halted her footsteps. Turning around, she faced the panting Concubine Jin. As she was kicked by the Emperor, her hair was not in place and she looked quite in a disarray.
"Yes, Concubine Jin?" Concubine Jin trembled slightly at the sudden change of demeanor. The cold glint in her eyes and her confident posture as she stares down at her was giving her the same feeling as when the Emperor stared down at her in the main hall.
"This Concubine wishes to apologize for my actions in the main hall. It was this Concubine who has misspoken. Would Imperial Consort Lan forgive this Concubine," Concubine Jin bowed down respectfully which is very different from her previous behavior.
"I thought Concubine Jin was going to accuse me of something else," Imperial Consort Lan narrowed her eyes as she smiles at her.
"This Concubine does not dare," Concubine Jin lowered her head even more.
She had seen how the Emperor who normally dotes on her, treats Imperial Consort Lan. Looks like something happened during the three days the Emperor spent in Imperial Consort Lan's inner chambers. Concubine Jin is someone whose survival instincts are particularly strong. She had sensed that the winds has changed in the harem and Imperial Consort Lan will rise to power. She had managed to keep herself alive with this skill of hers and trust it.
Concubine Jin looked up at Imperial Consort Lan's cold face and made up her mind. She has to latch herself onto Imperial Consort Lan's skirt!