"Are you teaching this Emperor right now?"
The Emperor hates this kind of woman the most, woman who teaches him how to do things. To him, a woman should just sit back and look pretty. There is even a rule about this; Harem cannot interfere with court matters. But this woman is flaunting the rule right before him and teaching him what to do. The Emperor felt his blood boil and stepped forward. Raising his hand, he bought it down and slapped Concubine Qi so hard that her cheeks immediately swell, and blood dripped down from her nose.
Concubine Qi felt dizzy after that slap and raised her head to look at the Emperor in the eye.
"Even if Your Majesty feels that this Concubine is saying something wrong, this Concubine has to say it. This Concubine cannot bear to see Imperial Consort Su cry with such sadness in her eyes." Concubine Qi spitted out her words.
The Emperor stared down at the insolent woman and berated her. "Imperial Consort Su does not have the vicious heart to do such things, how dare you drag her name into this? You think you are being correct and can teach this Emperor how he should act? Are you not afraid that this Emperor will execute your entire family for offending the Emperor?"
Concubine Jin is stupid by nature and she only blindly followed Concubine Qi. She did not expect the Emperor to be so angry and even said that he wants to execute families. Hearing such scary things, Concubine Jin's mental state could not handle it and she fainted.
Whereas Concubine Qi was braver. She even argued with the Emperor with that nosebleed.
"Imperial Consort Su is kind and would never do such things. It was this Concubine that saw how sad she was when she heard another woman being heavily favored that this Concubine cannot allow the kind Imperial Consort Su being insulted this way."
The Emperor could feel his blood vessels bursting.
"So, you are saying that this Emperor has insulted Imperial Consort Su?" Pointing his finger at the kneeling woman angrily, the Emperor ordered his servants to send for Imperial Consort Su. He also ordered the servants to take Concubine Jin away and confine her in her palace for now. He knows Concubine Jin is just a follower so there is no point in keeping her here.
Imperial Consort Su had already known what happened with the garden. After all, she was the person who put on a pitiful act so that idiots like Concubine Qi would take the bait and do the dirty work for her while she maintains her clean image. She knew there was a chance the Emperor will find out and Concubine Qi and Concubine Jin will be punished but why is the Emperor calling her as well? She should have no relation to this incident so why?
Imperial Consort Su quickly made her way to the study hall and entered after being allowed in. Seeing Concubine Qi on the floor with a nosebleed, Imperial Consort Su frowned as she wondered what happened. Before she can even greet the Emperor and ask what happened, the Emperor interrupted her.
"This insolent woman said that this Emperor insulted you by giving the Imperial Garden to Miss Ling Xuan. Tell me, do you feel the same?" The Emperor stared at Imperial Consort Su, waiting for her reply.
Imperial Consort Su glanced at Concubine Qi, internally frustrated. If she wanted to die, just die alone. Why drag her down with her?
"Your Majesty, this Consort- "
"Your Majesty! Please wait," Ling Xuan ran into the study hall, interrupting what Imperial Consort Su was about to say. She had just woken up from crying and after confirming the situation using her dark arts, she quickly ran towards the study hall. Such a good chance to throw shade at that woman, Ling Xuan is not going to miss this.
Her appearance was disheveled and it could be seen that she ran all the way as she was sweating and panting but she does not look bad. In fact, she looked extremely beautiful and even sexy with the sweat dripping down her nape, her collar slightly exposed.
The Emperor immediately went forward and offered her some tea. Helping her to sit down on one of his chairs, he patted her back comfortably as he told her to drink some tea first before speaking. Seeing Ling Xuan being taken care of so well by the Emperor, Imperial Consort Su's eyes twitched irritably. When she entered, she was not even offered a seat and this woman is having all of that in front of her. How can she swallow this?
"Your Majesty, how can you ignore Imperial Consort Su like this? She is not even offered a seat." Concubine Qi could not stand seeing Imperial Consort Su being treated like this and spoke up, but her words only made Imperial Consort Su frown deeper.
"Shut your mouth," the Emperor glared at her and glanced at his servant, gesturing them to get a chair for Imperial Consort Su.
Imperial Consort Su did not slip up as she thanked the Emperor with a smile. Whenever she smiles at the Emperor lovingly, the Emperor would give her everything she wants while cooing at how adorable she is but now, his attention is solely focused on that woman. He did not even acknowledge her smile. Imperial Consort Su clenched her hands tightly under her sleeve.
After getting rid of Imperial Consort Lan, another bitch has wormed her way into the Imperial Palace. Thinking about Imperial Consort Lan now, Imperial Consort Su looked at Ling Xuan closely and gasped.
Everyone looked at Imperial Consort Su in surprise and Ling Xuan deliberately asked, "is there something on my face? Imperial Consort Su kept looking at Ling Xuan's face, does Ling Xuan look like someone Imperial Consort Su knows?"
Imperial Consort Su bit her lips and thought hard before she replied.
"This Consort just felt that Miss Ling Xuan resembles the deceased Imperial Consort Lan, doesn't Your Majesty think so too?" Imperial Consort Su knew that the Emperor no longer holds any affection for Imperial Consort Lan. Rather than affection, he hates her because she made him lose his ministers' support, especially the Lan house's support. If she brings up the resemblance between that woman and this Ling Xuan, maybe the Emperor will lose interest in this woman too.
"Imperial Consort Lan? Ling Xuan has never seen her, is she pretty?" Ling Xuan blinked her eyes at the Emperor, asking in an innocent tone.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes at the mention of Imperial Consort Lan and indeed, when he looks at Ling Xuan closely, she does resemble her a little. However, their personalities are vastly different. Imperial Consort Lan is nowhere as lovable as Ling Xuan.
"Ling Xuan is prettier," the Emperor patted her head with a pampering smile before glaring at Imperial Consort Su.
"Didn't this Emperor ordered that no one is allowed to mention that woman again?" Imperial Consort Su flinched at the harsh tone. She bit her lips hard as tears welted up in her eyes. She has never been spoken to like this before and of all people, it has to be the Emperor.
"This Consort has misspoken, please forgive this Consort." She muttered as she lowered her head.
"Your Majesty don't be angry. It's not good for your health," Ling Xuan tugged his sleeve and told him.
The Emperor nodded at her words before turning back to Imperial Consort Su.
"Imperial Consort Su, what do you have to say for yourself?"