To the left of Cun Shan palace lay a peach forest. Imperial Noble Consort Xi and Jiang Yunyao were about to enter the peach forest when suddenly a sedan passed through startling them and making Imperial Noble Consort Xi nearly fall to the ground.
In fact, if Tong Xiuxia and the other Ladies in waiting did not react quickly and caught her, Imperial Noble Consort Xi would have fallen to the ground. Even though it wasn't snowing anymore, the winter was just over and the snow on the ground was not cleaned up completely because it was still very cold and the snow has not started to melt.
Moreover, the weather was still cold and it might start to snow again. So the eunuchs just cleared the snow a little so that it will be possible to walk on the ground and the ground was still slippery because of the snow.
If Imperial Noble Consort Xi fell down and injured herself, the consequences might be dire!
The Ladies in waiting were scared silly and surrounded Imperial Noble Consort Xi immediately.
Concerned, Tong Xiuxia held Imperial Noble Consort Xi tightly and worriedly asked while checking for any potential injuries, "Your Highness, are you alright? Did you get hurt anywhere?"
"This Palace is fine." Replied the Imperial Noble Consort. She turned to her Ladies in waiting and asked in a cold voice, "Did any of you see clearly who that was?"
A Lady in waiting immediately replied, "Your Highness, based on the back, the servant seems to be Yujiao, so the one in the sedan must be Consort Yuan."
Hearing her words, Imperial Noble Consort Xi snorted coldly. "Hmph! Consort Yuan? She didn't even give birth and is already so arrogant. What will she be like if a prince is born to her?"
"Your Highness, don't let such trivial matters bother you. Even if Consort Yuan has a son, she still cannot be compared to Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort." Tong Xiuxia implored, her voice gentle yet firm. "Your grace and dignity far surpass the petty ambitions of others. Do not let the actions of one tarnish your illustrious reputation."
But Imperial Noble Consort Xi, her eyes flashing with righteous fury, could scarcely contain the tempest raging within her. "This insolence cannot be tolerated," she declared, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "Consort Yuan's arrogance knows no bounds, and it is high time she learns the consequences of her actions. Xuixia, where is Consort Yuan going?"
"Your Highness, I heard that ever since Consort Yuan became with child, she went to Shoukang palace often to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. She must be going to Shoukang palace today."
Imperial Noble Consort Xi sneered hearing Tong Xiuxia's words. "That Consort Yuan was unable to obtain the favour of the Emperor and Empress so now she is bootlicking the Empress Dowager. Hah! With her personality, it is very surprising that she had the chance to carry an imperial child!"
Tong Xiuxia immediately nodded her head. "You are right, Your Highness. If His Majesty did not get drunk and accidentally spent a night at her place, she would never have had the chance of receiving the Imperial favour."
Another Lady in waiting chimed in and said, "Drunk? When did His Majesty get drunk? Wasn't it because Imperial Noble Consort Wenxi drugged His Majesty's food? She wanted to take advantage of His Majesty but His Majesty found out about her plans and left right away."
"Just to infuriate Imperial Noble Consort Wenxi, His Majesty went to Consort Yuan's Pu Du courtyard. Everyone in the palace knows that Imperial Noble Consort Wenxi does not like Consort Yuan and only let Consort Yuan stay in Pu Du courtyard of Yong Ning palace to bully her. But still His Majesty went to Consort Yuan's courtyard. Isn't that akin to slapping Imperial Noble Consort Wenxi's face? Ever since Consort Yuan was found to be pregnant, Imperial Noble Consort Wenxi immediately fell ill and has never since left her Shu Ya courtyard. She lost the Emperor's favor and her dignity but Consort Yuan became pregnant! Imperial Noble Consort Wenxi must hate Consort Yuan to the bones!"
As the Ladies in waiting were mocking both Consort Yuan and Imperial Noble Consort Wenxi, Imperial Noble Consort Xi opened her mouth and spoke to Jiang Yunyao. "Yunyao, you have never seen the Empress Dowager, right? Come, this Palace will take you to the Shoukang palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager."
Upon hearing these words, Jiang Yunyao wanted to roll her eyes. What never seeing the Empress Dowager and what paying respects? Isn't it just because Imperial Noble Consort Xi is angry? She is angry but she cannot punish Consort Yuan who was the reason of her anger as the latter was currently pregnant. Thus the Imperial Noble Consort had nowhere to vent her anger. She just wants to go to her aunt, the Empress Dowager, to complain about Consort Yuan.
But the Imperial Noble Consort would be labelled as a petty woman if she just goes to the Empress Dowager to complain about Consort Yuan, a pregnant woman. The Imperial Noble Consort is a high ranking concubine but she has no children. So if she directly complain about Consort Yuan, others would think that she was jealous because Consort Yuan is pregnant. At that time Consort Yuan can just say that she did not notice Imperial Noble Consort Xi and the matter will be good as over.
It wasn't like Imperial Noble Consort Xi was injured and she has no witnesses on her side except for her Ladies in waiting and palace maids. All of them were her people so nobody will believe her. As for Jiang Yunyao, she was only a newly conferred Noble Lady. Who would believe her words against a Consort's?
That is why she needs a reason and so the great Imperial Noble Consort Xi just decided to use Jiang Yunyao as her shield.
How petty!
But Jiang Yunyao liked this pettiness. So she nodded her head and agreed. "As you wish, Your Highness."
These words satisfied Imperial Noble Consort Xi and she immediately ordered her people to bring two sedans one for herself and the other for Jiang Yunyao and what was supposed to be a trip to the peach forest unexpecteddly became a trip to the Shoukang palace. In this way, the group moved towards the Shoukang palace.