"It turns out I have to give a curtsey to you, Imperial Consort," An Jing said with feigned seriousness. "Well, I shall do so. It's not a big deal, after all." As she spoke, An Jing pretended she was really going to curtsey to Consort Yu.
But Consort Yu dared not let An Jing perform the curtsey. As An Jing prepared to do so, Consort Yu quickly held her back, disallowing the gesture.
The Emperor himself didn't want An Jing to curtsey; if An Jing did, it would undeniably suggest that Consort Yu ranked above the Emperor were it to be spread abroad. That's absolutely untenable! Not even ten of her heads would be enough to atone for such a blunder!
