```
Fearing that the empress dowager would have an even poorer opinion of her, Consort Shu, despite her many dissatisfactions, dared not openly oppress and trouble Noble Lady Mu.
She waited for Noble Lady Mu to make a mistake on her own, yet the woman was sly as a ghost in her dealings, very smooth and slick, leaving Consort Shu defeated time after time. As a result, frustration inevitably built up within her.
It just so happened that she also couldn't stand Concubine Xue, a mere concubine who strutted around with an air of arrogance as if nobody else mattered—who was she trying to impress?
Moreover, Consort Shu had heard that Concubine Xue's ambitions were anything but small; she was eyeing the position of empress!
While Noble Lady Mu was cautious and gave no cause for criticism, Concubine Xue prided herself on being straightforward and unapologetic, never bothering to hide her intentions, which made finding fault with her all the easier!