The Noble Consort had thought that after speaking such words, Shen Qi would be immensely touched and would favor her daily, allowing her to rise above everyone in the Six Palace. Yet, unexpectedly, he wanted her to trade places with a servant?!
"Emperor," said the Noble Consort, "I, your Noble Consort, to exchange positions with a servant? To become a servant?" Her eyes widened, especially after seeing Su Zhiruan, who stood there with lowered eyes and obedient appearance, but was exceptionally irritating. "I am a noble lady, born into privilege and luxury. The Empress Dowager is my aunt. How can I be compared with these lowly palace maids?"
Shen Qi, lacking any enthusiasm, waved his hand dismissively.
The Noble Consort came to him, involved in the usual competition for favor, but her ultimate goal was the position of the Empress and to solidify her family's power. That was why the Empress Dowager had brought her into the palace and elevated her to the position of Noble Consort.
From the beginning, her motives were not pure. Shen Qi, whose mood had originally been disturbed, now looked at her with chilly eyes.
Perhaps, the contrast between individuals highlighted their true natures. Suddenly, he thought of Susu, who wanted nothing but to stay by his side, and unconsciously, his gaze wandered over to her.
At that moment, Su Zhiruan appeared to be obediently bowing her head but was actually lost in thought.
Accustomed to working, she had developed sophisticated techniques for slacking off, like now, when playing a mere background role proved useful.
But to the Noble Consort, Shen Qi's gaze seemed like a glaring display that she was an unnecessary presence.
The Noble Consort's gaze towards Su Zhiruan grew colder and colder, until finally, it carried a chilling intent to flay and debone her.
Relations between people were akin to a dance of wolves, especially within the harem, where resources were scarce and everyone clawed for supremacy. Initially, the Noble Consort thought she stood highest among them all.
Even though Shen Qi was disinterested in all the concubines of the harem, her high status alone had been sufficient. But now, out of nowhere, Su Zhiruan had appeared.
If he wished to bring someone into the harem, as the Emperor, Shen Qi could do so at any time. But now, he had kept her by his side.
The gaze of the Noble Consort grew increasingly ominous.
She gradually made a decision in her heart to remove all obstacles so that the Emperor's gaze and thoughts would focus solely on her. Then, she could pressure Shen Qi through her family's influence at court, forcing him to crown her as the Empress, and thus, her goals would be achieved.
"Does the Noble Consort have any other matters?" Shen Qi turned around and saw the Noble Consort's ferocious expression, which resembled someone ready to devour others. He placed his teacup firmly on the table, "Speak if you have matters, or you may return and spend more time with your mother."
The Noble Consort, reluctant and unwilling, while Shen Qi was not looking, glared secretly at Su Zhiruan. When Shen Qi glanced over, she quickly replaced it with a look of wronged delicacy. "Emperor, my heart for you is clear as heaven and earth, witnessed by the sun and the moon. If only you would visit me often, come and see the harem more often, there wouldn't be so many grievances~ I will also prepare soup tomorrow, to show my sincerity~"
Shen Qi nodded, "Visit your aunt more, she has been kind to you and you should show your gratitude. Being filial to her is far more useful than making soup for us. Just yesterday, mother came personally to ask me to visit you more frequently in the harem. You must serve diligently and not always think of improper methods."
Though the Noble Consort was quite displeased, Shen Qi had made his point clear, and she could only bow lightly and respond, "Yes, Emperor, I will visit the Empress Dowager tomorrow."
With that, the morning meal finally concluded.
The Noble Consort left with her entourage, while Su Zhiruan and another little palace maid, along with the servants, began clearing away the morning meal.
After finishing his morning meal, Shen Qi needed to meet the court officials in the Imperial Study Room and continue handling state affairs.
Meanwhile, Su Zhiruan and the others needed to quickly tidy up every aspect of the Zichen Hall.
"Here and there, we need two people to clean thoroughly," Su Zhiruan calmly instructed.
The palace maids and eunuchs below all held a sense of curiosity and respect for her at this time.
The scene just now in the great hall was witnessed by everyone.
Even a simple palace maid selected to serve in front of the Emperor is carefully picked by the Internal Affairs Office for their exceptional observational skills.
The Emperor personally offering her pastries and the Noble Consort treating her as a rival had gradually altered Su Zhiruan's status in the eyes of others.
This was someone not to be offended; she might be a palace maid today but could become their master tomorrow.
Everyone was quite astute.
On the other hand, Ziyu, who served alongside Su Zhiruan, curiously pulled at Su Zhiruan's sleeve and said, "Lady Susu, the Emperor actually personally offered you pastries, have you caught the Emperor's eye?"
"Those who work hard always have good luck." Su Zhiruan said, as she took a piece of pastry and held it to Ziyu's mouth. Watching her take a bite, Su Zhiruan's smile suddenly brightened.
"It's really delicious! I will continue to work hard too!" Ziyu nodded earnestly, her expression became much more animated, and the look in her eyes towards Su Zhiruan turned even more joyous.
Su Zhiruan hadn't found any information about Ziyu in the original plot, but having been in this world for quite some time, she had gotten a rough understanding of this girl's character.
Ziyu was not one for schemes and intrigues. Her greatest skill was knowing what to say and when to say it, never divulging a word when it was not warranted.
As the saying goes, a wise man submits to circumstances.
She relied on luck and her way with words and eventually became the Chief Court Lady who served directly before the Emperor.
As she was thinking, she saw a grand procession approaching from outside the side hall. Leading it was an old nanny, followed by two strong eunuchs, and behind them, a group of palace maids.
This procession headed straight towards Su Zhiruan upon spotting her.
A little eunuch noticing the situation hurried forward to block them, "How audacious! Who dares to intrude into Zichen Hall without permission!"
"You mutt! Look clearly who this is!!" One of the eunuchs behind the old nanny slapped the little eunuch, then burst out chastising, "What are you worth! We are carrying out an imperial command from the Empress Dowager! Out of the way!"
Su Zhiruan descended the steps, looking around as she walked.
The expressions of the two eunuchs were unfriendly, but the old nanny remained calm, not showing any reaction, merely observing everyone with her gaze, which finally rested on Su Zhiruan.
"This must be Lady Susu, who serves directly before the Emperor, you are summoned by the Empress Dowager," said the old nanny, standing in front of Su Zhiruan, who performed a respectful greeting, eliciting quite a favorable impression from the nanny.
"May I ask, nanny, why does the Empress Dowager seek your humble servant..." Su Zhiruan recognized the old nanny as someone close to the Empress Dowager.
But the one giving orders just now was the Chief Eunuch of the Noble Consort.
Such a combination, could it be that the Noble Consort has pleaded with the Empress Dowager to trouble her?!
Su Zhiruan hadn't expected the Noble Consort to consider her as a rival.