The fish-mouthed bronze censer emitted curling sandalwood smoke.
The atmosphere in the palace suddenly became eerie and quiet.
The Empress Dowager calmly scanned everyone with her eyes. However, what made everyone's hearts skip a beat was that while they had been venting their dissatisfaction with Lan Miao, the Empress Dowager neither stopped them nor said a word. She just stared at them as if in a trance, which somehow filled people with fear.
The Noble Consort couldn't hold back anymore and softly asked,
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, please say something."
"Have you all forgotten one thing?"
The Empress Dowager mused for a while and then slowly said.
"Huh?"
Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what the Empress Dowager was referring to.
"The Lan Miao you've been talking about is now His Majesty's Consort Lan. You all forget to use the proper honorifics. Have you all completely forgotten the palace rules?"
The Empress Dowager's tone was gentle, but the meaning in her words was very clear.
There was no Empress in the harem, and the Phoenix Seal was in the hands of the Empress Dowager. However, the Empress Dowager rarely interfered in the affairs of the harem. The power to assist in managing the six palaces was in the hands of the Noble Consort and the Favorite Consort. But this didn't mean that the Empress Dowager had no authority.
Nanny Qiu, who stood behind the Empress Dowager, took over and said in a deep voice, "Those who offend Consort Lan by overstepping their ranks will be lightly punished by having their mouths slapped and severely punished according to the palace rules."
As soon as these words were spoken, the people below couldn't sit still.
They looked at each other. Finally, they gritted their teeth, got up, and knelt down. They pleaded in unison, "Please forgive us, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. We have offended."
Among them, the Noble Consort had a high rank, so it couldn't be said that she was overstepping her rank. But where did the Empress Dowager's words put her? Her face suddenly darkened. How could she not hear the implication in the Empress Dowager's words? Didn't the Empress Dowager's words mean that she recognized Lan Miao as Consort Lan? Then all the words they had said to sow discord before would have been in vain.
The Noble Consort said nothing, her face looking extremely ugly.
She glanced at the Favorite Consort, who had remained silent all this time, and speculated about her approach: sitting on the fence and letting things take their course.
So the Empress Dowager was on the Emperor's side.
"Considering this is your first offense, I'll let it go this time. Now that Consort Lan has entered the harem, she is your sister. I don't want any unnecessary turmoil in the harem. Do you understand?" The Empress Dowager's voice had always been calm, but the calmer it was, the more it carried an inviolable majesty.
"We understand, Your Majesty."
Everyone felt as if they had been pardoned and got up nervously.
Now no one dared to say a single bad word about Lan Miao.
Seeing the Empress Dowager's attitude of staying out of the matter, the noisy concubines didn't know who to cry to. The Empress Dowager was the most powerful person in the harem. They didn't dare to go to the Emperor. That would be like seeking death.
So they couldn't make a scene?
Seeing this, the concubines had no choice but to leave one by one.
The Noble Consort led the way out, looking furious. Concubine Xie walked beside her and whispered in her ear, "Your Highness, don't be angry. Consort Lan has no foundation in the palace. His Majesty just likes her for the moment. The novelty will wear off soon."
"How can I not be angry? That Lan Miao has ruined my good deeds again and again. Now she has entered the palace and become a concubine. She's about to climb on top of me. Her first child was a daughter, which means she can bear children. If she gives birth to a prince in the future, she'll be out of control."
The Noble Consort's beautiful face was twisted with hatred that almost burst out.
"No one can take my son's position."
"Your Highness, you must stay calm. We can't go and shout in front of His Majesty now." They were still on the grounds of the Cining Palace. The Noble Consort was really bold. Concubine Xie looked around and lowered her voice even more. She whispered, "Since she has entered the palace, why don't we just make sure Consort Lan can't bear children?"
The Noble Consort's expression changed. She suddenly understood what Concubine Xie meant.
She tightened her lips, and the anger in her heart gradually subsided.
"Come to my palace and explain in detail."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The Noble Consort and her entourage left the Cining Palace.
This time, the Favorite Consort surprisingly walked at the end. Bai Lu and Han Lu, her maids, stood behind her and didn't know what their mistress was thinking.
The Favorite Consort had suffered a loss last time but didn't take revenge. This really wasn't in line with their mistress's character.
The Favorite Consort in front suddenly stopped.
Their steps also paused involuntarily.
Following the Favorite Consort's gaze, they saw that small snowflakes were floating in the courtyard, covering several beautiful plum blossom trees. Princess Yujia was kicking a shuttlecock in the courtyard and having a great time.
"Your Highness the Favorite Consort, do you have something on your mind?"
"Isn't that Yujia? The daughter of Lan Miao's ex-husband is her reading companion, right?"
The Favorite Consort's voice was both charming and cold.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"The big one and the small one will both live in the palace from now on. Do they think they're part of His Majesty's family? If we can't deal with the big one, we can start with the small one." The Favorite Consort raised her long eyebrows and showed an unfathomable smile.
"Let's go."
They followed the Favorite Consort as she left.
Yujia in the courtyard seemed unaware and continued to happily kick the shuttlecock with Jiang He and the others. Hey, Xue'er's mother had become her father's concubine. Hehe, didn't that mean she and Xue'er were sisters in name?
Yujia was very happy.
---
The Mansion of the Brave Marquis.
The birthday celebration had originally been a joyous occasion. But after everyone received the imperial edict read from the palace, Lady Wen's face suddenly turned from rosy to deathly pale. It seemed as if she was about to faint again.
Wen Hongxin wasn't completely unaware of this.
But he was also extremely surprised by the news that Lan Miao had been made a concubine. He had noticed that His Majesty had feelings for Lan Miao, but the sudden ennoblement as a concubine was really incredible. Based on his understanding of His Majesty, His Majesty wasn't a person who was indulged in love. This time, he had actually made such a big fuss.
Had His Majesty reached an age where he was also indulged in beauty?
He looked at Wen Yuanning beside him with a troubled expression. Wen Yuanning had no idea about the matter between Lan Miao and His Majesty. This was like a thunderbolt hitting him on the head, making his face turn ashen.
"Third Brother, let it go. Your future is important. To appease our Marquis Mansion, His Majesty has transferred you from the Imperial Academy to the Supreme Court. You've become an official with real power from a civil official with only an empty title. This is a good thing. Why do you look so worried?"
Wen Hongxin tried to console Wen Yuanning.
But instead of showing any sign of joy, Wen Yuanning's face turned pale. He gritted his teeth and said to him,
"Second Brother, do you really think this is a good thing? Once I'm transferred out of the Imperial Academy, I can no longer go to the Elegant Hall in the palace. This is His Majesty... with ulterior motives."
Hearing that he dared to criticize His Majesty, Wen Hongxin's eyes widened in shock.
"Third Brother, don't talk nonsense. There are still guests here."
Wen Hongxin lowered his voice, his eyes full of panic.
Wen Yuanning gave a bitter smile. It seemed as if he had to muster all his strength to speak, "Second Brother, have you forgotten? Who is the current Minister of the Supreme Court? It's Lan Cengui, Lan Miao's father. Is His Majesty really promoting me by sending me to the Supreme Court where her father works?"
"..."
Wen Hongxin began to understand.
His Majesty was giving a promotion in name but a demotion in reality. He had completely got Wen Yuanning under his thumb.