Chapter 67

Chapter 67: Zhen Huan Chronicles – An Ling Rong

“She truly doesn’t take us seriously,” Li Si Qi said softly. “Looks like our Noble Lady Wan doesn’t care about Floatlight Brocade at all. The Floatlight Brocade we consorts use to make clothes is, in her eyes, nothing more than fabric for servants. Noble Consort Hua, if Noble Lady Wan despises Floatlight Brocade so much, shouldn’t we take back the Floatlight Brocade in her hands?”

“You’re right.” Noble Consort Hua gave a cold laugh. “Since Zhen Huan doesn’t care for Floatlight Brocade at all, why should I leave it for her to reward servants with? I’ll go take it back myself. From now on, Zhen Huan won’t get so much as a single bolt of Floatlight Brocade again. Hmph!”

Without another word, she led a large group of people and strode away. This time, she headed straight for Bi Tong Academy. Li Si Qi wore an expression that said she was ready for a good show.

“Your Highness,” Senior Maid Ruo Lan said helplessly. “If Noble Lady Wan gets harassed by Noble Consort Hua again, she won’t be able to show her face in public.”

“You reap what you sow.” Li Si Qi leaned lazily against a cushion. “Zhen Huan can spoil the sister she can’t acknowledge in public, but she can’t trample on the consorts’ dignity like this. I thought that after Huan Bi went through the Bureau of Discipline, she’d learn to be more cautious. I didn’t expect the glory Zhen Huan got from being favored would make her lose her head again. She really thinks she’s someone special, daring to stand shoulder to shoulder with consorts.”

“Neither servant nor mistress. That really does invite disaster,” Senior Maid Ruo Lan agreed with a frown. “I wonder when Noble Lady Wan will finally understand that.” As someone at Li Si Qi’s side, Ruo Lan hadn’t been kept in the dark about certain news.

Of course, she knew her limits and wouldn’t report such things to the Emperor.

“She won’t,” Li Si Qi added. “With Noble Lady Wan’s temperament, she’ll only hate Consort Li for making a fuss and using it as an excuse to embarrass her. His Majesty picked Consort Li’s tablet yesterday. Noble Lady Wan deliberately played the zither on the road His Majesty would pass, sending her longing through the music, and dragged His Majesty to her Bi Tong Academy. In her eyes, fighting for favor is just about each person’s skill, and Consort Li shouldn’t resent her for it. So she hates Consort Li for taking revenge on her, and she hates her for humiliating her sister Huan Bi like that.”

“No matter what, Huan Bi is still a palace maid,” Senior Maid Ruo Lan said, her brows knitting. “The harem has strict ranks and rules. How could an attendant maid wear clothes made from Floatlight Brocade? Doing that is the same as not putting every consort in the palace in her eyes.”

“Because the Zhen sisters are both proud and arrogant,” Li Si Qi said as she took a slice of watermelon and ate it. “Zhen Huan thinks she’s a favored consort. Even as a mere Noble Lady, she thinks she can stand side by side with Noble Consort Hua. So, to her, having her sister wear Floatlight Brocade is no big deal. Huan Bi is her person, and she represents Zhen Huan’s face, so everyone ought to give her, as the favored consort, that respect. As for Huan Bi-she’s an illegitimate daughter who can’t be acknowledged in public, but she has never thought of herself as a servant. In her heart, she’s the Zhen family’s Second Miss. Her elder sister is His Majesty’s favored consort, so as the favored consort’s younger sister, she thinks she should be wearing Floatlight Brocade. It’s exactly this kind of blind confidence from those two sisters that caused this farce!”

Senior Maid Ruo Lan was speechless for a moment before she finally commented, “If she can’t see her place, she deserves to be unlucky.”… While the mistress and her servants chatted idly here, a furious Noble Consort Hua stormed into Bi Tong Academy with her people. Zhen Huan was still aching over her sister, who lay unconscious. At this moment, she had no choice but to come out. Seeing the imposing Noble Consort Hua, Zhen Huan hurriedly saluted.

“This concubine greets Noble Consort Hua.” “Noble Lady Wan, I heard you look down on Floatlight Brocade and directly rewarded it to your maid?” Noble Consort Hua wore a mocking expression. She strolled in a circle around Zhen Huan, her disdainful gaze sweeping her up and down.

“I really didn’t expect you to be so generous, Noble Lady Wan. You don’t even care for precious Floatlight Brocade. In that case, I can only take your Floatlight Brocade back. I can’t very well have me, a Noble Consort, wearing the same clothes as your maid. That would make every consort in the palace the same rank as your maid!”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Zhen Huan’s face changed drastically. She couldn’t bear that charge at all.

She dropped to her knees at once and begged, “It’s all because this concubine lost her sense of proportion. Please forgive me, Noble Consort Hua!”

“Forgive what?” Noble Consort Hua sneered again and again. “You’re so lofty, you don’t even look at Floatlight Brocade. I think Floatlight Brocade shouldn’t be wasted on you, Noble Lady Wan. Someone!”

“This servant is here!” Several maids and eunuchs answered at once.

“Go. Find every last bit of Floatlight Brocade,” Noble Consort Hua ordered coldly. “Whether it’s fabric or finished clothes, bring it all out for me. Such vulgar stuff mustn’t dirty Noble Lady Wan’s eyes.”

“Yes!” “This servant obeys!” The maids and eunuchs moved immediately.

“Noble Consort Hua, how can you do this!” Noble Lady Wan was shocked and furious at the sight. “Without His Majesty’s decree, how can you search this concubine’s residence? If His Majesty finds out, how will you answer to His Majesty?”

“Using His Majesty to pressure me?” Seeing her stand straight, fearless on her face, Noble Consort Hua actually found it laughable. “I hold palace authority. What can’t I do? Besides, it was you, Zhen Huan, who insulted all the sisters first. I’m only taking Floatlight Brocade back. I haven’t even punished you yet.”

“Even if this concubine did something wrong, Noble Consort Hua shouldn’t search my residence,” Zhen Huan said, furious and humiliated, still arguing her case. “Noble Consort Hua, you went over His Majesty’s head and sent people to search my palace. That’s disrespectful to His Majesty.”

“Whether I’m respectful to His Majesty isn’t for you, Noble Lady Wan, to condemn!” Noble Consort Hua was enraged and shouted sharply. “Managing the harem is my right. If you, Zhen Huan, don’t accept it, then swallow it. If you have the guts, go complain to His Majesty. I’d like to see whether His Majesty punishes you or punishes me!”

Zhen Huan’s expression stayed stubborn. Even though she couldn’t refute it, she still held herself in a proud posture. “Hmph!” Noble Consort Hua looked at her with disdain.

She did not take her seriously at all. When the maids and eunuchs brought out the Floatlight Brocade, Noble Consort Hua didn’t even glance at Zhen Huan. She immediately left Bi Tong Academy with her people and the goods. This time, she headed for the Hall of Diligent Governance.

It was clear she was going straight to the Emperor. “My lady!” Liu Zhu looked anxious as she helped her mistress up.

“Noble Consort Hua has gone too far.” Looking at the wrecked Bi Tong Academy, Zhen Huan’s eyes filled with bitter hatred. “I will remember today’s humiliation. One day, I will definitely…”

No matter what Zhen Huan and her servants did after that, Noble Consort Hua quickly arrived at the Hall of Diligent Governance with the goods. The Emperor, who had already heard the news, looked helpless. “Noble Lady Wan, how could you be so foolish,” the Emperor couldn’t help complaining to Su Pei Sheng. “How could Floatlight Brocade be casually rewarded to a palace maid?”

“This old servant heard that Noble Lady Wan has always doted on Miss Huan Bi,” Su Pei Sheng said with a smile, choosing his words carefully because he knew Zhen Huan’s place in the Emperor’s heart. “Last time, when Miss Huan Bi beat Lady Yu, she had already been punished with the rod. Who would’ve thought she’d still behave so recklessly. Noble Lady Wan should discipline her more. Otherwise, she’ll always stir up trouble in the palace.”

“If Noble Lady Wan hadn’t insisted on keeping her,” the Emperor said, flicking the prayer beads in his hand, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure, “how would she have done something like this again and slapped every consort in the face? When it comes to this matter, both mistress and servant are at fault.”