Palace Fighting Naive Concubines’ Ascent to Power

Chapter 67 - 67 67 Consort Calms Her Anger (Update at 2000)

?67: Chapter 67 Consort Calms Her Anger (Update at 20:00) 67: Chapter 67 Consort Calms Her Anger (Update at 20:00) Nanny Chen felt oppression assailing her from all directions, leaving her breathless, and soon sweat began to bead on her forehead.

Noble Consort stepped down from the throne, approached Nanny Chen, and, upon reaching her, scoffed, “Do you know why you were summoned here today?”

The sound of the Noble Consort’s voice exploded above her head, terrifying Nanny Chen into a cold sweat as she quickly knelt down and said, “This servant does not know, please enlighten this servant, Your Highness.”

Yesterday the Noble Consort’s mood had still been good, so how could it have turned so sour after serving His Majesty last night?

She could not understand it at all.

Hearing this, Noble Consort laughed angrily, “Very well, indeed, this palace has truly raised a fine group of servants!”

As she said this, she lifted her right foot and kicked Nanny Chen to the ground.

Nanny Chen, enduring the severe pain from the kick, quickly scrambled up and knelt down again, pleading, “Your Highness, appease your anger, appease your anger, this servant knows not what upset Your Highness, please give this servant a chance to redeem herself.”

“Haha, ‘knows not’ indeed!

The sky could fall and you would still sit here unaware, comfortably complacent.

What use are you to me!” Noble Consort bellowed in rage.

Serving His Majesty last night was not only uncomfortable, but it also filled her with unease, as if something beyond her control would someday threaten her, threaten her position, and become an obstacle in her ascent to power.

She had never felt as unsettled as she did now; she disliked this feeling intensely.

Nanny Chen was her chief informant in the palace, yet she knew nothing; how could that not infuriate her?

If her informant was ineffectual, what difference was there between her and a blind or deaf person in this Harem?

Nanny Chen kept kowtowing to appease the Noble Consort, kowtowing so vigorously that it made a loud thumping sound, soon staining the floor with streaks of blood.

Noble Consort’s face was cold as ice.

She took a deep breath, and after seeing that Nanny Chen had kowtowed enough, she said, “Stand up and answer me.”

This servant must not be let off easily, nor could she be dismissed or killed outright; she still had her uses.

“Thank you, Your Highness, thank you for your grace,” Nanny Chen weakly stood up, her forehead swollen and bleeding, the blood trickling down her face, which she didn’t dare to wipe away.

Noble Consort glanced at her and asked, “Has there been any unusual activity in the Harem recently?”

Not daring to speak without consideration, Nanny Chen knew the Consort asked for a reason, yet she dared not keep Your Highness waiting too long.

She answered while straining her memory, “Reporting to Your Highness, affairs in the various palaces have been rather quiet.

Beauty Li spends her days in tears, but she dares not disobey the punishment you’ve decreed.”

“It goes without saying for Beauty Zhao, Talented Lady Sun, and Attendant Zhou; if there’s any activity, it’s crystal clear.”

“Xu Zhaoyi is the same as ever, still wielding her whip; no one dares to provoke her, so there’s no news from her end.”

The more Noble Consort listened, the more impatient she became; this was not what she wanted to know.

Nanny Chen sensed her impatience and suddenly remembered something peculiar, swallowing before she spoke, “However, there’s something unusual about Consort Liu.

Normally, Consort Liu would stay in Huafu Hall and rarely come out, but I don’t know why, since Jieyu Wei was sent to the Cold Palace, she actually took a stroll in the Imperial Garden.

She even declined His Majesty’s flower viewing banquet last time, but this time she willingly went out, which is quite abnormal.

Huafu Hall is strictly guarded, my people couldn’t get in, so I don’t know the specifics…”

Upon hearing the words ‘Consort Liu,’ Noble Consort sneered, “Humph, that’s all she’s capable of.

It’s normal she didn’t come to my flower viewing banquet—if she had come, I wouldn’t know what mischief she would cause.

Make sure you watch her closely; it’s fine if she stays in Huafu Hall, but if she comes out, I need to know her every move.”

Nanny Chen promptly replied, “Yes, this servant will ensure she’s watched carefully, be assured, Your Highness.”

Hearing this, the Noble Consort spoke sarcastically, “At ease?

If only this Consort could truly be at ease.”

Nanny Chen quickly agreed, “Yes, yes, yes, this servant is incompetent.”

The Noble Consort, not wanting to joke around with her anymore, made it clear, “This Consort wants to know the embroidery techniques that each of the palace concubines excel in.

It would be best if you could get your hands on their embroidery work.

This must be done covertly, without anyone noticing.”

Especially His Majesty, if he were to find out, the consequences would be severe.

“Consort, what is this?” Nanny Chen was somewhat confused.

What is the Consort planning to do?

“Just go if I tell you to, and ask no further questions.” Only she had seen the handkerchief belonging to His Majesty, and the fewer people who knew about this, the better.

Otherwise, if it were exposed, she wouldn’t be able to clear her name even if she had a mouth to speak.

Nanny Chen dared not say anything more, “Yes.”

“Especially that Little Daying from Canglan Court, you must get your hands on the embroidery work she has done.

It would be best if you could procure the handkerchief she made.” She did not know why, but that Little Daying gave her a bad vibe.

It would be wiser to obtain her handkerchief and compare it.

The Noble Consort had some skills in embroidery.

Although she had seen the fallen handkerchief just once, she could still recognize some of the stitching and embroidery techniques.

Although Nanny Chen was perplexed, she did not dare to ask more and simply responded, “Yes.”

The Noble Consort seemed to remember something and inquired further, “How is the investigation into that Little Daying’s background progressing?”

Upon hearing the Consort’s question, Nanny Chen started sweating again.

It had been less than three days since the Noble Consort last inquired, and what could have been found out in such a short period?

She had no choice but to pluck up her courage and reply, “Replying to the Consort, this servant has dispatched people twice to investigate, but the time has been too short, and no firm news has been returned…”

The Noble Consort looked at her unsatisfied, “Handle this matter as soon as possible.

This Consort wants to get her hands on that evidence.” Otherwise, she would be uneasy.

“Yes.”

After dismissing Nanny Chen, the Noble Consort looked weary.

She had not slept well the night before and her head already ached from too much thought.

Now that she had made arrangements, her entire being relaxed but the headache became more unbearable.

Seeing this, Cai Xia quickly went over to help her back to the bedroom to rest.

…

Inside the Star Palace.

After the Emperor had gone to court, he entered the Star Palace and subconsciously asked Zhang Qing, “About Canglan Court…” He remembered something and then fell silent.

Zhang Qing saw that His Majesty had started to ask about Canglan Court but had stopped halfway.

He knew that His Majesty wanted to know, but had some reservations.

As it happened, he had information regarding Canglan Court, so he bowed his head and approached, saying, “Your Majesty, regarding Young Master Lian from Canglan Court, they did not requisition any food ingredients all day yesterday.

Taking the initiative, this servant sent someone to inquire, and they said…”

He dared not conceal this situation since His Majesty was bound to find out sooner or later.

The Emperor was startled.

What does this mean?

What is she trying to do?

He hurriedly pressed, “What did they say?”

Zhang Qing hesitated slightly.

If he spoke directly, His Majesty would certainly be displeased, but he had to speak, so he bit the bullet, “They said that the food ingredients were originally requisitioned for preparing meals for Your Majesty, but they will no longer be needed, hence from today onwards, Canglan Court will not be requisitioning them anymore…”

The Emperor was somewhat confused, his first reaction was not believing her words because it didn’t seem like the style of the Little Concubine, she was too parsimonious.

He confirmed, “Did she personally tell you this?”