Chapter 716 - 494: Consort Ming Is Indeed Arrogant

Chapter 716: Chapter 494: Consort Ming Is Indeed Arrogant

The moment they stepped into the hall, the sounds of chatter and laughter inside came to a halt.

Yunzhao’s gaze swept over everyone present. Her gaze fixed forward, she stepped ahead to greet the Empress Dowager first.

"I greet Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager. May you be blessed with fortune and good health."

"Ah, Imperial Consort, there’s no need for such ceremony. Rise," the Empress Dowager said, waving her hand.

Consort Shu bowed and rose as well. She paid no mind to the fact that the Empress Dowager’s words hadn’t included her, and simply took her place beside Song Yunzhao.

Just then, Duchess Gu En led An Ling forward to pay her respects.

"I greet Your Highness, the Imperial Consort, and Your Highness, Consort Shu."

"I greet Your Highness, the Imperial Consort, and Your Highness, Consort Shu."

’Just from that voice, you could tell she had a lovely speaking voice. No wonder some people are so taken with a beautiful voice.’

Only then did Song Yunzhao glance at An Ling. She had a willowy waist, swaying like a delicate willow in the breeze. Her face was as lovely as a flower under the moon, and her voice was like the cry of an oriole. How to describe her beauty?

’In the words of a later era, she possessed an innocent allure, a subconscious charm that men found irresistible.’

Song Yunzhao took a single glance before calmly retracting her gaze. ’Knowing Feng Yi’s personality, he might spare a second glance for such a novel beauty, but he would never truly take her to heart.’

’They had been together for so many years, and she knew him inside and out. His standards for women were incredibly high; looks alone were never enough.’

’Beautiful, yet common. She wasn’t worthy of being considered a rival.’

"Duchess Gu En, Miss An, please rise. There’s no need for such rigid formalities here in the Empress Dowager’s presence," Song Yunzhao said with her signature, faint smile.

Duchess Gu En rose, and An Ling stood beside her. An Ling raised her head slightly, furtively studying the renowned Imperial Consort.

’Her first impression was one of overwhelming opulence. Everything she wore, from her clothes to her hair ornaments, was extravagant and beautiful. It was a beauty that seemed to seep from her very bones, cultivated day after day for years on end.’

’Then she looked at the Imperial Consort’s waist. Though not as slender as her own, the consort had already borne two children. An Ling had seen many women after childbirth, but it was rare to find one as self-disciplined about her figure as the Imperial Consort.’

’She recalled the fuller figures of her sisters-in-law back at the Marquis Mansion after they’d had children. Comparing them to the Imperial Consort, An Ling lowered her gaze slightly.’

Although An Ling’s inspection was exceedingly subtle, Song Yunzhao was always vigilant and already on her guard, so of course she noticed.

However, she pretended not to notice, exchanging empty pleasantries with the Empress Dowager. As she listened to the Empress Dowager express her endless worries for the Emperor, Song Yunzhao would offer a few words of agreement, but nothing more.

Just then, Duchess Gu En spoke up with a smile. "Why are the two princes not here? Speaking of which, the Empress Dowager often mentions the two little princes to me. She longs to see them."

The smile vanished from Song Yunzhao’s face. She turned to look at Duchess Gu En. "The Duchess must not have stepped outside yet today, or she would know it is overcast and a north wind is blowing. The Eldest Prince is buried in his studies; he must complete the assignments His Majesty left for him before departing the capital and dares not slack in the slightest. As for the Second Prince, he is merely a few months old. To bring him out in this biting wind... those who are aware would know the Duchess means well. But those who don’t might think you have other intentions."

’An Ling was stunned. Ever since the Imperial Consort had arrived, she had seemed so approachable, her eyes crinkling with a smile. It was a far cry from her rumored arrogance and tyranny. An Ling had started to think the rumors were false.’

’But now she understood.’

Duchess Gu En’s expression stiffened. "Your Highness, you’re making a mountain out of a molehill. They travel in covered sedan chairs and are wrapped in thick cloaks. You can’t let the Empress Dowager long for her grandsons day after day without being able to see them. That would be unfilial."

Song Yunzhao’s expression turned completely frigid. Seeing that the Empress Dowager had no intention of intervening, she shot to her feet. Her eyes fixed coldly on Duchess Gu En as she called out loudly, "Servants!"

"I am here," Nanny Yu replied, stepping forward at once.

"Duchess Gu En is someone who values family ties. There is some sense in what she says."

Hearing this, a trace of smugness appeared on Duchess Gu En’s face. ’In this world, no one dares to defy the principle of filial piety.’

Just as she was thinking this, she heard the Imperial Consort continue, "Well, what are you waiting for? Go and bring all the children and grandchildren from Gu’en Houfu to the palace. Come to think of it, the Empress Dowager has been back for so long and hasn’t seen any of the younger generation from her family. That was my oversight. I’m clearly not as thoughtful as Duchess Gu En."

Just a short while ago, Duchess Gu En had welcomed a new grandson, who was now barely three months old. The Imperial Consort’s order to bring "all" of them meant this infant grandson could not be excluded.

On such a cold day... Duchess Gu En’s face went white. "Your Highness, what is the meaning of this? The Empress Dowager wishes to see her own grandsons."

"I have always been a fair and just person. If she is to see her grandsons, then shouldn’t she also see the grandchildren from her maiden family? We wouldn’t want the Empress Dowager to be saddened by the oversight."

"Consort Ming!" the Empress Dowager finally spoke, her face dark. "Why must you twist the Duchess’s words?"

"Your Majesty, how is this twisting her words? What? Is it that Duchess Gu En dotes on her own grandson and can’t bear for him to enter the palace in this bitter cold, yet she has no qualms about the Emperor’s son braving the wind and snow? What audacity! If anything were to happen to the Second Prince, could Duchess Gu En afford to pay the price?"

The words were so blunt that the faces of both the Empress Dowager and Duchess Gu En turned ugly. It was one step short of throwing the accusation ’plotting to harm a prince’ right in their faces.

"Imperial Concubine, I am still here! How can I tolerate you slandering the Duchess?" the Empress Dowager said angrily.

"Slander? Did the Duchess not just suggest bringing the Second Prince here? He’s only a few months old! Even adults must be exceedingly careful in this weather, yet the Duchess would have an infant suffer the cold? Her intentions are utterly malicious!"

Song Yunzhao had no desire to feign civility with these people. Ignoring the look on the Empress Dowager’s face, she fixed her eyes on Duchess Gu En. "As for what you’ve said, Duchess, I will report it truthfully to the Emperor upon His Majesty’s triumphant return and let him decide." Then, she turned back to the Empress Dowager. "I am not feeling well and will take my leave. I beg Your Majesty’s pardon."

Song Yunzhao gave a curtsy, then turned and left.

’An Ling was dumbfounded. The rumors really didn’t lie! Consort Ming’s temper was truly as imperious as they said!’

’Consort Shu was also fuming. I can’t believe the Duchess dared to say such a thing. Does she think this is her own mansion? How dare she speak so lightly of an imperial prince?’

"Your Majesty, there are matters in the palace that require my attention. I will also take my leave," Consort Shu said. She didn’t even bother to acknowledge Duchess Gu En before turning and leaving with her attendants.

Once outside Shouci Palace, Consort Shu still found it difficult to quell her anger. She said to her attendant, "If I’d known it would be like this, I never should have let the Imperial Consort come today. That Duchess Gu En really thinks she’s something special. I was wondering why the Empress Dowager summoned her to the palace—so this was the trap she was laying."

Yunshang, who was walking beside her, quickly whispered, "Your Highness, please don’t be angry. From what I can see, I’m afraid this matter isn’t so simple."

"What do you mean?" Consort Shu stopped in her tracks. "What do you mean, ’not so simple’? Isn’t this bad enough?"

Yunshang glanced around before lowering her voice even further. "I was watching closely today. That Miss An kept stealing glances at the Imperial Consort. She doesn’t seem like the type to be content with her station."

Consort Shu laughed, but it was a laugh of pure anger. "What, wasn’t one An Pin humiliation enough? Now they want to send in another? Are the girls from Gu’en Houfu so unmarriageable that they have to keep shoving them into the palace, one after another?"

Consort Shu didn’t bother to lower her voice at all, and her sharp words drifted right back over the walls of Shouci Palace.