"Clatter." The Empress Dowager knocked the teacup beside her to the ground, it shattered into pieces, and the tea spilled at the Empress Dowager’s feet, with some splashing onto her embroidered shoes.
"Empress Dowager." Princess Consort De and Noble Lady Ying were startled.
Chen Jing stepped forward, attempting to help the Empress Dowager wipe her shoes and clean up the mess on the floor.
The Empress Dowager rose from her chair, avoided Chen Jing’s hand, hurriedly walked to Noble Lady Ying: "Does Noble Lady Ying know what consequences there will be if there are any false words!"
Noble Lady Ying lifted her head and looked directly at the Empress Dowager: "Empress Dowager, how dare I speak false words? When I first heard about this matter, I also found it unbelievable. How could the Emperor take action because of Lady Li and Prince Xuan? But when my father encountered Prince Xuan, he noticed an injury on Prince Xuan’s face. He inquired with concern, yet Prince Xuan refused to disclose who was responsible."
"That day, the people from Luaxin Pavilion blocked Yinghe Pavilion, the Emperor and Lady Li were in front, and Prince Xuan left behind with an injury witnessed by many in the palace. Empress Dowager only needs to have someone inquire slightly to find out whether what I said is true or false."
The Empress Dowager’s steps faltered, nearly falling, but fortunately, Princess Consort De and the approaching Chen Jing supported her.
"The Emperor, where is the Emperor at this moment?"
The Empress Dowager asked with a pale face.
"The Emperor, recently there have been many matters in the court, it has been two days since the Emperor entered the harem. Today, he has just returned from court and is discussing matters with courtiers in the Imperial Study, reportedly, he has not yet eaten."
Chen Jing said warmly.
She deliberately mentioned that the Emperor has not yet eaten and has been very busy lately, hoping to calm the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager calmed down, pursed her lips, glanced at Noble Lady Ying still kneeling on the ground: "You may rise first, take a seat, and speak clearly to me about what you know."
"Yes." Noble Lady Ying stood up, thanked, and took a seat.
Jingxiang Palace.
Li Yuyu saw for the first time the late Emperor’s concubine, the once-favored Noble Consort of the harem, also the lady who later became the Empress Dowager in the book, Consort Zhuang.
"Yu’er has come."
Consort Zhuang wore a royal dress of purple-red, her black hair styled into a bun resembling an ingot, fixed with a hair crown, the Seven-tailed Golden Phoenix Hairpin was tilted into her hairbun, looking very noble and splendid.
She welcomed Li Yuyu with a smiling gaze, holding Li Yuyu’s hand.
"I have waited for you for a long time, these are all made by the small kitchen at my order, incomparable to the skills of the chefs in the Imperial Kitchen, but they are dishes you love to eat, you should first taste and see how they are."
Consort Zhuang led Li Yuyu by the hand all the way to the table, unwilling to release her grip.
Li Yuyu raised her eyes to meet the warm smile on Consort Zhuang’s face, feeling quite odd.
Could Consort Zhuang’s attitude towards her be too strange?
Li Yuyu looked towards Feng Yin, noticing no unusual expression on Feng Yin’s face, she realized that perhaps the original Li Yuyu and Consort Zhuang interacted in this manner.
"It is truly difficult to refuse Consort Zhuang’s graciousness, it would be discourteous for me to decline."
Li Yuyu discreetly freed herself from Consort Zhuang’s hand and thanked her with a bow.
Consort Zhuang’s smile remained, she teased: "Look, I said Yu’er has been away too long, now she feels distant from me, it must be, sit down and eat, in front of me, there’s no need for so many formalities."
Li Yuyu said: "Consort Zhuang is an elder, I am the Emperor’s concubine, a junior, naturally I must know my manners."
A meal completed in a peculiar atmosphere, and after Li Yuyu left Jingxiang Palace, Consort Zhuang’s smiling expression faded.
Consort Zhuang slowly narrowed her eyes: "Send word to Xuan’er, Li Yuyu has changed, don’t waste energy on her, focus on the greater good."