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Chapter 53
This time, she was truly scared, her fingers covering her eyes trembling.
When Jiang Xinyue got up and looked at the Xuanwu Emperor, upon seeing Concubine Su in his embrace, her bright eyes dimmed a little: "Your Majesty, you and Concubine Su are..."
The Xuanwu Emperor pushed Concubine Su away: "There are some things I want to ask you."
Holding another woman in front of Jiang Xinyue always made him feel uncomfortable, though the Emperor himself couldn't pinpoint the exact reason for this discomfort.
Wang Dequan stepped aside, revealing Fang Rumeng's delicate face. Jiang Xinyue was taken aback at first, then her face darkened with anger as she turned her back, her eyes already reddening quickly.
The Xuanwu Emperor had forgotten that he had come to reprimand, only wanting to hug his little darling and comfort her well.
However, the accompanying Concubine Su was rather tactless. Seeing Jiang Xinyue turn away, she thought she had found Jiang Xinyue's weakness and pushed Fang Rumeng forward: "Does Consort Zhen recognize this woman official from the Weaving Bureau?"
Jiang Xinyue couldn't help but roll her eyes. When she turned back, the anger in her eyes was undisguised: "It was just sending you a piece of clothing, even if you didn't recognize that palace brocade, the palace maids around you should have reminded you not to wear it, right? But you still wore it, and you were reprimanded by His Majesty because of it. What does it have to do with me?"
If she were someone who followed the rules, she wouldn't have worn that dress in the first place.
She just wanted to draw attention to herself, but didn't expect to clash with the more beautiful Jiang Xinyue while wearing the same outfit, making herself look like she was trying too hard and incurring the Emperor's displeasure, losing face completely.
So she insisted that someone had wronged her, that she wore it out of ignorance and was innocent.
The Xuanwu Emperor's gaze swept over the palace maids and eunuchs behind Concubine Su. Xi Que was so frightened that she hurriedly lowered her head and knelt on the ground, not speaking or looking up.
Her reaction had already proven that she had indeed reminded Concubine Su, but Concubine Su didn't listen.
Jiang Xinyue had just set a glaringly obvious trap that everyone was aware of, and it was Concubine Su who willingly jumped into it.
"Then why did Consort send a dress that violated the regulations to a concubine?"
Concubine Su bit her lip but still refused to admit defeat: "If you didn't send it, how would this concubine have worn it?"
"Why would I send it? Doesn't Concubine Su have any sense? Do you really want me to say in front of all these people what disgusting thing you did?"
Jiang Xinyue took the puppy from Xi Que and stroked its soft fur, her cold gaze fixed on Concubine Su. Concubine Su looked uncertain, swallowing hard, like a pumpkin with its mouth sewn shut, unable to say a word.
Xi Que opened her mouth but then closed it, clearly it was her!
The Xuanwu Emperor couldn't understand the undercurrent between the two women, but he could see that Jiang Xinyue had the upper hand, indicating that Concubine Su must have done something to harm Consort Zhen, and Consort Zhen was simply striking back.
Even when taking revenge, she used such a gentle method, attacking the other's character, allowing the person to willingly fall into the trap, but without any intention to harm. It was merely a small lesson.
Concubine Su was in the wrong first, yet she still clung to Consort Zhen's minor mistake and wouldn't let go, truly petty and narrow-minded.
"Enough!"
The Xuanwu Emperor waved his hand, stopping Concubine Su who still wanted to argue, feeling somewhat annoyed: "Concubine Su was in the wrong first, Consort Zhen didn't really wrong you. Withdraw!"
Outside, the bright sun was shining, but for Concubine Su, it was like she had fallen into an ice cellar.
Her tears were useless this time. The Xuanwu Emperor hugged the red-eyed Consort Zhen and gently comforted her: "I didn't doubt you. Concubine Su insisted on coming to get clarity, and since she didn't want you to be misunderstood, I came with her. I'll have Wang Dequan send the full-body mirror that came from overseas to the Hexi Palace later. Don't be angry with me, my beloved Consort, alright?"
The Great Yan Dynasty had obtained a few mirrors from later eras, which reflected people very clearly, far superior to bronze mirrors.
Not only did Concubine Su fail to get Consort Zhen punished, but she had also made the Xuanwu Emperor feel even more affection for Consort Zhen. A storm was rapidly gathering in her wild, crazed eyes.
A delusional madwoman could be triggered by the slightest contradiction, awakening the demon within and losing all rationality, committing horrific acts of insanity.
Jiang Xinyue turned her head, ignoring the Xuanwu Emperor, while giving Concubine Su a challenging look, as if saying: So what if I schemed against you? His Majesty still believes me and not you.
Seeing Concubine Su's breathing become rapid, her eyes filled with reddened blood vessels from anger, looking like she was about to have a fit, Jiang Xinyue handed the puppy to Xiao Xuanzi: "Concubine Su, if you're not leaving, are you waiting to accompany my beloved pet on a walk?"
The puppy had just eaten some meat bones, so Consort Zhen instructed Eunuch Xiao Xuanzi to take it out for a stroll to help digest the food.
A dark red flashed in Concubine Su's eyes as she followed Xiao Xuanzi's movements, unwilling to back down as she curtsied: "This concubine... will withdraw."
As soon as she left, Consort Zhen's tears began streaming down in big drops, her lips pursed in utter dejection. Wang Dequan, seeing this, hurriedly had all the palace maids leave, allowing space for the Emperor and Consort Zhen.
It wasn't appropriate for the likes of them to witness Consort Zhen's tears, which were meant for the Emperor's comfort alone.
"This concubine... this concubine has been wronged, but I didn't complain to Your Majesty... This concubine... wuwu... This concubine only wanted to teach her a lesson, to have her scolded a little. Is this a capital crime? Your Majesty... wuwuwu... Your Majesty is biased wuwuwuwu..."
She cried like a child, completely losing her composure, but the Xuanwu Emperor found it terribly endearing. Rather than unreasonably throwing a tantrum, it was more like she was being coquettish with him, voicing her grievances.
"If Your Majesty wuwu... if you like someone else now, just tell this concubine directly. This concubine will never be the third wheel. From now on... from now on, this concubine will never trust Your Majesty again, it's all lies... lies to deceive this concubine."
"Tsk..."
Even though he knew it was just angry words, the Xuanwu Emperor's heart still felt hollow as he covered her babbling mouth: "Don't say things like that, my heart isn't made of iron either."
It would also ache.
Jiang Xinyue thought to herself: Your heart isn't made of iron, it's cast from gold. On the surface it appears soft and mushy, able to leave a dent if bitten, but in reality, after being fired and cooled, it can regain its original hardness, even more formidable than sturdy iron!
Jiang Xinyue was secretly wiping her tears on the Xuanwu Emperor's dragon robe, thinking her vengeful little act could be hidden from the Emperor. Little did she know that her indignant look, like a bristling kitten, was both adorable and... ferocious?
Not long after the full-length mirror entered the Hexi Palace, Consort Zhen's delighted voice came from inside: "Wow! Is that me in there?"
The Emperor fondly patted her head: "In this harem, other than my beloved Consort Zhen, who else could be so beautiful?"
Feeling a little shy, Consort Zhen smiled and twirled around, lifting her skirt as she gazed at her reflection from left to right, with an expression of utmost wonder.
Finally, she stood before the mirror, thoughtfully stroking her chin and nodding: "Your Majesty's taste is indeed exquisite..."
The Emperor thought she was praising the craftsmanship of the mirror, complimenting his choice of gift.
But instead, she said, "Truly, I am the most beautiful one."