Chapter 428: Han Yunxi finally stumbles (1/2)
Chapter 428: Han Yunxi finally stumbles
Chu Qingge had always been a cold and proud woman, so her usual looks were filled with scorn. But when she disdained someone, her eyes turned even more contemptuous. Both her gaze and her expression were extremely distasteful to Noble Consort Xue.
If the empress dowager hadn’t instructed her beforehand to avoid direct confrontation and to borrow Han Yunxi’s strength instead, she never would have left Chu Qingge so much face today. What does that stupid woman mean by looking at me like that? Does she really think she’s so noble just because the empress dowager’s flattering her with false compliments? Does she really think His Majesty’s going to make her the head of the Noble Consorts without fail?
What an absolute idiot!
Chu Qingge had already shown her utter stupidity from her behavior at the empress dowager’s birthday banquet and Noble Consort Yun’s poisoning case. If not for the Chu Clan’s sheer military strength, no one in the harem would have treated her seriously even if the emperor favored her!
Their position against the woman was merely antagonistic at first, but after Han Yunxi publicly exposed their feud, a seed of hatred took root in Noble Consort Xue’s heart. Perhaps Chu Qingge had no idea, but Han Yunxi was very clear that the “head of the four Noble Consorts” was a taboo phrase in Noble Consort Xue’s presence. It was her fatal weakness!
In the past, Noble Consort Xiao had been the head, but after she lost favor, no one took the title seriously anymore. Noble Consort Xiao had status but no power now, so she never participated in any events in the palace, nor did anyone think to invite her. After she’d lost favor and Noble Consort Yun died from poisoning, Noble Consort Xue rose to favored status in their place. She relied on the strength of the empress dowager to be ‘one above many, and under one’ in the world of the imperial harem. Although she had no right to become empress, she could still be the head of the Noble Consorts. That had been her long-lived dream.
Naturally, it wasn’t one she took threats to lightly! In the end, mere antagonism versus hatred with a grudge were two completely different things. If it was simply the former, Noble Consort Xue would just be vying with Chu Qingge for the emperor’s attentions. Now that it was developing into the latter, Noble Consort Xue was even entertaining thoughts of sabotaging Chu Qingge. Even if it wasn’t for the sake of vying for favor, she didn’t want Chu Qingge to pass her days easily!
Chu Qingge didn’t think so deeply. She really did scorn Noble Consort Xue, but she simply went to her seat when she was done looking. Her chair was right under Noble Consort Xue’s. Mu Liuyue looked between Noble Consort Xue and Chu Qingge as she inwardly smiled coldly. She silently rejoiced at the fact that she’d rejected Noble Consort Xue in the past when the woman had suggested they join forces. Otherwise, both of them would be feeling the taste of contempt from Chu Qingge today.
Since Chu Qingge had already sat down, further explanations from Noble Consort Xue would be even more useless. She ended up sitting down as well. After drinking a few cups of tea, the empress dowager ordered her servants to give Chu Qingge some gifts. There weren’t very many things, nor were the objects especially rare, but each item was delicate and exquisitely made. Chu Qingge feigned happiness as she accepted the rewards before offering a pre-prepared gift of her own. It too, was no rare treasure, but still worthy of notice here.
The customs of the imperial harem dictated that new concubines needed to give presents to their fellow sisters on the first meeting, and vice versa. In other words, it was a gift exchange. After the empress dowager was finished, Noble Consort Xue and the rest all took out their presents. Even Mu Liuyue had prepared her share. When the fuss and fanfare died down, all the presents were exchanged. Only Han Yunxi remained sitting on the side with no gifts at all!
“Noble Consort Chu, what present did you get Imperial Qin Aunt? Hurry and let us have a look!” Mu Liuyue couldn’t wait to see, since she was certain Chu Qingge had prepared nothing.
Chu Qingge began to like Mu Liuyue a little more. She was waiting for those very words. “Aiya, I thought I wouldn’t have a chance to see esteemed wangfei in the palace, so I didn’t prepare a thing. Esteemed wangfei, you don’t mind, do you?” Chu Qingge put on a face of apology. Naturally, she was insinuating that Han Yunxi, as a wangfei, had no right to show up at a gathering of imperial concubines in the first place, much less receive a gift. Everyone else had presents here, but Han Yunxi was the odd one out. Being disregarded so much should only make her feel inferior to the rest.
After six months, Chu Qingge’s getting better at talking, too. Unmoved, Han Yunxi said loftily, “It’s all right. This wangfei wasn’t planning to accept your present, either. Let’s forget about it!”
Deathly silence fell on the hall again at that bombshell! Han Yunxi, ah, Han Yunxi, could your words be more cutting than this? Chu Qingge found herself utterly unable to retort thanks to her stifled rage. She was almost choking to death on her anger! Mu Liuyue felt even worse. None of her attempts to help Chu Qingge had yielded results at all! Empress Dowager Li couldn’t bear to keep watching this anymore. How great it would be if the empress was still here. Both Noble Consort Xue and Mu Liuyue are completely witless fools!
Her eyes gleamed coldly before she said, “Judging from Qin Wangfei’s tone…you seem unhappy?”
“How could that be?” Han Yunxi smiled slightly.
“You must be unhappy, I can tell!” Empress Dowager Li said, not giving her a chance to deny it. “I’m to blame for this as well, inviting Qin Wangfei here without telling Noble Consort Chu ahead of time. Greeting gifts are an old tradition of the palace and cannot be forgotten! Since Qin Wangfei is here, you must give a gift as well!” As she spoke, she stood up and pulled Han Yunxi and Chu Qingge to her side. “I’ll be the judge this time. Since neither of you prepared a present, you can exchange a piece of jewelry to express your sentiments!”
The oldest ginger was the spiciest, after all!
Everyone present could see that Han Yunxi was only wearing one piece of jewelry on her body—the white jade hair clasp holding up her hair. The empress dowager wasn’t stupid enough to insult Han Yunxi’s sparse getup like Mu Liuyue. Her true motive for the arrangement was to make Han Yunxi take out her hair clasp! She too, believed that Chu Qingge wouldn’t be stupid enough to offer up her own hair clasp for Han Yunxi’s own. Moreover, Han Yunxi would have no way to find another ornament to keep her hair in place in the palace. In other words, she’d be forced to take her hair out in front of everyone.