novelraw Chapter 595: The Arrogant Noble Consort Who Failed in the Struggle for the Throne (7)
Chapter 595: The Arrogant Noble Consort Who Failed in the Struggle for the Throne (7)
How terrifying!
Truly, strange things happen every year, but this year seems especially full of them.
Outside the hall, the assembled consorts couldn't help but exchange glances.
Although they weren't yet familiar with the term "love-addled brain," undoubtedly, at this moment, the current emperor, still lying on his couch, had been collectively stamped by everyone with the label "love-addled, not even a dog would want to eat that!"
Even the ever-dignified Empress was somewhat inexplicably dazed. It wasn't until she returned to her palace and removed all her silks and brocades that she slowly regained her composure:
"So, His Majesty truly cherishes the Noble Consort this much?"
The imperial palace, true love! The corner of the Empress's lips lifted almost imperceptibly. She gazed at the person in the mirror for a long time, speechless.
Well, this once-in-a-millennium piece of bad luck had actually been encountered by her!
Should she thank His Majesty for having at least some reason these past years, for not making her, the Empress, clear the position for his own precious Noble Consort?
Though she knew full well, with that one's temperament and capabilities, she couldn't handle responsibility at all. It would be a stroke of immense fortune if, on her very first day in a higher position, she didn't offend every single noble lady, both inside and outside the palace.What a blockhead!
Yet it was precisely this blockhead!
"Sigh, actually, Your Highness..." Seeing her mistress's expression grow increasingly grim, the matron at her side couldn't help but step forward. While helping to remove the hairpins and ornaments, she whispered in consolation:
"What kind of person the Noble Consort is, after all these years, Your Highness, you're not unaware. Why trouble yourself by getting angry with her?"
At most, she's all claws and teeth, with some lacking manners, arrogant and domineering enough to annoy people.
But as for anything else, everyone in the palace knows she doesn't have the mind for it, much less the brains.
In a way, considering how His Majesty has spoiled her into not knowing her own limits, with a detestable arrogance that looks down on everyone, as long as you don't provoke her, in her eyes, she probably wouldn't even deign to glance at the other consorts in the palace.
Forget about things like bullying or suppression.
The reason she's so detested, in Matron Ye's view, is simply that she occupies too much. His Majesty's favor is limited, and after over a decade of it being monopolized like this, who else would they hate?
But all this, to speak bluntly, what does it have to do with her own mistress?
"In this servant's humble opinion, it's that Consort Shu, no, she should be called Beauty Qi now, who is even more chilling to the core."
Carefully removing the phoenix hairpin, the matron couldn't help but mutter.
After all, who could have imagined it? Over the years, her low-key, gentle nature had practically become her defining trait. Although her own mistress knew perfectly well that to have reached her current position, the other woman was likely no pushover.
But who could have guessed that privately, her jealousy and resentment could run so deep?
To put it bluntly, it's no wonder His Majesty, who was practically at death's door, could be so "angered back to life." Nothing was even settled yet, yet the depth of the innate jealousy and hatred was already visible.
His Majesty is still lying there, the Crown Prince hasn't even ascended the throne, and she couldn't hold back from making her move first!
This, tsk!
The old matron couldn't help but shake her head:
"Your Highness, it's not for this servant to say, but from this, one can see this person's heart and mind are truly far too narrow!"
If she remembered correctly, although the Noble Consort is domineering, in all these years, where has she truly provoked her?
It seems she hasn't!
"Ultimately, an open spear is still easier to dodge, but a hidden arrow... Your Highness, you must guard against it!"
As her words fell, Empress Zhou before the dressing table also fell silent.
Pushing that annoying creature, the Noble Consort, along with today's shock, out of her mind, her thoughts cleared. Reflecting on the events of the day, at this moment, Empress Zhou herself had to admit.
The matron was right. Compared to the Noble Consort, who was transparent at a glance, someone like Consort Shu, no, Beauty Qi, with her deep, cunning mind and extreme concealment, was far more dangerous.
Especially once the Crown Prince ascends the throne. Unless one of them dies, having two Empress Dowagers is inevitable. When that time comes, no matter what, the Empress knew conflict of interest between them would be unavoidable.
Especially as today showed, this one also has a vicious nature...
Turning it over and over in her mind, looking at the woman in the mirror whose brows and eyes already showed many fine lines, Empress Zhou couldn't help but sigh wearily:
"It seems today's spectacle might not be a bad thing for us!"
Compared to this one, even that pair of emperor and Noble Consort, loving each other unto death, weren't this vexing.
In reality, everyone mixing in the imperial palace had quite a few sharp-eyed individuals.
Returning to their palaces, after the initial shock wore off and they pushed aside the myriad vexing thoughts about the infuriating emperor and Noble Consort, many consorts, upon reviewing the day's events, shared the Empress's sentiment, if not more so.
A bared-clawed big cat is annoying, but a hidden venomous snake is far more terrifying.
"Who would have thought! This Consort Shu, no, Beauty Qi, really knows how to put on an act!"
Even the Crown Prince himself, for a moment, couldn't help but look at his own mother with an unfamiliar gaze.
It was unclear whether it was for his own unlucky self, inexplicably kicked off the emperor's throne by his own mother, or for something else.
Beauty Qi, whose mind had already become much more sensitive after today's events: "..."
Forcing down the inexplicably surging rage of the day, Beauty Qi, with rare gentleness in her voice, spoke as gently as ever:
"Ye'er, you witnessed the scene today with your own eyes. It's not that your mother became arrogant upon gaining power, it's truly that the Noble Consort she..."
Thinking of that person today... she had clearly endured for decades and finally held victory within her grasp, she was clearly about to trample that person underfoot. But what about that person!
She still didn't even deign to spare her a glance from the corner of her eye.
Why should she!
At this thought, Qi Jing subconsciously tightened her grip on the plain handkerchief in her hand, trying to suppress the anger constantly welling up in her eyes.
But it was already too late. Having personally witnessed the flash of ruthlessness in the other's eyes, the Crown Prince not far away felt a flicker of helplessness in his gaze, which upon closer inspection also held a deeply hidden displeasure.
"The Noble Consort's nature is simply like that. Why must Mother trouble herself by contending with her!"
Beauty Qi: "..."