Ye Yunshuang's expression changed drastically, and she instinctively retreated, "What… what do you want to do? I warn you, don't mess around!"
Su Yunmo flew forward and kicked her calf, knocking her to the ground.
Ye Yunshuang immediately cried out in alarm.
"Momo!" Liu Lanxue was also startled and instinctively tried to stop her.
Su Yunmo was faster and slapped Ye Yunshuang across the face.
"Ah!" Ye Yunshuang's face was slapped sideways, and she screamed.
Su Yunmo tutted and shook her wrist, "Your skin is indeed very thick. Hitting you hurt my hand. Apologize!"
Ye Yunshuang struggled desperately, "Get lost, you damned girl, I'll have my imperial brother kill you, I absolutely won't…"
"Ah!" She was slapped again, crying out in pain.
Su Yunmo sat on her stomach and rotated her wrist, "Say that again."
Ye Yunshuang dared not speak further, "I apologize, I apologize, stop! Hurry and stop!"
"Your apology isn't loud enough." Su Yunmo raised her hand again and swung it towards her face.
"Stop!" A woman's sharp voice called out.
"Imperial sister-in-law, save me, imperial sister-in-law!" Ye Yunshuang reached out towards Su Yunmo's back and shouted.
Su Yunmo raised her eyebrows, stood up, and brushed the dirt off her hands before turning to look back.
Letting her see who this 'imperial sister-in-law' was.
Chu Xingyun frowned, seemingly disliking Ye Yunshuang's address, "Your Highness the Princess, speak with caution. Who is this imperial sister-in-law?"
Ye Yunshuang came to her senses and changed her address, "Noble Lady, Noble Lady!"
Chu Xingyun gave a look to the palace maid behind her, "The Princess is injured. Send the Princess back first."
The palace maid quickly stepped forward to help Ye Yunshuang up.
Although Ye Yunshuang was unwilling, she glanced at Su Yunmo, gritted her teeth, and endured her words before being helped away.
After they left.
Chu Xingyun looked up at the two people opposite her. Her gaze paused slightly on Liu Lanxue, then she bowed to Liu Lanxue, "Greetings, Consort Liang."
Liu Lanxue lowered her eyebrows and returned a formal bow, "Noble Lady, there's no need for politeness. I am no longer Consort Liang."
"Whether you are a Consort or not is decided by His Majesty. Since sister has served His Majesty together with me, the courtesies should not be omitted." Chu Xingyun's every word and deed was impeccable.
Su Yunmo knew she was trying to shut her up about the 'imperial sister-in-law' remark.
She had to admit, Chu Xingyun was quite a character.
Liu Lanxue lowered her brows and said nothing more, merely nodding slightly as a polite response.
Chu Xingyun continued, "It is cold now, and your body has not yet recovered. You should wear more when you come out for a stroll. If you fall ill, it will be your own concern."
She looked at Liu Lanxue with concern, sighing inwardly, "After all, things are different now from before. If you truly fall ill, I fear His Majesty will not be able to care for you as he did before."
Su Yunmo knitted her brows fiercely.
Liu Lanxue also paused, momentarily unable to react.
Chu Xingyun seemed to recall something, her face showing an expression of 'having misspoke,' "I apologize, sister, please do not take it to heart. I did not intend to mention Noble Lady Wang."
Liu Lanxue was confused, "Noble Lady Wang?"
Chu Xingyun sighed, "Really, it's all my fault. Originally, Consort Qin said not to let you know, fearing you would be sad. But since you asked, I cannot not tell you."
"Consort Qin has newly introduced a beauty to His Majesty. This younger sister is fair-skinned and rosy-cheeked, truly stunning enough to topple a nation. His Majesty is very pleased, and they are inseparable day and night."
Liu Lanxue's body stiffened slightly, her fingers curling slightly, "Is that so."
Ayao… he has someone he likes now.
Chu Xingyun noticed the fleeting sadness in her eyes and continued, "Sister, don't be sad. As the saying goes, flowers do not bloom for a thousand days, and people do not stay young forever, especially not among sisters in the harem."
"His Majesty's favor naturally shifts from you today to her tomorrow. It's best to get used to it and not take it too much to heart."
Liu Lanxue opened her mouth, suddenly feeling as if her heart had been gripped.
A sharp glint flashed in Su Yunmo's eyes, "Noble Lady Chu, it's best you keep these words to yourself and don't tell others!"
Chu Xingyun smiled faintly without speaking, seemingly unbothered by Su Yunmo's sarcasm.
Su Yunmo was upset, not expecting to encounter trouble after kindly taking Liu Lanxue out for a stroll. Just as she was about to speak again.
Liu Lanxue spoke first, "Momo, I'm a bit tired. Let's go back."
Su Yunmo's heart sank, and she looked at her with a complex expression, "Your Ladyship…"
Liu Lanxue shook her head, saying no more, and began to walk away.
Su Yunmo took a deep breath as she watched her retreating figure, then turned to Chu Xingyun, "Can't you stand to see anyone do well?"
Chu Xingyun raised her eyebrows, feigning ignorance, "What does Miss Su mean? How can I not stand to see anyone do well? I truly wish the newly entered sisters well. If they are later enfeoffed as consorts, I will also be happy for them."
A dark glint flashed in Su Yunmo's eyes, and she suddenly smiled, "You're right, I also hope she will be enfeoffed as a consort immediately."
"Because I want to know if, when that person is indeed enfeoffed as a consort, she will still hold in regard the person who recommended her?"
She suspected that if this woman spoke so boldly in front of her now, should such a day come, the first to be upset would not be Consort Liang, but herself.
Chu Xingyun's expression darkened slightly, and she remained silent.
"When that future consort becomes the sole favorite in the harem, I will definitely go and congratulate her first." Su Yunmo sneered and turned to leave.
After Su Yunmo left, Chu Xingyun frowned deeply.
She knew Wang Xiting's temperament very well. If she truly became a favored consort, it would indeed be a bit difficult to handle.
However, she figured His Majesty would not bestow his complete favor upon her to the point of enfeoffment so quickly.
After all, if His Majesty were a heartless person, she wouldn't need to find other women to divide His Majesty's favor away from Consort Liang.
Thinking this, Chu Xingyun felt slightly relieved.
But soon, Eunuch Jiao came from the other side, "Noble Lady is here. This old servant was planning to go to your quarters to deliver an imperial edict. It's good that you are here, saving this old servant a trip."
Wang Xiting composed herself and said gently, "Eunuch, what edict are you delivering? Does His Majesty have any words?"
Eunuch Jiao straightened his body and flicked his horsetail whisk, "Delivering His Majesty's oral decree, enfeoffing the daughter of the Wang family as Consort Ting, to be officially enfeoffed today."
Chu Xingyun froze, her eyes widening in disbelief, "What? Enfeoffed as a consort!"
How was this possible? Wang Xiting had only entered the palace two days ago!
Eunuch Jiao sighed, "Noble Lady also finds it strange, this old servant thinks so too, but His Majesty's decisions are final, and no one can stop them."
Now, His Majesty's favor towards this Consort Ting is deeply ingrained, not even Consort Liang at her peak reached this level.
Chu Xingyun gritted her teeth and took a deep breath, forcing herself to suppress her emotions, "Does Consort Qin know?"
Eunuch Jiao replied, "When this old servant went to deliver the edict, Consort Qin was in her palace. She already knows, but after hearing His Majesty's oral decree, she said nothing and remained very calm."
Consort Qin is, after all, a person who has seen much of the world and cannot be compared to ordinary people.