"Hmph!"
Gu Qianying merely gave a cold smile, still sitting calmly. Her indifferent eyes, however, turned towards Nangong Zhen'er. "Princess Zhen'er, have you lost your mind? So many people are present, and there are guards outside the hall. Would I do something that digs my own grave? Moreover, I am the Emperor's Imperial Noble Consort. Whatever I want, the Emperor gives me. Do I need to rebel?"
"You..."
Nangong Zhen'er was rendered speechless by the retort.
"Enough, be quiet."
Nanrong Qi spoke at this moment.
Nangong Zhen'er's expression stiffened.
The Grand Empress Dowager also shot her a glare but said nothing.
Nangong Zhen'er dared not say another word, but she glared fiercely at Gu Qianying several times.
"Is this the Emperor's new favorite, Imperial Noble Consort? Looking at her, she is indeed a beauty who can topple nations."
After everyone had returned to their seats, the Grand Empress Dowager suddenly smiled and looked at Gu Qianying.
Her words made it seem as if she had never seen Gu Qianying before.
And with this remark, Gu Qianying successfully became the "thorn in the side" of the other imperial concubines.
The implicit meaning was to force Gu Qianying to stand up and pay her respects.
After all, who would dare to respond while seated when the Grand Empress Dowager asked a question?
At this moment.
Standing beside the Grand Empress Dowager, Nangong Zhen'er, who had felt humiliated moments before, was now inwardly delighted.
She cast a malicious gaze at Gu Qianying.
She wanted to see how Gu Qianying dared not kneel before the Grand Empress Dowager in full view of everyone.
Hmph! Gu Qianying, you're still too green to mess with me, this princess!
Everyone present looked at Gu Qianying in unison.
Even Nangong Xuanning, who was seated next to her, was breaking out in a cold sweat for her.
"Gu Qianying, what are you doing? Quickly get up and pay your respects. Why are you still sitting?"
Nangong Xuanning whispered a reminder.
Among everyone present, only Ouyang Qinglin, seated on her other side, remained as composed as Gu Qianying.
"The Grand Empress Dowager has a keen eye. This is indeed Imperial Noble Consort Gu Qianying, oh, and also the eldest daughter of the Gu family, the most cherished granddaughter of the old General Gu. What? Has the Grand Empress Dowager not met her before?"
Ouyang Qinglin looked up at the Grand Empress Dowager and suddenly uttered this sentence.
The Grand Empress Dowager's expression immediately turned unsightly.
The Emperor Nanrong Qi, seated on the main throne, was also the same.
However, Ouyang Qinglin, besides being the Imperial Advisor of the current dynasty, was also a prince of Western Xia. This person could not be killed, but could be used as a hostage.
Everyone present gasped.
There were indeed people who feared no death in front of the Grand Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
Just as everyone thought the Grand Empress Dowager would fly into a rage and have these two clueless individuals, the Imperial Advisor Ouyang Qing and Gu Qianying, dragged out and beheaded.
They heard the Grand Empress Dowager say with a smile, "Oh, so it's you? Why does this old woman feel you look so familiar? So you are the legitimate daughter of the Gu family. Hmm~ But this old woman remembers that after you massacred the Gu family, you ran away. Now, how have you become the Imperial Noble Consort?"
The Grand Empress Dowager feigned ignorance, pretending to be foolish, and was finding ways to humiliate Gu Qianying.
As she played dumb, Nangong Zhen'er beside her also pretended. "Yes, how did a fugitive from the court become the Emperor's new favorite? Imperial Noble Consort, your methods are truly impressive. Why don't you tell everyone here today how you climbed the ladder overnight? How about it?"
Heh! You're good at serving men, aren't you?
She didn't believe Gu Qianying would dare to say it in front of everyone!
Such an embarrassment, and any normal person would have already hidden away and cried.
But at this moment, everyone watched Gu Qianying sitting there as if nothing had happened.
As if she were… deaf.
Nangong Xuanning beside her was very eager to stand up.
Even Lu Zhu, who was serving behind her temporarily, silently wanted to draw her sword.
Damn it, these people were bullying her young lady in public, and she could barely stand it.
Ouyang Qinglin's hands, hidden within his sleeves, clenched tightly. He looked up at Nangong Zhen'er.
He smiled, his smile like a poisonous poppy, charming and deadly.
When Nangong Zhen'er met Ouyang Qinglin's smiling eyes, she suddenly felt as if her throat was being choked, making her breathless.
At this moment, Gu Qianying, who had been silent, smiled and asked, "Princess Zhen'er, do you really want to hear?"
Although she said this to Nangong Xuanning, she glanced at Nanrong Qi.
How this Imperial Noble Consort came to be was known to Nanrong Qi and herself, but did others know?
Nanrong Qi's gaze deepened. He turned his head to Nangong Zhen'er and reprimanded, "Enough, that's enough, Zhen'er. Today is your Imperial Grandmother's birthday banquet. Stop causing trouble!"
Nangong Zhen'er's face turned pale. She looked at Nanrong Qi in disbelief.
Didn't he want Gu Qianying to be humiliated in public? Why was he blaming her now?
At this moment.
With the Emperor's words, how could anyone else dare to say anything?
They all obediently shut their mouths.
The Grand Empress Dowager's face was also very displeased at this moment, but as the mistress of the harem, she merely smiled at the current situation and said nothing more.
Since the Grand Empress Dowager and the Emperor were not pursuing the matter, others dared not. Empress Meng, who was standing by as if she were transparent, dared not utter a single word.
After the birthday banquet began.
The imperial concubines, led by Empress Meng, rose and presented their prepared gifts to the Grand Empress Dowager one by one.
Some were precious and rare jewelry and scroll paintings, while others were strange and uncommon trinkets.
Even the Emperor Nanrong Qi presented a coral gemstone he had treasured for many years.
Nangong Zhen'er also presented a gold-inlaid nine-dragon playing with a pearl bracelet.
The Grand Empress Dowager liked it very much.
Nangong Xuanning presented a white jade hairpin inlaid with lotus and crane patterns.
"Everyone has presented birthday gifts to the Imperial Grandmother. Imperial Noble Consort, what birthday gift will you be presenting to the Imperial Grandmother?"
After all the birthday gifts were presented, Nangong Zhen'er noticed Gu Qianying still sitting there and could not help but ask.
As soon as she spoke, all eyes turned to Gu Qianying.
Among them, a few concubines who were close to Nangong Zhen'er began to "attack" Gu Qianying!
"Has the Imperial Noble Consort forgotten to prepare a birthday gift for the Grand Empress Dowager?"
"Forgetting means not respecting the Grand Empress Dowager."
"Or perhaps the birthday gift you prepared is too shabby to be presented?"
"That shouldn't be the case, right? The Imperial Noble Consort holds a high position and is the Emperor's new favorite. Logically, if one cannot personally prepare the birthday gift, they can delegate it to the servants. Could it be that the servants are so unreliable?"
"The birthday gift for the Grand Empress Dowager was something I personally prepared. But... hearing your words, it seems you had your subordinates handle your gift, which shows a lack of sincerity."
Nangong Xuanning, who was seated very close to Gu Qianying, couldn't stand seeing others bully Gu Qianying, so she raised her chin and retorted to Consort Qi.
Consort Qi's expression stiffened, and she quickly explained, "Princess, you jest. The gifts I presented just now were all personally prepared by me..."
"Ugh..."
Before Consort Qi could finish speaking.
Gu Qianying, who had been silent all along, suddenly covered her stomach and gagged...