"Your Majesty, the Empress, I implore you, for the sake of our late aunt, Wang Qin is her only bloodline. Please show leniency in your judgment."
Liu MengHan's voice was soft, her expression sincere.
The Empress seemed moved, sighing with a show of regret, her eyes gradually welling up with tears.
"Wang Qin, your behavior is erratic, you disrespected the primary wife, and you acted presumptuously by bullying Princess Jianing. However, considering you have already been punished, I shall sentence you to copy Buddhist scriptures one hundred times to pray for the well-being of Eastern Chu. If it weren't for the sake of my late sister, I would have imposed a much heavier penalty today."
"This concubine knows her mistakes. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your punishment. I will correct myself today."
"It is good that you know your mistakes." The Empress then turned to Feng Jin and Lin YuWei, "I have already punished her. You are all sisters, seeing each other often. Today, with my decree, your grievances are settled."
Feng Jin offered a forced smile, tinged with sarcasm, "Your Majesty, the Empress, handles matters justly and impartially. Since a decision has been made, this concubine naturally has nothing more to say."
Anyone with a discerning eye could see how lenient the Empress's judgment was. Feng Jin was too lazy to bother with them. As long as they didn't cause her trouble, she wouldn't waste her time engaging in petty squabbles.
"Sister Feng Jin is right. Your Majesty, the Empress, is fair and just. Your daughter-in-law has no complaints."
Lin YuWei echoed her sentiments. Their words, though seemingly praising the Empress, carried an underlying sarcasm that was evident to anyone with sense.
The Empress had intended to use this incident to assert her authority over Feng Jin and Lin YuWei, but she had inadvertently shot herself in the foot and now had to feign a smile.
It was her fault for having such a foolish niece, who insisted on pretending to be clever and forcing herself upon Prince Jing as a secondary consort. Knowing that Prince Jing's marriage was personally arranged by the Empress Dowager, and that the newlyweds had only been married for a short time, to hastily push a secondary consort upon him was tantamount to embarrassing the Empress Dowager.
"You two children are discerning indeed, to recognize the Empress's fair judgment."
The Imperial Noble Consort was not to be outdone, her smile clearly mocking. The Empress's current tactics were quite pathetic. Publicly trying to force a secondary consort upon Prince Jing, as if she wanted all of her Liu family daughters to marry imperial princes. Did she truly believe the imperial harem was her Liu family's domain?
One could only imagine how the Empress Dowager would react if this matter reached her ears.
"Sitting here all morning has been quite tedious. Fortunately, the Empress arranged such an interesting spectacle for us. Otherwise, sitting still would have been incredibly dull!"
The Imperial Noble Consort stretched her neck and chatted with the concubines beside her, completely unfazed by the Empress's increasingly displeased expression.
"Princess Jianing, Princess Jing, I am going to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager. Perhaps you would care to accompany me?"
Feng Jin smoothly accepted the Imperial Noble Consort's invitation, "This concubine had the same intention. I am honored that Imperial Noble Consort does not find me wanting, and I am willing to accompany you."
"Let us go, Your Majesty, the Empress. This concubine will take her leave now."
The Imperial Noble Consort curtsied to the Empress and turned to depart, with Feng Jin and Lin YuWei following closely behind.
Seeing the Imperial Noble Consort leave, the low-ranking concubines also found excuses to depart one by one.
The vast hall was left with only the Empress and the two others.
"Don't kneel. Get up. Everyone is gone." The Empress glanced at Wang Qin, who was still kneeling, her tone laced with displeasure.
"Sister, please get up first."
Liu MengHan reached out to help Wang Qin, but was abruptly pushed away. Had it not been for the maid behind her, Liu MengHan would have fallen to the ground.
"You think you are worthy of helping me? You little wretch born to a maid." Wang Qin's face was filled with malice.
"You insolent creature! If Han'er had not pleaded for you just now, did you truly think you would have escaped so easily? Or do you believe I dare not punish you!"
The Empress was truly angered now. Her skill in internal strife was considerable, yet when faced with outsiders, she was so useless.
"Your Majesty, the Empress, Han'er is unharmed. My sister is merely upset, and it was my fault for being in her sight."
Liu MengHan's eyes were as pitiful as a young deer's. Such a woman was hard for anyone to reprimand.
"Putting on an act, just like your mother."
Wang Qin's tone remained aggressive. She detested Liu MengHan's pitiful demeanor the most. It was precisely because of this that she had stumbled at Liu MengHan's hands numerous times.
"Be silent! You, get out of here! Stay properly at Prince Jing's residence, and do not enter the palace unless absolutely necessary." The Empress waved her hand, ordering Wang Qin to be escorted out of the hall.
Any more glances at this foolish Wang Qin, and she might truly be angered to death.
After Wang Qin left, the Empress drank some tea, and the stifled anger in her heart finally began to dissipate.
"Aunt, I had the kitchen prepare some osmanthus and lotus seed soup. Please have some."
Liu MengHan held a bowl, serving the Empress the soup.
"You are truly a thoughtful child. It is a pity you are implicated by your mother."
The Empress looked at Liu MengHan with eyes filled with affection mixed with calculation. Her original intended candidate was not Liu MengHan; it was just that the child was too impetuous and unworthy of being used. Only then did she shift her focus to Liu MengHan.
The only drawback was that although Liu MengHan's mother was the primary wife, she was of servant origin.
However, Liu MengHan was outstanding enough, proficient in poetry, music, chess, and painting, and her beauty was also superior, surpassing even that Feng RuoYan. Her gentle and understanding nature was precisely what Chu Yan Xi favored.
She was confident that in no small amount of time, Liu MengHan would surely capture Chu Yan Xi's heart.
"Han'er knows her humble status and is unworthy of the Third Prince. I am grateful that Your Majesty, the Empress, does not look down upon me. Han'er will surely prioritize the Third Prince in all matters and take care of Your Majesty, the Empress."
The Empress nodded with satisfaction, "What I need is a daughter-in-law like you, obedient and well-behaved. As long as I am here, no one will dare to mock your origins. In two days, it will be His Majesty's birthday. You must strive to make a remarkable impression, and then I will request a decree from His Majesty to bestow marriage upon you and the Third Prince."
"I kowtow to thank Your Majesty, the Empress, for your grace."
"Get up. It is true that Feng RuoYan will marry into the Prince's residence before you. However, you need not worry too much. I will have Mama Wang accompany you to manage the Third Prince's mansion. Before you give birth to the eldest legitimate son, I will not let Feng RuoYan give birth first."
The Empress understood the importance of the eldest son all too well. It was her own carelessness back then, relying on her childhood affection with His Majesty, that allowed that wretch of an Imperial Noble Consort to give birth to the First Prince first, followed by Jingyi Imperial Noble Consort giving birth to Chu Chen Yi.
Fortunately, the First Prince was weak in character and not a candidate for the throne, and Chu Chen Yi had broken his leg. Only then did Chu Yan Xi have the opportunity to rise.
If not for her meticulous planning, how could they, mother and son, have a place in this imperial harem?