Otherwise, how could she have maintained her high position for so many years without being toppled? It was because she could sense danger and nip all threats in the bud.
Today, she had to ensure these people were saved, not only for her eyeballs in the palace but also for her credibility.
If Consort Xu De succeeded, what credibility would she have left in the palace afterward?
She didn’t care about these people’s lives; if they were gone, she could simply find others. But if she lost her credibility...
Noble Consort Xue grew more terrified the more she thought about it, unable to hide her panic and anger. If it was partly true and mostly acting before, now it was pure fear, genuinely feeling the crisis.
She closed her eyes to mask her thoughts, and when she opened them again, all that remained was clarity.
She forcefully closed the booklet and shouted, "Absurd, truly absurd! Is this how you handle things? Just by a booklet you decide the fate of your subordinates? Utterly preposterous, palace matters should not be trifled with !"
Consort Xu De really couldn’t be bothered, resting her chin on her hand she asked, "What’s wrong with Noble Consort now? Is it not clearly written at the top, or does the Consort not know how to read? Ming Jing, go and read it to the Consort."
"You!" Noble Consort choked. She took a deep breath and said, "Just based on what’s written in this booklet you decide guilt? Doesn’t that mean anyone could fabricate accusations? Convictions should be based on complete evidence from witnesses and facts..."
"Oh, the Consort wants witness and physical evidence, right? I have them. Bring them..."
"Enough!" Noble Consort interrupted, furious at Consort Xu De’s nonchalant demeanor.
She coldly addressed Consort Xu De with a series of questions, "Where did this booklet come from? Is what’s written in it true or false? If true, why were the culprits not apprehended when they committed the offenses recorded, only to be arrested now? Some of the crimes listed weren’t caught on spot; how can you verify their truthfulness afterwards? What if someone arbitrarily frames others!"
Having said that, Noble Consort dominantly stated, "Consort Xu De, you are anxious to help manage the harem and act without considering consequences, not understanding the rules, which is excusable. Since this palace has seen it, it cannot ignore it. Cai Qin, take someone and release those servants first. The matters in the booklet will be checked according to the rules by this palace, and Consort De need not trouble herself further."
Ji Yunlai suddenly looked up at Consort Xu De, as if their previous actions were indeed unregulated.
Just as Cai Qin was leading people to release the prisoners...
Consort Xu De casually grabbed a Flying Dart and threw it, landing just a step before Cai Qin and the group.
Cai Qin abruptly stopped, her heart chilled. She quickly glanced at Consort Xu De — seeing is believing, Consort De is indeed accurate!
Consort Xu De slowly uttered two words, "Who dares?"
Noble Consort abruptly stood up, furiously scolding, "Xu Rong Ying, are you attempting a rebellion!"
Consort Xu De burst out laughing. After her laughter subsided, she mockingly said, "Don’t rush to label. Noble Consort has been accusing and defending these servants without cause since she arrived, who knows if the Consort will shield these servants after releasing them?"
Caressing the whip, she continued, "The servants I intend to deal with all have clear evidence against them, yet the Consort is too lazy to look and prematurely denies all this evidence without acceptance, tsk tsk, truly puzzling."
While saying this and shaking her head, her gaze was as sarcastic as could be.
Noble Consort narrowed her eyes dangerously, "Without following the rules, how could this palace determine whether the evidence is true or false?"
Consort De stood up, scanned the room, and noticed that Ji Yunlai of the Punishment Bureau was focusing intently, which gave her some insight.
She looked back at the Noble Consort and asked, "What rules does the Consort wish us to follow? I have adhered to all the procedures, processed by the hands of the Punishment Bureau, the crimes announced publicly, with many Managers of the Harem witnessing it clearly!"
The Noble Consort’s intent to kill soared, and she sneered, "By bypassing me, you are not following the rules!"
Without further ado, the Noble Consort made up her mind, took the item she had prepared earlier, walked to the center of the room, and raised it high, "This palace holds the rank of Second Rank Noble Consort, personally appointed by His Majesty, and I have the authority to manage the Harem. Currently, the Central Palace is undecided, making me the foremost under His Majesty. Here is the royal seal, who dares to disobey!"
To suppress Consort Xu De, she had gone all out, even handling such matters personally.
She had thought about entrusting a servant with the task, which would befit her status, but she feared that Consort Xu De might challenge the authenticity of the royal seal, so she decided to do it herself.
Everyone present felt a chill in their hearts. Managers close to the Noble Consort, seizing the opportunity, knelt down, crying out, "This servant dares not disobey, but will follow Consort’s commands!"
Those who were hesitating had no choice but to kneel as well.
Ji Yunlai also had to kneel, feeling a chill in his heart. It was over, the tide had turned; unless His Majesty came, anyone who dared not listen was defying imperial power, equivalent to rebellion!
As everyone knelt down, besides the Noble Consort Xue, the only ones left standing were Consort De and the people from Huaying Hall, standing out conspicuously.
Consort De furrowed her brows and looked at the Noble Consort. It seemed that Xue Wanjun was truly driven to desperation, showing her hand openly on the spot, no longer reasoning and using her rank to suppress others, completely throwing caution to the wind!
She pondered for a moment, then relaxed her brows and smiled slightly.
This ordeal was not without gains. At the very least, she had caught Xue Wanjun’s weak point, confirming that the decrees had a significant impact on the Noble Consort—so significant that Noble Consort Xue broke decorum, even declaring herself "the foremost in the Harem."
Conservatively guessing, the spies of the Noble Consort in the Harem, both hidden and evident, are likely all gathered here!
Hiss... Cao De, that foul-mouthed fellow, was born to be an eunuch, look how deeply he understands the Harem, driving the Noble Consort into a corner right upon his intervention.
Excellent, as black-hearted as ever, she liked it.
Having realized this, Consort De was no longer in a hurry. Now that the Noble Consort’s weakness had been exposed, there was no need to rush things at this moment; it was just a bit troublesome.
After today’s event, as long as the people in the Harem were not foolish, they would not be easily swayed to become new spies for the Noble Consort, which made things easier!
The Noble Consort, watching the people in the room prostrating before her, felt a surge of delight. See, this was the advantage of having a high status—no reason could outweigh power, and everyone had to submit to power.
She turned her gaze towards Consort De, her eyes gleaming with pleasure, "Well, are the people of Huaying Hall going to defy this palace?"
"This consort dares not," Consort De said with a light smile, flipping her sleeve and leading the people of Huaying Hall to bow down together.
She felt reflective in her heart, the Noble Consort was still naive. She couldn’t possibly think that by asserting herself in this manner, she could recover her influence, could she? Naive indeed.