"It turns out I have to give a curtsey to you, Imperial Consort," An Jing said with feigned seriousness. "Well, I shall do so. It’s not a big deal, after all." As she spoke, An Jing pretended she was really going to curtsey to Consort Yu.
But Consort Yu dared not let An Jing perform the curtsey. As An Jing prepared to do so, Consort Yu quickly held her back, disallowing the gesture.
The Emperor himself didn’t want An Jing to curtsey; if An Jing did, it would undeniably suggest that Consort Yu ranked above the Emperor were it to be spread abroad. That’s absolutely untenable! Not even ten of her heads would be enough to atone for such a blunder!
Rage burned within Consort Yu, certain that An Jing was deliberately mocking her, but her lips bore a courteous smile as she said, "Changsheng Princess, why must you trouble me so? The Emperor has already exempted you from performing a curtsey, how dare I permit it? Earlier, I was simply upholding palace etiquette. You, Princess, must know that without rules, we can’t form a square or circle. As individuals of status, we cannot lose dignity, lest we become the subjects of ridicule."
Watching Consort Yu unable to maintain her highborn poise, being all polite to her while the Pingjun Princess had gone pale, at a loss for words, An Jing felt a sense of satisfaction inside her. However, she did not show it outwardly; on the contrary, she nodded her head as if taking the lesson to heart: "What the Imperial Consort says is most true."
The moment Consort Yu heard An Jing’s response, she couldn’t help grinding her teeth in secret. She had learned her lesson—this Peasant Princess Consort, just like Xiao Changyi, was a tough nut to crack!
Once her niece married Xiao Changyi and bore him a son, Consort Yu wanted to see how this Peasant Princess Consort would manage to remain so hoity-toity!
This Princess was not only a peasant woman but one who couldn’t lay eggs, no less!
Thinking this, Consort Yu felt much better.
The Pingjun Princess didn’t dare to say another word, acting obediently. Yet in her heart, she harbored the same thoughts as Consort Yu, believing that once her daughter Linghe married Xiao Changyi and bore the heir to the King of Eternal Victory, the status of this Peasant Princess Consort would naturally plummet.
Just then, Changyi’s voice sounded—
Consort Yu and the Pingjun Princess involuntarily shuddered.
Hearing the familiar voice, An Jing immediately turned back to look and saw her husband approaching her. She was pleasantly surprised, not expecting him to find her so quickly, and she felt very delighted.
"Husband!" An Jing also ran towards Xiao Changyi, but before she managed even two steps, Xiao Changyi had already reached her.
The two embraced each other without any regard for the onlookers.
Consort Yu and the others looked on as though they were about to go blind—how absolutely shameless these two were...
"Are you alright?" Changyi asked with distinct concern as he let go of An Jing.
When had anyone seen Changyi so anxious before? Everyone felt as though their eyes were betraying them. Was this really the King of Eternal Victory? Wasn’t he always expressionless?
"How could anything be wrong with me? I’m fine," An Jing replied jovially, then looked at Consort Yu and added, "It’s just that one of the Imperial Consort’s maids, upon seeing me just now, scolded me, calling me a ’palace maid,’ and gave me quite a fright."
Consort Yu: "..." You’re really going to tattle in front of me like that? Is it really appropriate to seek backup this way?
Xiao Changyi’s gaze turned icy as he looked at Consort Yu as if he intended to end her then and there.
Consort Yu stepped back nervously.
Even if Changyi’s deathly stare wasn’t directed at her, the Pingjun Princess felt extremely anxious.
"Husband," An Jing continued, "the Imperial Consort has already punished that palace maid. She ordered her to be taken away and said she’d be flogged with thirty heavy strikes."