Chapter 204: The Empress of Face Slapping
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
But when the empress saw Consort Xiang by Noble Consort Xiao’s side, she coldly snorted, “Noble Consort Xiao, are you trying to belittle Consort Xiang? Her palace hasn’t seen any renovations for years, and I was just planning to have it refurbished!”
A faint smile appeared on Consort Xiang’s delicate, snow-like face. “Thank you, Empress.”
“Why would Younger Sister Consort Xiang need Your Highness to renovate her palace? In a few days, she will be moving to a new palace. The emperor ordered the construction of Xi Yao Palace months ago for Younger Sister Consort Xiang. 1 had the chance to see it yesterday, and it’s like a paradise on earth! It’s said that every plaque and couplet was personally written by the emperor, and even the flowers at the main hall’s entrance were planted by his own hands! Consort Xiang’s good fortune is something we can only envy!”
Noble Consort Xiao laughed heartily.
This was another blade that pierced the empress’s heart.
The empress couldn’t compare to Noble Consort Xiao in wealth, and compared to Consort Xiang, she had long lost the emperor’s favor. Now, in the presence of these two, she felt like a big joke.
Consort Xiang smiled slightly. In the past, she was a woman of few words, but now she had brought many gifts. When she presented them to the empress, she said, “Your Majesty, these are all my little gifts. 1 come from the Western Region and have nothing of value. These are all gifts that the emperor gave me, and 1 send them to congratulate you on your birthday!”
Behind her, Xiang Ling opened the gift boxes one by one.
“What a big pearl! What a beautiful red coral!”
“The emperor’s treatment of Consort Xiang is truly unparalleled.”
Everyone began to flatter Consort Xiang. Consort Xiang used to be not good at dealing with the noble ladies of the court, but now that she had stayed with Noble Consort Xiao for a few days, she had learned a lot of speaking skills. When she talked to them, she was also gentle and modest.
She was so approachable that everyone forgot that the main character today was the empress of Fengzao Palace.
The empress’s eyes were red with hatred, wishing she could drag Consort Xiang out and chop her up right now!
This slut should have perished long ago!
But Su Yingxue had pulled her back from the brink of death. It was all Su Yingxue’s fault!
If not for her, the empress wouldn’t have lost so much face!
The empress’s sharp gaze shot towards Su Yingxue. Su Yingxue responded with a faint smile.
She had no other intentions, but she guessed that this smile would infuriate the empress!
And that’s precisely the effect she desired!
“Ladies, the banquet is ready. Please take your seats,” Chu Chengye, the empress’s legitimate son, announced solemnly. The guests moved away from Consort Xiang and Noble Consort Xiao.
The banquet was set up on a refreshing terrace outside the palace. The surroundings were adorned with flowers and filled with fragrant scents. Chu Chengye had personally designed the garden, and it exuded the majesty of the empress’s Middle Palace.
On the empress’s birthday, only noblewomen and their daughters were allowed to enter the palace to offer their congratulations. Chu Chengye had arranged for the princes to sit opposite the female guests. As for Chu Yihan, Chu Chengye had initially not intended for him to attend.
However, there was no place in the Great Cheng Dynasty that he wouldn’t dare to visit.
Therefore, his seat was just below that of the empress.
Su Hao had been specially invited into the palace by the empress. Chu Chengye had placed him by his side to demonstrate their closeness.
The female guests had several rows of seats, but the male guests had only four. These four individuals were all princes and generals with noble statuses and handsome appearances. All the noble ladies couldn’t help but be captivated by them, their gazes firmly fixed on the four of them..