The Emperor understood that the reason for the consort’s poor provisions must be due to an issue with the Empress.
After the Emperor left, the consort stood up, her face still carrying a gentle and reluctant smile, but her eyes were filled with coldness. Has the Empress become a little too complacent lately? Giving her such poor provisions, why is her courage suddenly so bold? Does she need a lesson?
The Emperor arrived angrily at Zhaoyang Palace. As the palace attendant at the door was about to announce his arrival, the Emperor raised his hand to stop them. He hurried inside with the Chief Eunuch, and upon stepping through the entrance of the Empress’s quarters, he was stunned by the scene before him.
Ice basins were placed in the four corners of the quarters, making it feel much cooler inside. Did the consort’s palace have so many ice basins, though?
The Empress was wearing a thin gauze dress, lazily reclining on a beauty couch. One palace maid was fanning her, another was gently massaging her calves, and yet another was cautiously feeding her watermelon with a small silver pick.
The Emperor strode forward, grabbing the small silver pick from the palace maid’s hand, and speared a piece of watermelon for himself. As he ate it, his expression changed.
So sweet! Not only fresh, but it also seemed chilled.
It tasted sweet and refreshing!
Only then did the palace maids in the quarters come to their senses, all kneeling on the ground to greet. Only Kong Hou, who was massaging Tianmiao’s calves, crouched behind the beauty couch. Mere humans, expecting this dragon to kneel? Courting death! But since her current identity was a palace maid to the master, she had to play along a bit and just crouched behind the beauty couch, pretending to kneel.
The Emperor looked at the items on the small table in front of the Empress and frowned. Various fruits, pastries, and tea—all exquisitely made and evidently delicious. He cast another glance at the ice basins in the four corners of the quarters, and finally, the Emperor erupted.
"Empress, where are your manners? You don’t even come to greet me when I arrive?" The Emperor, looking at the languid Empress, felt the anger rising within him.
Tianmiao raised her hand and softly said, "You all may leave now."
All the palace maids bowed and retreated.
The Emperor’s Chief Eunuch remained still, standing not far behind the Emperor with his head lowered.
"Have him leave too, I have something to say to you." Tianmiao sat up and pointed at the Chief Eunuch.
The Emperor suppressed his fury, somewhat suspiciously dismissing the Chief Eunuch, who was standing at the door of the quarters, not yet inside. Upon hearing the Emperor’s command, the Chief Eunuch retreated. Just as he stepped out, the door to the quarters was shut with a bang from outside by a palace maid.
The Chief Eunuch couldn’t help but glance at this disrespectful palace maid, surprised and puzzled. When did the Empress Palace have such an ill-mannered palace maid? The Empress was known for her understanding of decorum.
"Stand outside the main hall." Kong Hou instructed the Chief Eunuch.
The Chief Eunuch was stunned; this little palace maid dared to speak to him like this?
"Stand down." The Emperor’s voice came from within the quarters.
The Chief Eunuch had no choice but to join the palace maids in retreating to the doorway of the main hall. Kong Hou closed the main hall doors as well. This way, no one could hear the voices inside the quarters.
"Why have I never seen you before?" The Chief Eunuch looked at Kong Hou, asking with some confusion. This palace maid was indeed unfamiliar. Although he didn’t visit the Empress Palace often, he knew all the palace maids close to the Empress. This particular ill-mannered little palace maid, however, he hadn’t seen before.
"I’m new here." Kong Hou glanced at the Chief Eunuch and replied, saying nothing further.