Chapter 902: Chapter 902: Dealing with Her Openly
In the afternoon, Xia Ruqing finally received the news.
"Madam, these words ca from the mouths of a few Little Palace Maids in the Imperial Garden!" Xiao Xizi was the first to find out.
Xia Ruqing frowned.
"Imperial Garden?"
She pondered over it and wondered what this had to do with the Imperial Garden?!
Then Xiao Xizi continued.
"Among these Little Palace Maids, there’s one nad Cui Zhu, who is a leading Second Class palace maid!"
"She is a fellow townsman with Lady Lan Xiang, who is beside Consort Ning!"
"According to what this servant discovered, the two have been interacting more frequently over the past half month..."
The words had already reached this point.
The truth was almost self-evident!
Xia Ruqing sneered slightly.
"It really is Consort Ning!"
She then recalled Consort Ning’s behavior during this ti.
Consort Ning, who never liked going out, suddenly loved going out in the past half month.
She often wandered around the Imperial Garden for no particular reason, and they had t several tis.
This was... a preditated sche!
After thinking for a mont, she issued an order.
"She likes sneaky things, but I do not!"
"Zi Yue, go send a ssage, saying... the kitchen maid in my kitchen cooks well, and invite all the younger sisters to co and taste!"
Zi Yue was a little puzzled.
"Madam, what are you doing?"
Why bring up cooking again, Madam is this...?
Xia Ruqing gave a knowing smile.
"It’s just an excuse, speaking openly and frankly to see who doesn’t co!"
"Okay!"
Zi Yue agreed and went out to pass on the ssage.
The others also took their leave.
...
In the evening, those of Sixth Rank and above in the harem received the invitation.
So were puzzled, why did the Noble Consort suddenly want to hold a banquet?!
So were uneasy with guilt.
Could it be... sothing was discovered.
The one delivering the invitation was Zi Yue.
She made note of the expressions of all the mistress consorts.
After returning, she reported one by one.
After listening, Xia Ruqing felt confident in her mind.
The next day at noon.
Indeed, a banquet was held in Duanning Palace.
The palace attendants busily moved back and forth, respectfully serving dish after dish of delicious delicacies.
The mistress consorts of the harem arrived one after another.
The Honored Ladies arrived first.
They sat respectfully in their positions, sowhat reserved, but occasionally gathered in small groups to chat and laugh.
Ever since a few Honored Ladies were gone back then.
They had beco completely well-behaved.
They wanted favor, to be sure, but cherished their lives even more!
Above the Honored Ladies were the Consorts.
There were a total of four.
Consort Shih Pin, Consort Cheng Pin, Consort Zheng Pin, and Consort Yun Pin.
The latter two had long since lost favor and had no children, relying only on their positions to get by.
Consort Shih Pin was also not doing well, having lost favor and the backing of the Empress Dowager.
She lived in the desolate and remote Precious Stream Pavilion with the equally un-favored Third Princess.
The forr arrogance and nobility were long gone.
Now, she was extrely low-key.
It was as if she had changed her temperant! She hadn’t co out to make her presence known for quite so ti.
As for Consort Cheng Pin.
She was even less of a troublemaker, raising the Second Prince, so no one dared to mistreat her.
In fact, because of the Second Prince, her living standards were no worse than those of a Consort!
In terms of calculation, she was living the best among the Consorts.
So...
When Consort Ning saw Consort Cheng Pin appearing before her in all her splendor, she found it very displeasing.
Consort Cheng Pin greeted her with a curtsey, and she just snorted without telling her to rise.
Consort Cheng Pin smiled faintly and said nothing.
She rose obediently and sat behind Consort Hui.
They had a good relationship, and both exchanged smiles, not bothering with Consort Ning!
Xia Ruqing shot a cold glance at Consort Ning, saying nothing.
Seeing everyone was present, she smiled and said.
"I called you together for no particular reason!"
"There are two local kitchen maids in my small kitchen"
"I had so free ti today, so I wanted you all to try their skills!"
"They’re just so simple local dishes, I hope you don’t mind!"
Those below began to look at the table.
They were indeed exquisite little dishes.
Although they didn’t look as good as the usual fare from the Imperial Kitchen, they were still full of color, aroma, and taste, making them very appetizing.
Consort Hui gave a gentle smile.
"No wonder I could sll the aroma from afar, it turns out these are the Noble Consort’s fresh dishes!"
The young Honored Ladies at the back widened their eyes, curiously eyeing the dishes in front of them.
A group of them chattered away, whispering.
Even Consort Zheng Pin and Consort Yun Pin exchanged glances and looked on curiously.
Only Consort Ning at the front.
Glancing at them, she began to roll her eyes, looking disdainful.
Xia Ruqing was waiting for just this.
She imdiately asked.
"What’s wrong? Consort Ning... don’t you like it?"
The word ’sister’ almost made most people present spray their tea!
Consort Ning was quite old, yet soone was calling her ’sister’.
It was awkward enough, but mainly it was embarrassing!
Consort Ning’s face turned green imdiately.
But there was nothing she could do.
That’s just how the rules were in the palace.
Sisters weren’t determined by age, but by rank.
Whoever heard of soone calling the Empress a sister? Unless they had a death wish!
But Xia Ruqing never liked the fake camaraderie of calling each other sisters, and she never did.
This ti, however, she wanted to disgust Consort Ning!
To let her realize that seniority ant nothing, it was the rank that mattered most.
So she won’t ever lose sight of her own identity!
"Oh my, Consort Ning, what’s the matter? Why does your face not look so good?!" she added another stab!
Consort Ning gritted her teeth in anger, but couldn’t refute.
She responded sarcastically.
"Your Highness, I am at fault! I’ve just had a poor appetite lately, so..."
Xia Ruqing chuckled coldly inside, but outwardly maintained a concerned appearance.
"Oh dear! The weather has cooled down, and a poor appetite is a big issue!"
"Soone, quickly fetch an Imperial Physician to check on Consort Ning"
Zi Su imdiately stepped forward to take the order, then turned and went out.
Consort Ning was a bit uncomfortable sitting there.
"Oh no, Noble Consort, there’s no need, really! I’ve had this problem for a while, it’s nothing serious!"
"That’s not how it should be. Just because the problem is small doesn’t an it shouldn’t be treated... one’s health is the most important..."
Xia Ruqing loftily said a lot of nonsense.
Consort Ning couldn’t get a word in edgewise!
Anxiously, she waited for about fifteen minutes, and then the Imperial dical Bureau sent an Imperial Physician over.
Xia Ruqing promptly instructed.
"Consort Ning isn’t feeling well, you must give her a thorough examination and treatnt!"
"If I find out you were careless, I won’t spare you lightly!"
The Imperial Physician was quite frightened and imdiately knelt down, repeatedly acknowledging.
Afterward, he took her pulse, conducted a diagnosis, and explained in flowery dical terms.
They couldn’t diagnose any particular ailnt, but they did explain a lot about dical principles and pharmacology.
Finally, they administered a few acupuncture needles and prescribed a pile of dicine!
Whether it would heal her or not was unknown, but it certainly was painful.
Xia Ruqing continued her "concern," instructing Zi Yue and others to prepare dicine for her.
The whole affair turned into quite a commotion.
The dishes on the table beca cold, and no one was in the mood to eat, they just watched her make a fool of herself.
When a bowl of dark dicinal concoction was served.
Consort Ning finally couldn’t bear it anymore and abruptly stood up.
"Noble Consort, what do you an by this?!"
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