Regardless of whether it was Mu Liuyue or Chu Qingge, discussing the "dowry" in front of Han Yunxi was like pointing a finger at Han Yunxi's nose to humiliate her.
Everyone assumed that Han Yunxi and the two "upstarts" of the imperial harem would have a catfight, but Han Yunxi remained indifferent.
Let him be strong, I'll be the cool breeze that brushes over the hills. Let him be tyrannical, I'll be the bright moon that shines over the great river. Han Yunxi was currently wearing a light smile on her face.
She liked crowds, but she'd never allow herself to be the center of attention.
Han Yunxi didn't reply, leaving Chu Qingge in an awkward position. She was about to answer her own question when Mu Liuyue immediately gave her a way out of the situation.
Mu Liuyue grinned. "Do you even need to ask? I didn't see anyone carrying the dowry in the bridal procession. Everyone in the capital saw it!"
Mu Liuyue had been waiting for this day for a long time. She'd long thrown caution to the wind.
She'd had enough of being a widow in the Eastern Palace. Her title as crown prince consort was limitless, but only she knew the true pain.
Even if the crown prince ascended the throne in the future, she could use her maternal family's influence to protect her position as crown prince consort and become empress. So what? Her days would still be bitter!
Her only thought now was that since Han Yunxi had ruined her, she'd ruin Han Yunxi as well! Joining hands with Chu Qingge was her best choice.
As long as she helped Chu Qingge today and left her with a good impression, it'd be much easier to work with her in the future.
Han Yunxi wouldn't speak, would she? She'd force her until she did.
Mu Liuyue purposely turned towards Han Yunxi and asked loudly, "Imperial Qin Aunt, you wouldn't be afraid to admit it, would you?"
Chu Qingge had just married into the Eastern Palace, after all, so she still restrained herself. Mu Liuyue's straightforward approach was like a fight to the death!
How frightening!
Everyone turned to look at Han Yunxi. Many of them were inexplicably nervous.
Han Yunxi slowly finished the tea in her cup and elegantly put down the cup. Then she said, "What's there to be afraid of? I really don't have a dowry. Marrying Your Highness is already Your Highness's honor. Why do I need a dowry? "
As soon as these words were spoken, the originally quiet hall became even quieter. Even the sound of a needle falling to the ground could be heard.
Mu Liuyue was flabbergasted, while Chu Qingge was gaping. Neither of them could speak.
Han Yunxi really didn't want to stir up the muddy waters of the harem, but she had no choice. Since the other party had forced her to the front, she could only "fight the cheap with cheap". As the saying goes, a cheap person is invincible!
Empress Dowager Li's faction was waiting for her to tear into Chu Qingge, while Chu Qingge was waiting for her to tear into Empress Dowager Li's faction.
She chose to offend the Duke of Qin and use His Highness Duke of Qin as a shield. As for whether His Highness Duke of Qin would bite her, that was a private matter between the two of them.
Chu Qingge was the first to react. She couldn't take it anymore and raged, "Aren't you being too self-righteous?!"
Han Yunxi smiled and looked towards the empress dowager. "Esteemed Empress Dowager, you're the one who bestowed Yunxi to His Highness. Isn't it His Highness's honor to receive your gift? Some people say that Yunxi is self-righteous. What do you think? "
Han Yunxi was simply a genius!
In a few words, she'd tossed the problem to Empress Dowager Li. The empress dowager was caught off guard and didn't know how to respond.
If she refuted Han Yunxi, then she'd be trampling on her own face and admitting that she wasn't as honorable as the Duke of Qin. If she obeyed Han Yunxi, then she'd be humiliating Chu Qingge too directly.
Empress Dowager Li racked her brains and came up with no solution. In the end, she could only reluctantly end the conversation as a peacemaker. "Alright, alright. Let's not talk about such trifles."
So speaking, she took Chu Qingge's hand and grinned. "Women, ah. Whether they marry into a commoner's family or the imperial clan, all they want is to be doted on! Noble Consort Chu, His Majesty dotes on you the most now. He's given you double the amount of jewelry and satin. Even this servant gets double the amount. "
Empress Dowager Li laughed out loud. "Plenty of people have come to pay respects to me, but you're the only one who looks like a noble consort!"
It looked like praise, but it was actually flattery to kill!
Chu Qingge's eyes flashed with anger. Big brother was right. This old empress dowager had the most venomous tongue in the imperial harem. Her mouth was honey-tongued and her belly was filled with swords. Her tongue was soft, but her heart was sharp!
She was the one who should be on guard against her the most. If it wasn't for big brother's warning, she would've been fooled by the old empress dowager without knowing that their positions were in conflict.
Chu Qingge was about to reply when Mu Liuyue spoke up again. "Imperial Grandmother is right! A noble consort should act like a noble consort. A wangfei should act like a wangfei as well! Especially those who've come to pay respects. Those who dress casually and bring in a child are disrespectful to you! "
Mu Liuyue's words turned everyone's attention back to Han Yunxi.
All of the women present were dressed in dignified palace robes. Their attendants were all senior female attendants from the various palaces, but Han Yunxi was the only one present. Her clothes were beautiful, but she wasn't wearing a single piece of jewelry. Moreover, the servant girl she'd brought with her was a little brat!
There were plenty of servant girls of this age in the palace, but none of them had the right to serve in such a setting.
Han Yunxi felt helpless as she drank tea to relieve her boredom.
She discovered that Mu Liuyue hated her even more than she thought!
Chu Qingge looked at Mu Liuyue with a complicated gaze. The empress dowager had been making enemies for her and mocking her in secret, but Mu Liuyue kept shifting the topic to Han Yunxi to find fault with Han Yunxi.
Although Mu Liuyue was the crown prince's consort and stood on the opposite side of her, she could still meet this Mu Liuyue in private today.
Since the trouble had shifted from her to Han Yunxi, Chu Qingge wouldn't miss the chance. She smiled and said, "Aiya, I wouldn't have noticed if the crown prince consort hadn't mentioned it. Doesn't Qin Wangfei have any proper servants by her side to serve her? "
Han Yunxi followed up with an "aiya," and said, "Noble Consort Chu, you really are forgetful!"
Chu Qingge was completely lost. "What do you mean?"
Han Yunxi purposely pulled Su Xiaoyu out of the way. "Noble Consort Chu, this girl was originally a beggar. When she begged you at the inn, you gave her a generous slap. Have you forgotten?"
Han Yunxi had brought Su Xiaoyu here today just so she could let Su Xiaoyu see her enemy and remember her. She wasn't planning to do anything else.
But Chu Qingge had slapped her and forgotten all about her. She really needed to remind her properly.
"I brought her here today just to thank you for your kindness. If you hadn't given her that slap back then, I wouldn't have softened my heart and taken her into the estate to serve me," Han Yunxi smiled.
Su Xiaoyu never expected Han Yunxi to play like this. Although she was one of Chu Tianyin's people, she'd never liked her master's cold and aloof little sister. She liked Han Yunxi's way of playing!
Su Xiaoyu quickly stepped forward and kowtowed. "Su Xiaoyu thanks Noble Consort Chu for the grace of that slap! May Noble Consort Chu live thousands and thousands of years! "
Her earnest expression and respectful gestures made many of the people present laugh at her misfortune.
Was there anything more ironic than this?
Noble Consort Chu was extremely narrow-minded. Not only did she not pity the beggar, she even hit her. The dignified eldest young Miss of the Chu Clan, Tianning's noblewoman, was bickering with a little beggar. It was truly laughable and lamentable!
Most likely, news of this would spread quickly throughout the imperial harem and out of the palace itself.
Chu Qingge's face had turned completely black. Of course she remembered what had happened at the inn, but she only remembered how badly Mu Ling 'er and Han Yunxi had played her. If her big brother hadn't saved the day, she would've stripped Mu Ling' er of her clothes by now.
As for the little beggar who'd been beaten up, she didn't remember what he looked like or his name!
Su Xiaoyu was so sincere in thanking her that she couldn't explain, deny, or apologize. As soon as she did, Han Yunxi would definitely reveal everything about her. As for apologizing, how could she possibly do that?
Han Yunxi's "flattery to death" was many times better than Empress Dowager Li's.
Even if her heart was filled with reluctance, Chu Qingge still had to say three words to Su Xiaoyu. "You may rise!"
Seeing Chu Qingge's expression change at the sight of Han Yunxi, the empress dowager and Noble Consort Xue exchanged satisfied glances.
This was the scene they'd wanted to see the most.
Unexpectedly, Han Yunxi suddenly rose to her feet and said seriously, "Esteemed Empress Dowager, chenqie also thinks that Noble Consort Chu is the most proper noble consort. It's a pity that there's someone sitting here who doesn't take her seriously. As chenqie sees it, she should be punished!"
Since Han Yunxi had already torn apart Chu Qingge, why wouldn't she tear apart the empress dowager's faction as well?
She was a true centrist. Either she didn't offend either side, or she'd offend both thoroughly! No one would be able to stand aside and watch her make a fool of herself!
"Nonsense, who has the guts to do that?" Noble Consort Xue refuted immediately. She didn't want Han Yunxi to change the subject.
"You!" Han Yunxi pointed at her.
Noble Consort Xue gave a start. "Qin Wangfei, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want! Esteemed Empress Dowager is here, so you need proof for your words. Don't talk nonsense! "
"If Yunxi remembers correctly, according to the rules of the imperial harem, only the empress and the head of the four consorts have the right to receive double rewards. Esteemed Empress Dowager just said that His Majesty gave Noble Consort Chu double rewards, which makes her the head of the four consorts. Since the empress isn't in the palace, the head of the four consorts sits by Esteemed Empress Dowager's side. Noble Consort Xue, you've quite the gall to seize the head of the four consorts! "
Noble Consort Xue was so angry that she lost her cool. She stood up and cried, "His Majesty only made her Noble Consort, not the head of the four consorts!"
Empress Dowager Li's hand stiffened at her words. Noble Consort Xue immediately regretted her words, but it was too late.
They'd been playing dirty and avoiding direct confrontation with Chu Qingge. Who knew that Han Yunxi would expose their masks in a moment of carelessness?
Han Yunxi exclaimed again. "She wasn't made the head of the four consorts? I thought she was, but with His Majesty's love for Noble Consort Chu, it's only a matter of time. Noble Consort Xue, don't be so agitated! "
"I … I … I'm not agitated, I'm just … I'm just …"
Everyone had seen Noble Consort Xue's reaction just then. Even she felt that any explanation would be futile.
Han Yunxi smiled. "Noble Consort Xue, there's no need to explain. I misunderstood. You can still sit in that seat for now. "
Was there anyone who spoke like that?
Noble Consort Xue clenched her fists inside her sleeves. She wanted nothing more than to rush over and slap Han Yunxi. Enough with this woman!
She glanced at Chu Qingge, only to see the other woman looking back at her with disdain in her eyes.
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