OBS Chapter 1475 My sister, the Imperial Noble Consort, is the most fair in her actions.
Chapter 1475 My sister, the Imperial Noble Consort, is the most fair in her actions.
She sat up straight and forced an unnatural smile: "Miss Fuqu has arrived. Does Her Highness the Imperial Noble Consort have any instructions?"
Fuqu said, "Your Highness, the Imperial Noble Consort, please move to the main hall of Yongshou Palace to listen to her instructions."
"At the same time, Her Majesty issued an edict to the six palaces, requesting all the ladies and concubines to go together."
Listening to instruction?
The smile on Consort Dun's face froze.
Xiao Tianzi, who was listening nearby, turned pale and broke out in a cold sweat.
Fuqu, seemingly oblivious to Consort Dun's sudden change in expression, continued, "The Imperial Noble Consort is already waiting at Yongshou Palace. Consort Dun, please come with me quickly."
She was polite and impeccable, yet her words carried a sense of impending doom.
Consort Dun maintained her composure and said to Fuqu, "Please wait a moment, Miss Fuqu. I will go over after I change my clothes."
Fuqu glanced at Consort Dun but did not expose her excuse: "Yes, Your Highness, this servant will wait outside the palace."
After saying this, she curtsied again, turned around, and left.
Once Fuqu's figure disappeared from the main hall, Consort Dun's face lost all composure, replaced only by panic.
She strode into the inner room, frowning, and said, "What...what is the Imperial Noble Consort doing? She summoned me to listen to her instructions and called everyone else..."
Odako followed behind Atsuhime, her face also slightly pale.
The message from Fuqu appeared respectful, but it was actually forceful, clearly indicating that the visitor had ill intentions.
The Imperial Noble Consort is about to get serious...
Consort Dun trembled as she said, "What should we do? Xiao Tianzi! The Imperial Noble Consort must know!"
"She found out that we were the ones who spread those words, and now she's summoning all the palace ladies over. She's going to punish me in public!"
At this moment, Xiao Tianzi's heart was pounding and his back felt cold.
He thought he had done it discreetly, and that he had only hired gossipy and greedy palace servants. He never expected that Yongshou Palace would find out so quickly...
The Imperial Noble Consort has only been in charge of the six palaces for a short time, yet she has such methods... The more he thought about it, the more alarmed he became.
Seeing that Consort Dun had lost her composure, Xiao Tianzi had no choice but to suppress his fear and try to remain calm, reassuring her, "Your Highness, Your Highness, please don't panic, please don't lose your composure!"
"That was just a few idle words without any basis or evidence. The Imperial Noble Consort may have just heard rumors and was deliberately making a fuss. She may not have actually obtained any solid evidence."
"If you panic now, wouldn't you be admitting your guilt?"
Consort Dun was in a state of utter confusion.
While Xiaotianzi's words made some sense, since the Imperial Noble Consort had put on such a grand display, it couldn't have been just a bluff.
"But...but what if the Imperial Noble Consort really has evidence? In front of so many people..."
"Miss!"
Xiao Tianzi interrupted Consort Dun and advised, "Things have come to this point. If you don't go, it will be considered that you are guilty and disobeying orders, and your crime will be compounded!"
"Why don't you just go and stick to your guns and deny it? Can the Imperial Noble Consort force you to confess?"
"You are a concubine, and you also have the Third Prince. His Majesty will always give you some consideration."
Consort Dun paused, realizing that what Xiaotianzi said was true, and there was no way to avoid it now.
She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her wildly beating heart, and ordered, "Tingzhu, help me change my clothes and do my makeup."
"Yes."
……
The main hall of Yongshou Palace.
The atmosphere was solemn.
Upon receiving the imperial edict, the concubines of each palace, though unaware of its meaning, dared not delay and arrived one after another.
Consort Zhuang, Consort Xian, Consort Xuan, and other high-ranking concubines sat in the front row of chairs.
Those of lower rank, such as nobles and attendants, stood quietly at the back.
Upon seeing Shen Zhinian emerge from the inner room, everyone quickly rose and curtsied, respectfully saying, "Your humble servants/concubines greet Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort, may Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings and peace!"
Shen Zhinian said calmly, "Everyone, get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Imperial Concubine!"
A pair of beautiful eyes glanced around, each with its own thoughts.
Some people were curious as to why the Imperial Noble Consort had suddenly summoned everyone.
Some people already had a hint of anticipation in their eyes, as if they were watching a good show.
Xuanfei looked at Shen Zhinian with a hint of worry in her clear eyes.
The high-ranking concubines were much better informed and already knew the situation.
They had also heard the rumors circulating in the palace about the Imperial Noble Consort delaying the selection of concubines. Now, seeing this scene, they knew why.
Consort Zhuang lowered her eyelids slightly and shook her head inwardly.
Consort Dun was indeed destined to amount to nothing.
The methods were crude enough, but they couldn't even handle the beginning and end properly, and they were caught so quickly. They're really useless.
After a tense wait, Consort Dun finally arrived.
She had clearly dressed up specially, in a fuchsia palace dress, surrounded by jewels, trying to maintain her usual aura.
However, her slightly hurried steps betrayed her inner turmoil.
Consort Dun entered the hall, curtsied according to custom, and gave a respectful bow to Shen Zhinian, saying, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to Your Highness, may Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings and peace!"
Shen Zhinian's imposing gaze fell on Consort Dun, but she did not immediately call out.
All eyes turned to Consort Dun.
It seems that the rumors circulating in the palace were spread by Consort Dun.
Time ticked by, and just as Consort Dun was about to collapse from her kneeling position, with fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead, Shen Zhinian coldly said, "Kneel down!"
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Consort Dun felt utterly humiliated, but dared not disobey, and had no choice but to kneel on the cold, hard ground as instructed.
She raised her face, trying to remain calm, and said aggrievedly, "Your Highness, I am foolish and truly do not know what I have done wrong to anger you so much that you would punish me in front of all the ladies of the palace?"
Shen Zhinian lowered her eyes to look at Consort Dun and stated directly: "Recently, there have been some rumors in the palace about me postponing the palace selection for personal reasons, which have tarnished my reputation and disturbed the palace."
"Consort Dun, do you know?"
Consort Dun's heart tightened, and she immediately raised her voice in denial: "Your Majesty, I know nothing!"
"Your Highness, please understand! I have never heard of such absurd claims, how could I possibly be involved? This must be a malicious frame-up. Please, Your Highness, do justice for me!"
As she spoke, she picked up a handkerchief and pressed it to the corner of her eye, making a gesture of being wronged.
Most of the people inside the hall remained silent and watched.
Consort Xuan, however, could not contain herself and said with dissatisfaction, "Imperial Noble Consort, I have also heard those rumors and find them absurd."
"I never imagined this was the work of Consort Dun! This is utterly disgraceful!"
Consort Dun immediately turned and glared at Consort Xuan: "Consort Xuan, watch your words!"
"How dare you slander me with mere empty words?"
Consort Xuan was rebuffed by her, but still insisted, "The Imperial Noble Consort is the most fair in her actions. If there were no evidence, why would she have summoned you and everyone else here?"
"……you!"
Princess Dun wanted to retort.
Shen Zhinian interrupted her calmly, saying, "It seems that Consort Dun is determined to see the light at the end of the tunnel."
Her gaze turned towards the outside of the hall: "Xiao Mingzi, bring your men over here."
Xiao Mingzi immediately bowed: "This servant obeys."
Soon, he led in three or four pale-faced eunuchs and palace maids whose legs were weak.