You take on two husbands, I'll turn around and marry the tyrant and rule the world.

On the way to Kunning Palace, Chu Nianci met Shen Lanbing.

She wore a moon-white wide-sleeved jacket and a pleated skirt, with only a jade hairpin in her hair. Although she was still elegant and graceful, her eyes revealed a hint of weariness.

Chu Nianci caught a glimpse of the faint bluish shadow under her eyes and didn't know how to comfort her.

Since entering the palace, Shen Lanbing has never gained the emperor's favor.

With Duanmu Qingyu's perceptive nature, the only way to get closer to him is to take things slowly and gradually, and never resort to tricks or force... otherwise it will only backfire and result in him rewarding her with a pot of peach blossom wine.

The two walked hand in hand in silence, without exchanging a word.

Upon arriving at Kunning Palace, Consort Jia and Consort Yue were already there.

Before the Empress could rise, the palace maids led them to a side hall to wait.

As soon as Chu Nianci entered, she felt two complicated gazes.

Seeing the two women exchange a glance, she knew that the news of the emperor bestowing a bath had already spread throughout the palace... Such an honor was indeed unprecedented.

Consort Jia was still dressed in a heroic manner, but the look in her eyes was filled with mixed feelings.

Consort Yue was dressed in a sky-blue wide-sleeved robe, her face was cold and aloof, her eyes were full of disdain, yet she could not hide a trace of jealousy.

That gaze was as cold as a frost knife, scraping across my face.

Consort Yue's icy face, coupled with her cold gaze... that look was like the cold wind blowing from a frozen lake in the dead of winter, making one's hair stand on end.

Chu Nianci rubbed the goosebumps on her arm.

Meeting their gazes, she smiled even more innocently, seemingly oblivious to their presence.

"Pretending." Consort Yue bit her lip and sneered.

Looking at Chu Nianci in her sky-blue palace dress, though her attire was simple, her delicate face made even the light and shadow in the hall seem dim. He wished he could pierce her with his icy gaze until she was completely torn apart.

She glanced at Shen Lanbing and Chu Nianci's clasped hands, her voice laced with sarcasm: "Sure enough, deep sisterly affection. But when Consort Hui was favored, did she ever think of her good sister, still alone in her empty chambers? Having received such great favor, why not share a piece with Consort Lan?"

Chu Nianci raised her eyes and looked at her quietly.

When Consort Yue first entered the palace, she did not compete or fight for favor, and felt that vying for the emperor's favor was an extremely shameful thing.

However, during this period, she was filled with jealousy and resentment and often targeted her. She was just anxious because she was the only one in the palace whose rank was lower than hers who had been favored, while she, who was of higher rank, had been ignored for a long time. It was indeed embarrassing.

Chu Nianci was worried that Shen Lanbing would be upset, so she didn't say anything to refute.

Shen Lanbing glanced at Chu Nianci and said, "Sister Ci, I'm genuinely happy for you that you're so favored."

After saying that, she turned around and sneered, saying in the same icy tone, "The Emperor's favor is always given or not given by His Majesty. It is already shameful to rush to fight for it, and it is despicable to try to steal someone else's share."

She paused, her voice clear and crisp: "Even if she really wanted to give me such 'favor,' I wouldn't deign to accept it."

Touched, Chu Nianci held her hand tightly.

My Bing'er is indeed still as noble and proud as she was in her previous life, like a lotus rising from the mud, untainted by its surroundings.

Seeing that his attempts to sow discord had failed.

"Is it that you don't need it, or that you simply can't win it?" Consort Yue's words were as cold as ice, and her sarcasm was even more pronounced. "Why don't you learn from your good sister and see what underhanded methods she uses when serving people up close?"

"Sister Yuepin speaks as if she were an experienced person," Chu Nianci replied neither humbly nor arrogantly. "Sister seems to know a lot about 'methods'. I will ask you about your methods later. Why don't you tell me so I can discuss them?"

She will not offend others unless they offend her, but if someone insists on causing trouble, she will not be easily manipulated.

Consort Yue's fair face flushed slightly.

She was inexperienced in such matters and was at a complete disadvantage.

She bit her lip in anger and sneered, "You vixen, so shameless! No wonder the Emperor dotes on you so much, even granting you such an honor as a bath. Who in the entire palace can compare?"

"Sister's charm is beyond my reach. If you used your verbal skills on His Majesty, you might be able to gain his favor sooner," Chu Nianci retorted with a smile.

"You...you..." Consort Yue's face immediately turned ugly, but she didn't know how to retaliate, so she could only point at Chu Nianci and keep saying "you...you..."

"Alright, alright, we're all sisters, let's not say too much." Seeing the two sides at odds, Consort Jia quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

Just then, Xia Dong entered. Without looking at the crowd, she bowed and said with a stern face, "Please follow me, ladies. Her Majesty the Empress has changed the audience to Mingyi Hall today."

Chu Nianci was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

Mingyi Hall?

That's where the palace enforces rules and maintains order... Why did the Empress choose to be there today?

Everyone immediately got up and went there.

The Mingyi Hall is spacious and solemn, with a smooth bluestone floor that reflects light like a mirror. The dragon-carved pillars on both sides stand tall and majestic, and the plaque inscribed with "Mingyi Jingxin" hangs high in the center. Only the Empress's main seat is set up in the hall, with no other seats beside her. Only the ruler, hand tablet and other items are displayed on one side.

The sunlight slanted down through the high window, casting cold, hard lines, solemn and austere, causing everyone to unconsciously slow their footsteps.

Chu Nianci couldn't help but tense up.

Before long, Empress Lin entered the palace surrounded by a group of palace maids.

After a while, Consort Shu finally arrived late.

She walked in a hurry, her mind only focused on giving Chu Nianci a hard time.

Just as I entered the gate of Kunning Palace, I was unexpectedly bumped into a little eunuch carrying lilies, and I was covered in pollen.

"Are you courting death?! Don't you have eyes?" Green Qiao hurriedly patted her while scolding her sharply.

The little eunuch was so frightened that he shrank his neck, held up a flower branch to cover his face, and repeatedly nodded and bowed, apologizing profusely.

Consort Shu, suppressing her anger, wanted to curse again, but fearing it would interfere with the important matter, she simply waved her hand impatiently: "Go to the Yeting Palace and receive ten lashes!"

Having said that, he didn't bother to argue any further and turned to walk into the hall.

Since her night with the Emperor some time ago, Consort Shu has rarely made an appearance, but she arrived on time today.

Everyone quickly bowed and greeted him.

"Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress! May you live a thousand years and enjoy boundless blessings!"

"Greetings to Your Highness, Consort Shu! May you be blessed with peace and good fortune!"

The concubines hurriedly bowed in greeting.

Empress Lin wore her usual dignified smile: "Sisters, there's no need for such formalities. Please rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress."

Chu Nianci carefully examined the Empress's attire today... She was heavily made up, with thick makeup, and although her expression was gentle, it also revealed a stiffness that was deliberately solemn.

This solemn gesture... could it be that someone is about to be punished in public?

A warning bell rang in her heart. After thinking it over, she realized that the Empress was probably after her.

This is an attempt to establish authority by punishing her, to prove to the other palaces that the Empress Dowager still firmly holds power.

Just as she was pondering, Empress Lin spoke gently: "Consort Hui just had a bath last night and was quite tired. Didn't I send word this morning that you are exempt from paying your respects today?"

Chu Nianci naturally dared not take it seriously, and gracefully bowed: "Your Majesty is so kind, I dare not overstep my bounds. Paying respects to Your Majesty morning and evening is my duty, and I will remember Your Majesty's teachings."

Consort Shu was dressed in a smart hunting outfit today, with a peach blossom whip tucked into her waist, as if she were ready to fight at any moment.

Those beautiful peach blossom eyes glanced coldly at Chu Nianci, the jealousy in them so intense it seemed it would burn Chu Nianci to ashes.

This vile hussy who seduced His Majesty is a shameless plaything. Last time she said His Majesty was infatuated with her, which is why he let her go. I will never fall for that again. No matter what she says, I will ignore her. Today I will teach her a lesson and see if she dares to bewitch the emperor like this again.

Seeing that both superiors had unfriendly expressions, Consort Yue felt that the time was right and finally found an outlet for the anger she had been holding back for half a day.

She suddenly knelt down and said loudly, "Your Majesty the Empress, Your Highness Consort Shu, I dare to speak, but I beg you both to severely punish Consort Hui for bewitching the Emperor, so as to set the record straight in the palace!"

This statement came out.

Consort Shu's face instantly darkened, her alluring eyes filled with sharp, ruthless intent.

A glint of ruthless cunning flashed in Empress Lin's eyes, a glint of cunning intent about to succeed...