Palace Fighting Naive Concubines’ Ascent to Power
Chapter 235 The Beloved Consort Speaks the Utmost Truth

Chapter 235: Chapter 235 The Beloved Consort Speaks the Utmost Truth

As others caught their breath, they began to whisper mocking and teasing comments, deriding someone for being arrogant due to favoritism and for scorning the Consort, but none dared to raise their voice as loudly as Talented Lady Jia, fearing that Lian Hua would remember them.

The Noble Consort inwardly approved and revealed a trace of cold laughter. Beauty Zhao was indeed somewhat clever and had not disappointed her; she had hit the nail on the head.

Just now, everyone’s first thought was to vie for favor, but they had forgotten the most important matter, which was that someone in Canglan Court was pregnant!

How useless they all were. She had hinted so clearly that the first one to give birth to a Prince would be indescribably honored. Yet before vying for favor, shouldn’t these people think about confirming it and removing the thorn in their side?

What Beauty Zhao said was the crucial point, which didn’t give others a handle to use against her yet concealed a hidden significance.

Pregnant people should not drink tea; those who were knowledgeable, be they from noble families or the harem consorts, would not drink it. If she could use this to pressure the person in Canglan Court to say she couldn’t drink and admit her pregnancy, all the better.

Even if she didn’t admit it, it was no matter. The tea that she had someone make, Tianshan Green with a clear water appearance, looked weak but was brewed with a substance that promoted blood circulation and preserved beauty.

This substance was a treasure, made from a secret beauty-preserving formula from the former court. The recipe was brought into the palace by Attendant Zhou when she entered the palace and had only recently been discovered by Beauty Zhao.

Attendant Zhou had originally kept it hidden and didn’t want to give it up. Only because Beauty Zhao treated her like a sister and after persistent coaxing, Zhou reluctantly gave it to Beauty Zhao, who then presented it to her.

She had someone look over the recipe; there was nothing wrong with it. Besides a few herbs from the Western Regions, all the ingredients were common beauty-preserving items. Once these were proportionally mixed and ground into a powder, a little could produce a beautifying effect.

However, the person she consulted said this item had blood-invigorating properties and couldn’t be consumed by those who were pregnant. Attendant Zhou had concealed this fact, which made her even more willing to believe it was genuine. If it were perfect, she’d have been suspicious.

She had her subordinates try it, and after drinking it for a few days, the effects were indeed remarkable—those who drank it had smooth and delicate skin, and none had any problems after several days.

Therefore, she had Attendant Zhou prepare some according to the secret recipe and rewarded it to others; consequently, the consorts close to her got some, including everyone present, no one excepted.

So now, if the person in Canglan Court wanted to drink, she would ambiguously hint at it. If someone still chose to drink it, then it would have nothing to do with her. Should any issue arise, everyone in the hall could testify for her, and since she didn’t know that the person in Canglan Court was pregnant, at worst she could only be penalized for neglect.

Lian Hua was getting impatient. How tedious it was, with everyone recycling the same conversation—wasn’t it boring?

She looked around with an expression of seeing simpletons: "If you’re not thirsty, don’t drink—it’s a simple concept, isn’t it?"

She then stood up, bowed to the Noble Consort, and said, "Consort, it seems the other sisters are lamenting the waste of this cup of tea. I find it quite wasteful too. We’ve just been talking about being frugal, and though this tea is rather bland, it’s still a pity to leave it undrunk."

At this point, she paused, and everyone tensed, waiting for her next move, thinking she was going to compromise.

The Noble Consort also looked on with hopeful eyes, setting aside Lian Hua’s comment about the tea being "rather bland," eager to know whether she was compromising or would admit she couldn’t drink it.

Lian Hua surveyed the room, and when all eyes were on her, she stated firmly, "Otherwise, just pour it back, and give it to the sisters who need it more!" Her words were filled with an air of righteousness.

Without waiting for the others to react, she immediately gestured to Xiao Qing and Xiao Linzi to hurry and pick up the tea, muttering things like "Be careful, don’t spill a drop or the Noble Consort will feel pained."

She had Xiao Qing carry it, with Xiao Linzi’s hands protecting both sides of the tea bowl as if it were a rare treasure, heading towards the palace maids carrying water kettles at the doorway.

Xiao Jizi led the way, nodding and bowing as he walked, respectfully telling everyone on both sides, "Frugality, frugality. Rest assured, my ladies, there will be no waste."

The few of them had been holding back their irritation. With a chance to vent at last, they worked quickly in tacit agreement, completing the task in one stroke, regardless of everyone’s reactions, having said all the right things to make it impossible to object.

Other people had never anticipated such an outcome. What kind of bizarre turn of events was this, where tea poured out could be put back in such a way?

Everyone was stunned into silence, unable to utter a word. Perhaps there had never been anyone in the history of the harem who acted like this.

Suddenly, the situation became uncontrollable!

The Noble Consort’s eyelids twitched wildly. If she allowed the woman from Canglan Court to pour the tea back today, by tomorrow the Noble Consort would be labeled miserly, stingy with even a cup of tea. She would become the laughingstock of the entire harem, and even the Imperial Court Ladies could hear of it, making her a joke throughout the land!

The Noble Consort’s anger was irrepressible. Her phoenix eyes widened in fury, and eventually, she couldn’t restrain herself and shouted, "Enough!"

The other concubines jumped in fright and looked towards the Noble Consort, not daring to make a sound.

Lian Hua wasn’t scared; she was in the right, so what was there to fear?

She stopped what she was doing and turned to look towards the seat of honor, feeling the word "enough" was unclear in its meaning. She asked coldly, "Does ’enough’ mean Your Highness no longer wants the tea, or that the other sisters are done drinking their tea?"

She had no intention of giving face to the Noble Consort. When others had targeted her, why hadn’t they spoken up? They always waited until she had the upper hand before they spoke!

She had seen clearly now, extremely certain that Noble Consort Xue truly disliked her and targeted her. Since that was the case, if others wouldn’t give her face, why should she maintain any pretense of courtesy!

Therefore, it was better to clarify what "enough" meant now; otherwise, later they might press her to drink the tea.

Nanny Qi had said that now that she was pregnant, she should be careful and cautious about what came from outside. Everyone here was filled with hostility, strange and unpredictable. She certainly didn’t want to drink that tea.

The other concubines gasped in shock. Beauty Lian was bold indeed. The Noble Consort’s anger was clear for all to see, yet Lian behaved as if oblivious, even daring to question the meaning of "enough."

Good heavens, they had underestimated the courage of this Beauty Lian before.

Some suddenly remembered that this very beauty had once dared to defy His Majesty; thinking of that, they found her audacity unsurprising.

The Noble Consort was nearly bursting with rage—when had anyone dared to question her in such a manner? Yet this person was His Majesty’s beloved, and she couldn’t be dealt with openly.

She took a deep breath and slowly forced out a smile, "It’s just a cup of tea, Sister Lian need not be so serious. If you don’t want to drink, then don’t drink. You may go."

Her tone was very gentle, but her eyes lacked any warmth.

"Oh..." Lian Hua dropped all pretense, now very impatient. She insisted, "But His Majesty has said we must be frugal, and I’m not thirsty. This tea shouldn’t be wasted, what should I do?"

She wanted to deal with this tea so she could leave; she was weary of staying here any longer!

Looking at the pretense of innocence on the face before her, the Noble Consort nearly lost control again. She was about to say something when suddenly the sound of clapping echoed from outside the door.

Soon after, a voice emerged in the grand hall:

"Well said, Beloved Consort is absolutely right."