Palace Fighting Naive Concubines’ Ascent to Power
Chapter 277 - 278: Can You Give Some More?

Chapter 277: Chapter 278: Can You Give Some More?

Noble Consort observed Lian Hua covertly, noticing her expression. Her heart fluttered with trepidation, wondering whether Beauty Lian knew something about her cousin’s affair, had entered the palace seeking revenge, but held back her wrath, always plotting against her?

Otherwise, why was she so guarded when they mentioned the past?

Noble Consort realized something, suspecting that Lian Hua would not be easy to deal with.

Her initial intention was to test her, and no sooner had she broached the topic than she persevered to probe further.

Noble Consort feigned recollection and continued, "Back then, didn’t Sister intend to give something to me?"

Beauty Zhao chimed in to help, "Consort, it was tea. Sister Lian once mentioned she had personally prepared Dew Tea as an offering for you, only..."

What followed implicated His Majesty, making it improper to speak outright.

Noble Consort realized, "I remember now, it indeed was Dew Tea. Daily palace duties are many—the mind isn’t as good as it used to be."

She massaged her forehead and added:

"At that time, Sister mentioned that the Dew Tea was sweet to the throat and left an unforgettable aftertaste. It’s a pity I never got to drink it; I wonder if Sister still has some, could you perhaps gift me some more?"

After speaking, Noble Consort stared intently at Lian Hua, a flicker of almost imperceptible murderous intent in her eyes.

In Noble Consort’s mind, Lian Hua, once sidelined for years unattended, surely knew her initial purpose in coming to the palace was unachievable. She presented Dew Tea during her birthday banquet not to mock her or test her resolve. Such an act was like an insect shaking a tree, utterly overestimating itself.

If she had known back then, why would she have allowed her to stay comfortably here, allowing her to get close to His Majesty and climb to her current position?

Noble Consort calculated the time; Beauty Lian must have used her birthday banquet to catch His Majesty’s attention. Otherwise, with years passing by, it was neither too early nor too late for His Majesty to notice her just after her birthday.

What cunning and planning, yet she abhorred that she had been oblivious, unwittingly crafting a wedding dress for someone else.

Lian Hua also had an epiphany, finally understanding why Noble Consort had praised her earlier—it was all for her tea. No wonder.

Initially, she and His Majesty had been at an impasse, adamant about offering the tea to Noble Consort. However, Consort showed no appreciation and turned to offer it to His Majesty instead. In the end, Lian, the one who brought the tea, gained nothing good.

Now asked for the tea anew, she had none left, having given it all to His Majesty, who even decreed that she should not make it anymore, or if she did, it should be for His Majesty alone.

At most, she could also give some to Sister Zhaoyi and none to others, as they were not close.

At this moment, she had no desire whatsoever to give any to Noble Consort. If given, it would be a wasted effort, yielding no good returns—and she was not foolish.

With that thought, Lian Hua stated plainly, "To reply to Consort, there is none left, I cannot send any." Her tone was flat, bearing no hint of an explanation.

The atmosphere in the hall turned weird, everyone was caught off guard by Beauty Lian’s blatant arrogance. Noble Consort had deigned to ask her for tea, yet she flatly refused without a second thought.

Noble Consort narrowed her eyes and began to ponder, confirming her suspicions. Beauty Lian indeed must know something, and now she had directly torn up appearances with her, not pretending anymore.

Very well, very good, a simple test and she had exposed herself. Today’s words had not been in vain.

Changzai Zhou glanced at the higher seating with a hint of sarcasm and then at Lian Hua, pondering before he spoke to ease the situation, "Elder Sister Lian, if the tea is gone, don’t you know how to make it? Why not prepare some more and offer it to Consort to taste?"

These words were like adding fuel to the fire, pitting the two against each other.

Others also came around to the idea, indeed, if it was gone, just make more. The tea was personally crafted by Lian Hua, and they started to agree one after another:

"Since you can make it, and we are all sisters in the palace, why not make some more and give it to the Consort?"

"Originally, Sister Lian was keen on sending the tea to the Consort for her to try, so now that the Consort has asked for it, how could Sister Lian refuse? Such a refusal would truly disregard the feelings among sisters."

"Ha, feelings among sisters? Are there sisters who force others to give things?" Xu Zhaoyi sarcastically remarked as she entered with large strides, coldly looking at the people who were speaking.

Consort Zhen, who had just participated in the conversation, timidly lowered her head, not daring to look directly at the newcomer.

Lian Hua exclaimed with surprise, "Elder Sister!"

She had finally arrived, Lian Hua was so bored; talking with the people in the hall was utterly dull, completely uninteresting, she felt she was about to mold from staying there.

Xu Zhaoyi smiled soothingly at her, signaling her to calm down, then turned and performed a perfunctory courtesy towards Noble Consort Xue and other high-ranking individuals.

The other lower ranking individuals all stood up to greet her accordingly.

Once all greetings were exchanged, Xu Zhaoyi walked directly to Beauty Zhao’s table and said, "You go over there, and swap places with me."

Beauty Zhao was sitting next to Lian Hua.

Beauty Zhao was startled, nobody dared to provoke Xu Zhaoyi in the palace, hearing this, she subconsciously looked toward the Noble Consort at the head of the table.

Xu Zhaoyi followed her gaze and coldly said, "The Noble Consort is so generous, she wouldn’t blame this consort for being improper, would she?"

The Noble Consort’s eyes narrowed, she was extremely irritated inside, what a preposterous situation; the seating at the banquet was predetermined, organized by rank, how could they just switch as they pleased.

This was downright contempt for her, completely disregarding her!

The Noble Consort remained silent, just staring straight at Xu Zhaoyi, both women locked eyes with growing intensity.

At this moment, the hall was dead silent, everyone else dared not even breathe too loudly, especially Beauty Zhao, who hung her head low, dreading getting involved.

Xu Zhaoyi, after looking for a while, suddenly laughed out loud, "Ah, Noble Consort Xue finally isn’t putting on a pretentious face anymore; this look suits you so much better."

She leisurely continued, "So, does the Noble Consort intend to blame me? If so, I shall not switch."

Hearing that Sister Zhaoyi intended to swap places next to her, Lian Hua was hopeful, but seeing the Noble Consort stay silent, only staring menacingly at Sister Zhaoyi, she was anxious, fearing that the Noble Consort might target Xu Zhaoyi.

Hearing what Xu Zhaoyi said afterward, she stood up and interjected, "Sister Zhaoyi, Her Majesty said today is a day of reunion, that there should be no need for such formalities among sisters, to relax, and she mentioned not to be restrained, she surely wouldn’t blame you, would she?"

As she spoke, she looked up at the Noble Consort, utterly convinced that the Noble Consort meant what she had said earlier.

The Noble Consort seethed inside, her teeth clenched tightly, "Xu Zhaoyi! Beauty Lian! Both disrespecting hierarchy, the two I despise the most in this palace, now brazenly colluding, openly provoking me, setting me up to roast them," she fumed.

Especially this Beauty Lian, her mimicry skills have grown significantly stronger. Last time, in the presence of His Majesty, she mimicked me, filling me with hatred, and today, even more formidable, a brilliant move of using one’s own spear to attack one’s own shield!

At that moment, the Noble Consort truly wanted to throw caution to the wind and scold loudly; she wouldn’t allow them to switch, how could they take her!

But her rationality told her she couldn’t; she was the Noble Consort, a model for the whole palace, if she scolded now, the reputation she had painstakingly built over the years would be ruined by the pair, who then would still think she was fair and generous?

She must not let them succeed!