**Chapter 132: Trouble is Coming**

**Chapter 132: Trouble is Coming**

The next day, Fan Xueyao enjoyed a restful sleep and woke up, stretching lazily before calling for the maidservants to help her with her morning ablutions.

Before she could even ask, Huapin took the initiative to report, "The palace was lit throughout the night last night. We heard constant footsteps outside the halls and the faint sounds of palace maids and eunuchs begging for mercy. Many servants were taken away. The palace gates have just opened, and we will investigate further to see what exactly has changed."

Fan Xueyao shook her head and said, "No need to rush. At times like this, everyone is likely watching our every move, eager to catch something, even nitpicking over minor faults. We should just live our lives quietly. After some time, things will become clear."

Huapin was anxious, but upon hearing this, she realized it made sense and had to suppress her eagerness. Privately, however, she and the other maidservants speculated which palace had stirred up the rumors, or perhaps it wasn’t just one palace.

Chu Nan spent half of every day with Yao Niang in the Hall of Spreading Fragrance. For the rest of the time, apart from handling state affairs, he was dealing with the aftermath of the palace rumors. The situation was too malicious. First, Yao Niang was his beloved woman and the mother of the first prince. He couldn't allow anyone to malign her. Such things cannot be tolerated; the flames must be stamped out before they spread. Otherwise, what dignity would the imperial court have? It would be chaos, like a marketplace.

More importantly, it was clear that the rumors were instigated by jealous consorts competing for favor. He would not tolerate the consorts abusing their status and running wild.

With a single imperial decree, that very night, the Yeting Bureau arrested and interrogated many maids and eunuchs, following clues that led to numerous individuals involved. Under harsh interrogation, even those doing menial work couldn't withstand the pressure, and the masterminds behind the rumors were gradually revealed.

When Chu Nan received the confessions and the list of involved individuals, he was so angry that he felt dizzy. He had initially thought this was the work of consorts of low birth who didn't understand their place and the gravity of court rules. He didn't expect that even high-born consorts, who usually appeared dignified and proper, were involved. Even the Empress had stoked the flames, seemingly afraid that the slander against Fan Xueyao wasn't vicious enough.

Upon reviewing the testimonies, his anger intensified, and he threw the inkstone on the table to the ground, shouting angrily, "Vile woman!"

The attendants like Li Huairen, who were waiting on him, didn't dare to make a sound, all lowering their heads.

Chu Nan was furious. First, because of how much Fan Xueyao had suffered. If he hadn't stepped in to resolve this, she might not have been able to clear her name and would have been branded as someone who used her child to vie for favor, was greedy for power, and loved vanity.

Secondly, he was angry at himself for allowing such troublemakers into the palace and even promoting them to high positions.

After being angry for a while, Chu Nan finally said, "Clean up and bring a new inkstone. Prepare brush and ink."

Hearing his command, the trembling attendants and maidservants, who had been cowering like quails, finally mustered the courage to clean up the spilled ink and broken inkstone. The court scribes rolled up their sleeves, quietly ground the ink, and stood to the side.

Chu Nan picked up the brush and wrote swiftly. In no time, he handed the written decree to Li Huairen, "Issue the edict."

Not daring to look at the content of the edict, Li Huairen accepted it with both hands and retreated to deliver it to the relevant authorities. He would find out what was written on it when it was issued.

Changsun Zhaorong breathed heavily, but even the finest rose-infused rouge couldn't hide her pale face. She trembled as she questioned with quivering lips, "What did you say?"

The maid kneeling on the cold floor, her forehead touching the ground, shivered uncontrollably. Though she didn't want to say it from the depths of her heart, she had no choice but to speak, "The imperial procession issuing the edict is outside. Please prepare to receive the edict."

Since the night before, when several maids from her palace had been forcibly taken away despite her attempts to stop it, Changsun Zhaorong had known something was wrong. But she kept telling herself that her grandmother was the Grand Princess of Qin and Wei, the emperor's grandaunt. Even if they found her hand in this, the emperor wouldn't dare to do anything to her.

Believing she would be fine, she continued her daily routine as if nothing had happened, hoping the incident would be settled with just those few maids. They were just gossipy servants who had said some inappropriate things.

But now, with the maid reporting that the emperor had issued an edict concerning her and that the procession was outside, Changsun Zhaorong knew it couldn't be a promotion. What else could it be? It was clear she was about to be punished.

Was the emperor really going to punish her for that Fan Xueyao? Was it really worth penalizing her just for some slander? How could he, for the sake of a minor official's daughter, not tolerate even a single negative word?

Changsun Gui felt both shock and fear, her heart pounding. She didn't want to go out and receive the edict, but palace rules didn't permit her such indulgence.

"...The main occupant of Feixiang Hall, Zhaorong Changsun, is hereby demoted to Meiren. This is to serve as a warning. Let this be a lesson to the consorts to not follow the same path. The maids Wang Yue'er, Zhao Hongyun, Wang Meixiang, and Chen Taohua, who are under my command, and who slandered the imperial consort and committed the crime of insubordination, shall receive forty lashes and a penalty of two years' salary..."

Changsun Gui knelt on the prayer mat, her eyes staring blankly, wishing she were deaf and blind, unable to hear the words of the eunuch reading the edict or see the contempt in his eyes.

"...Let all the consorts be warned. This shall be observed forever."

After the edict was read, the eunuch handed it to Changsun Gui, who received it while kneeling. The eunuch glanced at her trembling hands, with their long nails painted with red lacquer, and felt both amused and pity.

She must be deeply regretting it now. If only she hadn't slandered Zhaoyi in the first place. The emperor doted on Zhaoyi so much; how could he stand by and watch her be slandered?

However, thinking of Changsun Zhaorong—no, now she is known as Changsun Meiren—given her background, the eunuch privately thought that it was no wonder she had the audacity to do such a thing. With the Grand Princess of Qin and Wei to rely on, it’s no surprise that she dared to frame and slander the favored Zhaoyi.

Changsun Gui carefully put away the imperial decree. Although she wanted nothing more than to burn the humiliating document, if she dared to do it, she would face ninety strokes of the rod and two years of penal servitude.

Changsun Gui remained silent, and the palace maids serving her were so frightened that they were nearly out of their wits, trembling and not daring to approach her. After sitting in a daze for a while, Changsun Gui suddenly looked at the maids in the hall. The personal maids she trusted the most had already been taken away and punished, leaving only the ordinary servants to attend to her. But at this point, she had no choice.

Changsun Gui stood up and hurriedly walked into the inner chamber. "Prepare paper, ink, and brushes. I will write a letter, and you all will deliver it to—" The maids were about to follow her when she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"…Never mind."

Changsun Gui had intended to send a letter to her family, informing her mother of the situation so they could help her through this difficult time. But upon further thought, even when she occasionally sent maids to deliver items to her family, the guards and palace servants at the gates didn’t inspect them too strictly.

However, these were critical times, and palace rules were stricter than usual, especially concerning her quarters. It was likely that her maids wouldn’t be able to sneak the letter out of the palace. If the letter was discovered, it would be another crime, and a more severe one at that.

After careful consideration, she had no choice but to abandon her plan to send a letter to her family for the time being. News from the palace would spread soon enough anyway, and in a few days, it would be the scheduled day for imperial concubines to meet with their family members who held official titles. She would be able to see her mother then, legitimately.

She just needed to endure a bit longer.

Changsun Gui closed her eyes. She would endure.

Emperor Chu Nan demoted many people, and just at that moment, Empress Dowager Wei sent a female official to Spreading Fragrance Hall to bestow numerous rewards and issue an imperial edict praising Fan Xueyao. The edict showered her with praise for her virtues and filial piety, even bringing up the time she copied scriptures as a significant achievement.

This was a clear display of affection and support for Fan Xueyao, aimed at dispelling the shadows cast by the rumors. After all, while Chu Nan’s defense of her could still be dismissed as him being "blinded by lust," the same could not be said of the Empress Dowager. Surely, the Empress Dowager’s support couldn’t be attributed to Fan Xueyao’s beauty.

Fan Xueyao accepted the rewards and thanked the Empress Dowager that same day. The Empress Dowager wasn’t feeling well, but she still mustered the strength to formally meet Fan Xueyao. This gesture was to give Fan Xueyao face, and touched by the Empress Dowager’s effort despite her poor health, Fan Xueyao’s eyes welled up with grateful tears.

Empress Dowager Wei called her over and took her hand, her cloudy eyes filled with kindness, and slowly said, "You are a virtuous and good lady. This incident was a burden for you because of Zhangshi. But now, the matter is resolved. You should focus on taking care of your health and safely giving birth to the imperial heir. Don’t take it to heart; worry and fear harm your spirit. The child is the most important thing; everything else is secondary. The emperor has protected you this time, so you must be grateful and, in the future, follow the palace rules and serve the emperor well, fulfilling your role as a concubine."

Fan Xueyao understood that Empress Dowager Wei was subtly cautioning her not to become arrogant due to the emperor’s favor and to continue being the sensible person she had always been.

She compliantly nodded. "I will follow your teachings, Empress Dowager."

Empress Dowager Wei nodded in satisfaction and said with a smile, "I’m not feeling well today, so I won’t keep you long. In a few days, bring the Crown Prince to see me. I’ve been missing my dear little grandchild."

The list of palace concubines involved in this incident was shockingly long. Aside from the main culprits who instigated the rumors, many other concubines were punished for failing to properly discipline their maids and servants, with penalties of one or two years of reduced salary and halved annual allotments. For concubines of noble birth, this wasn’t too difficult to bear, given their accumulated wealth. However, for lower-ranking concubines, life would become much harder.

When the punishments were announced, many secretly regretted their actions, their remorse so deep it was almost physical.

They hadn’t brought much dowry into the palace, and without the emperor’s favor, they received no gifts from the lower-ranking servants. Their annual salary and allotments were barely enough for their own use, and they also had to reward servants and give gifts during festivals. Now, with reduced salaries and halved annual allotments, it was like adding insult to injury.

Thinking of their predicament, which stemmed from their jealousy and allowing their maids to spread rumors about the Zhaoyi, regret was no longer just a word but a painful reality.

When Fan Xueyao heard Chuntao’s report, she was surprised to learn just how many concubines were implicated in the incident. She couldn’t help but find it somewhat amusing, though she also felt a sense of sympathy.

"My lady, there’s something I need to inform you about," Huapin entered the room carrying a bowl of freshly squeezed fruit juice, filtered through gauze, which she had fetched from the kitchen. Fan Xueyao had been drinking this type of beverage daily.

Fan Xueyao said, "Go ahead."

Huapin set down the porcelain bowl and began, "Among those punished are Zhang Jieyu from Hui Cao Hall and He Cairen. They were fined salary and annual allotments. That’s not the main issue, though. It’s Meng Cai-nv. She wasn’t implicated, but because her principal palace was punished while she wasn’t, it’s awkward for her to continue as before. Chuntao says that Meng Cai-nv offered her charcoal to Zhang Jieyu and also shared some with He Cairen. Now, she doesn’t even have enough charcoal for herself and is using spent charcoal to wash her hair with lukewarm water. It’s not even hot yet at this time of year, but washing her hair with cold water could allow cold air to enter her body, and she might find it hard to get through the winter."

Fan Xueyao furrowed her brows and shook her head. "Changniang is being overly cautious; even though times are hard, she didn’t have to tell me."

Huapin said, "I’m afraid she didn’t want to trouble you. Everyone says they’re ashamed, but deep down, are they really that generous? Meng Cai-nv is being very careful; how could she dare involve you, my lady? At first, I wondered why, among all the concubines who try to get close to you, you treated the unremarkable and ordinary Meng Cai-nv differently. But now I understand. There’s something about Meng Cai-nv that others don’t have, and that’s what you value in her."

Fan Xueyao smiled, her delicate brows lifting gracefully. "Oh? Tell me what it is."

Huapin grinned and said, "Meng Cai-nv is sincere and honest."

"You have sharp eyes," Fan Xueyao praised with a smile, holding the fruit juice in her hands and sipping it slowly. Huapin was delighted by the compliment, her happiness evident in her raised eyebrows.

"From now on, every month, take ten measures of white charcoal from my monthly allocation and send it to **Concubine Meng**. Make sure to do it discreetly, without drawing attention. Otherwise, it will only make things harder for her."

"Yes, I will remember."

Ten measures amount to three hundred pounds of charcoal, which would be more than enough for **Meng Changniang** to use, not just for heating but also for boiling water, bathing, and washing her hair. Since it was no longer the season for heating, this amount would suffice for her daily needs. After all, the monthly allowance for a **Lady-in-waiting** only included regular black charcoal.

The reason she gave the white charcoal was to offer **Meng Changniang** the option to use it as she pleased. If she wanted to use the better-quality white charcoal herself, she could. Alternatively, she could trade some of the white charcoal for more black charcoal, giving her greater flexibility in managing her resources.

**Fan Xueyao** didn’t feel the slightest bit of regret in offering this help. Her summer monthly allocation included fifty measures of charcoal just for washing her hair, and with **Chu Xu’s** monthly supplies, she had more than enough to spare.

Although she would need more charcoal in the winter due to her regular aromatic massages—which required a warm room—there would still be a special winter charcoal supply. Additionally, she planned to give her servants some charcoal during the cold months, as their own rations were meager. Without her generosity, it would be a difficult winter for them.

**Hua Ping** agreed and silently memorized the task, making sure to remember it.

**Fan Xueyao** hadn’t expected this matter to end lightly. Several high-ranking concubines had been punished, and their families wouldn’t sit idly by. With limited favor in the palace and now punishments on their records, how could they hold their heads high in the future?

Moreover, the incident had originated because of her. The emperor had punished numerous concubines, even those from noble families, just to please his favorite concubine. It seemed as though the truth had been settled this way.

She knew this wouldn’t be the end. There would be further repercussions, not just for her but for **the Emperor** as well. However, **Fan Xueyao** hadn’t anticipated that the **Grand Princess of Qin and Wei** would personally visit for her **young granddaughter, a consort**. Considering the things she had heard about the **Grand Princess**, such behavior wasn’t entirely out of character.

But what could she do? Even someone of such high status was willing to lower herself for the sake of a granddaughter who had entered the palace as a consort.

Sighing, **Fan Xueyao** instructed her maidservants, "Help me dress and prepare. I need to go out and receive the **Grand Princess of Qin and Wei**."

The maidservants immediately sprang into action, helping **Fan Xueyao** change from her casual clothes into more luxurious and appropriate attire. **Su'e** re-did her hair into an elegant and noble style, securing it with three strands of pearls and a gem-encrusted dian. She wore pearl tassel earrings to complete the look.

**Su'e** hesitated. "Shouldn’t we dress more formally? The **Grand Princess of Qin and Wei** is not someone to be taken lightly, especially if her intentions are hostile. We shouldn’t lose the battle before it even begins."

But **Fan Xueyao** shook her head. "This is fine. We’ve already gained favor. If I dress too extravagantly, it might seem as if I’m becoming blind to others because of the emperor’s favor. Moreover, the **Grand Princess of Qin and Wei** is here. As the emperor’s grandaunt, he treats her with great respect. As a mere **Zhaoyi**, it’s natural for me to be at a disadvantage. There’s no need to fight over something so trivial. It’s better to step back, show weakness, and avoid appearing too aggressive."

Hearing this, **Hua Ping**, **Chun Die**, and **Su'e** felt a sense of unease, suspecting that the **Grand Princess of Qin and Wei** had come to the palace to seek retribution for **Changsun Mei-ren’s** demotion. As both a junior and a consort, their mistress was likely to be at a disadvantage.

**Fan Xueyao** took a deep breath and said calmly, "We’ll handle this as best as we can and see what the **Grand Princess** truly intends." If the **Grand Princess** came with hostile intentions, intending to scold her based on her status, **Fan Xueyao** wouldn’t need to hold back.

She knew a bit about the **Grand Princess of Qin and Wei**, and she wasn’t too worried.

In the current dynasty, strict control was maintained over princesses and relatives by marriage. Even the **Consort’s Husband** only held nominal titles without real power, let alone a princess. If the **Grand Princess** dared to interfere in **Chu Nan’s** harem affairs, the imperial censors would submit memorials accusing her of overstepping and violating regulations. In previous years, there had been attempts to impeach her, but **Chu Nan** had suppressed them.

So, a princess, no matter how high her status, could only scold her a little and make her lose some face.

At worst, she would endure it. It would be nothing more than some gossip, neither painful nor bothersome. And in return, **Chu Nan** would only feel more heartache for her. Whether it was fortune or misfortune, it wasn’t entirely clear.

The maidservants worked swiftly, and soon **Fan Xueyao** was ready to receive the guest. She quickly went out, leading the palace servants to the main gate to welcome the **Grand Princess of Qin and Wei**.

The **Grand Princess** was already over seventy. Her youngest daughter, the **Duchess of Yongjia**, whom she adored, had unfortunately borne few children. After many years of marriage, she finally gave birth to one son and one daughter. Thus, **Changsun Gui** became the **Grand Princess’s** beloved grandchild, doted on endlessly.

**Fan Xueyao** saw an elderly lady with white hair, dressed in a grand robe and ceremonial sash, and wearing a phoenix crown, being supported by her attendants. She immediately recognized her as the **Grand Princess of Qin and Wei**.

**Fan Xueyao** hurriedly stepped forward to pay her respects. The **Grand Princess** scrutinized her closely with narrowed eyes and then, with a faint tone, told her to rise.

At that moment, a court official stepped forward. **Fan Xueyao** recognized her as a lady-in-waiting from the **Empress Dowager’s** palace. The lady-in-waiting smiled and said, "The **Grand Princess of Qin and Wei** went to speak with the **Empress Dowager**. She expressed a desire to meet the birth mother of the **First Prince**, so the **Empress Dowager** has sent us to guide the **Grand Princess** here."

The lady-in-waiting didn’t say it directly, but she believed that the intelligent **Zhaoyi** would understand why so many palace officials were sent to guide the **Grand Princess**. Surely, one lady-in-waiting and a few maids would have sufficed for a simple escort.

**Fan Xueyao** understood and gave the lady-in-waiting a grateful smile, which the lady-in-waiting returned with a warmer smile.

After the exchange of pleasantries, Fan Xueyao invited everyone into the hall for a conversation.

The Grand Princess moved slowly, leaning on her cane, with two maids supporting her every step of the way. Fan Xueyao was about to support her, but the Grand Princess spoke with sarcasm, "How dare the Zhaoyi trouble herself with such menial work."

Normally, in such situations, Fan Xueyao would have responded with complimentary words, insisting on serving the Grand Princess despite her higher status. However, the princess’s tone made Fan Xueyao unwilling to humble herself.

Instead, she smiled gently and said, "I am grateful for your kindness, Grand Princess. I must admit that since my pregnancy, I often feel weak and am not as capable as these maids in attending to others." With that, she stepped back.

The Grand Princess had expected Fan Xueyao to say some clever, ingratiating words and continue to grovel. Frustrated by her response, she suppressed her anger and continued walking inside.

Fan Xueyao followed behind, unable to overtake her, and thus had to slow her pace. The Grand Princess looked around and, upon seeing the flowers in the courtyard, suddenly stopped. She covered her nose with a handkerchief and, with a look of distaste, complained, "This courtyard already felt cramped, and yet you have so many flowers, turning it into a garden. No wonder it smelled so strong from outside, causing me to sneeze uncontrollably." She then pretended to sneeze a couple of times.

The female official maintained a polite smile, thinking that the sneezing was clearly forced.

Fan Xueyao smiled and replied, "I, on the other hand, find the fragrance of the flowers quite refreshing. The first prince also enjoys these flowers and often picks them for his amusement."

The Grand Princess scolded, "As a woman and a consort of the emperor, your duty is to assist the Empress and serve the emperor. Indulging in such trivial matters can harm the decorum of the court. Wouldn't it be better to engage in embroidery or other proper pastimes? Raising flowers and plants is not something a proper woman should do."

Fan Xueyao understood that the Grand Princess was insinuating she was attempting to charm the emperor. She chose to pay no heed, allowing the words to go in one ear and out the other. She smiled gently, her expression one of shy deference, and simply said, "Yes, thank you for your guidance, Grand Princess."

Though Fan Xueyao’s attitude appeared respectful, her response felt like a mere formality to the Grand Princess, who grew even more frustrated. Fortunately, the Fragrance Hall wasn't large, and despite their slow pace, they soon reached the rear hall.

The female official quickly ushered the Grand Princess inside to prevent her from making further inappropriate remarks.

Chapter 133: Abusing Power

Prior to her arrival, the Grand Princess had met with Empress Dowager Wei. Empress Dowager Wei, aware that the Grand Princess was dissatisfied with Fan Xueyao due to Changsun Gui's punishment, had said many good things about Fan Xueyao in advance, subtly advising her not to go too far.

The Grand Princess had witnessed Empress Dowager Wei's difficult journey to her current position and knew that she had been looked down upon by lowly entertainers. Since Empress Dowager Wei was her junior, the Grand Princess didn’t truly respect her.

Despite Empress Dowager Wei's efforts to mediate, when the Grand Princess actually met Fan Xueyao, she maintained her cold attitude, giving her a hard look from the start.

Once inside the hall, Hua Ping and the other maids served tea and snacks. The Grand Princess observed that Hua Ping, Qiaoqiao, and Su'e were all delicate and pretty, dressed in elegant palace attire with embroidered flowers on their collars and sleeves. She assumed that Fan Xueyao had groomed these maids to charm the emperor and that many of them might have already been favored by him.

Fan Xueyao nearly laughed upon sensing the Grand Princess's thoughts. Did maids have to dress up only to please the emperor? She personally liked her maids to be beautifully dressed, finding it pleasing to have them around. Besides, her maids weren’t dressed extravagantly; she had merely given them some fine fabrics to wear silk and satin, with a couple of hairpins. Was that considered excessive? The maids of the Empress Dowager and the Empress even wore flower crowns!

The Grand Princess furrowed her brows, her dull eyes moving critically over the maids, and said sternly, "These maids are dressed in an ostentatious manner, which is improper. Just because they serve a consort doesn’t mean they can neglect proper conduct. Zhaoyi, you need to focus more on disciplining your maids."

Fan Xueyao smiled. With the Empress Dowager’s female official present, she had intended to play the part of a docile consort for a while, especially since the Grand Princess’s previous complaints had been trivial matters that could be endured.

However, the Grand Princess was now criticizing her for failing to manage her maids properly, implying that she was distracted by other matters.

As a consort in the inner palace, what else could she be distracted by but seeking the emperor's affection?

This was intolerable.

Fan Xueyao lowered her gaze slightly and then looked up, saying with a smile, "I cannot accept what you're saying, Grand Princess. I may not dare to boast about many things, but I do have some experience in disciplining my maids. I have been in the palace for several years, and none of my maids have ever broken any palace regulations. The emperor once asked if the maids in the Fragrance Hall were particularly well-behaved because of strict discipline. He even advised me not to engage in the abhorrent practice of beating maids, as many consorts do. In truth, I have never beaten them. When a maid makes a mistake, I simply reason with her and guide her gently. Additionally, I set an example by practicing benevolence and virtue in my daily life."

The Grand Princess’s expression darkened, her eyes widening in frustration.

Fan Xueyao continued, turning to Hua Ping and the others, looking them over and asking, "Do you find them ostentatious? They are neither heavily made up nor dressed in garish colors. They don’t appear vulgar or frivolous, do they?"

"Oh, I suppose the Great Princess is referring to what they are wearing, but that is a misunderstanding."

Fan Xueyao smiled gently. "Although the clothes and accessories they wear are not part of the standard issued to palace maids, they do not violate the regulations. I bestowed these items out of affection for them, as they serve attentively and diligently. They are not extravagant, just ordinary palace flowers and hairpins. They may look pretty, but they are mostly made of velvet and pith flowers, not very precious. I fear the Great Princess has misunderstood. In fact, I believe that as long as the maids follow proper etiquette and do not behave frivolously, it is not a bad thing for them to dress neatly and presentably. It can better reflect the noble and majestic aura of the royal family, don’t you agree?"

The Grand Princess of Qin Wei began to breathe more rapidly, on the verge of rebuking her. "What a sharp-tongued and clever woman."

Just then, the female court official interjected, "What the Zhaoyi says is exactly right. The Empress Dowager is someone who values spirit and appearance. Whether it’s summer or winter, she always gets up at the proper time for her morning grooming. You will never see her disheveled. The people in the Empress Dowager’s palace have specialized ladies-in-waiting who instruct them day and night, altering and refining their attire. If you look closely, you will find that no two dresses or pairs of shoes are exactly the same. The girls wear bright and vibrant makeup and clothing, each appearing radiant and full of energy. The Empress Dowager says that seeing the maids so spirited brightens her eyes and gives her more energy."

The Grand Princess felt choked, her words stuck in her throat, causing her chest to feel stuffy.

She wondered, what did this court official mean? She had just criticized Fan Zhaoyi’s maids for being improperly dressed and overly extravagant, and the court official immediately countered by saying that the Empress Dowager’s maids were even more particular in their dress, and it was sanctioned by the Empress Dowager herself. Wasn’t this a direct contradiction to what she had just said? Realizing that the court official represented Empress Dowager Wei and that her every word reflected the Empress Dowager’s intentions, the Grand Princess was taken aback. She hadn’t expected the Empress Dowager to be so supportive of this Zhaoyi.

Fan Xueyao’s smile deepened as she looked at the court official and said with a laugh, "No wonder the people in the Empress Dowager’s palace are all so charming and graceful, with a special air about them. It turns out they are taught by the Empress Dowager herself. The Empress Dowager really doesn’t love me, keeping all her secrets to herself. One day, I’ll have to swallow my pride and beg the Empress Dowager to teach me some of her secrets, so I won’t be outdone by my own maids."

The court officials could not help but smile. "If the Zhaoyi, with such a beautiful face, were to learn all of the Empress Dowager’s secrets, you would pale in comparison."

The Grand Princess listened to their banter and felt as if they were as noisy as a flock of crows, both annoying and giving her a headache.

Pretending not to notice the Grand Princess’s impatience, Fan Xueyao continued to exchange pleasantries with the court officials for a while. After some time, as if suddenly realizing that the Grand Princess had not spoken, her face flushed slightly and she said, "I have been rude... The Grand Princess wishes to see the First Prince, does she not?"

She then looked towards Huaping and asked, "Go and see what the First Prince is doing inside."

Huaping responded and stepped back, turning to the eastern side room. Shortly after, she returned. "Zhuzhu is teaching the First Prince from the primer Lady wrote."

"Good." Fan Xueyao nodded. "For now, put it aside. Since the Grand Princess has come to the palace to see the First Prince, have the wet nurses bring him here for the Grand Princess to see."

Huaping went to relay the message, and soon, two wet nurses and several maids escorted a small boy dressed in a red silk robe. He was not being carried by the wet nurses but walking on his own.

"Is this the First Prince?"

The Grand Princess had assumed the First Prince would be spoiled and unable to walk two steps, but he was healthy and strong, with steady steps for someone so small. He was fair-skinned, cute, with a round head and big, bright, clear eyes—clearly no ordinary child.

Chu Xu entered. Being a young child who spent most of his time in the Spreading Fragrance Hall and rarely saw outsiders, he felt somewhat shy. Seeing many unfamiliar faces in the room, he hesitated, his little feet stopping, wanting to turn back. But when he saw Fan Xueyao, he immediately ran towards her, calling out in a childish voice, "Mama."

Fan Xueyao picked him up, letting his chubby little bottom sit on her lap, holding his soft little hand as she said, "There are guests here. You need to greet them. This is the Grand Princess of Qin Wei. You should call her Great-Grand-Aunt."

Chu Xu clung to Fan Xueyao, his face against her chest, his black, bright, and round eyes observing this stranger. He mimicked his mother’s words, "Great... Grand-Aunt."

For some reason, the Grand Princess of Qin Wei found that her intentions to criticize vanished when she looked at the fair and adorable Chu Xu. She forced a stiff smile, trying to appear kind and benevolent. "The First Prince is truly smart and clever, so lovable. He looks like a golden boy under the statue of Buddha. No wonder the Empress Dowager and the emperor dote on him so much."

Though she started well, her last sentence carried a hint of sourness, which she noticed and quickly tried to cover up, saying, "I am very fond of the First Prince at first sight." She then signaled to a nearby maid, who understood and stepped forward with a red silk package.

The Grand Princess of Qin Wei opened the package to reveal a Hetian jade bi with a longevity pattern, its texture fine and white—a high-quality piece of jade.

She placed the jade bi in Chu Xu’s arms and said, "Here, let the First Prince have this to play with."

"It is an honor just to have you visit the First Prince; how can we accept a gift from the Grand Princess?" Fan Xueyao declined politely.

After a few exchanges of courtesy, Fan Xueyao allowed Chu Xu to accept the jade bi.

The Grand Princess of Qin Wei lavishly praised Chu Xu for a while, and the court officials, seeing this, assumed she genuinely liked him. Chu Xu was such a beautiful, cute, and well-behaved boy; how could the Grand Princess not like him? But thinking about who his birth mother was, her fondness diminished.

If he had been born to her beloved granddaughter, she would have wished to hold him in her arms every day. Unfortunately, he was born to the wrong mother.

"The First Prince is indeed well-raised. Children around the First Prince’s age are often timid and listless, unable to drink much milk. Despite being born to a noble family with fine clothes and food, their health is often not as robust as those children raised in common households."

After exchanging insincere pleasantries for a while, and since Chu Xu was at an age where he loved to play, but Fan Xueyao had been talking to the stranger and not playing with him, Chu Xu became unhappy and fussed to be put down. Fan Xueyao then instructed the wet nurses to take him inside to play.

The Grand Princess felt she had demonstrated sufficient concern for the Crown Prince and that it was time to address the main issue. Her gaze fell on Fan Xueyao, and she voiced the thoughts she had been harboring for some time.

"Just now, Zhaoyi mentioned that you have always upheld benevolence and moral integrity. I believe you are a gentle and kind-hearted person. Since you treat your palace maids with grace, why are you so cold and indifferent towards those of the same rank as you?"

The female official and the maids of Fragrant Hall appeared startled, their faces slightly changing, as they stared at Fan Xueyao without blinking. The female official frowned and glanced at the Grand Princess. Seeing that her eyes were fixed on Zhaoyi, waiting for her response, she couldn't help but feel angry. Despite Empress Dowager Wei's prior instructions to handle the situation, the Grand Princess was still treating Zhaoyi with such audacity. This was a clear sign of disrespect towards the Empress Dowager.

Fan Xueyao was taken aback and replied meekly, "I do not understand what the Grand Princess means by this." Her tone of confusion only irritated Grand Princess Qin Wei.

"There's no need for pretense. You know exactly what I'm talking about. Your father was a fifth-ranking Assistant Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. When you entered the palace, you were first granted the title of Imperial Beauty. Due to the emperor's favor, you were promoted to Jie Yu, and then further advanced to Zhaoyi after giving birth to the imperial prince. My granddaughter was initially granted the title of Zhaorong, and now she is on equal footing with you."

The more Grand Princess Qin Wei spoke, the more aggrieved she felt. Her granddaughter, born of high status and possessing both talent and virtue, couldn't become the Empress only because she was born too late. It was an unfortunate twist of fate. But what was Fan Xueyao? She was on equal footing with her granddaughter and even received a title that appeared to outrank hers slightly. Now, Gui Niang had been demoted to Beauty because of this woman. It was a humiliating ordeal.

Fan Xueyao wanted to say, "If your granddaughter has been demoted to Beauty, how can you still claim she's on equal footing with me?" But instead, she said, "Whether it's grace or reprimand, both are expressions of the emperor's will."

These words only stoked the Grand Princess's fury. They sounded pleasant, but the grace was for her, while the reprimand was for Gui Niang. Of course, it was easy for her to say such things. But the Grand Princess had to be careful not to show any disrespect that might reach the emperor's ears.

"Now that you are a Zhaoyi and soon to give birth to an imperial heir, you might be promoted to a consort soon. I hope you will maintain your kindness and spare my granddaughter. She was spoiled by me and her mother. She has never suffered or been wronged. Since her demotion to Beauty, she has been crying every day and has lost her appetite. My old bones ache with worry for her." The Grand Princess dabbed at her eyes with a silk handkerchief.

The female official understood that this was a pretense, a means to exert her authority over Zhaoyi. She knew that even if the Grand Princess wasn't in the right, Zhaoyi would have to yield, as the Grand Princess, a two-country grand princess, feigned tears for her granddaughter.

Though she understood the situation, she had to step forward to comfort the Grand Princess. She said some soothing words, but in her heart, she knew that Zhaoyi would have to endure some grievances this time.

Fan Xueyao, seeing the Grand Princess wiping her tears, quickly stood up, offering tea and ordering the maids to prepare a washbasin, towels, a mirror, and cosmetics.

As the female official expected, the Grand Princess was deliberately feigning tears to manipulate Fan Xueyao. But how could she, filled with resentment towards Fan Xueyao, truly cry in front of her and ruin her makeup, showing a disheveled appearance? So, her eyes were only slightly wet, and her makeup remained perfect.

Fan Xueyao ostentatiously instructed the maids, and the Grand Princess was about to refuse her service but feared appearing insincere. So, she pretended to be upset, pushing Fan Xueyao's hand away when she tried to wipe her tears.

Soon, several maids entered, carrying a wooden basin, towels, soap, a mirror, and cosmetics, ready to serve the Grand Princess. Fan Xueyao took a large towel and covered the Grand Princess's lapel.

The Grand Princess's maids were about to step forward, but she signaled them back, intending to have Fan Xueyao serve her to vent her frustrations.

Since the Grand Princess's seat was low, Fan Xueyao had to kneel. As she knelt, the maids also knelt. The female official, seeing the Grand Princess seated with a smug expression on her round face, secretly shook her head.

After covering her lapel, Fan Xueyao helped the Grand Princess roll up her sleeves and removed the jade-inlaid gold bracelet and the gem-set gold bracelet from her arms. Fan Xueyao knelt beside her again to cover her waist. The Grand Princess then leisurely reached her hand into the washbasin, only to pull it back with a soft hum. "If you don't want me to wash my face, then I won't. Why is the water so cold?"

"It must be because the water cooled during the journey from the tea furnace room," Fan Xueyao said, and instructed Huaping to fetch more hot water.

Huaping quickly left and returned with a pot of hot water. Fan Xueyao personally added the water to the basin, testing the temperature with her hand.

Of course, the water wasn't cold at all. Huaping was meticulous; how could she possibly neglect the water for the Grand Princess? Fan Xueyao didn't need to hear the Grand Princess's thoughts to know this. The water was warm, just right for washing.

The Grand Princess was being nitpicky, deliberately making things difficult for Fan Xueyao. Everyone in the room understood this.

Fan Xueyao adjusted the water temperature slightly and knelt down again to cover the Grand Princess's waist. After the second time, it was hard to justify continuing this charade. After all, Fan Xueyao was the emperor's consort, not a mere household wife. It wouldn't be appropriate to go too far.

This time, the Grand Princess didn't try to make things difficult again. She washed her face, revealing her true appearance—a dull complexion with wrinkles and age spots. The smug and malicious expression on her face made her look especially repulsive.

Fan Xueyao held the mirror as the Grand Princess slowly applied her makeup. The Grand Princess complained that the rouge and powder were too bright and frivolous, unsuitable for a respectable woman, but she applied them anyway. After a long while, Fan Xueyao was finally able to stand up.

After all the commotion, the Grand Princess felt she had lectured enough and asked, "You rely too much on the emperor's favor. There should be a limit. Among all the consorts, none receive as much favor as you. Isn't that enough for you? Why must you torment my granddaughter like this?"

Fan Xueyao bowed her head in fear and said, "The Grand Princess misunderstands me. How could I be such a reckless person?"

This wasn't the answer the Grand Princess wanted. She stared at Fan Xueyao and questioned her further. "My granddaughter is talented and virtuous, with an excellent character. How could she have done something wrong? It must be because you couldn't tolerate her. With her as a consort and of noble birth, you couldn't bear to see her share the same status as you. So, you slandered her in front of the emperor, causing her to be punished and humiliated. Now that she has suffered enough, can't you let it go? Remember, to be merciful when you can."

These words are truly heart-wrenching.

Fan Xueyao knelt down, her eyes fixed on the Grand Princess, and said solemnly, "I implore the Grand Princess to be cautious with her words. You are honored as the emperor's grand-aunt and have lived through several reigns. You are a person of extraordinary status. How could you not know that words from someone of your status would be unbearable for me? These words are like a blade at my throat, coercing me to take my own life in order to preserve my innocence. My life is insignificant, and death holds no fear for me, but people may misunderstand the Grand Princess to be a cruel, cold-hearted, and selfish person, trying to elevate her own granddaughter by pressuring a pregnant consort."

The Grand Princess's face changed dramatically. "Bold indeed!"

Fan Xueyao held herself straight. Though her appearance remained gentle and graceful, her clear, bright eyes now overflowed with unyielding defiance, exuding an intimidating aura that was hard to meet head-on.

"The imperial decree concerning Lady Changsun has already been issued. This is the emperor's decision and not to be questioned. With my humble status, I do not dare to speak or act rashly. Besides, the emperor is an enlightened ruler. Even if I were as beautiful as a celestial being, how could I possibly mislead the emperor into wrongfully punishing an innocent person? The Grand Princess's words not only slander me but also disparage the emperor! This, I cannot tolerate!"

The Grand Princess stood up abruptly, her face pale with rage as she glared at Fan Xueyao. "You bold and low—"

"Grand Princess!"

A female court official stepped forward, interrupting before the insult could be hurled. Her head, usually lowered in deference, now rose to meet the Grand Princess's eyes, a subtle warning in her gaze.

Fan Xueyao's defiance had already infuriated the Grand Princess. Now, even a mere court official dared to look at her directly with such a gaze. Her anger surged even more.

Her wrinkled fingers, adorned with gold-inlaid jade rings, pointed at everyone in the hall, especially Fan Xueyao, as she spoke angrily, "Very well, very well. An arrogant consort, yet the Empress Dowager dotes on her, treating her like a precious treasure. Let's see if the emperor will punish me for daring to confront this despicable woman."

The female court official could not help but frown. It was not that they were overly protective of Fan Xueyao; it was simply that the Grand Princess had been too domineering, leaving them no choice but to intervene.

The imperial palace was a place of utmost dignity and prestige. The Grand Princess had dared to speak vulgar words, and they had to intervene. If such behavior were to spread, it would tarnish the royal family's reputation. A Grand Princess of two states, speaking with such vulgarity, would no longer be seen as dignified.

Feeling offended by both Fan Xueyao and the female court officials, the Grand Princess decided to seek justice from Chu Nan, suspecting Empress Dowager Wei's involvement in the incident.

At that moment, Chu Nan was in the inner chamber of Jianshi Hall, convening with several ministers to discuss state affairs. When Li Huaian entered to report that the Grand Princess was seeking an audience with him in Hongning Palace, Chu Nan frowned, surmising that her sudden visit was most likely to plead on behalf of Changsun Gui. He had no intention of seeing her.

Li Huaian approached and whispered into Chu Nan's ear, "After entering the palace, the Grand Princess of Qin and Wei went to see the Empress Dowager. Soon after, the Empress Dowager ordered several female officials to accompany her to Spreading Fragrance Hall. After half a day, they came out and headed straight to Hongning Palace. I saw anger on her face..."

Chu Nan rose, his expression darkening. After two steps, he remembered the ministers still waiting and turned back. "Ministers, please come to the palace again tomorrow to continue our discussions on the unresolved matters."

It was clear to anyone with eyes that Chu Nan was in a foul mood. The ministers, sensing that something had occurred in the palace, wondered what had happened to anger the emperor so much as they bowed and took their leave.

As soon as the ministers left, Chu Nan immediately proceeded to Hongning Palace. Since Chu Nan was not in the main hall, the Grand Princess had been led to a side hall to wait. Upon returning to Hongning Palace, Chu Nan ordered someone to summon the Grand Princess. Although his face remained relatively calm, he was seething inside.

The Grand Princess did not often come to the palace. Firstly, her status was too high, and whenever she visited, if Chu Nan was not too busy, he would visit her to show respect and concern for the elder members of the royal family, though it was a troublesome affair.

Secondly, she was elderly, and the strict palace rules made it difficult for her to endure the fatigue.

Thirdly, if a princess visited the palace too frequently, the ministers would object, and even with her high status, she could be impeached.

Chu Nan had already surmised that her sudden visit was for Changsun Gui's sake.

It was no surprise to Chu Nan that she went to see the Empress Dowager. After all, Empress Xu was the Empress of the central palace, but she was of a younger generation, and it was well-known that she was not favored. She would not dare to interfere with his decisions.

But the Empress Dowager was different.

Empress Dowager Wei was his birth mother. If she were truly moved to intercede for Changsun Gui, then out of filial piety, even if he had reservations about Changsun Gui, he should comply with his mother’s wishes.