Chapter 141

Chapter 141

Originally, even if Su Yi didn't speak, Consort Tongjia wouldn't have spent this break quietly, since she would likely find other things to nitpick about.

However, Consort Tongjia was unusually silent now, while Consort Rong was the one starting conversations.

Consort Tongjia, suspicious of Consort Rong's sudden change in attitude, was on guard, suspecting some hidden agenda. Consort Rong had even praised her hands, which were indeed well-shaped, but Consort Tongjia thought that just flattery wouldn't win her over.

So, she stayed cautious during their conversation, careful not to fall into any of Consort Rong's traps.

Surprisingly, Consort Rong only talked about some hand care remedies. Consort Tongjia at first dismissed it, since she already knew some beauty tips and didn't need Consort Rong's advice.

But when she noticed Consort Rong's flawless and smooth skin, she couldn't help but mentally take notes, planning to have her maid try them first to see if they worked. If they worked, she might as well give them a try.

She even asked a few questions to get more information, keeping a composed and aloof demeanor, though she was genuinely interested on the inside.

No woman can resist ways to enhance her beauty.

Even female cultivators, who can keep their youthful looks through cultivation, are willing to spend a fortune on beauty potions and other such products.

They also don't hesitate to splurge on beautiful but impractical immortal dresses.

Su Yi intentionally lowered her voice, so Consort Tongjia, who was initially sitting far from her, gradually moved closer to hear better.

Not just Consort Tongjia, even the servants present couldn't help but listen in on Consort Rong's beauty tips.

First, if the methods weren't too troublesome, the maids could use them privately. Second, if the concubines asked, they could trade these tips for some benefits.

Surely, some ladies would be interested.

Meanwhile, Qinxin was puzzled: How does the lady know so many beauty secrets? She doesn't seem to take such meticulous care of herself usually.

But it all sounded quite plausible, not like made-up nonsense.

If Su Yi knew Qinxin's thoughts, she would tell her that knowing is one thing, but whether one bothers to put in the effort is another—she's just too lazy.

"How do you know so many remedies?" Consort Tongjia asked after jotting down a lot, her mind almost overwhelmed. Fortunately, she had signaled her personal maid to take notes as well, in case she missed anything.

Though she found Consort Rong annoying...

She secretly glanced at Consort Rong's flawless face up close.

Upon closer inspection, she realized Consort Rong wasn't wearing any makeup, except for a touch of lip color to enhance her complexion. Even her neck was as smooth and fair as her face, leaving Consort Tongjia with nothing to criticize.

Perhaps this was Consort Rong's secret.

If these methods worked for her, her beauty would surpass her previous state.

Consort Rong had openly shared these beauty secrets, something Consort Tongjia would have kept tightly guarded to prevent others from using them to compete for favor.

Regardless of Consort Rong's intentions, Consort Tongjia decided to take it as a gesture of goodwill to ensure a smooth period of serving the Empress Dowager.

Was this a peace offering?

While Consort Tongjia usually wouldn't care, she couldn't resist these tips.

Moreover, Consort Rong was still sitting here, smiling and chatting with her, and with her strength, who knew who would end up being the one suffering during the service?

In short, at this moment, Consort Tongjia felt somewhat cornered and thought of giving up.

After all, there's still the Grand Empress Dowager. If the Grand Empress Dowager makes things difficult for Consort Rong, it's none of her business. Now that she thought about it carefully, she had been the one confronting Consort Rong earlier, while the Grand Empress Dowager just watched from the sidelines without intervening.

Hmph!

Consort Tongjia couldn't help but let her thoughts wander, as if she had thought of something, and a faint smile crossed her face.

When Suma Lagu emerged, she saw Consort Tongjia and Consort Rong sitting together, their seats close, chatting.

Consort Tongjia still had a faint smile on her face, and Consort Rong was also looking at Consort Tongjia with a gentle smile.

They appeared to be getting along well.

Initially, it was expected that Consort Tongjia would clash with Consort Rong while the Grand Empress Dowager was changing clothes. So, after the Grand Empress Dowager felt better and her headache eased, she lingered inside a bit longer.

Anticipating a clash between Consort Tongjia and Consort Rong, and when the servants noticed trouble and came to report, she would emerge and reprimand them.

Of course, she would only give Consort Tongjia a token scolding, but her real target would be Consort Rong.

Even if word got out, the Grand Empress Dowager would have no grounds to blame anyone, but Consort Tongjia and Consort Rong, who made a scene in the Cining Palace, would be accused of neglecting their duties and disturbing the Grand Empress Dowager, causing her distress.

And since Consort Tongjia, the highest-ranking consort, is not easily provoked, naturally, the blame would fall on Consort Rong.

Moreover, the harem concubines have long resented Consort Rong, and they would naturally seize this chance to fan the flames.

The Grand Empress Dowager wouldn't need to lift a finger to make Consort Rong suffer silently, unable to defend herself.

But now, Consort Tongjia, who was expected to clash with Consort Rong, was actually sitting together with Consort Rong, chatting and laughing, getting along quite well, which puzzled Suma Lagu. These two hadn't quarreled, and it wasn't like this earlier.

What exactly happened?? Looking at the servants present, she couldn't figure it out either.

When women start talking about certain topics, the conversation just never ends. It's like when you both curse a scumbag, and even if you didn't get along before, after cursing the scumbag together, you instantly become close.

Originally, she came out to stop Consort Tongjia and Consort Rong from making too much of a scene.

But it was completely unnecessary. They were sitting together talking, and if Suma Lagu hadn't come out, they could have continued talking.

When Suma Lagu first emerged, she even saw Consort Rong tugging at Consort Tongjia's sleeve, signaling her to look this way.

Consort Tongjia seemed to have just noticed her coming out and looked over with Consort Rong, "Oh, it's Suma. Has the Grand Empress Dowager's condition improved?" Consort Tongjia straightened up and asked seriously.

Su Yi also looked over with the same gesture, waiting for Suma Lagu's reply.

As if they were very concerned about the Grand Empress Dowager's health.

Suma Lagu couldn't help but feel that they hadn't been worried about the Grand Empress Dowager's suffering, sitting there uneasily, but instead, the two of them had actually started chatting, and only now remembered to care about the Grand Empress Dowager!

Consort Tongjia hadn't noticed her coming out at first, and if it weren't for Consort Rong's reminder, Consort Tongjia wouldn't have noticed her coming out!

"The Grand Empress Dowager's headache is severe, and the pain is unbearable. Imperial Noble Consort and Consort Rong are supposed to be here to serve the Grand Empress Dowager, but instead, they are here chatting and laughing, showing no concern for the Grand Empress Dowager's well-being."

Suma Lagu tried to restrain herself, but the accusatory tone in her words was hard to hide.

Especially Consort Tongjia, who had accidentally hurt the Grand Empress Dowager earlier, and the Grand Empress Dowager didn't hold it against her. Yet Consort Tongjia didn't appreciate the Grand Empress Dowager's kindness, knowing full well that the Grand Empress Dowager dislikes Consort Rong, and now that she had the opportunity to give Consort Rong a hard time, she didn't take it!

What a waste of the Grand Empress Dowager's efforts!

When Consort Tongjia heard the accusatory tone in Suma Lagu's words, she immediately felt displeased. This Suma Lagu really thinks highly of herself, even though she's an old servant by the Grand Empress Dowager's side, she's still just a servant!

How dare she accuse me, what nerve!

Consort Tongjia's face darkened, but she remembered she was in the Cining Palace and couldn't act against Suma Lagu. She only managed to say, "What are you implying, Suma Lagu? I..."

Consort Tongjia glanced at Consort Rong beside her, who looked to her for support, and she didn't seem as irritating as before.

After a pause, she reluctantly included Consort Rong in her response, "Consort Rong and I were merely chatting. How could it be interpreted as not caring about the Grand Empress Dowager's illness? Suma Lagu, don't misunderstand and misjudge us."

Consort Tongjia's tone was firm. Being bullied by a servant and having to endure it because of the Grand Empress Dowager made her tone sharp.

"Yes, Nanny Suma, your misunderstanding of me and the Imperial Noble Consort is quite upsetting."

Su Yi spoke and took out the special handkerchief she had just put away, brushing it around her eyes, which instantly turned red. Her expression shifted faster than anyone else's; she was smiling one moment, and now she looked on the verge of tears.

Consort Tongjia's expression towards Consort Rong was nuanced. She saw Consort Rong reach out and wave the handkerchief in front of her eyes. Consort Tongjia didn't have time to react and felt her eyes sting, her eyes widening slightly in disbelief.

Why is Consort Rong's handkerchief so irritating! So she was using this to fake tears earlier!

This Consort Rong! She knew it, Consort Rong was just pretending earlier!

Now she dares to flaunt it in front of me, hmph.

Not afraid of being exposed.

"Don't assume that just because the Imperial Noble Consort and I were chatting and laughing, we weren't worried inside. We didn't want to show it, making others think we were mourning while the Grand Empress Dowager is still alive, which would be inappropriate. So we had to put on a brave face.

We could only distract ourselves by talking about other things to avoid being overwhelmed with worry about the Grand Empress Dowager, that's why..." Su Yi spoke as if she couldn't continue, tears seemingly about to fall.

It really looked like she was gearing up to mourn the Grand Empress Dowager.

Consort Tongjia, who had just been irritated by the handkerchief and was recovering slightly, saw Su Yi wiping the corners of her eyes with the handkerchief, tears already welling up. In reality, she was just being sly, speaking in a way that would definitely anger Suma Lagu but leave her speechless.

Sure enough, Suma Lagu's expression looked like she had just swallowed a fly.

Quite gratifying.

Consort Tongjia almost couldn't suppress her laughter and maintain her haughty demeanor. "Ahem." Consort Tongjia used a few dry coughs to suppress the urge to laugh.

"Yes." She turned her head to the side, her expression filled with indignation at being misunderstood, but she seemed too proud to explain further.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the changing expressions on Suma Lagu's old face, shifting through various colors, which made Consort Tongjia feel quite... satisfied.

She remembered clearly how this old woman brought people to the Jingren Palace that day, using the Grand Empress Dowager's name to execute her personal nanny with just a few words.

Consort Rong's handkerchief is quite effective; she should get one too.

Suma Lagu coldly watched Consort Tongjia and Consort Rong, seeing them seemingly united now, both standing against her. Consort Tongjia had even turned around and seemed to have made peace with Consort Rong.

"The two of you are truly considerate. Suma spoke out of turn earlier and apologizes to the Imperial Noble Consort and Consort Rong."

Suma Lagu said with a hint of sarcasm, curtsied, and then told them to leave first, as the Grand Empress Dowager had already fallen asleep, and asked them to come back tomorrow. She then instructed the maids to escort them out and returned to the Grand Empress Dowager's side to report the matter.

Su Yi really did as she said, first escorting Consort Tongjia back to her palace before returning to the Yonghe Palace.

Unbeknownst to them, the news that the two of them walked together, not in conflict but chatting and laughing along the way, quickly spread to the concubines who were waiting to see a fight.

The concubines who hoped the Imperial Noble Consort and Consort Rong would fight: ?!

They just went to attend to the Grand Empress Dowager together, how could Consort Tongjia and Consort Rong be chatting and laughing together!?

Has Consort Tongjia been bewitched?!

Or has Consort Rong cast a spell on Consort Tongjia?!

They were completely baffled!

*Qianqing Palace*

After learning that Consort Rong had been summoned to *Cining Palace* to serve as a caregiver to the Empress Dowager, Kangxi—who had been somewhat distracted—ordered someone to monitor the situation. However, he didn’t rush over himself.

The pretext of serving as a caregiver made it difficult to say anything or refuse.

The Empress Dowager likely wouldn’t overstep, and since Consort Rong hadn’t sought his help, it seemed she could manage on her own—even daring to give him the cold shoulder.

Despite this thought, Kangxi couldn’t sit still.