Chapter 283

Chapter 283

Consort Ping was genuinely pissed, like she'd run into someone who refused to play by the rules and was ready to flip the game board at any moment. It made her absolutely furious.

She just wanted to check for herself whether the other party was truly sick—let her see for herself if this bitch was actually ill or not.

Consort Ping's thinking was clear: whether Rong Noble Consort was sick or not, there was no way she could just leave like this.

If she backed down so easily today, word would spread in no time that she had come to apologize while still unwell, only to be dismissed by mere palace servants without even seeing Rong Noble Consort.

That'd be like letting people walk all over her!

If Rong Noble Consort was truly sick, then this was the perfect opportunity to see her miserable state. If not, she’d proceed with her original plan of apology. There was no way she'd let herself get sent away so easily.

While Consort Ping looked pleasant on the surface, her stance was rock-solid, and she was already preparing to take these worthless servants to task.

She'd been forced to kowtow to Rong Noble Consort, but that didn’t mean she'd obediently comply—especially when Rong Noble Consort couldn’t even be bothered to show up. Since when did these servants dare to speak in her presence?

"This…" The palace servant wasn’t a fool either. It was obvious that Consort Ping had arrived looking for trouble, taking advantage of Rong Noble Consort’s current weakened state.

"Babbling like this—could it be that, while Noble Consort Rong is unwell, you, a mere servant, dare to dismiss me so casually? Are you trying to drive a wedge between me and Rong Noble Consort, damaging our sisterly bond?"

Consort Ping’s words were laced with threat. Her smile faded, replaced by a cold sneer.

This was payback.

Hadn’t she, too, been forced to bear the blame for a mess caused by servants, knowing nothing about it upon waking?

And now, Rong Noble Consort had the audacity to feign illness, pushing her luck as if Consort Ping were some pushover who didn’t know when to stop.

Her words immediately flustered the servant. Facing direct reprimand from a noble consort wasn’t something one could react to swiftly.

Consort Ping had effortlessly shifted the blame onto the servant for overstepping their authority, making the servant’s blood run cold. They dropped to their knees in a panic, babbling excuses, "This servant wouldn’t dare, this servant—"

At that moment, Qinxin emerged. Seeing Consort Ping’s aggression, her expression showed no surprise.

"Consort Ping, please calm your anger." She went through the proper motions without missing a beat.

"This humble servant is Qinxin. We should have welcomed Your Ladyship immediately upon your arrival, but Noble Consort Rong needs constant care. The servants below were flustered and neglected their duties, lacking proper manners. We humbly ask Your Ladyship's pardon."

Qinxin kept her usual poker face. Though her words were respectful, there was no trace of panic in her demeanor.

Then, she turned to the kneeling servant, her tone colder as she reprimanded,

"With Noble Consort Rong unwell and unable to discipline you, you must act with even greater caution. Any mistake makes our mistress look bad. Step back and kneel elsewhere to reflect on your actions. Don’t stick around where you're not wanted."

Though her words seemed directed at the servant, the dig was clearly meant for Consort Ping.

It was also a way to shield the servant from further reprimand.

This wasn’t Consort Ping’s territory, nor was it her place to discipline anyone here.

Consort Ping’s smile grew tighter, more strained.

She thought to herself—truly, birds of a feather. Sharp-tongued and quick-witted, this wasn’t a scolding but a not-so-subtle dig at her.

As the servant prepared to withdraw, Consort Ping narrowed her eyes, wasn't about to let it go so easily.

Don't think she couldn't see that servant letting out a sigh of relief, thinking help had arrived. Just a lowly maid—what could she do even if Consort Ping deliberately made things hard for her?

Whether by coincidence or not, Qinxin happened to finish reprimanding and doling out punishment before immediately remembering Consort Ping.

With practiced ease, she put on the act of someone who couldn’t possibly leave Consort Ping waiting. "Consort Ping has kindly come to visit Her Ladyship. This way, please."

Leading the way slightly ahead, she continued, "Consort Ping has barely recovered yet still came to visit Her Ladyship. Such thoughtfulness would surely touch Her Ladyship deeply."

Qinxin spoke with a tone of emotion, but paired with her expressionless face, it sounded as though she were going through the motions.

This effectively cut off Consort Ping’s chance to keep picking on the servant.

After all, with things put this way, she’d just come off as petty.

Her gaze fell on Qinxin, the palace maid who had, in one move, turned the initial excuse of dismissal into a delay from tending to the sick Noble Consort—making it impossible for Consort Ping to accuse them of intentional neglect.

As her eyes swept over Qinxin, Consort Ping’s dissatisfaction grew even stronger.

Despite the maid’s lack of expression, even stiffness, there was still a delicate beauty about her, giving off icy beauty vibes.

Last time she saw Noble Consort Rong, it had been in such haste that Consort Ping hadn’t spared a glance for these insignificant servants.

But today, with her attention free to wander, she was genuinely startled.

Other palaces kept one or two pretty, graceful maids around—strictly for utility.

Too many would be unruly—they’d get ideas above their station.

Consort Ping had no such intentions. Even if she could manage them, having them nearby would just grate on her.

No matter how obedient they seemed at first, once they gained power and climbed higher, they’d get too big for their britches.

Thus, the maids in Consort Ping’s quarters were just decent-looking—nothing special. In the grand scheme of the palace, they were barely average.

But that suited her just fine. Even the brightest flowers needed dull leaves to shine—especially when there were already so many flowers!

Yet in Noble Consort Rong’s palace, even the young eunuchs had rosy lips and pearly teeth.

And then there was this cold beauty with a style entirely different from Noble Consort Rong’s. Consort Ping couldn’t tell if Noble Consort Rong was overconfident or just reckless.

After endless feasts, even plain rice porridge would hit the spot!

Consort Ping’s thoughts raced, but her face remained composed, betraying none of the hostility she’d shown earlier.

"Someone, serve tea," Qinxin said with professional poise, guiding her guest to a seat. Though she mentioned tea, the spread included a whole array of snacks.

The palace maids, well-trained despite their initial fluster at Consort Ping’s arrival, stayed on edge, afraid she’d latch onto another slip-up.

After all, everyone knew Consort Ping had lost a maid—and now she had come today. No one doubted she was here to make trouble.

The worst part? Her Ladyship had fallen ill today, and Consort Ping, having just recovered, showed up uninvited, refusing to leave while spouting fake sisterly love—when everyone knew they hardly spoke.

What sisterly affection?

Qinxin thought the same. Did Consort Ping really rush over the second she recovered, without even resting? Was she really that desperate?

Seeing the tea and pastries served while Qinxin remained standing by, making no move to go notify Noble Consort Rong, Consort Ping was seriously annoyed.

It wasn’t that she was impatient—she was just pressed for time.

Could it be that Noble Consort Rong intends to keep her waiting first? Playing hard to get?

Consort Ping held the teacup, lifting the lid but made no move to drink. Instead, she swirled away the tea leaves, her eyes narrowing slightly as she remarked,

"This tea is fragrant, far superior to what we serve in my quarters. Yet, I find myself in no mood to savor it properly."

After swirling away the tea leaves, she still hadn’t taken a sip.

"Sister Noble Consort is still unwell—how could I have the leisure to enjoy tea slowly? I only wish to see her at once, for I'm sick with worry."

As she spoke, she set the cup back down, the clatter against the tabletop unusually loud in the quiet, a clear power play.

This kind of power move usually worked when there was an imbalance of power between two parties.

"Reporting to Consort Ping, the imperial physician is currently attending to Her Highness. This lowly one wouldn't dare interrupt at such a time, lest it worsen Her Highness’s condition. If His Majesty were to return and hold this servant accountable, I'd never hear the end of it. I beg Consort Ping to wait patiently for a while. Once the physician emerges, you will be informed."

Qinxin spoke unhurriedly, her face a perfect mask.

Though her words sounded deferential, there wasn't an ounce of sincerity in them. The phrasing appeared conciliatory, yet yielded no ground at all.

"Is that so?" Consort Ping’s smile turned frosty, thinking this maid had some nerve. The remark about "worsening the condition" and being "unable to bear the blame" was clearly a backhanded dig at her.

And now she was invoking the Emperor to pressure her—if Consort Ping insisted on seeing Noble Consort Rong immediately and something happened, the blame would fall squarely on her!

Damn infuriating! This forced her to wait, whether she liked it or not!

How infuriating. Consort Ping was indeed wary of Noble Consort Rong pulling some shady move. She wanted to push back but didn’t dare go too far, afraid of overplaying her hand and getting trapped.

Observing this maid Qinxin’s audacity—cold in demeanor yet razor-sharp in speech—Consort Ping was boiling mad at her audacity. Yet, her tone took on a thin coat of praise as she remarked,

"Sister Noble Consort’s attendants are truly refined—eloquent and who know which way the wind blows. Far better than the unruly, disrespectful servants in my own palace."

Seemingly disparaging her own servants, she was in fact throwing shade.

Of course, Qinxin wouldn’t simply accept such praise. "Consort Ping flatters me. This lowly one does not deserve such praise. I merely do what is expected of me and dare not presume."

Meanwhile, inside the bedchamber, a standoff was unfolding.

The room was in disarray, even the walls showing cracks from whatever went down.