Ning Shu was speechless as she took in Consort Zhuang’s wretched expression. Attendant Zhou was served to her on a silver platter and she still couldn’t beat her? Who else could she possibly blame for that?

  “Your Majesty, look at that Attendant Zhou! She’s just a third-class seventh-ranked attendant yet she dared to embarrass you in front of so many sisters,” Consort Zhuang said angrily. She wrung her handkerchief as her face distorted in rage.

  Ning Shu took a sip of tea and licked her lips. The imperial palace truly did serve high-quality goods.

  “Your Majesty, this subject consort doesn’t mean to sow discord. But that Attendant Zhou is too much,” Consort Zhuang uttered, looking at Ning Shu who was once again lost in thought.

  “Oh.” Ning Shu put the teacup down. “Attendant Zhou is from your palace. You can’t even control your own people, but still have enough face to come to me and complain? Go back to your palace and instruct her properly.”


  To think that the master of a palace, a fourth-ranked imperial concubine, couldn’t control a mere seventh-ranked attendant. If Ning Shu was in her position, she would be too embarrassed to complain.

  “Your Majesty, you haven’t seen her bewitching manner! How should this subject consort control that? This subject consort is ashamed, but can’t help it!” Consort Zhuang looked depressed. “This subject consort was foolish for not knowing how to discipline her. She’s currently in favor with His Majesty too, so this consort really doesn’t know what to do.”


  “It’s always, ‘this subject consort really doesn’t know what to do’ with you. If you don’t know what to do, can’t you think of something to do?” Ning Shu was seriously defeated by Consort Zhuang.

  As expected of someone that came from a general’s family, her brain was as straightforward and un-wrinkled as physically possible. Nevertheless, since she was from a general’s family, shouldn’t she be well-versed in all sorts of tactics and the Thirty-Six Stratagems?

  Warriors were the ones who were truly skilled at thinking on their feet. They had to fight to preserve their own lives, so all sorts of hidden potential were brought out on the battlefield.

  Could it be because Consort Zhuang was a girl?

  “How do you expect me to deal with Attendant Zhou?” Ning Shu asked. “I am the mother of the nation, what I want most is harmony in the inner palace. If any sisters are to give birth to His Majesty’s sons, it will be a blessing for the great Qian dynasty.”


  Ning Shu almost bit her own tongue as she spoke.

  Consort Zhuang’s face was sullen and she looked helpless. She stood up and curtsied to Ning Shu. “This consort understands. This consort asks to be excused.”


  “Ahem…” Ning Shu coughed. “You caught a cold last night. Are you feeling better?”


  “What?” Consort Zhuang was dumbfounded.

  “Didn’t you say that you felt unwell? Call the imperial physician to take a look,” Ning Shu repeated.

  Consort Zhuang shook her head. “This consort is not unwell.”


  “You are ill.”


  “This consort is not ill.”


  Ning Shu: …


  She waved her hand. “You’re excused.”


  “Your Majesty, why did you say that this consort is ill?” Consort Zhuang stepped closer to Ning Shu.

  Ning Shu said, “Attendant Zhou needs to work hard on learning etiquette and rules.”


  Consort Zhuang took some time to ponder that. Then her eyes brightened though her eyebrows furrowed. “Your Majesty, if this subject consort is ill, what happens if His Majesty calls upon this subject consort to attend to him for the night?”


  Ning Shu barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes. She said she was ill. The emperor definitely wouldn’t go to the Moonlight Palace if that was the case. The dragon body was too important to risk entering a contaminated area.

  There were so many women in the inner palace; he had a lot of options.

  Consort Zhuang clearly had misgivings. The grace of the emperor was worth more than that of the heavens within the inner palace. Moreover, the entire palace would be locked down when she fell ill. It would result in neither side winning.

  Ning Shu took another sip of tea. It ran smoothly down her throat and warmed her stomach. Lord, it’s so tasty!

  “To His Majesty, Attendant Zhou is still a novelty.” Ning Shu was just one step short of directly saying that even if Zhao Xu went to the Moonlight Palace, it would have nothing to do with Consort Zhuang anyways.

  Consort Zhuang’s expression was one of confusion. Finally, she stomped her foot. “Your Majesty, this consort feels ill!”