The Surprised Consort Shu, the Furious Consort Wan

After about half an hour, the Empress finished her bath and returned to the Yangxin Hall in the Inner Palace. Just like last time, she was accompanied by a few young eunuchs, and Gao Xuan blended in among them.

It didn't take long before dusk fell, and several officials from the Internal Affairs Department arrived.

However, this time Wei Xian didn't come personally. Instead, an unfamiliar deputy supervisor, who seemed to have no power or influence in the palace, appeared. No one recognized them.

They carried a tray made of yellow rosewood, with over ten exquisitely carved identity plaques. From the back, they all looked almost identical, making it difficult to distinguish which wooden plaque belonged to which consort.

But such things could be tampered with. If any consort had a connection with the officials from the Internal Affairs Department, they could place their wooden plaque in the middle. That was the easiest position for the Emperor to turn over.

Gao Xuan stood behind the Emperor, squinting his eyes.

From the deputy supervisor's expression, they detected a hint of uneasiness. It was obvious that the plaque placed in the middle was intentional and must be related to a certain consort

However, this was none of his business. He was just a little follower who accompanied his boss. He just had to sleep with whoever his boss arranged.

However, flipping the plaques like this was somewhat strangely exciting for him, more thrilling than if he were the one flipping them.

The Emperor's hand swept over all the wooden tablets and then stopped in the middle.

A hint of joy could be seen in the Deputy Minister's eyes. However, in the next second, that joy vanished. This was because the Emperor had only paused for a moment before finally flipping over the wooden token at the last corner.

On it were two big words carved in regular script: Consort Shu.

Although the Deputy Minister looked a little disappointed, he quickly hid it and reported,"The Emperor has decreed that Consort Shu will be in Xianling Palace tonight."

..

Xianling Palace.

Soon, the imperial edict was passed over. Consort Shu stood in the middle of a group of palace maids and knelt down to receive the edict.

She appeared young, about eighteen or nineteen, dressed in a pale green gown. Her delicate hands were as fair as jade, her eyes bright and spirited. With well-shaped eyebrows, a straight nose, dimples on her cheeks, and white teeth, she had a slender figure and an exceptionally beautiful appearance, with a touch of playfulness and cuteness.

After the eunuch left, the palace maids beside Consort Shu all cheered.

They didn't expect the Emperor to actually find Consort Shu. This was the first time he had visited the inner palace after he had just consummated his marriage with the Empress! They had thought that this time, it would definitely be the Imperial Noble Consort with monstrous power.

Consort Shu was different from the other concubines. She had no power or influence in the Imperial Court. She was a woman from an ordinary family and had only entered the palace through a selection.

She had no power or influence in the court and was merely a woman from an ordinary family who entered the palace through the selection process.

So, on the surface, she was inferior to the other consorts. People usually overlooked the palace maids from the Xian Ling Palace.

But now, things had changed! The Emperor favored Consort Shu, and the status of the Xian Ling Palace naturally rose. Who knew, she might even become the sole object of the Emperor's affection!

If she could conceive the heir, it would be even more joyful!

"Your Highness, don't daydream. It's time to go for the bath. We still need to go to the Emperor later."

"Yes, Your Highness. If we're late, the Emperor will be worried."

The palace maids surrounded Consort Shu and started chattering.

Unlike their mood, Consort Shu's eyes were dazed, as if she had not recovered from her shock.

Although she had been dreaming about this day ever since she entered the palace, when reality suddenly arrived, she was still a little absent-minded and nervous.

A moment later, determination appeared in her eyes, as if she had made up her mind. Then, she smiled again and prepared to take a bath.

..

Changchun Palace.

This was the residence of the Imperial Noble Consort.

Unlike the lively scene in Xianling Palace, it was quiet here. All the palace maids and eunuchs knelt in a row, trembling with fear. The sound of porcelain being smashed could be heard continuously.

In the inner hall, a group of eunuchs from the Internal Affairs Office were prostrating themselves. The one leading them was the Deputy Minister who had served the Emperor in flipping the tablet.

"Bastard! Trash! What are you slaves doing! You actually let that slut Consort Shu be chosen!"

Imperial Concubine Wan cursed angrily and mercilessly smashed a large blue and white vase on the Deputy Minister's head.

The porcelain shattered, and the Deputy Minister did not even dare to breathe loudly.

After venting for a while, Imperial Concubine Wan sat down on the imperial concubine couch, panting heavily.

She wore a silk purple gown with a few petal-shaped cinnabar marks on her forehead. Her exquisite face had a touch of foxy charm, with a high and delicate nose and captivating almond-shaped eyes. Despite the arrogance and imperiousness in her gaze, her fair and heaving bosom was a breathtaking sight.

However, no one dared to glance at this enchanting scene. Anyone with even the slightest ill intentions would find themselves six feet under.

"Please spare me, Your Highness. I did place your plaque in the middle, but it seems that the Emperor intentionally skipped it and flipped the farthest one instead," the deputy minister explained with a trembling voice.

"Are you saying that you are all a bunch of idiots? How dare you try to justify yourselves!" Consort Wan's eyes turned cold, and she said, "Don't you know that the Emperor has some grievances against our Wan family? He must have sensed your meddling! That's why he deliberately didn't choose the one in the middle. If you can't even figure this out, you're truly foolish!"

"I am a dull servant," the deputy minister quickly kowtowed, pleading for mercy.

"Hmph," Consort Wan sneered. "Wan Deshun has disappeared. I was originally considering supporting you to take his place, but now it seems unnecessary."

The deputy minister panicked, nearly on the verge of tears. "Please spare me, Your Highness! Next time, I will definitely place your plaque at the very end!"

Hearing this, Consort Wan sighed, too exasperated to speak, and waved her hand dismissively.

Witnessing this, a eunuch in his thirties, dressed in palace attire, stepped forward and reprimanded, "Your Highness is being too generous by calling you an idiot. You are even dumber than an idiot!"

"The Emperor may be wary of the Wan family, but he still needs to save face for us. This time, it was simply a momentary indulgence to vent his anger. But you, on the other hand, still want to place Your Highness's plaque at the very end next time?"

"Ah?" The deputy supervisor was completely bewildered. With Wei Xian in the Internal Affairs Department, he was usually just a bystander, clueless about the scheming in the inner palace. If not for his attempt to please the Wan family, he wouldn't have ended up sabotaging himself.

"Enough. I'm tired," Consort Wan reached out and supported her forehead.

In the next moment, the woman in palace attire appeared behind the deputy supervisor like a ghost and lightly slapped her palm against his head. His head was smacked into his chest, a horrific sight of his death.

However, Consort Wan burst into a light laughter, reclining on a soft couch. Her voluptuous figure was like a ripe peach, making one's mouth water.

If a normal man witnessed this scene, they would probably explode on the spot.

"Look at all of you. If anyone is as foolish as him, this will be their fate. Now, all of you can leave," Consort Wan exhaled languidly, her voice like the fragrance of orchids.

The others trembled in fear, bowing and expressing gratitude, not daring to lift their heads as they crawled away.

...