Chapter 64.2

There was a sound of bead curtains shifting, and Consort Jin walked out from the inner room. Like always, she was dignified and graceful, with an extraordinary demeanour. Consort Jin liked to dress plainly, but at a time like this, she would demonstrate the majesty befitting of a consort.

As soon as Consort Jin sat down in the main seat, someone came to report, "Your highness, Lady Su is here.”

This name sounded a bit strange at first and it didn’t ring a bell in many people’s minds. Once Consort Jin announced for her to come in, the person slowly walked in from the door. Everyone was surprised that Lady Su was actually Nanny Su.

She was wearing a light red and lavender dress with her waist tightly cinched, which made her look extremely slender. Because of her thin waist, she resembled a gourd, with a bulging chest and a round butt.

Her body swayed with every step, full of romantic charm, and it was very pleasing to the eye. She looked gentle and docile to the eyes, but people were unable to think of her as reserved and low-key.

They only thought to themselves- what a spoiled concubine!

Those who have never seen Yaoniang before were shocked by her beauty. Even those who have seen her in person before were shocked. Heh, pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger, yet she still looked so innocent… All this was like a slap after slap, hitting Side Consort Hu in the face fiercely, taking her by surprise.

Even Side Consort Xu, as if facing an enemy, stared at the woman with drooping brows and felt an imminent sense of threat.

Consort Jin watched the faces of the people below, and a smile flashed in her eyes. This smile became bigger and bigger until she even had the urge to laugh out loud.

"Come, take a seat."

No one could ignore the mirth in Consort Jin’s voice. At first, they were a little surprised, then they realized that this woman was stuffed to the little princess’s side by Consort Jin. With this huge revelation, they thought to themselves: Was Consort Jin the biggest winner?

Yaoniang hadn’t become arrogant from being favoured. She respectfully bowed to Consort Jin and bowed to the three side consorts, before she sat down next to Side Consort Xu under the guidance of a maid.

The atmosphere was a bit weird, and no one said anything for a while.

The first to lose their composure was Side Consort Hu. "Nanny Su has such a good style. I  never thought that we would become sisters."

The way she called her Nanny Su was clearly to humiliate her. Everyone waited for Lady Su to jump out and fight with Side Consort Hu. It would be best for them if both sides suffered losses and incurred His Highness’s wrath.

But Yaoniang only sat there, as if she hadn't heard her.

"Unless Nanny Su disdains to talk to me as a sister?"

Only then did Yaoniang raise her head. In a hesitant and timid tone she said, "Side Consort, I don't know what to say."

This was the truth. What could she say after those words? She might as well say nothing.

At this moment, Consort Jin spoke up.

She was a bit displeased. "Side Concubine Hu, you are the elder sister, so you should be tolerating to others. Lady Su had just come here for the first time after serving His Highness. If there’s something inappropriate, give her some pointers. There’s no need to be so aggressive.” 

She paused and looked at the group of women. “First and foremost, the back house should be harmonious and everyone should serve His Highness wholeheartedly. To extend the lineage of the imperial family and bear an heir, you must avoid being jealous and causing chaos for no reason. Is that clear?"

"Understood." Almost unanimously, whether they wished to or not, they all bowed their heads.

Consort Jin was the legal wife of Jin Wang and bore the responsibility of being in charge of the members of the household. From a wider perspective, Consort Jin has always done a good job, with people hardly able to pick out any mistakes.

"Side Consort Hu, this is the final time. You are the biological mother of the little princess, so you should set an example for others. Concubine Su——" Consort Jin shifted her eyes to Yaoniang and her tone was obviously softer. "Since His Highness likes you, then serve him well with dedication and give birth to His Highness a son as soon as you can. By then this consort will personally ask the imperial court to title you as side consort."

With these words, everyone’s eyes couldn’t help but focus on Yaoniang.

Side consorts were different from ordinary concubines. Not only would they be recorded as a part of the imperial family’s genealogy on the jade slip and have a noble title but would also receive a salary issued by the imperial court every year. A qinwang could only have four side consorts at most, and three slots were already taken up. If Yaoniang became the fourth, even if Jin Wang has a new concubine that he loves in the future, there would be no place for her to be promoted.

With Consort Jin’s words, she obviously valued Yaoniang. Maybe she didn't even need to give birth to a little son, and the position of the side consort would be hers in no time.

Although the consort did not expressly say so, it wasn’t like her words didn’t have that meaning. Suddenly, other people's hearts became mixed, and the eyes of Lady Li and Lady Tao, who had not been favoured for many years, grew red with jealousy. The new concubines also wanted to drag Yaoniang down, so that they could be favoured by His Highness and be valued by the consort.

She first reprimanded Side Consort Hu then immediately treated Su Yaoniang well. Her words seemed to be giving Side Consort Hu face. But with the involvement of the little princess, her meaning was that she made an irresponsible mother

But she had to endure it, or else she would be going against the consort’s words. Side Consort Hu’s face looked as if she had opened a dye shop, colourful and splendid.

Side Consort Xu was too aware of her good sister's intentions. Through this Su Yaoniang, she demonstrated her status, warned the people below not to offend her, and at the same time set Su Yaoniang as a public target.

If this Su Yaoniang was stupid, she might even be grateful to her.

It wasn’t merely killing three birds with one stone, but everyone present was played by her.

"Alright, you may all leave."

With these words, everyone stood up and saluted again. After watching Consort Jin enter the inner room, they withdrew from the hall.

Yaoniang walked out with Yuchan, ignoring the gazes of those around her.

"Sending off Lady Su respectfully." It could be seen that after the consort’s recent display of attitude towards Yaoniang, the maids of Siyi Courtyard treated her much nicer. When sending someone else off, it was with the standard tone and expression. Yet when sending her off, their faces and tones showed a sense of closeness.

Yaoniang nodded with a smile on her face and was about to step out of the courtyard when she suddenly heard a scream.

When she turned her head, she saw Side Consort Hu's sullen face with her slim hands raised, and Yuchan grasping onto her wrists. Side Consort Hu's heart was filled with anger. She had planned to imitate the shrew-like women from the markets to do something against Yaoniang.

"Let go, you slut," said Side Consort Hu in pain

Yuchan's face was expressionless as if she didn't hear it at all.

Everyone who hadn't left yet stood to the side and looked at Side Consort Hu. Most of the concubines of Jin Wang were not of low birth. How could they have seen such vulgar behaviour before? Although they didn't say a word, they held contempt for Side Consort Hu in their hearts.

For such a person to be favoured by His Highness Jin Wang and even give birth to a little princess. It was really…

Feeling the strange gazes from those next to her, Side Consort Hu was anxious and furious. She couldn’t help herself and began to chastise incessantly. First, she scolded Yuchan, then when she was done with Yuchan she started scolding Yaoniang.

Swearing and cursing, she suddenly felt something was wrong. When she raised her head, she saw Jin Wang standing not too far off with a cold face, followed by Fucheng.

Suddenly, her voice stopped abruptly like a chicken whose neck was pinched.