Chapter 99 - Concubine Chou

Jin Yu is busy to deal with the country issues. He is just come back when Ni Qing already sleep and leaves early in the morning. He is looking closer into Ministry Jeong who is working diligently inside the court.

It seems that he is covering his track really good in front of everybody. Zhang is dispatching someone to follow minister Jeong which does not reveal any flaw into his daily life regime. He seems like a person who is a perfect role model. A man with a high standard and happy family life with a good career in the government. He even never visits the tea house or eating outside the house. He always goes to court or at home to be inside his study. 

Zhang is paying the worker in the Jeong family and spill the bean that his master is a hard working and a family man. They are trying to conceive their heir to the family because of the health of Madame Jeong is not as healthy as before she gets married.

Jin Yu is having a back log and cannot track down his weakness and nothing to become proves as his involvement with the weapon smuggling from the capital. However, little he know that his wife is having some bread crump for the activities of Jeong.

However, Ni Qing as a courtesy to the sick empress, she needs to visit her. she is dressing up with her daily clothes which not showing for her level as consort. The emperor concubine does not have any costume to wear. She is a bit limping from her ankle, but she tries to hold it up. she is ready and walking to the empress palace with Xiao Nie.

She does not take anyone as the usual convoy of consort of the emperor, but she is walking without anyone protecting her. Ni Qing natural beauty is immersing with the thin make-up on her, and she make her hair with the latest trending outside the palace.

They are bumping into another concubine on the way to the empress palace. They are looking at her with a sinister face and brushes her off. Ni Qing is arriving in the empress hall and got announce to the sick empress. Apparently, Chu Yi is not interesting to meet up with the new favourite girl from the emperor. The empress maid got a cold sweat from the break the rejection news to the new favourite girl. 

The royal concubine is coming after Ni Qing who is sitting on the chair. Because of Ni Qing position as Consorts actually higher than royal concubine, so she is not giving her some curtsy and respect. However, Royal Concubine Chou feels seniority between them and when the new concubine is not standing up and gives her some respect. She needs to dirty her hand.

Jin Yu is having a break in between his session court. He is walking back to his chamber to check into Ni Qing. The room is empty when he is throwing a cold look to his loyal eunuch.

"Where is my consort?"

"Your highness, the royal highness consort Qing is visiting the sick empress as courtesy. Do you want me to call her back?" Eunuch Wang is reporting to the emperor who is walking out toward the sedan. He wants to go to the empress palace, as it is the right time to get square with her. she dares to smear his name with pregnancy from someone else. However, this time, he needs to catch her red handed instead of only accusing her. Jin Yu only need to be patient with her to catch her in action sooner.

In the main hall of Empress Palace, Royal Concubine Chou is giving Ni Qing a cold stare. Ni Qing does not really care about royal concubine behaviour. 

"you are an imbecile younger sister, when I am coming in here, you supposedly to give me a respect as your older sister," Royal concubine Chou is telling her blatantly despite their position inside the harem.

"I am sorry, older sister. May I know your name?" Ni Qing finally is standing up and tries to do curtsy despite her ankle condition. She knows that royal concubine Chou is trying to establish her authority as the senior member.

"You learn really good. Next time, you are not doing as your wish. Maid, tell her my position and name for her to remember!" she is sitting on her chair when the maid is announcing her master's name.

"No… who is letting you to sit down… You are going to stand up until I leave," Concubine Chou is telling Ni Qing to punish her. Xiao Nie is going to complain about her master's punishment. Ni Qing is obliging for the punishment and standing up in front of the empty chair with on of her hand's hold into Xiao Nie.

The loyal maid of the empress saw their altercation on the hall when she is going back to the empress bedroom chamber. Chu Yi is sitting on her bed and reading some of book from the black market. 

"Your royal highness empress, there is fighting in the main hall," The maid is reporting to her master.

"Who?" She looks at her gloomy and annoyed in the same time due to the disturbance from her.

"The royal concubine Chou and the new emperor's favourite girl…"

"DO you know her title?" Empress Chu is looking at her.

"No, your highness. But Judging from the costume on her body and her simple accessories, she is only a concubine," The maid is informing her master.

"Let them be… watch them and tell them that I am not feeling to go out and see them. Em, Just wait a little while. Concubine Chou is always looking down to everyone inside the harem," Empress Chu is opening again her book and indulge herself to enjoy the book.

The maid of the empress tells the others maid to serve the tea for them in the hall. Chou is still punishing Ni Qing to stand up. Ni Qing starts to feel the pain on her feet, but she has to hold it when she can see the entourage of the emperor on the corner of her eyes. this is the time for her to pay back for her suffering.

"Your highness royal concubine Chou, I am apologising for my stupidity. Do you want me to kneel down to mend my wrongdoing?" Ni Qing is sweet talking the snob concubine.

"You can kong towing me as your punishment," The royal concubine Chou is telling her with her cold tone.

Ni Qing hurriedly do the kneeling and put her head down on the ground to give respect on concubine Chou when the emperor is seeing with his own eyes. he told eunuch Wang for not announcing the arrival. In front of his eyes, his sweetheart has to suffer for something trivial when her feet are not hundred percent recover.

Ni Qing needs to stand up, kneeling and put her face on the floor until her forehead touch the ground. Meanwhile, Concubine Chou is drinking her tea from the chair. Xiao Nie and concubine Chou maid realise Jin Yu presence with a dark aura in front of the entrance. He cannot hold it anymore when someone inside his palace do some injustice toward his sweetheart.

Jin Yu is hitting the teacup on her lips, and it make her really shock into his action. As soon as the cup is hitting the floor, Jin Yu is rushing to help out Ni Qing to sit on the chair.

"I am sorry, your highness," Concubine Chou is kneeling in front of the cold and stern emperor.

"You are my noble consort, and you already confer with the tittle, yet you are lowering yourself like this. Where is the strong Consort Qing who is always biker with me?" Jin Yu is asking her with his cold tone.

"Your highness noble consort Qing, Please forgive me," Concubine Chou is asking a mercy to Ni Qing who is sitting on the chair to release the tension of her hurting ankle.

"Wang, put her into palace lock up to reflect on her action to look down. She will need to chant sutra and she will be demoting into noble lady," Jin Yu is giving the order. Concubine Chu is shaking and crying to get mercy. However, his decision is firm when he is dragging out Ni Qing back with him. He put her into his lap on the sedan and tell them back to the emperor palace.

"Are you angry to hurt one of your concubines?" Ni Qing is asking him.

"Look…. You sharp tongue is back again now…"

"Why is it becoming my fault? You are the one that is angry now," Ni Qing is putting her arm into his neck and putting her head into his chest.

"I am angry because you are doing something stupid when your feet do not yet recover. Why are you not wearing the costume? Why are you becoming a busy body to visit someone who is selling her body as the empress?" Jin Yu is flicking her forehead.