It was even to the point that Wu Hongmo was slightly regretful at this time.
She had said that this plan wouldn’t work, yet her sister-in-law was so annoying, insisting for her to go beg the queen for mercy on this important day, the first day of the new year.
Yet look at what happened, she rashly ended up shooting herself in the foot so painfully.
Wu Hongmo was completely unable to keep up with her act now, but she couldn’t make a graceful exit either. In the end, her entire body stiffened in extreme embarrassment.
Fortunately, at this moment, someone announced that Noble Lady Ying had arrived.
Subsequently, everyone’s gazes turned to the entrance. If Noble Lady Ying didn’t have some compelling reason to be late in coming, then it could be regarded the same as disrespecting Her Majesty the Queen.
Sure enough, Queen Zhao’s complexion instantly turned very unsightly.
Her gaze seemed to be smeared with ice dregs as it settled on a pretty figure that walked in delicately and gracefully from the entrance.
This beauty was only 28 years old. Her small face was like a just-peeled egg, with a rosy and fair complexion. Her pair of eyes were as gentle as water, seemingly able to captivate a man’s soul with a single glance.
No wonder His Majesty was running towards Pearl and Jade Lane every day now.
When Noble Consort Zheng saw this woman, her pearly teeth clamped down even more tightly, wishing for nothing more than to devour her whole.
It was this b*tch who had pretended to faint by the side of the road in the middle of the day, encountering the king by chance, and thus climbing onto his royal bed in one bound[1]**!
“This concubine pays her respects to Her Majesty the Queen, as well as wishes for the good health of all Her Highnesses.” The petite woman timidly uttered in a feeble voice, as if fearing that someone might startle her.
Noble Consort Zheng commented with an artificial smile, “Aiyo, Noble Lady Ying, you literally are busy as a person of eminence[2], only coming to wish Her Majesty the Queen a Happy New Year at this time of day. What pretentious airs you are putting on.”
Queen Zhao also coldly fixated on Noble Lady Ying with a sullen expression.
Noble Consort Zheng’s few words were naturally unable to arouse her ire. After all, Noble Consort Zheng was eager for her to punish this young beauty, but why should she fulfill her wish?
Noble Lady Ying was not a person who got conceited just because she was favored by the king. Upon seeing this situation, she docilely knelt down and gave Queen Zhao a kowtow before explaining unhurriedly, “This concubine had originally set out early in the morning, well aware that punctuality was a must when paying Her Majesty the Queen a new year call.”
Noble Consort Zheng couldn’t stand this delicate and soft-spoken appearance of Noble Lady Ying’s the most, so she turned her head aside to roll her eyes at her, and her lips even involuntarily turned up in a sneer.
“However, it couldn’t be helped that while en route, this concubine encountered…” Her voice faltered, and her gaze unnaturally drifted in Noble Consort Zheng’s direction.
Seeing her insinuation, Noble Consort Zheng couldn’t help but be exceedingly indignant. “Noble Lady Ying, you don’t mean to say that you arrived late all because of this noble consort, right.”
“This concubine doesn’t dare.” Noble Lady Ying timidly uttered before clamming up. She then hung her head, assuming a posture of allowing them to punish her as they pleased.
Queen Zhao was super fed up on the inside, but she still asked, “What exactly happened, it won’t hurt to speak.”
“Will Your Majesty the Queen exercise your penetrating judgement. This morning, while on the way here, this concubine encountered the fifteenth princess’s wet nurse, tearfully begging people everywhere to fetch a physician from the Royal Physician Building for an examination.” Noble Lady Ying lamented with a sigh, “This concubine saw that the wet nurse, while carrying the princess, was truly incredibly pitiful. Hence, this concubine instructed my royal maid Cuiqiao to go request for the royal physician on duty at the Royal Physician Building to come over. This was what caused my delay. It truly is this concubine’s fault, so please pardon this offense, Your Majesty the Queen.”
On the side, Consort Cheng couldn’t help chuckling in amusement. “As it turns out, it really is the noble consort’s fault. Look at how you’ve troubled Noble Lady Ying.”
[1] A variation on the saying “reaching the sky in a single bound.
[2] “Person of eminence” is written the same as the title of “Noble Lady.”
