“Did all of you younger sisters arrive so early today? Are you getting used to life in the palace?”

The Empress sat elegantly on the throne in the grand hall, smiling as she spoke.

When Zhen Huan first met the Empress in her previous life, she had thought she was as gentle and kind as she appeared!

Who would have thought that she had a heart full of malice?

Zhen Huan had long grown accustomed to the Empress’s hypocritical demeanor.

Now, hearing this, it simply went in one ear and out the other.

Anyway, as long as she kept up the outward show of respect and acted as though she didn’t understand anything, that was enough.

The concubines spoke in unison:

“Thank you for your care, Empress. Everything is well.”

As soon as they finished speaking, a voice came from outside the door:

“I’m not late, am I?”

The voice sounded lazy, yet still carried an imposing air.

But to Zhen Huan’s ears, it seemed as if it was saying:

If I don’t come, you all have to wait for me!

Anyone could tell that Hua Fei was making a show of asserting dominance over the newcomers!

She was letting them know that, aside from the Empress, she, Hua Fei, was someone who should not be trifled with in the harem!

Even the Empress had to give her some face!

Let alone the new girls who had just entered the palace!

Next, they saw Hua Fei entering slowly, supported by Song Zhi, taking her time.

All the concubines immediately paid their respects:

“Greetings to the esteemed Hua Fei!”

Hua Fei ignored the newcomers who greeted her.

Instead, she walked directly to the Empress, paying her respects.

Then, she sat down and began chatting with Qi Fei.

Qi Fei, seeing that Hua Fei had arrived late, deliberately asked:

“Is the Empress unwell, Your Highness?”

Hua Fei explained that the Emperor had been reviewing memorials late last night, so she had stayed with him longer.

She also mentioned that the Emperor had refused to let her rise early this morning, which was why she had arrived late.

With a smile, she asked, “The Empress is not angry, is she?”

The Empress replied that the Emperor had been busy with state affairs recently and had neglected Hua Fei, so it was only right that the Emperor pampered her now.

She continued, mentioning that the harem had added many new faces, clearly trying to prick at Hua Fei’s heart.

Hua Fei was already displeased, and then she overheard Summer Dongchun speaking to Fu Cha Gui Ren:

“Why is Hua Fei making such a grand show? Who is she trying to impress?”

In her previous life, Zhen Huan had been too nervous when she first met the Empress to catch these words. Now, hearing them, she realized just how bold they were.

Even Fu Cha Gui Ren had rolled her eyes at Hua Fei.

No wonder later, Hua Fei decisively punished her!

In this palace, even someone as cautious and careful as Cao Qinmo might not survive until the end.

Let alone someone who actively sought to cause her own downfall!

“The younger sisters are requested to perform the great bowing ceremony to the Empress.”

Jiang Fuhai announced from the front of the hall.

The concubines immediately knelt and performed the three bows and nine kowtows.

Then they all said in unison:

“May the Empress live a long life and be blessed.”

“Please rise and meet the other concubines.”

Jiang Fuhai continued, “The Empress Dowager is unwell, so the younger sisters won’t be able to meet her today.”

The Empress instructed that after the ceremony, Jiàn Qiū should go check on her.

Hua Fei’s expression immediately darkened.

At this moment, Jiang Fuhai finally allowed the younger concubines to greet Hua Fei.

Zhen Huan, who hadn’t understood much in her previous life, now saw everything clearly.

Jiang Fuhai mentioning the Empress Dowager’s illness in the grand hall seemed accidental, but in reality, it was the Empress’s deliberate move.

By bringing up the Empress Dowager’s sickness and then sending Jiàn Qiū to check on her, the Empress made it seem like she was a compassionate leader of the six palaces.

But the Empress also knew full well that the Empress Dowager and Hua Fei didn’t get along, so she had intentionally brought it up to irritate Hua Fei!

After getting under Hua Fei’s skin, the Empress then had the newcomers go greet her, obviously setting Hua Fei up to take out her frustration on them!

Wasn’t it clear that the Empress wanted Hua Fei to make enemies?

The Empress had truly gone to great lengths to deal with Hua Fei!

Every plan she devised was an intricate trap!

“May the Empress live a long life and be blessed.”

Hua Fei acted as if she hadn’t heard the greetings from the newcomers and instead touched her earrings, saying:

“The jade sent by the Imperial Household Department this year is a bit too light; it’s not as transparent as I expected.”

Then she looked at the Empress with a proud smile:

“Good jade is becoming increasingly rare!”

“At your age, there’s no need for jade.”

“The jade chosen for you by the Imperial Household Department is naturally more youthful and tender.”

Thus, Hua Fei and the Empress spent some time chatting about jade and pearls.

Finally, the Empress reminded Hua Fei to let the younger sisters rise.

“Oh, I was so busy talking to the Empress that I forgot about the formalities. You may rise now.”

Zhen Huan’s legs had begun to feel numb from kneeling.

But she knew that in this round of competition between the Empress and Hua Fei, the Empress had won—

With this move, the Empress not only reminded everyone that no matter how arrogant Hua Fei was, she could never surpass her!

There could only be one true ruler of the harem, and that was Ula Nala Yixiu!

Not only had the Empress successfully built her image as tolerant and kind,

but she had also, by the way, earned Hua Fei even more resentment!

However, Zhen Huan knew that Hua Fei didn’t care about such things.

What she had always cared about, from the start to the end, was only one thing: the Emperor.

“I heard Summer Chang is very capable.”

When Summer Dongchun heard Hua Fei call her, she felt extremely honored.

She smiled and greeted Hua Fei, cheerfully introducing herself.

Hua Fei glanced at Summer Dongchun and said:

“Summer Chang knows how to dress well. This fabric must be expensive, right?”

Anyone with eyes could tell Hua Fei was subtly mocking her.

But who would have thought that Summer Dongchun would openly reply:

“This fabric was a gift from the Empress. I wore it specially today for the audience.”

“You really know how to repay kindness. You’re someone with a heart. Rise.”

“Who are Shen Gui Ren and Guan Chang?”

Zhen Huan thought to herself:

Just as I expected!

I just hope Mei Jie doesn’t say too much later!

Shen Meizhuang and Zhen Huan stepped forward to greet Hua Fei.

Hua Fei looked at the two of them and said:

“Shen Gui Ren has such an elegant and clean style. Although Guan Chang is dressed more simply, she still can’t hide her beauty…”

“The Emperor truly has a discerning eye, each of you is so outstanding…”

When Hua Fei spoke these words, there was an unmistakable hint of disappointment in her tone.

When Hua Fei allowed them to rise, Zhen Huan silently hoped:

Please, Mei Jie, don’t say the usual thing about Hua Fei being a national beauty…

This time, as Zhen Huan had hoped, Shen Meizhuang didn’t speak.

The Empress then continued with some remarks about the Emperor wanting to ensure an heir…

She reminded the concubines to live in harmony and avoid jealousy.

Zhen Huan knew that as long as Hua Fei was present, the Empress would inevitably say something about the Emperor’s need for heirs.

And Hua Fei’s trump card was always to bring up the differences between noble-born and common-born…

The two of them had been fighting for half a lifetime, yet never grew tired of it.

Zhen Huan really admired them!

Zhen Huan thought that since Shen Meizhuang didn’t say anything about Hua Fei being a national beauty this time,

Summer Dongchun probably wouldn’t follow up by calling them clever with their words.

But who could have guessed, not far away, Summer Dongchun’s sly laughter echoed from behind:

“Hahaha, you two sisters really are dressed so elegantly!”

“Why? Did you make the servants bring so many rewards just to keep them in the palace, unwilling to wear them?”