Shen Meizhuang said, “The grace of the imperial family should be shared equally among all the sisters.”

She was about to return to the palace and have someone pick out some fine items to send to the other sisters’ palaces.

Shen Meizhuang had Xia Dongchun choose first.

But Xia Dongchun disdainfully said:

“These rewards and toys, my Xia family is not lacking in such things.”

“It’s just that Shen Guiren’s small favors really do seem to be quite effective at winning people’s hearts.”

In her previous life, Zhen Huan had been angry at Xia Dongchun’s arrogant attitude.

Now, however, she only found it laughable.

Someone like her, who was so eager to seek her own doom… Zhen Huan had never seen another like her, even after becoming the Empress Dowager.

At this moment, she heard An Lingrong speak:

“I’ve heard that Sister Xia comes from a brave and noble family. I truly admire you.”

Xia Dongchun snorted, her proud tail almost lifting to the sky:

“My family has been brave for generations, loyal to the country. How can someone like you, a mere county official, compare?”

An Lingrong then mentioned the day of the selection, when she had spilled tea on Xia Dongchun by accident.

She explained it had been an unintentional mistake, and after returning, she had thought about it and regretted it deeply.

An Lingrong then flattered Xia Dongchun a bit.

Then she said:

“If you truly are so brave, it reflects well on your family’s honor.”

Xia Dongchun thought An Lingrong was praising her and said proudly:

“My family’s teachings have always been like this.”

She said this with great pride, standing to the side, basking in her own glory.

After a while, Xia Dongchun noticed the awkward atmosphere.

Turning around, she saw everyone quietly laughing with their heads down, realizing that An Lingrong had been mocking her.

Feeling tricked, she angrily raised her hand to slap An Lingrong’s face.

Zhen Huan immediately stopped her:

“She and you are both consorts. How can you hit her?”

“Don’t you fear that Consort Hua will find out and punish you?”

While trying to pull away from Zhen Huan’s grip, Xia Dongchun sneered:

“What’s there to be afraid of from Consort Hua?”

“Is she more important than the Empress Dowager?”

As she spoke, she was about to slap An Lingrong again.

At that moment, Zhou Ninghai grabbed Xia Dongchun’s arm from behind.

Confused, Xia Dongchun continued to struggle:

“Let go, let go!”

When she saw Consort Hua, supported by Song Zhi, approaching, Xia Dongchun was forced to kneel by Zhou Ninghai.

She then nervously called out:

“Consort Hua.”

Consort Hua didn’t even glance at Xia Dongchun.

In her eyes, Xia Dongchun’s background wasn’t even worthy of carrying her shoes.

Consort Hua instructed Zhou Ninghai to let go of her and, with a pointed remark, said:

“The autumn view in the imperial garden is so beautiful, yet someone had to disturb it. How disappointing.”

Xia Dongchun still didn’t realize the anger in Consort Hua’s words.

She continued defending herself:

“An Lingrong spoke so disrespectfully, I just wanted to give her a little lesson, a small lesson…”

Xia Dongchun really had no idea how to speak properly!

She kept saying the worst possible things!

Every word she spoke was just making things worse with Consort Hua!

Consort Hua glared at Xia Dongchun, gritting her teeth, and said:

“Have the Empress and I both left?”

“Has the harem now been taken over by Xia Changzai?”

“Is it now your responsibility to ‘teach’ the palace concubines?”

“I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle such a heavy burden!”

Consort Hua’s imposing words made Xia Dongchun tremble uncontrollably.

“This year’s maple leaves don’t seem to be red enough!”

Consort Hua casually muttered this.

The others may not have understood the meaning behind her words, but Song Zhi, who had served Consort Hua since childhood, immediately understood.

She spoke up:

“I’ve heard that maple leaves only turn red when stained with blood.”

“Then let’s reward Xia Changzai with a yard of red fabric!”

“Even if it means using her blood to add color to the palace’s maple leaves.”

Consort Hua spoke these words almost through gritted teeth.

In her previous life, Zhen Huan had overheard palace maids gossiping about how Xia Dongchun had, in front of Zhou Ninghai, claimed that the gifts she gave were inferior to the Empress’s.

Later, she even wore clothes made from the Empress’s fabric, flaunting them everywhere.

When she went to greet the Empress, she carelessly remarked about who Consort Hua’s imposing demeanor was meant for.

Each and every one of these actions, considering Consort Hua’s temperament, how could she have tolerated them?

At first, Xia Dongchun didn’t know what a “yard of red fabric” meant as a punishment.

When she heard Zhou Ninghai’s explanation, she was so frightened that she collapsed to the ground.

Instantly, her earlier arrogance evaporated as she began pleading desperately for mercy from Consort Hua.

But Consort Hua remained unmoved, ordering the servants to drag Xia Dongchun to the Ministry of Punishments for execution.

Zhen Huan, having witnessed this in her previous life, felt little emotion.

As Consort Hua had said, Xia Dongchun had brought this fate upon herself.

In other words, even if Consort Hua hadn’t dealt with her today, Xia Dongchun’s future would have been bleak.

Consort Hua left after telling them to go back and reflect in their rooms.

By now, An Lingrong was so frightened that she collapsed to the ground.

The three of them, after recovering, hurried to the Imperial Garden.

An Lingrong kept patting her chest, saying:

“I was so scared, so scared!”

Perhaps due to the delay, as soon as they arrived at the garden, they heard the shrill cries of palace maids.

Zhen Huan knew exactly what had happened.

In her previous life, it was here that she, out of curiosity, had seen something she shouldn’t have.

Later, she heard others say that the person in the well was Fuzhi from Consort Hua’s palace.

Zhen Huan stopped Shen Meizhuang, who was about to ask, “What happened?”, telling her it was better to avoid trouble.

Moreover, since An Lingrong had just been frightened, they couldn’t risk anything else happening, so none of them went to the well this time.

Zhen Huan remembered Fuzhi.

In her past life, she had heard palace maids gossip that the Emperor had looked at Fuzhi a few extra times and praised her.

Since Xin Changzai had a miscarriage, the Emperor often visited her palace, which made Consort Hua irritable, so she ordered Zhou Ninghai to dispose of the poor girl.

Zhen Huan remembered the moment she saw Fuzhi in the well in her previous life, her entire body trembling.

Even thinking back on it now, it still sent chills down her spine.

But Fuzhi had been a gift from the Empress to Consort Hua.

Given the long-standing rivalry between the Empress and Consort Hua, the Empress must have known that Consort Hua would never keep Fuzhi by her side.

Looking back now, the Empress had deliberately placed Fuzhi in Consort Hua’s palace, hoping Consort Hua would make a mistake, giving her a chance to report it to the Emperor.

A small crack in the dam can bring it all down!

It was this seemingly insignificant incident that led to Consort Hua becoming the target of everyone’s ire.

As expected, Consort Hua didn’t disappoint the Empress!

In one move, she managed to do two things that made the Empress happy:

First, she crippled Xia Dongchun, and second, she drowned Fuzhi.

Zhen Huan thought that the Empress must be very busy now, dealing with Consort Hua’s punishment, trying to undermine her in front of the Emperor.

“Master, just now Jiang Fuhai came to deliver the Empress’s decree. Starting tomorrow, the new consorts will begin preparing to serve the Emperor.”

As soon as they returned to Suiyu Xuan, Jinxi informed Zhen Huan of the news.

Kang Luhai, standing beside her, was overly excited, constantly flattering, saying that his master must be the first in favor.