"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."
"Get up," Hai Ling felt a sense of irony when she heard someone call her Empress. What right did she have to be Empress?
In the main hall of Qingxin Palace, the Empress Dowager, Consort Yu, and others were gathered around a table, pointing and commenting on the portrait from time to time. The Empress Dowager listened with a smile to the suggestions of the women around her.
When Hailing walked in, she saw a harmonious scene, with everyone smiling as they selected women for the emperor.
It must be really tough on these women. They must be seething with hatred inside, but they still have to maintain such a magnanimous image on the surface. It's truly not easy.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Hai Ling bowed, and the Empress Dowager glanced at her, then waved for her to rise.
Consort Yu and the others came over and greeted Hailing, saying, "Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress."
"Get up."
Hai Ling waved her hand, signaling the women who were bowing to her to stand up. Besides Consort Yu, there were also Consort Lian, Noble Consort Lin, and Consort Mei, among other concubines from the harem.
Seeing that everyone was so busy being polite that they forgot about the important matter, the Empress Dowager spoke up.
"Alright, don't be so polite, Empress. I asked you to come here to help the Emperor decide which beauties are suitable to enter the palace to serve him."
As soon as the Empress Dowager finished speaking, all the concubines in the harem, including Consort Yu, looked at Hai Ling with hidden smiles on their faces. The Empress had never been able to serve the Emperor, and they wondered if she would cry upon hearing this. However, she did not get her wish, because Hai Ling did not show any anger or sadness. She simply replied "Yes" and walked over, with Consort Yu and the others following her.
The crowd gathered to discuss which young ladies could enter the palace to participate in the flower-viewing banquet, but the final selection of the empress and concubines still rested with the emperor.
"This one is good."
Someone pointed to a portrait and said, followed by a voice: "What's so good about it? The eyes are too big, big but lifeless, empty and dull."
Upon seeing that the person making the criticism was none other than the Empress, everyone fell silent. Consort Yu smiled slightly, while the Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes, wondering what the Empress meant.
She wouldn't be jealous, she'd be envious.
“Your Majesty is right,” someone echoed. Another noblewoman took the portrait and handed it to Hailing: “Your Majesty, please take a look. This one is quite good. The eyes are not empty and lifeless; they are very bright.”
"Her lips are too thin. People say that women with thin lips are the most unfortunate. How can such a person serve the Emperor?"
Hai Ling continued her critique, and everyone looked at her, convinced that the Empress was jealous of the beauties about to enter the palace, which was why she demoted everyone to the lowest ranks.
But everyone thought that everyone else was better than her, though no one showed it outwardly.
These women are all incredibly cunning, but they dare not be disrespectful in front of the Empress Dowager, or they'll be in deep trouble.
"And this one?"
This time, the Empress Dowager selected a portrait and handed it to Hailing. Hailing glanced at it briefly and then said disdainfully, "This person has a fierce face. She is born with the face of bringing misfortune to her husband. If we marry her, she will surely bring misfortune to the Emperor."
"Empress, if you continue down this line, is there anyone left who can enter the palace to serve the King? Tell me, what kind of woman is qualified to enter the palace to serve the King?"
"Your Majesty, Hailing is speaking the truth. There are so many sisters in the palace who can serve Your Majesty, why does Your Majesty need to take in more women?"
Hai Ling had the face of a jealous woman. As soon as she spoke, the Empress Dowager's face turned extremely ugly, and she glared at her with a gloomy expression.
"Empress, you are the head of the six palaces. Where is your magnanimity? So far, apart from Consort Yu's belly showing signs of pregnancy, there is no other sign of pregnancy in the royal family. You should know that bearing blood for the royal family is a matter of utmost importance, yet you are so jealous."
Hai Ling rolled her eyes and muttered in dissatisfaction, "This isn't just our problem; it's the Emperor who's useless."
The hall erupted in chaos. The Empress Dowager's face was grim and she was panting heavily. How could an empress utter such shameful words and dare to say that the emperor was useless? This was outrageous!
Consort Yu, who was beside the Empress Dowager, spoke softly: "Empress, how can you talk back to your mother?"
These words, ostensibly a question to the Empress, actually ignited the Empress Dowager's anger even more. The Empress Dowager had only noticed the implication in Hai Ling's words before, which is why she was angry. As a result, Hai Ling has been accused of disrespecting the Empress Dowager.
"Good, good, that's wonderful, Your Majesty. You're so amazing! You don't even respect me anymore and dare to talk back to me."
Hai Ling narrowed her eyes, looking at Yu Fei. This woman is so cunning, her methods are so formidable, she's been hiding her true strength all along...
Chapter 70 [Handwritten VIP]
Inside the hall, the Empress Dowager was furious, and no one dared to speak. They all looked at the Empress. Hai Ling was about to speak when she heard the eunuch's voice calling from outside the hall.
"His Majesty has arrived."
In the main hall of Qingxin Palace, Consort Yu quickly led several concubines to kneel down: "We greet Your Majesty."
"Hailin greets Your Majesty."
Feng Zixiao had come to visit the Empress Dowager after the morning court session, but he was surprised to see Hai Ling. He looked disgusted and waved his hand with a slight frown, saying, "Get up, everyone."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Everyone stood up. Yu Fei glanced at Hai Ling sideways, then chuckled smugly.
The Emperor has arrived. The Empress has angered the Empress Dowager and will likely be punished. Everyone in the hall is waiting to see the Empress make a fool of herself.
Feng Zixiao walked past the group of women and stood before the Empress Dowager. He noticed that the Empress Dowager's face was pale and she was panting heavily, unable to utter a single word. His pupils darkened, and he stepped forward to ask, "Mother, what's wrong?"
"They are all your good queens."
The Empress Dowager sighed deeply, and Consort Yu, who was seated below the main hall, quickly reported: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager was unhappy when she selected beauties for Your Majesty to enter the palace. She not only said that Your Majesty was useless, but also contradicted Your Majesty, which made Your Majesty very angry."
Consort Yu successfully provoked the Emperor's anger. Feng Zixiao's handsome features were instantly covered with a cold frost, and two sharp beams of light shot into Hai Ling in his eyes as he spoke in a sinister tone.
"Empress, as the head of the harem, you fail to set a good example and speak recklessly, even contradicting the Empress Dowager. Do you know your crime?"
Hai Ling couldn't help but mutter to herself, "I know I'm guilty, I know I'm guilty. You should just issue an order to banish me from the palace. I'm willing to leave. It would be best if we never had anything to do with each other again."