Chapter 178.1


    The princes have all returned to the capital, built homes and settled down. ording to the customs, the consorts of the various households need to pay respects to the empress in the mornings and evenings.


    However, considering the inconvenience of entering the pce, Empress Wei dictated that the madams of each family only needed to enter the pce to pay respects on the fifteenth of each month.


    These were all old regtions and practices. Since Consort Jin wasn’t present, Yaoniang was now in charge of affairs in Jin Wang Manor. Knowing that she would be entering the pce the next day, Yaoniang rested early the night before.


    After taking a bath, Yaoniang rolled to the side of the bed and pretended to be asleep. Since Yaoniang refused to entangle with him, Jin Wang naturally wouldn’t force her. He also knew that she would be having a long day tomorrow.


    The night passed by peacefully.


    The next day, Yaoniang got up early in the morning, and the family of three sat together for breakfast. Jin Wang then went to the Ministry of Works, while Yaoniang took Xiaobao with her to enter the pce. When they arrived at Xuanwu Gate, they bumped into Qing Wang Manor’s carriage. It was Consort Qing with Yan Ge’er.


    They were naturally here for the same reason as Yaoniang.


    The two first dropped off Xiaobao and Yan Ge’er at the imperial study, before going to Kunning Pce.


    When they arrived, it was still early. They were the only two madams from the various household that have arrived so far. At this moment in the main hall, Empress Wei was busy meeting the imperial concubines of the six pces.


    This was a custom that was also set by their ancestors. The consorts and concubines in the harem needed to visit Kunning Pce every day to pay their respects to the empress. Yaoniang and Consort Jin were also aware of this, so they waited outside.


    After waiting at the entrance for a while, Consort An, Consort Dai, Consort Yong and the others all arrived.


    They were all masters. The servants below dared not be negligent, so they all invited the consorts to head inside and drink some tea first. But since the consorts were already there, it wasn’t a problem for them to wait a little longer. At least waiting outside would be better than falling into someone’s schemes inside. Fortunately, Empress Wei was probably aware of the situation outside, so she did not keep the imperial concubines for long.


    After waiting for another stick of incense, Yaoniang and the others felt a gust of fragrant wind rushing toward them. Many women dressed beautifully exited from the pce gates.


    Most of them were young women with flower-like looks and willow-like figures. There had always been a variety of beauties in the pce, and Yaoniang has never ceased to be amazed whenever she saw them. But when she thought about how these beautiful young women were all serving Emperor Hongjing, she felt a little more subtle.


    Emperor Hongjing was already sixty years old. It was truly a case of an old cow eating young grass, but Yaoniang dared not say such outrageous words. She didn’t even dare to think about it. However, she couldn’t help sighing in her heart whenever she saw them.


    Another maid came out from the pce gates and summoned everyone to enter.


    All the madams of the households filed in. ording to the customs, they paid respects to the empress first before offering greetings to the various high-ranking consorts and imperial concubines. Most of the consorts and imperial concubines who could sit here were those who had borne the emperor’s children. Some of them were even the mothers-inw of these consorts.


    After going through all the proper etiquette and customs, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly changed. All sorts of chatter and gossip sounded throughout the hall.


    Empress Wei was a very kind person. She treated people well and didn’t put on airs when she was around others. This was what Yaoniang learned from her observations during this period of time.


    Besides, Empress Wei had always treated Yaoniang well. Technically, only the main consorts, her proper daughters-inw, would be present at such asions. It’d be awkward for Yaoniang, a mere side consort, to be attending. However, Empress Wei never showed anything unusual, as if Yaoniang was her proper daughter-inw and not a concubine.


    It made people feel really good.


    The hall was bustling with excitement when suddenly a maid came in to report that Duchess Xuguo was asking for an audience.


    Generally, if a titled madam wished to enter the pce, she had to hand in her greeting card in advance, and the pce would arrange for a time to see her. No one was bold enough to make a visit so rashly.


    As for why it was bold? It was because, at this time, it was impossible for the empress to arrange to meet a random titled madam.


    But Duchess Xuguo was not a random titled madam after all. As a first-ranked duchess, she also shared a familial rtionship with Empress Wei. Duchess Xuguo had always lived behind closed doors and rarely showed her face to the public. Something must have happened for her to have such a sudden request to see the empress.


    Without any dy, Empress Wei asked Duchess Xuguo to be called in.


    Duchess Xuguo didn’t look like a duchess at all in terms of appearance. She looked frail as if she had just recovered from a serious illness. Herplexion was so pale that even after putting on makeup, her face still looked sick.


    As soon as Empress Wei saw her, she sighed. “Why are you so thin?”


    Thest time Empress Wei saw Duchess Xuguo was on the first day of the lunar new year when all the titled madams entered the pce to pay respects. It had only been a few months since theyst saw each other, and Duchess Xuguo had lost a lot of weight. Her clothes were loose, and she looked like she would fall down as soon as the wind blew.


    “This servant was sick, making the empress worried.”


    Empress Wei smiled and said a few words of concern, then ordered someone to get her a seat. After Duchess Xuguo cautiously sat down, the empress asked, “Madam Xu, for what matter did you enter the pce?”


    At this time, there were many people in the hall. To the left of the empress sat several high-ranked consorts and imperial concubines of the harem. All of them were no longer young but still maintained their charm and elegance. On her right sat the consorts of the various princes’ manors.


    Once Empress Wei spoke, everyone fell silent. All eyes were on Empress Wei and Duchess Xuguo.


    Everyone saw Duchess Xuguo suddenly grasp the handkerchief in her hand, seemingly agitated, and her emaciated hands covered in veins. They wondered whether Duchess Xuguo was here because she couldn’t bear it anymore and wanted to vent her grievances to the empress to deal with that cunning concubine in her household. Who would have thought that what Duchess Xuguo said next would shock everyone present?