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Consort Qi's brows shifted slightly. "But Your Majesty, Noble Consort Pan has only just been promoted. By rights, she should oversee the affairs of the Inner Palace..."

Zhao Huangpu gave a cold snort. "Nothing I can do about that. Everyone I care about is in Bright Sun Hall."

A casual remark from the emperor could travel through the Inner Palace like a carrier pigeon with wings, reaching every residence. All the more so when it concerned a transfer of power.

The main hall of Noble Consort Pan's bedchambers was strewn with shattered porcelain and vases. Palace maids and eunuchs knelt across the floor, not one daring to raise their head and glance at their mistress, who was trembling with rage.

"Why are you all kneeling here? Shouldn't everyone in the Inner Palace scurry off to Bright Sun Hall to serve their new mistress?" Noble Consort Pan stood amid the wreckage, her Golden Bell Phoenix Hairpin clanging with every rise and fall of her chest. She lowered her head and kicked the nearest palace maid. "Go see if Xiao Quanzi is back!"

The palace maid hurried off at her command and returned at a run moments later. "Your Ladyship, Eunuch Xiao Quanzi is back."

Xiao Quanzi trotted into the main hall too. He was about to drop to his knees, but the floor was such a mess there was nowhere to put them. Noble Consort Pan's eyes were full of urgency when she saw him; she had no time to wait for a bow. With a sweep of her Wide Sleeves, she asked, "What did my father say? Did he write to my aunt for me and tell her to discipline that daughter of hers, who seduces the emperor and brings wolves into the house?"

Xiao Quanzi looked troubled. "Lord Pan