Consort Shu had already received three groups of visitors. By the time the fourth arrived, she had stretched her neck out like a turtle, yet Jiang Shuyue still hadn't come.
"Outrageous! Apart from His Majesty and the Empress Dowager, no one has ever made me wait this long! When exactly is she coming?"
"Please calm yourself, Your Highness. She won't be coming. There's no need to wait for her."
"What? She's not coming?"
Consort Shu sprang to her feet, accidentally stepped on her hem, and fell heavily to the floor, face-first.
"Your Highness, are you all right?"
Several people rushed over at once and scrambled to help her up.
Someone accidentally stepped on Consort Shu twice, making her howl in pain.
"Useless fools! You're hurting me!"
"Forgive us, Your Highness!"
The servants knelt all over the room. Consort Shu snapped, "Enough. It's the Empress Dowager's birthday. If word gets out that I'm punishing you and reaches her ears, there'll be hell to pay. Tell me, why isn't Jiang Shuyue coming?"
"Your Highness, after visiting the two noble consorts' residences, she said she'd eaten too much, leaving her dizzy from insufficient blood reaching her head. Without a nap, she wouldn't have the energy for tonight's banquet. The Empress had a side hall prepared for her and several other ladies and young misses to rest in."
"The Empress! The Empress again! Usually she's so stingy, guarding against me like I'm a fly, and now she's meddling again!"
"Everything I prepared has gone to waste! That bitch!"
Consort Shu furiously smashed her teacup.
She had specifically ordered salt added to Jiang Shuyue's tea and expensive horseradish put in her pastries.
Now it had all gone to waste.
"I'm furious! Jiang Shuyue, just you wait! I'll make you pay tonight!"
"Please don't be angry,