This time, Noble Consort Shu brought not only Wei Chengye but also all the eunuchs who had attended him at the Imperial Academy that morning.
She also had several eunuchs in charge come along.
As soon as they reached Kunning Palace, she made the eunuchs kneel together in the courtyard.
Choking back sobs, she called out, "Elder sister Empress, I have come to beg your forgiveness!"
"It was all because I failed to discipline them properly that the attendants at Ye'er's side spoke out of turn, displeased the Second Prince, and were punished with slaps. Today, I have come to apologize to you in person and discipline these ignorant servants before you!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the eunuchs in charge produced wooden paddles and struck the attendants hard across their faces!
Blood appeared after only a few blows!
Noble Consort Shu appeared to have come to apologize, but in truth, she was not sincere in the least.
Empress Feng was a Buddhist, and blood was rarely seen in Kunning Palace.
By making such a spectacle, Noble Consort Shu was both making a veiled jab at Eunuch Qin, Empress Feng's subordinate, for slapping her attendants, and sickening the Empress, keeping her from having a moment's peace all day.
It also let her vent some of her resentment.
Noble Consort Shu's eyes brimmed with tears, but inwardly, she was pleased with herself.
She was just about to enter Kunning Palace and admire Empress Feng's humiliated expression when she looked up, and her heart skipped a beat.
She had spotted Li Dehai.
If Li Dehai was here, that meant Wei Zhao was here too...
In an instant, all the triumph on her face turned to fear.
Noble Consort Shu looked at Li Dehai again and saw that Eunuch Li looked as though he had eaten shit.
He seemed to be saying, Your Highness, just look at what you've done!
Just then, Wei Zhao emerged from the inner hall, one hand supporting Empress Feng, whose face was pale and sickly.
He immediately rebuked her. "Yunniang, what on earth are you making such a fuss about?!"
"And just what are you apologizing for?"
The color drained from Noble Consort Shu's face. "Your Majesty, what are you doing here with elder sister?" she stammered.
"After morning court, I heard that the Empress was unwell, so I came especially to see her. We had barely exchanged a few words when I heard you making a commotion in the courtyard."
Wei Zhao pointed at the attendants kneeling all over the ground, their faces covered in blood. "And you're punishing attendants here in Kunning Palace, spilling blood everywhere. Are you deliberately trying to make the Empress's illness worse?!"
That was an extremely serious accusation.
Noble Consort Shu immediately dropped to her knees in fear, pulling Wei Chengye down with her. "I meant no such thing!"
"Your Majesty, I only, only..."
Noble Consort Shu's mind was in turmoil.
She had never expected the Empress to summon Wei Zhao to Kunning Palace in such a short time, as though she had anticipated that Noble Consort Shu would come and make this scene.
After all, she remembered that when she had paid her respects to the Empress that morning, the woman had looked twice as healthy as she did. How could she suddenly look so sickly?!
She had dared to come and make a scene precisely because she had been certain Wei Zhao would not be here at this hour.
Even if she made the Empress suffer further indignities and word reached Wei Zhao, who was deliberately treating the Empress coldly, he would not pay her much mind.
But when it happened right in front of Wei Zhao,
everything was different.
Wei Zhao cared about face above all else.
No matter how many sordid things he had done behind the scenes, even turning his own son into a fool,
he still had to keep up appearances, pretending that he and the Empress were a harmonious couple who treated each other with mutual respect.
So, the moment she saw Wei Zhao today, she knew
she had fallen.
She had fallen hard into the Empress's hands!
"Only what?" Wei Zhao looked displeased. "I intend to stay right here and hear your explanation!"
Noble Consort Shu went rigid.
She looked up at Empress Feng and found the Empress looking back at her.
Her features, usually as serene and insubstantial as mist, now bore a sharp glint and the imposing air of a superior, sending a chill through her.
It was as though the Empress only had to stand there to press her into the mud.
Noble Consort Shu was no fool. She understood now.
Whatever she said at this point would be wrong.
After all, Empress Feng had not mentioned a word about the Imperial Academy before Wei Zhao, nor had she shown the slightest intention of holding Noble Consort Shu accountable.
From Wei Zhao's perspective, Empress Feng understood the bigger picture, was not jealous, and had preserved the imperial family's dignity by refusing to make the matter any bigger.
She was the very picture of reasonableness.
In contrast to Empress Feng, even though Noble Consort Shu had come to apologize, she had become the greatest offender.
Noble Consort Shu understood that the only thing she could do now was avoid any mention of Wei Chengye calling Wei Zeyu a fool.
Otherwise, she would only touch an even sorer spot with Wei Zhao.
The punishment she and Wei Chengye received would be even harsher.
With that thought, she made a snap decision. "I only saw that elder sister Empress looked well this morning, but now her face is as pale as paper, so I sought out a folk remedy. It said that the vigor of blood could be used to stir up elder sister's vitality, and perhaps, perhaps then she would get better!"
Everyone around them was stunned by her words.
It was clearly their first time seeing anyone spout nonsense to such an extent.
Wei Zhao's expression darkened as well, but he continued to question her along the same lines. "Then what were you apologizing for?"
"I apologized precisely because I knew elder sister Empress was a Buddhist and disliked blood, so I apologized in advance!"
Her words passed directly over the incident at the Imperial Academy.
Wei Zhao also chose to turn a deaf ear. "Even if it was a folk remedy, and even if you meant well for the Empress's health, such a method was still utterly preposterous!"
"Go to the Buddhist hall and reflect in seclusion for five days. While there, eat vegetarian meals, chant the Buddha's name, and copy scriptures to pray for the Empress's well-being, in atonement for disturbing her today!"
The punishment was all thunder and little rain, making his favoritism plain.
Still, it gave the Empress the smallest possible concession.
Empress Feng watched it all, a mocking smile briefly appearing at the corners of her lips before discreetly fading.
Over the years, she had long grown accustomed to Wei Zhao's favoritism toward Noble Consort Shu and knew that such a minor matter would not be enough to bring her severe punishment.
So she showed no anger, saying gently instead, "Younger sister meant well but caused harm. I do not blame her."
"But Your Majesty, you came straight here after morning court. You must be tired. I have already ordered someone to prepare your favorite white fungus and snow pear soup. Please have some before you leave."
"You really are too magnanimous." Wei Zhao took Empress Feng's hand, a smile on his lips.
He looked utterly sincere.
"That is my duty as Empress." After speaking, Empress Feng turned to Noble Consort Shu. "Would you like a bowl before you leave, younger sister?"
Noble Consort Shu naturally had no intention of staying any longer.
After declining, she pulled Wei Chengye along and hurried out of Kunning Palace, her face deathly pale.
Only this time, when they returned to Shuyue Palace, the one who flew into a rage was no longer Wei Chengye.
It was Noble Consort Shu herself.
When Zhou Ya heard the news and learned that Noble Consort Shu had finally been thwarted, she laughed so hard that she sprayed out her tea.
She hurriedly sent someone to tell Zhou Ye about it.
Zhou Ye munched on melon seeds as he read the note.
He knew then that he was determined to have the Empress as an ally.
After leaving the imperial palace, he went to the Jade Fragrance House that evening.
There, Yun Shen told him another astonishing piece of news.
Zhao Junze's eldest son had sunk the son of a fifth-rank official in a lake.