As soon as Tao Ti led the sixth princess out of Ganquan Palace, the concubines who were there began to exchange whispers.
“Was that the crown princess? She is really a beauty as fair as a flower and as bright as the moon.”
“She looks very dignified and refined. She seems to have just turned sixteen, right? Ah, sixteen is the age where one is like a flower…” These words were full of pity; as for why that was so, it needn’t be said, everyone understood.
“The sixth princess let her lead her out just now, how rare.”
“Exactly. Everyone knows that the sixth princess never speaks much and never gets close to others. Who knew, she actually warmed to the crown princess. This is really a rare sight.”
The sixth princess’s biological mother, Concubine Su, died from an illness three years ago when the sixth princess was only five years old. Many concubines wanted to bring her up; although a princess was not as valuable as a prince, having a child was better than having none. At that time, countless concubines ran to the sixth princess to show their goodwill, but while she was young, she had a sharp mind and stubborn temper, and wouldn’t let anyone mother her.
Later, Emperor Zhaokang asked her to choose a concubine she liked, but the sixth princess cried and knelt in front of Emperor Zhaokang, saying that she didn’t want to go anywhere, and didn’t want to acknowledge anyone else as her mother. Emperor Zhaokang pitied her for losing her mother at a young age and did not force her. So, he let her live in Concubine Su’s former residence, Tingyu Pavilion, where she was taken care of by her nursemaid.
Meanwhile, in the main hall, Empress Zhou looked coldly at Pei Lingbi with a steely expression, “Why are you always picking on her? Putting aside the fact that you can’t win her in a verbal battle, even if you did, would you then feel very proud of yourself for winning verbally?”
Pei Lingbi pouted recalcitrantly, “Empress Mother, why are you always siding with her? Don’t be fooled by her appearance, haven’t I told you before, she’s just a shameless bitch…”
Before she could finish her words, Empress Zhou shouted sternly, “Lingbi, pay attention to your status. How can a dignified princess of the imperial family say such words! How indecent! Where have all the manners and etiquette you learned gone?!”
“It is what it is. Before she married into the Eastern Palace, she was always pestering Royal Brother, and he was annoyed to death. How long has it been since she married into the Eastern Palace, and already she dares put on airs with me. Last time, she even threatened me… By the way, Royal Brother caught a cold two days ago and it was all because of her!”
“What does Changzhou catching a cold have to do with her?” At the mention of her son, Empress Zhou clearly became a lot more attentive.
Pei Lingbi gave a full recount of what happened. Of course, everything she said was full of accusations about how ruthless and heartless Tao Ti was, and Pei Changzhou was left entirely spotless, as if her Royal Brother were a pure white lotus flower that emerged unstained from the mud.
As Empress Zhou listened to her recount, her dignified and beautiful face grew darker and darker. In the end, she couldn’t bring herself to listen anymore and smacked the table hard. “How idiotic!”
Pei Lingbi nodded hurriedly, “Yes, yes, she’s just an idiot. ...”
Empress Zhou glared at her with a look full of bitter disappointment and exasperation, “I’m saying that you and Changzhou are idiots!”
Pei Lingbi’s face froze, “??”
Empress Zhou was clearly somewhat enraged, and her chest was heaving slightly. The senior palace maid on one side quickly offered her a cup of tea and whispered, “Your Majesty, please calm down. The concubines are all waiting outside.”
Thinking that making a big commotion wouldn’t look good, Empress Zhou suppressed her emotions and said gravely, “You’d better stop your nonsense, don’t pick on her unnecessarily. As for your Royal Brother… I will teach him a lesson in the afternoon.”
Pei Lingbi couldn’t understand why her own mother was siding with an outsider, but when she raised her eyes and saw how her mother looked like she clearly did not want to talk to her anymore, she could only stand up aggrievedly, curtsied, and took her leave.
Empress Zhou drank several sips of tea at one go before her breathing became a little calmer. She raised a delicate hand and pinched the centre of her brows.
The senior palace maid urged, “Your Majesty, the princess is still young and doesn’t think about many things carefully. Don’t be angry about it, lest you harm your own body.”