Chapter 6
Consort Min raised her eyebrows, "Hangzhou?"
Concubine Chen's heart was in turmoil.
Her wet nurse was from Hangzhou, an old local of that wet nurse.
She had just come up with the idea of bribing the wet nurse to do her bidding.
But her wet nurse had already been honorably discharged and returned home - surely no one would know!
Yet Lower Concubine Liu had agreed to meet her before mentioning it - could Liu have already suspected her?
Concubine Chen suddenly felt flustered.
Plotting against the imperial bloodline, if found out, was a capital offense!
No, even if the other side suspected her, they had no proof!
Concubine Chen struggled to regain her composure, but in the next moment, she was pierced by Consort Min's sharp gaze.
"I recall Concubine Chen once gifted me three volumes of Buddhist scriptures, beautifully transcribed by a Hangzhou monk," said Consort Min.
She had always had a good memory for things she disliked.
Concubine Chen's face drained of color in an instant. "Your Ladyship Consort Min, I have nothing to do with this matter... I am wronged. How could I reach into the wet nurse assigned by the clan manor!"
"Oh? I didn't say it was you. Why the guilty conscience!"
Consort Min slammed her chopsticks loudly on the table.
Concubine Chen broke out in a cold sweat, instantly kneeling down. "Yes... it is I who am timid... unable to withstand Your Ladyship's intimidation."
[Wow, what a big white lotus flower~]
Xiao Chuchu was engrossed in watching the show.
The palace intrigue unfolding before her was even more exciting than a novel.
[Consort Min loves to see acts of heroism, but rarely has the opportunity in the inner palace. Haha, my dear mother has allowed this Concubine Chen to run into Consort Min's line of fire today~]
Lower Concubine Liu almost laughed out loud upon hearing this.
But she quickly put on a stern face, looking at Concubine Chen. "Sister Chen, don't talk nonsense. When did Her Ladyship Consort Min ever intimidate you? She was only mentioning the Buddhist scriptures you gifted her."
Concubine Chen felt like she could grind her teeth into dust.
"That's right, if you have no guilt, why fear!" Consort Min roared.
Ever since childhood, she had enjoyed playing with swords and spears, her favorite stories being those of arresting thieves.
Now, seeing Concubine Chen's flustered appearance of refusing to confess, Consort Min understood: even if Concubine Chen was not the mastermind, she was surely an accomplice.
"This matter shall start with a search of my quarters and Concubine Chen's. Any palace maid who has privately received gifts or spoken with the wet nurse, step forward now. Those who conceal the truth will be rewarded five taels of silver if others expose them. Those exposed will be sent to the Palace Justice Department for punishment!"
Concubine Chen looked utterly miserable.
But fortunately, her wet nurse was outside the palace, beyond Consort Min's reach to investigate!
Just as she thought this, Consort Min pierced her with a sharp look. "I will also ask my brother outside the palace to help investigate any dealings the wet nurse has had beyond these walls."
"The young princess nearly met with disaster in the Eastern Hua Palace. I must provide an account to the Emperor and Empress!"
Concubine Chen immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
"Today, Concubine Chen has spoken improperly to me. I sentence you to copy the Lotus Sutra a hundred times in your quarters."
"You shall not leave your room until I permit it!"
"Get out!"
Consort Min acted decisively, signaling to the palace maids beside her with her eyes.
She admired martial prowess over literary pursuits, so the maids she chose were always the strongest.
Immediately, two maids quickly came over and carried Concubine Chen like a chicken, escorting her towards the western palace.
"You... you can't do this... I am a Concubine after all..."
Before she could finish, the pale-faced Concubine Chen had her mouth stuffed with a handkerchief by the maids.
Lower Concubine Liu watched with her mouth agape.
The infant Xiao Chuchu was even more delighted, her spirit invigorated as she cooed repeatedly.
[Bravo Consort Min, awesome!]
[Ever since she had a difficult labor delivering the Sixth Prince and became unable to bear children, my sorry father the Emperor no longer favored her.]
[Powerful! Indeed, one without desires is steadfast. With Consort Min's family background, she is invincible, not even fearing the Empress!]
[Woo hoo dear mother, let's take Consort Min as our patron. We'll never have to worry about being bullied again!]
Xiao Chuchu thought this as she let out a couple of woos towards the extremely impressive Consort Min, her soft little hands reaching out to be carried by her.
Consort Min was immediately won over by this little one.
She had only given birth to the Sixth Prince, but he had been quite large in her womb, resulting in a difficult labor that injured her left leg.
Now, the Sixth Prince still walked with a slight limp.
He was not as lively as his mother, preferring a more quiet disposition.
So when Consort Min saw the month-old Princess Xiao Chuchu so full of energy, she immediately took a liking to her.
She reached out and carried the infant. "You were born well, little princess."
Having no daughter of her own, Consort Min doted on Xiao Chuchu's soft, delicate, and adorable appearance.
Before Lower Concubine Liu could react, having been slowed by her mindreading, the young girl had already pulled the exquisite gold beads adorning Consort Min's robe into her little hands.
Lower Concubine Liu worried her daughter might injure her fingers and hurried to stop her.
But before she could move, Consort Min smiled and reassured her.
"Don't be harsh with her. Let her play - she's just a child."
Consort Min happily untied the beaded sachet from her robe and placed it in the little one's hands.
She even removed a heavy five-tael golden dragon bracelet from her wrist and dangled it before Xiao Chuchu.
"Your Ladyship Consort Min..."
"Consider it a gift from me to the little princess, to help calm her after her fright," said Consort Min, unconcerned about the valuables.
[Woo hoo, Auntie Consort Min is so generous!]
Xiao Chuchu, hugging the large bracelet, felt a little touched. [When I grow up, Chuchu will be filial to you too~]
[You love meat, Chuchu will gift you candied beef ribs in the future.]
Consort Min loves meat?
She had previously cultivated an image of revering Buddhism, often eating vegetarian at palace banquets.
Was this merely an act by Consort Min?
Lower Concubine Liu took a deep breath.
After Consort Min grew tired of carrying the child, she moved a plate of crystal meat delicacy in front of her.
Lower Concubine Liu didn't eat much meat herself in the mornings, but if Consort Min liked it... she could trade her favorite stir-fried eggs for it.
"Your Ladyship Consort Min, this meat delicacy looks good. Try some - my own mother says one cannot always be vegetarian or they'll lose strength," Lower Concubine Liu earnestly advised.
Consort Min's eyes lit up.
Lower Concubine Liu really knew how to cater to her tastes!
Unlike the Empress, who thinking she revered Buddhism, would award her a plate of vegetable stems every year at the palace banquet - which she disliked but had to finish!
Consort Min immediately eyed the crystal meat delicacy, feigning reluctance at first as if being forced to try it. She picked up the thickest piece of meat with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth.
After tasting it, her whole face brightened.
Then, seeing Lower Concubine Liu share all the meat dishes from her own plate, Consort Min felt completely at ease.
Finally, she didn't have to pretend anymore!
No more feigning interest in discussing Buddhist scriptures, no more keeping up the facade of revering Buddhism and preferring a vegetarian diet!
Not only did she have company for this meal, but she could also eat comfortably.
"Good, I'll take your advice and eat some meat," said Consort Min.
She felt she had been blind before, only now realizing what a treasure Lower Concubine Liu was.
"Sister, we've spent six years together. Just call me Sister Min from now on."
"There's no need for formalities between us."
Lower Concubine Liu was utterly stunned.
So this was how easy it was to become a sister to Consort Min?