After speaking, she reached out and took the pearl hairpin from Liu Binglian's hand, handing it to her maidservant Xiao Fan by her side. "Send it back to Jinhua Palace immediately."
"Yes, Your Ladyship."
Xiao Fan accepted the order and quickly darted out. The women in Zhaoyang Palace had already risen in fear.
Although this incident had nothing to do with them, they had all gathered to watch the spectacle. If Her Majesty the Empress Dowager became angry, it was unlikely any of them would escape unscathed.
Consort Xian, Ye Yuyun, looked at Ye Suxue, who was smiling charmingly on the bed, and said lightly, "Sister, rest well. Your younger sister will lead the other sisters to Changxin Palace."
"Go ahead, go ahead. The most important thing is not to anger the Empress Dowager."
Ye Suxue's voice was pleasing to the ear, her previous coldness gone, indicating her mood had improved.
Ye Yuyun gritted her teeth, admitting defeat. She had lost this round. However, the ultimate victor was yet to be determined.
"Let's go," all the imperial consorts in the sleeping chambers followed Consort Xian, Ye Yuyun, to Changxin Palace. As for Consort De, she was still ill and of course, did not need to go to Changxin Palace.
The main hall of Changxin Palace.
Luxurious and grand, with light silks fluttering. However, a large group of people were now kneeling in silence, and a cold, killing aura permeated the hall. No one dared to speak, awaiting the Empress Dowager's pronouncement from the head seat.
The Empress Dowager's face was cold, her slender peach blossom eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing within them. After a long moment, she opened her lips and spoke coldly.
"It seems you do not heed my words."
The women below were startled, everyone filled with apprehension. Even Consort Xian, Ye Yuyun, felt a growing unease, dimly realizing that the Empress Dowager intended to make an example of someone and that perhaps Zhaoyuan Liu Binglian had fallen into her trap.
Liu Binglian's face had turned from pale to paler. Her entire body felt weak, and as she knelt on the ground, she could barely breathe.
At this moment, a sharp shout from above rang out, "Who went to the Empress's Jinhua Palace and took the Empress's belongings?"
Upon hearing this, everyone's gazes turned towards Liu Binglian. Liu Binglian trembled as she crawled forward, repeatedly kowtowing and begging, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, spare my life. Your concubine made a mistake. Your concubine will never dare to do so again."
Although her face was deathly pale, and cold sweat streamed down her, making her appear as if she were about to faint, the Empress Dowager above showed no trace of pity. She only felt annoyance that this woman was constantly causing her trouble.
"Zhaoyuan Liu Binglian, how dare you disregard my imperial decree! Guards, escort her out of the palace immediately!"
As soon as the Empress Dowager finished speaking, several eunuchs rushed in from outside Changxin Palace, intending to escort Liu Binglian away.
The faces of all the women in the hall turned pale, having never expected the Empress Dowager to simply banish someone.
This was far more severe than a mere punishment. To be expelled from the palace as an imperial consort meant only a dead end awaited her, and society would never forgive her.
Liu Binglian couldn't catch her breath and fainted outright.
Consort Xian, Ye Yuyun, seeing the situation, realized that it would be inappropriate not to step forward. How could she command respect from others in the future if she didn't? This Liu Binglian was clearly taking the blame for her. How could she allow her to be expelled from the palace?
Without hesitation, she quickly knelt and respectfully said, "Mother Empress, please spare Sister Binglian this time. This matter has nothing to do with Sister Binglian. It was your concubine who made a bet with Sister Defei. Your concubine deserves to die. Sister Binglian was merely taking the punishment on my behalf. Your concubine is willing to accept punishment."
Consort Xian's action earned her the admiration of the other imperial consorts. Especially those residing in Jiaofang Palace felt they had not followed the wrong person. Everyone silently observed the unfolding events.
Consort Xian had always been favored by the Empress Dowager, so it was likely the Empress Dowager would show her some consideration, and perhaps Zhaoyuan would not be banished.
The Empress Dowager cast a cold glance at the kneeling Ye Yuyun at the front, her pupils flashing with brilliance. Her expression softened slightly, and she spoke slowly.
"Since Consort Xian has spoken, this time, she will be spared expulsion from the palace. However, punishment must still be meted out. Guards, drag her down and administer twenty heavy blows."
As the Empress Dowager spoke, the eunuchs of Changxin Palace rushed forward like wolves and tigers, dragging Liu Binglian away.
In the hall, the imperial consorts felt a mix of relief and schadenfreude, their emotions varied, but no one dared to show the slightest reaction.
The Empress Dowager scanned the crowd and coldly declared, "If such a matter occurs again, no one will have an easy time, and no pleas will be of any use."
These words were a warning to Consort Xian, Ye Yuyun. She had already been given face this time, and she should not expect such requests to always be effective.
Ye Yuyun understood that the Empress Dowager had granted her a tremendous favor this time. How could she dare to risk another incident?
"Your concubines dare not offend again."
"All of you may leave," the Empress Dowager waved her hand languidly, propping her forehead with one hand, her eyes narrowed as if she were very tired. Without even looking at the group of women below, all the imperial consorts in the hall quickly paid their respects and exited Changxin Palace.
Outside the palace, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They had narrowly escaped disaster. It seemed that in the harem, one had to be extremely cautious. Each person returned to their own palace.
In Jinhua Palace, excited laughter could be heard, the conversation engrossing.
"Your Ladyship, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has severely punished Consort Zhaoyuan, finally avenging you."
On the soft couch, Yun Xiao raised her bright, pretty eyes, a hint of a wry smile playing on her lips. She gazed unblinkingly at the energetic little maidservant Xiu Xiu and said leisurely.
"What is there to be happy about? Her methods of handling affairs precisely show how cruel her heart is. Now that she has some reservations, she will likely be ten or twenty times more ruthless towards me in the future."
She did not feel any joy from this. On the contrary, a deep sense of crisis arose within her.
Logically, the Empress Dowager should be an autocratic woman. Why would she be willing to punish imperial consorts for a fool?
It was nothing more than concern for the Regent. The Regent was like a thorn in the heart of the royal family. Sooner or later, this thorn would be removed, and at that time, she feared she would die even more miserably. Therefore, she had to get out of the palace.
The night was like water, the moon white as jade, and its cool radiance spilled silver light onto the ground. The gentle breeze stirred the green grass, forming ripples.
Under the moonlight, two slender figures walked slowly.
"Your Ladyship, it's getting windy. Let's go back."
Xiu Xiu looked around, trembling with fear.
Although this was within the boundaries of Jinhua Palace, it was desolate and cold, with a sparse chill and withered lotus shadows, appearing exceptionally bleak. Not a single person could be seen, making it not much different from the cold palace.
"Let's walk a bit longer. I can't sleep."
Yun Xiao walked casually. She did not have Xiu Xiu's worries. On the contrary, she was rather pleased that Jinhua Palace had fewer people.
If there were too many people, her feigned foolishness might be exposed. If this matter were revealed, both Yun Wangfu and herself would not fare well. At that time, being accused of ulterior motives or malicious intent would lead to the beheading of the entire clan.
Xiu Xiu dared not say anything more. She followed behind Yun Xiao, stepping through the white mist, wandering around the garden.