无翼乌工口里番无色无摭挡

Madam Zhao sneered, “Why don’t you show me one example? Just now, I don’t know who it was, but someone was kneeling so happily in the main room.”

Maid Fang’s face turned slightly red, and after holding back for a moment, she laughed back coldly, “So what if I knelt? She is the Main Consort, our mistress. We are just servants. It doesn’t matter if we kneel once or every day; I am willing.”

“Then go and kneel to serve her.”

“You think I don’t dare? Kneeling to the mistress is better than following you around!”

Maid Fang turned and walked away, her sleeve swinging.

Madam Zhao rolled her eyes and, after sitting and thinking for a while, said to the maid beside her, “Speaking of which, why didn’t Ms. Li go to the Main Court to kowtow today?”

The maid pursed her lips, “Her? Isn’t it because she relies on the fact that the Prince of Yu favors her the most? She’s so delicate every day; if she goes out and encounters a breeze, she’ll complain about headaches. She’s like a paper doll— who would dare bother her?”

“This princess consort here is not easy to deal with; I don’t believe that she can tolerate a concubine climbing onto her head without abiding by the rules.” Madam Zhao thought for a bit, then whispered a few instructions to the maid.

Within two days, word spread throughout the palace that the concubine Ms. Li had no manners, showed no respect for her mistress, and even paraded around the market in a bright red dress.

Normally, a Main Consort could not tolerate such behavior from a concubine.

However, after waiting for two days, there was still no reaction from the Main Court.

Madam Zhao became a little restless and went to inquire about the situation.

The anticipated scene did not occur.

The new princess consort was neither infuriated nor showed a hint of jealousy or dissatisfaction.

She continued to lead a leisurely, slow-paced life.

Accompanied by a few maids, she spent her days eating, drinking, and playing in the courtyard.

Madam Zhao thought that she might not have received the news yet.

She found an opportunity to mention the matter in front of Jiang Ning.

“This Ms. Li is too unrestrained.”

“Oh, what’s her background?” Jiang Ning asked casually while reclining on a lounge chair and reading

Huang Ying was beside her, fanning her with a fan.

Feeling slightly pleased, Madam Zhao hurriedly said, “Speaking of Ms. Li, she is just a concubine, but her relationship with our Prince of Yu is quite deep. A year ago, the Prince saved her from the mouth of a tiger during the hunt. She’s an orphan, but she’s extremely beautiful and delicate.”

Jiang Ning picked up a cherry, popped it into her mouth, and asked, “Is she more beautiful than me?”

Madam Zhao glanced at her and forced a smile, “Orchids and jade trees, each has its own charm.”

“Fine, I know. You can go back now.” Jiang Ning waved her hand dismissively.

“Princess Consort, although Ms. Li enjoys the Prince’s favor, she is still a concubine. She is so ignorant of the rules that you should reprimand her. Otherwise, people may say that our palace has lost the hierarchy of concubines and consorts.” Madam Zhao said.

“I know.”

“Princess Consort, won’t you do something?”

“I can’t.” Jiang Ning replied bluntly.

“Why, why not?”

“I’m not in charge. Aren’t you and Ms. Fang responsible for managing the inner courtyard?”

“Managing is just managing. As the main princess consort, you still should discipline disrespectful servants.”

“You’re still not leaving?”

II II

Madam Zhao left, fuming with anger.

Huang Ying laughed, “This Madam Zhao doesn’t seem very clever, daring to use the princess consort to deal with Ms. Li. How could Prince of Yu let her manage the household?”

“The Prince of Yu has just moved out from the palace and started living on his own, so let’s see how things go for now,” Jiang Ning said nonchalantly.

Huang Ying said, “Even so, that Ms. Li is quite arrogant. The princess consort has been in the palace for two days, and even two proper palace maids have come to visit and kowtow. Yet, this nameless and undistinguished concubine hasn’t even shown her face..”