Palace Intrigue?: I Make the Emperor Cry by Rewinding Time!-Chapter 147 - 126: You Can’t Undo Spilt Water (2)

The Empress suddenly seemed to remember and called Servant Consort Zhen forward.

Yan Yun, who was still a palace maid yesterday, now the Servant Consort Zhen, walked into everyone’s view with her head lowered. She had a gentle and beautiful face, but in terms of appearance, she wasn’t particularly outstanding—a palace maid couldn’t wear makeup, and her clothes couldn’t have extravagant patterns. Even the colors she wore were close to the background, and those who rose through the ranks as palace maids were all natural beauties. However, Servant Consort Zhen didn’t quite measure up.

Concubine Wei was surprised, "I thought she would be an exceptional beauty, but she doesn’t even surpass Consort Xu."

Consort Xu could only laugh dryly.

Dong Hua handed the tea to Servant Consort Zhen, and as her fingertips touched the teacup, she slightly frowned but quickly relaxed, pretending nothing happened. She presented the teacup with both hands, but the Empress still did not accept it, instead leisurely saying, "If you could stay obedient, you wouldn’t be standing before me today, but you did serve the Emperor well, that is to your credit... Now that Concubine Xi is pregnant, it’s commendable that someone else can relieve the Emperor."

She mentioned the two of them in one sentence to see how they would react.

Servant Consort Zhen calmly replied, "This concubine doesn’t dare claim credit; it is thanks to the Empress’s wise teachings."

As expected of someone who started as a palace maid, she knew how to speak in any situation and rarely made mistakes.

The Empress turned away in disdain and asked, "Where is Concubine Xi?"

Yun Jiao looked over blankly, "Lady, I am here."

...As expected of Concubine Xi.

The Empress talked for a while longer before allowing her to kneel and serve the tea.

After serving the tea, the Empress was about to dismiss her, but then she saw Servant Consort Zhen spread her hands, her palms and fingertips all red, "I beg the Empress to grant me some Three Yellow Ointment, or else my hands will be ruined."

"Oh dear..."

Concubine Wei straightened up.

The Empress’s face darkened; she thought Yan Yun would endure it.

After all, she was used to being a palace maid. A little skin pain was nothing, so why risk offending Jianzhang Palace for this?

She could have just used her fingertips to hold the thin edge of the cup, yet she deliberately pressed her entire palm against it, burning her hand red.

"Dong Hua, how did you make such a mistake?" The Empress’s sharp eyes turned to the palace maid beside her, "Handing over the tea while it’s still hot, careless!"

"It is this maid’s fault, I beg the Empress for forgiveness."

Dong Hua knelt skillfully.

Yun Jiao finally realized, so this is another way to do it!

However, Servant Consort Zhen’s hands might peel from the burns. She couldn’t help feeling a bit sympathetic and raised her voice, "This is not the Empress’s fault!"

Concubine Xi rarely spoke up, immediately attracting attention from the concubines of Jianzhang Palace.

"When this concubine first served tea to the Lady, the tea was also very hot! When the Lady drank it, she didn’t say a word, so I guessed the Lady might just like hotter tea. Poor Servant Consort Zhen couldn’t handle the heat."

When she used to read palace intrigue games or novels, Yun Jiao used to think the verbal sparring was very interesting and wanted to experience it herself. Unexpectedly, when she traveled back in time, the speech she had drafted was only this level.

With that level, she’d be kicked out of a palace intrigue role-playing group within three days.

But despite this level, she was the only pregnant concubine present.

"So the tea when Concubine Xi served it was also this hot?" Concubine Wei feigned surprise.

Yun Jiao said, "Yes, the Empress has a really tough mouth!"

She nearly insinuated that the Empress was a thick-cut phoenix tongue.

Consort Ji realized that Concubine Xi wanted to stand up for Servant Consort Zhen and also avenge herself for past bullying by the Empress, but Concubine Xi hadn’t thought of any damning words beyond exposing the situation, making Consort Ji a bit anxious for her.

The Empress put down her teacup and gave her a dismissive glance, "What I like is none of your concern. Considering your pregnant state, I will not punish you for speaking out of turn in the Central Palace."

The audience came to an unremarkable end.

Consort Ji asked Lady’s permission to leave and stopped Yun Jiao, feeling frustrated, "Did you confront the Empress just to get a couple of satisfying words in?"

She and the Lady were similar, not making pointless moves out of emotion.

But if she acted, she would ensure the opponent felt the pain, at least took away a layer of skin.

Yun Jiao shook her head, "No, I was very angry and wanted her to pay a price, but she is the Empress, what can I do?"

In Consort Ji’s opinion, Concubine Xi shouldn’t have stood up today.

But once things are said, they cannot be taken back; the Empress must feel the pain, or else she’d end up like Concubine Wei, only good at ridiculing others every day.