Chapter 764 - 541: The Imperial Concubine’s Unexpected Move

Chapter 764: Chapter 541: The Imperial Concubine’s Unexpected Move

Because the Imperial Consort wanted to keep things secret, Zhang Maoquan made his arrangements quietly and in the dark, like a thief. Just circling names on the roster took him the better part of a day.

The staff attending the banquet, or even those serving in the vicinity, had to be clean and tidy. They couldn’t look shabby; they had to be a credit to the Imperial Consort.

The palace maids serving at the banquet were an even greater priority. They had to be nimble and efficient, have a clean record at the traveling palace, and be comely in appearance.

After selecting the personnel, he had to inspect them personally. Then, following the Imperial Consort’s instructions, he shuffled them around, reordered them, and divided them into groups. There would be large groups of six and small groups of two, allowing them to both help and supervise each other.

In their two-person teams, they would serve the nobles at the banquet. They had to do everything together; no one was ever to be left on their own.

Zhang Maoquan was in awe of the Imperial Consort’s arrangements. ’Under these conditions,’ he thought, ’even if someone managed to bribe one of the staff, they’d have no opportunity to make a move.’

First, the teams were to be assigned on the day of the banquet, meaning no one would know in advance who their partner would be.

That way, no one could bribe an entire two-person team ahead of time.

Second, the Imperial Consort’s punishment involved collective responsibility. That’s right—if something went wrong within a team, even if one person was innocent, they would be considered an accomplice for failing to notice their partner’s foul play.

As a result, everyone would be carefully watching their partner. With such mutual supervision, making a move would be exceedingly difficult.

Zhang Maoquan was thoroughly impressed. The security around the lake was especially tight, and the Imperial Consort had even ordered changes of clothes to be prepared in case anyone fell into the water. He was beyond impressed; he didn’t know how else to praise her.

’If I’d had this kind of skill back in the day,’ he mused, ’would I have let Meng Jiuchang walk all over me?’

’You’d think the Imperial Consort never bothers with anything, she seems so lazy all the time. But who would have thought that when she gets down to business, she’s this cautious, thorough, and meticulous?’

Zhang Maoquan was so busy he was run off his feet. Meanwhile, Nanny Yu led a team to go over Nanxun Hall from top to bottom, redecorating it according to the Imperial Consort’s wishes in preparation for the banquet.

「Elsewhere」

Consort Shu and Princess Consort Zhuang went to Yixin Palace to negotiate with the Empress Dowager. As expected, the Empress Dowager flew into a rage, adamant about holding the banquet on the lake.

Princess Consort Zhuang exhausted all her gentle words, but the Empress Dowager refused to budge. The smile on her face vanished as she glanced at Consort Shu.

’Your turn!’

Consort Shu: ...

’What’s the use of having you here!’

In the past, if the gentle approach failed, Princess Consort Zhuang would have certainly switched to a hard-line stance and handled it all herself.

But now, with Consort Shu present, the two of them had a division of labor.

Seeing that Princess Consort Zhuang had failed to persuade the Empress Dowager, Consort Shu didn’t waste her breath. She looked directly at the Empress Dowager and said, "Empress Dowager, we have only just arrived at Yong’an Palace. Holding a banquet on the lake isn’t out of the question, but firstly, time is short and we haven’t prepared for it. Secondly, not many of the Palace Attendants we brought with us can swim. If someone were to slip and fall into the water, who would bear the responsibility?

"I am of humble status and my words carry little weight; I certainly wouldn’t dare take on such a burden. The Imperial Consort herself has said that while a lake banquet is possible, safety must come first. The Imperial Consort does not dare assume responsibility for everyone’s safety, and neither do I. If Your Majesty insists on a lake banquet, then you will be the one to bear that responsibility."

The Empress Dowager hadn’t expected Consort Shu to be so blunt. "Consort Shu, you are insolent!" she snapped.

Consort Shu chuckled lightly. "Empress Dowager, I am merely following procedure. If you insist on putting it that way, I have no other choice but to report this to the Emperor and ask for his judgment."

"We have an Imperial Concubine in the palace, why must we trouble the Emperor? If she can’t even handle a small matter like this, it just shows her incompetence!" the Empress Dowager said furiously.

’Yun Zhao is truly something else,’ Consort Shu thought. ’She’s managed to clash with the Empress Dowager without even being here. This was definitely aimed at her.’

That being the case, Consort Shu knew she couldn’t back down.

"Since the Empress Dowager claims the Imperial Consort is incompetent, perhaps Your Majesty would prefer to organize the banquet yourself? Or you could appoint someone capable to do it. On the day of the banquet, the noble women accompanying the imperial retinue will be in attendance. Every one of them is of high station. We can’t have the palace become a laughingstock."

Hosting noble women wasn’t a job for just anyone. The host had to have a status high enough to command their respect.

If a low-ranking concubine were sent to host, the Empress Dowager would be ridiculed endlessly behind her back. ’Who do you think you’re looking down on?’ people would say.

The Empress Dowager had been backed into a corner by Consort Shu, caught in a dilemma.

Seeing the stalemate, Princess Consort Zhuang knew the Empress Dowager couldn’t involve the Emperor, nor could she let the Imperial Consort take charge. Consort Shu had cut off all her retreats. Though she was delighted by this, she had to reluctantly play the part of the peacemaker and give the Empress Dowager a way to back down gracefully.

Once the two had completed the Imperial Consort’s task and left Yixin Palace, Princess Consort Zhuang said in a low voice, "The Imperial Consort is truly formidable."

"Obviously. Otherwise, how could she be the Imperial Concubine?"

’If she weren’t formidable, would I be working with her?’

Princess Consort Zhuang gazed at the distant surface of the lake. "Who do you think put the Empress Dowager up to this?"

"I doubt it was just instigation. The Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine have been at a stalemate for over a year. She’s always trying to one-up her, but the Imperial Concubine doesn’t play along. I think the Empress Dowager wanted to cause trouble for the Imperial Concubine on her own, but someone definitely whispered in her ear as well."

"An Pin has been keeping to herself for the past six months. I doubt it was her," Princess Consort Zhuang mused.

Consort Shu scoffed. "Why don’t you just say Zhao Ling’e’s name?"

At this, Princess Consort Zhuang nearly rolled her eyes. She took a breath before continuing, "The Zhao family has always cared deeply about their reputation. The last time Ling E picked a fight she couldn’t win, her reputation was tarnished. The Zhao family only managed to restore it by handing over a copy of *Chen’s Star Scripture*. I’m guessing she’s determined to find a chance to clear her name. A palace banquet, with access to so many noble women, would be the perfect opportunity."

"So what?" Consort Shu said dismissively. "The Imperial Concubine has more schemes in her head than all of us combined. Who among us can outwit her? Just you watch. The Imperial Concubine is furious this time; she’s definitely planning something big. It seems that Zhao Ling’e just never learns. She’s about to be taught a harsh lesson."

Princess Consort Zhuang wondered aloud, "What can the Imperial Consort do to make Zhao Ling’e back down?"

’She can’t be allowed to cause trouble at the banquet. No matter how things are fixed afterward, any mistake will surely tarnish the Imperial Concubine’s reputation.’

’It looks like I’ll have to be on high alert that day and watch everything closely. There’s no room for error.’

"Who knows? Does the Imperial Concubine announce her moves before she makes them? ’I’m about to hit you on the head, so you’d better put on a helmet.’ Wouldn’t that be a joke?"

Princess Consort Zhuang felt mentally exhausted.

But Consort Shu’s words made her laugh despite herself. The image was rather amusing.

She said softly, "Now I’m just very curious to see how the Imperial Consort will make her move."

The Imperial Concubine’s methods were always unexpected.

’After all, I’ve already lost to her once. Now I’m just curious to see the next hard-headed fool, and what kind of spectacular, bloody fall they’ll take.’

"Who isn’t? I want to watch the show, too." Consort Shu flicked her handkerchief. "We’ll just have to wait and see."

The pair went to report back to the Imperial Concubine first. Seeing her residence bustling with people, all running about their tasks, they didn’t disturb her for long. But this only made them even more curious.