Hoist by His Own Petard

The Empress’s birthday banquet was but a few days away. When she attended the social gathering in the palace, she would surely be the subject of gossip among the female relatives of officials. Thinking of this, Consort Gao felt a heavy weight in her chest.

For the past few days, Consort Gao had been bound by the palace’s etiquette instructress, learning the rules, a vexation she could barely endure. This morning, she requested a half-day leave to return home, only to hear rumors concerning the Qi Yuan Marquis Manor. The news involved Jiang Yu Shu and Jiang Jin Xin, immediately piquing her interest. She summoned those in the Count’s Manor who knew of the matter to inquire, and when some were unclear, she sent servants out to gather more information.

After confirming that Jiang Jin Xin was Jiang Yu Shu’s secondary sister, the heavy mood that had plagued her for days instantly dissipated like smoke.

She had not originally intended to return to the Prince’s Manor for her lessons today, but upon hearing such scandalous rumors, how could she not rush back to spread the news?

To call one’s own sister a lowly servant—this Jiang Yu Shu was truly harsh and cruel.

Afterward, Consort Gao summoned all her concubines and secondary consorts to her courtyard, and even invited a storyteller. She had him embellish the tale of the Qi Yuan Marquis Manor, then began distributing melon seeds.

Coincidentally, she had invited the very storyteller Lian Rong had paid to hire. He recounted stories in the teahouse with spittle flying everywhere, making even trivial matters sound as if he had witnessed them firsthand.

Everyone had yet to fully grasp the story, merely thinking they were listening to a tale, for they did not yet know the real figures to compare it with. But when he spoke of a certain Princess Consort who, being pregnant, brought this pitiful secondary daughter to her own Prince’s bed to solidify her favor, everyone immediately thought of the real person.

By the time the Xi Luan Courtyard heard this news, the story had already reached its climax. Jiang Yu Shu was instantly so enraged she felt dizzy, and agitatedly ordered her servants to drive those people away.

But due to her excessive emotional agitation, her fetal qi was disturbed.

The entire room immediately fell into chaos.

In the front courtyard, the story had concluded, with the secondary sister being tormented by the Princess Consort to the point of near death.

Was she not on the verge of death? It was said that the person in Mei Xiang Residence could barely walk.

The female relatives listened intently, constantly clicking their tongues in surprise and wonder. Just then, the old maids from Xi Luan Courtyard rushed over to drive the people away.

Seeing this, Consort Gao stood before the old maids, her face filled with arrogance and pride: “Mama He, even if you are a wet nurse, if you wish to throw your weight around, you should first consider where you are.”

“Consort Gao, you invited outside men into the manor without reporting it to the Princess Consort, and then secretly invited the masters here to interact with them. This is against the rules. Has the etiquette instructress not taught you proper conduct?” Mama He’s face was cold, her demeanor forceful.

But Consort Gao was not afraid of her. She snorted, crossed her arms over her chest, and refused to back down: “He earns his living, and I reward him for his efforts. He came here to entertain everyone, not to secretly interact or flirt. What rule has been violated? Has His Highness never listened to a storyteller? How stifling this manor is; is there a problem with me wanting to bring joy to everyone?”

Hearing this, Mama He’s face immediately darkened: “Consort Gao, who doesn’t know your intentions? If you refuse to dismiss these people, beware that when His Highness returns, he might invite a few more etiquette instructresses to teach you the rules for a few more days.”