Chapter 533 - 533 If You Have Any Grievances, Tell the Noble Consort
533 If You Have Any Grievances, Tell the Noble Consort
Early the following day.
The autumn wind was bleak after all. After Noble Consort Qiao got up, she looked at the silent wind blowing across the courtyard.
She asked Wanyin and Wanxuan to give Gu Nuo’er an extra thin cloak.
The child wore two cute buns on her head today. She wore a red dress, which made her round white cheeks look even more charming. Her eyes were as big as two black pearls.
“Mother, I’m going to school!” Gu Nuo’er said softly.
Before leaving, she ran to Noble Consort Qiao’s side and kissed her cheek.
Noble Consort Qiao beamed like a flower and waved her hand. “Be careful on the way.”
After Gu Nuo’er left, Noble Consort Qiao brought the palace servants to the front hall.
Consorts and concubines were waiting to pay their respects to her.
There had always been a rule in the palace that all the women in the harem had to pay their respects to the empress once every five days.
However, Empress Du had always liked peace and quiet, and she had always been focused on recuperating.
Noble Consort Qiao controlled the six palaces alone and was deeply doted on by His Majesty, so the consorts and concubines naturally came to pay their respects to her.
However, it was just that the visits changed from once every five days to once every ten days.
Noble Consort Qiao held Wanyin’s hand for support and took her seat. The golden hair ornament at her temples shone brightly.
It complemented her snow-white skin and flowery appearance, bringing with it a poised and dignified aura that no one dared to look at directly.
Noble Consort Qiao pursed her red lips. “Sisters, take a seat. Nuo’er woke up late today. I sent her off and thus was delayed her for a while.”
The people sitting closest to Noble Consort Qiao were Consort Yi and Consort Lan, who had the best relationship with her.
They were the biological mothers of the second prince and the third prince.
Consort Yi was still dressed in jewelry. She smiled and said, “Ah, Nuo’er has already gone out? Sigh, I was still wondering if I could meet her. I haven’t seen her for a few days, and I miss her so much!”
Consort Lan covered her mouth and chuckled. “Since Sister Consort Yi likes the little princess so much, why don’t you borrow the little princess from Her Highness for a few days?”
Consort Yi glared at her. “Even if I wanted to, Her Highness wouldn’t bear to.”
Noble Consort Qiao smiled brightly. “Of course. Nuo’er is my precious treasure. Letting others take a look at her is already magnanimous, let alone to lend her away.”
She was joking, and everyone laughed along.
With Consort Yi and Consort Lan opening the show, the atmosphere became less tense.
Only then did some of the consorts who were afraid of Noble Consort Qiao relax.
The group of people chatted casually as usual.
Only Concubine Bai, who lived in Qingwu Palace, looked haggard and distracted.
Noble Consort Qiao’s gaze swept past her a few times before she finally asked, “Concubine Bai, I see you don’t look well. Is there something troubling you?”
Concubine Bai felt like she had woken up from a dream after being called out by the Noble Consort. She hurriedly stood up from her chair.
She bowed to Noble Consort Qiao. “Your Highness, this concubine… don’t have anything on my mind.”
Noble Consort Qiao pursed her red lips into a thin line. Her gaze was deep, and no one could tell if she was happy or angry.
Consort Yi swept her gaze over and said in a lukewarm tone, “Concubine Bai, with the Noble Consort around, why would you need to be afraid that we won’t be able to stand up for you? If you still don’t say it but try to hide it, we won’t speak for you if Her Highness is displeased.”
Concubine Bai was timid, to begin with. Unable to withstand the scare, she fell to her knees with a thud.
“Noble Consort, this concubine doesn’t dare to hide it. This concubine just doesn’t want to make a big deal out of it. This concubine lives in the Qingwu Palace, with Consort Rou living in the main hall. In the past few months, Consort Rou has been unwell, so this concubine didn’t dare to disturb her.”
As she spoke, Concubine Bai wiped her tears. “But it’s been two to three months, and Consort Rou hasn’t given me any food, clothes, and other necessities for the month. The weather is getting cold, and this concubine is still wearing last year’s old clothes.”
The rule in the palace was that the Palace Affairs Bureau would distribute the monthly allowance to the person with the highest seniority in each palace according to the number of people there and also according to their statuses.
Then, the person with the highest seniority would then distribute the allowance to the other consorts and concubines who lived in the same palace.