Rebirth: Pampered by the Lord

As the saying goes, three cobblers are better than one Zhuge Liang; listening to more opinions is always a good thing.

Empress: "The Empress Mother’s funeral is no small matter. Not only Moli Country, even the neighboring country is watching us. We must not become a laughingstock to the world. The missing palace maids can’t be found in such a short time, and the Empress Mother is about to be buried. This concubine is thinking, why not select another hundred or so palace maids from the palace as burial goods for the Empress Mother? Wouldn’t that be much safer? Your Majesty, what do you think of this idea?"

"What a vicious plan, truly venomous." Noble Consort Wang thought to herself. Immediately after, she rose from the floor and said to The Emperor, "Your Majesty, Elder Sister is not wrong. For now this is the most reliable solution. There must not be any mistake in the Empress Mother’s funeral, otherwise our Royal Family will become the laughingstock of the world."

The Emperor nodded, feeling that what they said made sense, but then his head began to ache again, because time was tight and it would be difficult to choose more than a hundred palace maids.

Noble Consort Wang first cast a glance at the Empress, then smiled sweetly and said, "Your Majesty need not worry. Since Elder Sister has come up with such a clever plan, she will surely have a way to settle the matter of the palace maids for you."

Having said that, she turned her head with all her bewitching charm, looked at the Empress, and laughed softly: "Elder Sister, don’t you agree?"

What does Noble Consort Wang intend to do? The Empress knew very well in her heart, and couldn’t help cursing her as an old fox. No matter when, she never forgets to weaken her power.

After the Prime Minister’s downfall, the Empress’s influence sharply declined. At present she only had those old retainers in Fengyang Palace. If even those elders were to be harmed, her power would truly collapse. The Empress hated Noble Consort Wang so much that she ground her teeth, but for the sake of The Emperor’s face, she could not overdo things. Otherwise, once The Emperor grew disgusted, she would have to go back to the Cold Palace again.

With a proper smile on her face, the Empress said, "This concubine does wish to share Your Majesty’s burdens, but is powerless to do so!"

The Empress thought that saying this would make Noble Consort Wang back down in front of The Emperor. Who would have thought that Noble Consort Wang, intent on keeping her from ever rising again, went on, "Elder Sister is truly modest. In Elder Sister’s palace, palace maids are as numerous as clouds. A hundred or so palace maids should not be a problem, right? Elder Sister, as the Empress, you ought to ease Your Majesty’s worries. Don’t let such a trifling matter trouble His Majesty."

The Emperor’s eyes were also shining as he looked fixedly at the Empress.

The Empress felt a sudden, indescribable pain. That damned Noble Consort Wang, she never forgets to set her up.

The Empress’s voice was gentle as she slowly said, "You are quite right, Younger Sister. This palace will return to the palace hall at once and select the palace maids. The Empress Mother’s funeral is about to be held."

The Empress stood up and bowed to The Emperor: "Your Majesty, this concubine will take her leave."

The smile on Noble Consort Wang’s face deepened. She stood and saluted the Empress: "Elder Sister has worked hard. Here, this concubine thanks Elder Sister on His Majesty’s behalf."

The Empress smiled warmly: "We are all one family, no need to be so polite."

With that, she took delicate Golden Lotus Steps and slowly walked out.

Just as she stepped out of the side hall’s doorway, the Empress’s expression darkened in a flash. The fist hidden beneath her sleeve was clenched so tightly that her nails sank deep into her flesh, yet she still didn’t feel the pain.

Back in her palace hall, the Empress flew into a great rage and smashed everything in the hall that could be smashed. Her faction was already shattered anyway; keeping these things would only let others benefit. Rather than letting Noble Consort Wang profit from them, she might as well smash them and toss them out as trash.

And so, under Noble Consort Wang’s coercion, the Empress, with no choice, sacrificed the last of her power. Of course, she quietly kept back a few trusted confidantes.

She still had her private ambitions, hoping that one day she could rise again like Mount Dongshan.