Chapter 120: A Greeting or a Provocation?

Despite the unfamiliar surroundings, the night passed surprisingly well, and I slept soundly.

By the next morning, however, a clamor erupted outside. Although the Xuanji Palace was staffed by only four or five maids, the noise level sounded as if a legion of demons had descended.

"Could you please wait a couple of days? She is resting right now," the maids pleaded, standing firmly in the doorway. It was clear at a glance that these intruders were up to no good. Had it not been for the maids blocking the entrance, the group surely would have barged in.

Before the words had even finished echoing, a crisp "slap" rang through the air. Noble Lady Jia had struck, leaving a bright red mark across Suxin’s face.

The others stood stunned for a moment, but before they could react, a scornful voice cut through the silence. "They are merely lowly, stinking maids. What right do they have to block our way? They should learn their place!"

With that, Noble Lady Jia waved her hand dismissively. "Sisters, we are here to visit Consort Rong, not to commit some heinous crime. Let’s head inside; no need to waste time with these wild girls."

They filed in, treating the maids as if they were invisible. Some even sneered, "Indeed, like mistress, like servant. Do they really think having a favored master allows them to turn the world upside down?"

Once the women had moved past, the other maids dared not intervene. They could only look at Suxin, who was cradling her face. Through the gaps in her fingers, the swelling was visible—a truly shocking sight.

Chunxia hurried over to gently support her arm, asking with tender concern, "Sister Suxin, are you alright?"

"I am fine, but these people are truly unreasonable and vicious. They boast of their noble lineage, yet they act like such shrews!" The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Though she could only mutter curses under her breath, she feared that if those women heard her, they would subject her to even more heartless humiliation. It was a pity; after all that Hua Rong had endured with the kidnapping, they had hoped she could finally get some rest, but these people showed no mercy.

"Let’s follow them. We can’t let these women bully our mistress!"

They hurried after the group, only to find the women standing frozen in place, looking puzzled.

Stepping forward, they saw Hua Rong standing in the doorway, gazing down at the intruders from the top of the stairs.

"What is the meaning of this? Causing such a commotion early in the morning? Do you really think there is no one here to stop you?"

The women were dressed in opulent finery, their faces caked with an overwhelming layer of rouge and powder. The suffocating scent reached even two meters away. A wave of inexplicable revulsion surged in Hua Rong’s heart. She subconsciously stepped back, unable to hide her disdain.

The guests looked embarrassed, but Noble Lady Jia forced a smile and stepped forward. "My dear sister, how can you say that? We are only worried about your safety. As soon as we heard you were back, we rushed over to see you."

Watching her act of sisterly affection, reaching out to touch her arm as if they were intimate, Hua Rong felt a visceral sense of disgust. She gave a slight shudder and awkwardly pulled her arm away. "Don’t call me sister. I don’t even know who you are."

Even with her memory lost, she knew that with her own peerless beauty, she could never be from the same mother as this woman.

Rebuffed so coldly, Noble Lady Jia lost face, yet she pushed on. "Consort Rong, I am actually here to apologize. What happened on the boat was my fault; I shouldn’t have forced you..."

The women behind her stood as props, watching Noble Lady Jia play her part. They had come for the spectacle and to confirm whether Hua Rong had truly survived unscathed. They would have been delighted if she had been disfigured, but seeing her looking perfectly fine, they lost their enthusiasm and simply stood by to witness the apology. This way, if Hua Rong ever tried to hold them accountable for the lake incident, they could claim they had been there to make amends, avoiding being labeled as small-minded.

These details were already noted in the journal Jun Yeli had given her. Although she wasn't certain who had kidnapped her, seeing these women feign concern while failing to hide their hypocrisy made Hua Rong feel truly sick.

"I thank you all for your warm concern, but I am tired now. Please leave."

With that, Hua Rong walked straight toward the crowd. Perhaps it was the sheer force of her presence in her own domain, but the women instinctively parted to let her pass. They were left buzzing with confusion, glancing at one another. How could the normally timid and submissive Consort Rong have changed so completely?

"What is going on? Was her brain altered during the kidnapping?"

"Quiet! If she hears you, we’ll be the ones in trouble!"

They still had to maintain the facade of sisterhood; otherwise, they would have to answer to the Emperor, who detested palace intrigue above all else.

Before they could adjust to her transformation, the faint, elegant scent of tea drifted over.

"Oh, is the Consort drinking tea? Why not invite us to join you?"

One of them, unwilling to give up, pushed forward. Ignoring whether Hua Rong allowed it or not, she grabbed the teapot and began pouring.

Hua Rong rolled her eyes, a surge of irritation rising within her. "They were right—these women in the harem are nothing but trouble."

Anyone with a shred of intelligence would know they weren't welcome, yet these women clung on shamelessly. Were they hoping to extract some benefit from her? It was utterly ridiculous.

Not only Noble Lady Jia, but even a consort of a lower rank acted as if she owned the place, taking a seat. Though their ranks differed, sitting for tea was not strictly a transgression, so Hua Rong could not easily punish them.

Seeing them drinking with gusto and throwing arrogant, provocative glances her way, she wondered what they were so proud of. Hua Rong slammed her teacup down, splashing water onto the table, and said sharply, "Fine! If your own quarters have nothing to drink, then drink your fill here!"