Consort Zhuang doesn't want palace intrigue; she just wants to raise her child and live a caref

Meanwhile, the Empress's residence was bustling with activity. All the concubines were gathered together, exchanging pleasantries and laughter. Consort Qing, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, spoke to the Empress in a coquettish voice, "Your Majesty, look at the time! Why hasn't Consort Zhuang arrived yet?"

Before the Empress could reply, Consort Qin calmly took over the conversation, retorting with a hint of sarcasm: "Sister Consort Qing, Her Majesty the Empress is not in a hurry, but you are already impatient. As for Consort Zhuang, she is now responsible for raising four imperial heirs, so it is understandable that she is a little late sometimes."

“Precisely because the facts are as they are, Consort Zhuang should respect the Empress even more. If the Empress were not so kind and virtuous, how could she have entrusted the Second Prince and the Third Prince to Consort Zhuang’s care?” Consort Qing retorted.

Just then, Su Nuannuan gracefully entered, a faint smile on her beautiful face, but her eyes were incredibly sharp.

As soon as she entered, she retorted without any politeness, "Consort Qing, since you value this matter so much, why don't I take the liberty of sending the Second Prince and the Third Prince to you so that you can raise them yourself?" These words were like a thunderclap, instantly exploding in the hall, leaving everyone speechless with astonishment.

After rebuking Consort Qing, Su Nuannuan quickly suppressed her smile and adopted a dignified and elegant expression. She gracefully bowed to the Empress sitting above and respectfully asked, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects and wish you a long and peaceful life."

The Empress nodded slightly and said softly, "Rise!"

With the Empress's permission, Su Nuannuan slowly rose and thanked her, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty." Then, she gracefully moved to her seat and sat down gently. However, her gaze never left Consort Qing, and a barely perceptible cold smile remained on her lips.

Seeing that Consort Qing was speechless after being choked by her words, how could Su Nuannuan let go of this good opportunity to press her advantage? So, she spoke again sarcastically: "Why did Consort Qing suddenly stop talking? Could it be that you feel guilty? I suppose so, after all, how can someone like you who has never given birth to children understand the hardships and responsibilities of being a mother?"

Faced with Su Nuannuan's repeated taunts, Consort Qing knew she was in the wrong and had no way to refute them. Helpless, she could only turn to the Empress and plead in a coquettish voice, "Your Majesty, please, you must do me justice..."

"Consort Qing, if you truly wish to raise the Second Prince and the Third Prince, I can speak to the Emperor about this matter." The Empress smiled and looked at Consort Qing with gentle eyes.

"Your Majesty, I had no such intention!" Consort Qing hurriedly waved her hand in denial.

She's still young and will have her own children eventually. Who cares about those two crippled brats?

That's right, Consort Qing looked down on the Second Prince and the Third Prince from the bottom of her heart.

"Oh? What do you mean? Do you dislike these two princes because of their physical defects?" At this moment, Su Nuannuan, who was sitting to the side, turned her body slightly, leaned back in her chair, and looked at Consort Qing with a half-smile, questioning her.

Upon hearing this, Consort Qing's face turned pale instantly. She quickly stood up, bowed to the Empress, and said, "Your Majesty, you are wise. I have absolutely no intention of looking down on the two princes. It's just... I feel that my abilities are limited, and I am truly unable to shoulder the heavy responsibility of raising the princes."

"Since Consort Qing cannot bear to see me raising the two princes, why not ask Your Majesty the Empress to take them back to your side and care for them personally? I will then refrain from interfering in this matter," Su Nuannuan said to the Empress with a smile.

The Empress nodded slightly and said with a smile, "Well, very well. Since you have no interest in this, I will not force you. However..." She paused deliberately before continuing, "I'm afraid Consort Zhuang will have to take on the responsibility of assisting in the management of the six palaces."

Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan was slightly taken aback at first, then sat up straight and smiled at the Empress, saying, "Your Majesty, I have always been used to being free and easy. The affairs of managing the six palaces are tedious and complicated, and I am afraid I cannot handle them. In my opinion, perhaps Consort Qing would be more interested in this matter. Why don't we entrust this power to Consort Qing?"

Consort Qing had been secretly relieved that she didn't have to take care of the princes, and when she suddenly heard Su Nuannuan's words, she couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. However, before her smile could fully bloom, she heard the Empress say indifferently, "Consort Qing is still inexperienced and her rank is also insufficient. I'm afraid she is not capable of fulfilling her duties as an assistant in managing the six palaces."

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over her head, instantly extinguishing the flame of hope that Consort Qing had just ignited, making her feel as if she had fallen from the clouds into the dust.

“But if your rank isn’t high enough, you can always get promoted.” Seeing Consort Qing’s disappointed look, Su Nuannuan couldn’t help but say.

“Consort Qing has neither the merit of bearing children nor any special talent or contribution to be praised. How can I promote her rank?”

"Sister Consort Zhuang, you must understand that in this harem, everyone must rely on their own abilities and achievements to advance." The Empress shook her head slightly, a hint of helplessness on her face.

"Consort Qing, it's not that I'm unwilling to help you, it's just that your rank is too low." Su Nuannuan slightly raised her chin, glanced at Consort Qing, and said in a tone that carried a hint of contempt and disdain.

She raised the corners of her mouth, looking at Consort Qing with a half-smile, as if the person in front of her was a clown.

Upon hearing this, Consort Qing's face instantly darkened, but she couldn't show it, so she could only suppress her anger and say, "Thank you for your kindness, Consort Zhuang."

At this moment, the Empress, who had been sitting above, finally spoke: "Alright, since Consort Zhuang is unwilling to take over the power to assist in managing the six palaces, then the Second Prince and the Third Prince will be temporarily cared for by you." The Empress waved her hand gently and made the decision.

Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan's face immediately lit up with joy, and she quickly replied, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty! As long as I am not required to handle those troublesome matters of assisting in the management of the six palaces, everything else is negotiable." As she spoke, she did not forget to give the Empress a grateful look.

The Empress looked at everyone, feeling somewhat annoyed, and said, "Look how quickly time flies; it's already this late. My sisters, you should all go back and rest early. From now on, please follow the old custom and come to pay your respects on the first and fifteenth of each month."

Upon seeing this, the concubines all stood up and said in unison, "We respectfully obey Her Majesty the Empress's decree and will take our leave now." Then they bowed in turn and slowly withdrew from the palace.