Chapter 905: Consort Ning Pin

Feeling a bit uneasy in her heart.

’Consort Ning is almost thirty years old, practically an old lady Xu, pink?’

’Is it really appropriate?’

But seeing her mistress full of anticipation, she couldn’t bring herself to dissuade her.

She had to force an awkward smile against her conscience.

"It looks nice, the Emperor will definitely like it!"

Sure enough, Consort Ning was even happier after hearing this.

She looked in the mirror and felt her complexion wasn’t rosy enough, so she added more blush.

"Hmm, this looks good!"

Lan Xiang watched Consort Ning’s bright red cheeks, astonished and speechless.

Just at that moment.

A report came from outside: "The Emperor is here!"

The master and servants quickly came out to greet him.

After the formalities, Zhao Junyao sat at the main seat.

Consort Ning stood aside, personally offering a cup of tea.

"Please have some tea, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Junyao instinctively accepted the tea and took a sip.

Before he could swallow it.

He looked up and saw Consort Ning’s ’indescribable’ makeup.

"Pfft!"

A mouthful of tea sprayed onto her face.

Consort Ning didn’t even have time to feel bashful before she was already embarrassed.

"Your Majesty..."

Zhao Junyao frowned deeply, full of disdain.

"What have you done?"

Bright red like a ’monkey’s butt’ and all in pink.

Is this meant to hurt people’s eyes?

At this age, still wearing pink!

Consort Ning wiped the tea off her face and knelt down to speak.

"Please calm down, Your Majesty!"

"I... I also..."

Zhao Junyao waved his hand helplessly.

"You also what? Who allowed you to dress like this?"

Isn’t it downright hilarious?

He wanted to laugh but was also very angry, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

Consort Ning was completely at a loss, lowering her head and stammering.

"I..."

"Your Majesty... didn’t you used to like this the most?!"

Zhao Junyao quickly waved his hand.

"No need to say more, you have half an hour to tidy up, I have something to say!"

Upon hearing this, Consort Ning didn’t dare to delay.

She bowed her head and rushed to the inner chamber to change clothes.

Half an hour later.

Consort Ning finally appeared in plain attire.

This outfit had no highlights, but at least it was decent.

Zhao Junyao glanced at her casually, not saying anything more.

Just coldly asked.

"Where’s Yiming?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Yiming just had breakfast and went back to... study!"

The Emperor had come.

Yiming certainly couldn’t stay here and get in the way.

She had sent him away early.

If not doing embroidery, then... reading!

Consort Ning eagerly added.

"Your Majesty, ever since you advised me last time to let Yiming study properly!"

"I’ve stopped letting her do embroidery, and let her learn whatever she likes!"

Zhao Junyao paused for a moment, glanced at her coldly and then calmly said.

"Go and call her over!"

"Ah?"

Consort Ning was very surprised.

"Your Majesty... this..."

"Call her over!"

Zhao Junyao’s tone became colder, and the atmosphere around him made people feel terrified.

Consort Ning dared not delay.

Hurriedly sent someone to fetch Yiming.

In fact...

Yiming was still embroidering.

Even if the embroidery frame was burned, she could secretly get another one!

Consort Ning’s surprise just now was due to her guilty conscience.

Upon entering the room.

Yiming looked at her father, then at her mother, and became frightened.

But still greeted them.

"Greetings, Father, greetings, Mother!"

Before Consort Ning could say anything.

Zhao Junyao waved her over.

"Come here!"

Yiming looked at Consort Ning, a bit scared, but still replied and went over.

"Father!"

Zhao Junyao looked at this still somewhat frail little girl before him.

Seeing her complexion had improved since before, he felt slightly relieved in his heart.

His expression eased a bit and he responded warmly.

"Hmm!"

"What have you been up to lately?"

Yiming’s body trembled, looking at her mother.

Consort Ning was desperately making eye signals at her.

Yiming lowered her head, biting her lip, and timidly said.

"Replying to Father, I’ve been practicing reading and writing!"

Zhao Junyao turned his head and glanced at Consort Ning.

Then turned back and asked seriously.

"If you’re not happy, you must speak the truth!"

"Father is giving you another chance! What have you really been doing lately?"

Yiming’s heart skipped a beat.

’Has Father noticed something?’

’Not happy?’

’Of course not happy, but Mother says to endure a bit now, and things will improve after marriage!’

’Reading and writing are useless, better to learn accounting and managing, as future mistress of a household!’

’But... she doesn’t want to learn that!’

She wants to be like her younger sister, studying, learning music, horse riding, playing with her siblings!

She doesn’t want to be cooped up in a room alone.

She doesn’t want to be a butler!

Yiming looked at her father’s encouraging eyes.

Her heart seemed to gain some courage.

Thus, she disregarded Consort Ning’s frantic eye signals behind her.

And openly replied.

"Replying to Father!"

"I’m really not happy! I’ve been doing embroidery all this time!"

"Father, I don’t like doing embroidery!"

After finishing, she reached out her hands.

"Look, they’re all covered in little calluses, and my fingertips are full of needle marks!"

"One heals, another gets pricked!"

"I’m clumsy!"

As Yiming spoke, she knelt down.

Sitting not far away, Consort Ning was furious and distraught, grinding her teeth.

If the Emperor weren’t present, she would have wanted to immediately punish this unfilial daughter!

"Yiming, what nonsense are you spouting, Mother is doing it all for you!"

"Enough!"

Zhao Junyao stood up, narrowed his eyes coldly at Consort Ning.

As he bent down to personally lift Yiming up.

He simultaneously issued an imperial edict.

"Consort Ning, Lady Dou, though born from a literary family, your behavior has been devoid of decorum and disobedient, repeatedly harming the Princess. From today, you’re demoted to Consort Ning Pin, confined for a month, fined for half a year, and must transcribe the ’Rules for Women’ one hundred times, by imperial order!"

Zhao Junyao spoke with an air of calm.

Consort Ning stood there in shock.

"Your Majesty!"

She knelt on the ground, completely falling apart.

"Your Majesty, I’m innocent, Your Majesty!"

"I’ll never dare again, I truly meant it for the Princess’s good!"

Zhao Junyao looked at her coldly.

"Oh, and regarding the Princess!"

"From today on, the Princess will be temporarily cared for by Consort Hui. Without my orders, you are not allowed to visit!"

Consort Ning was utterly defeated.

She crawled forward, tugging at Zhao Junyao’s sleeve, crying.

"Consort Hui?"

"Your Majesty! Consort Hui already has the Second Princess under her care! How can she manage everything!"

"I am the Princess’s birth mother, I will never dare again, please don’t take my child away!"

Zhao Junyao laughed coldly.

"Take away?"

"This isn’t taking away, it’s you who pushed her away!"

With that, he pulled back his sleeve, turned coldly, and swept away.

He hadn’t initially intended to punish.

But Consort Ning had gone too far this time.

So he had to be harsh.

He only hoped she could be obedient for now.

If not... he can’t guarantee what he might do next!

...

Right after Zhao Junyao left.

The Eldest Princess was immediately sent to Consort Hui by Li Shengan.

The news of Consort Ning’s demotion to Consort Ning Pin spread through the harem.

After some chatter from everyone, no one dared to say anything more.