Chapter 2232: Chapter 2140: Deposing the Imperial Harem 1

Meeting like this under these circumstances was, to say the least, very awkward.

Before Xia Weibao entered the palace, the harem concubines had all been currying favor with Noble Consort Qi, but now, they were all gathered around Xia Weibao.

Under Noble Consort Qi’s icy gaze, those concubines trailing behind Xia Weibao instantly felt like fickle grass on a wall.

Some of them were utterly ashamed.

Xia Weibao herself didn’t feel awkward; she just found it strange. Hadn’t His Majesty said that apart from her, no other concubines were allowed to enter the Imperial Garden without permission?

So how could this woman appear here?

This was only the second time she’d left Snowflake Palace since entering the palace, so she didn’t recognize anyone within the palace.

Yet the richly dressed woman before her seemed oddly familiar.

She thought for a moment, then realization dawned on Xia Weibao. "Oh, it’s you. That day in the Imperial Garden—thank you for the qin."

The day she fought so fiercely in the Imperial Garden, the owner of the zither she’d snatched... wasn’t it this woman standing in front of her?

It had been too chaotic then; she hadn’t clearly heard what the others called this woman, only vaguely remembered the words "protect the imperial carriage."

So she was a concubine of the Imperial Harem as well?

Noble Consort Qi rose, stood in the pavilion, and bent her knees to salute Xia Weibao. "Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress."

Xia Weibao was just about to step forward when Wang Cai quietly tugged at her sleeve.

"What is it?" Xia Weibao asked, puzzled.

Wang Cai pressed her lips together. "My Lady, she is Noble Consort Qi."

Noble Consort Qi?

Xia Weibao thought for a while, then finally remembered. Since entering the palace, the only person she’d heard of was Noble Consort Qi.

The Prime Minister’s daughter, the only noble consort in the Imperial Harem, and for years now the harem had been managed by her.

"Is there something wrong with her?"

Wang Cai nodded, then shook her head. There was nothing wrong with her as such, only that before Xia Weibao entered the palace, Noble Consort Qi had been the overlord of the Imperial Harem. In everyone’s eyes, including the Empress Dowager’s, the future empress’s seat was certain to be hers.

Yet now Xia Weibao had appeared halfway through and snatched the position of empress. How could Noble Consort Qi possibly feel at ease?

Xia Weibao had only just entered the palace, bringing with her the straightforward innocence of someone from the Jianghu. She didn’t understand the schemes of the Imperial Harem, and Wang Cai feared she would suffer if she came up against Noble Consort Qi.

It was just that this was not a good time to talk.

She could only lower her voice and make it brief. "The Empress Dowager hopes Noble Consort Qi will become empress."

Xia Weibao gave it a moment’s thought and understood at once. "You mean, she might try to harm me."

Wang Cai nodded. Her Majesty the Empress was quick-witted indeed.

Xia Weibao didn’t want to bother with these people. At a time like this, she didn’t want to cause trouble for Lu Hualiang.

"Rise."

Noble Consort Qi stood up and smiled at her. "What a coincidence. Her Majesty the Empress has come to enjoy the flowers as well?"

"Mm, just looking around."

Xia Weibao lazily glanced at Noble Consort Qi, then swept her eyes over the timid, shrinking concubines and found it all rather dull.

"You can take your time chatting. I’ll be going first."

Seeing that she was about to leave, Noble Consort Qi cast a meaningful look at a patch of shrubbery beneath the pavilion.

There was a stir over there.

Xia Weibao’s keen ears twitched; she quickly turned her head and saw several snakes being flung out from there, landing on the concubines.

"Ah... there are snakes..."

"Help...!"

"Snakes, snakes... who’s stepping on my skirt..."

"...who’s pulling my hair..."

"Who pushed me... ah, help...!"

The pavilion was instantly thrown into chaos.

These concubines, who usually hid away in the Deep Palace, were frightened pale by a few snakes, screaming over and over.

They shoved each other back and forth, toppling in a heap.

One snake was flung toward Xia Weibao. She simply reached out, pinched it at seven inches, squeezed hard, and tossed it aside.

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