Chapter 48: Chapter 48 Noble Princess Consort Rong’s Resentment In Yongxin Palace, upon hearing about the marriage decree, Noble Princess Consort Rong was naturally very delighted. The palace maids and eunuchs around her were very perceptive and quickly offered their congratulations to her and Prince Dai. Noble Princess Consort Rong, in her happiness, generously rewarded each person with three months’ worth of monthly pay. "Your Highness, the Emperor truly cherishes and values His Highness Prince Dai," said Jin Mei, the head palace maid beside Noble Princess Consort Rong, flattering her. Noble Princess Consort Rong was all smiles, which made her appear all the more radiant. "I previously mentioned to His Majesty about Mrs. Kong’s youngest daughter, but at that time, the Emperor did not agree. I thought it was hopeless, but unexpectedly, today, His Majesty decreed for Mrs. Kong’s youngest daughter to marry Prince Dai as a concubine." "Your Highness, when you mentioned this matter before, Miss Kong had not yet reached the age of maturity, so His Majesty did not agree. Now that Miss Kong is about to come of age, the Emperor has decreed her marriage to Prince Dai," Jin Mei explained with a smile. "In my humble opinion, the Emperor had long kept this matter in mind and had long wanted to marry Mrs. Kong’s youngest daughter to Prince Dai as a concubine." Noble Princess Consort Rong sweetly smiled and said, "My cousin is truly..." "Your Highness, whatever you say, the Emperor usually holds in high regard," Jin Mei continued to flatter Noble Princess Consort Rong, "Your Highness, the Emperor truly loves you dearly." These words struck a chord with Noble Princess Consort Rong, filling her heart with sweetness and making her smile even more radiant. "My cousin is always like this, loving to give me surprises." "Your Highness, this shows that the Emperor cares about you," Jin Mei said, "In the entire palace, which other consort can receive surprises from the Emperor?" This unique surprise made Noble Princess Consort Rong’s heart all the sweeter. "Your Highness, I believe the Emperor decreeing Miss Kong to marry Prince Dai as a concubine is primarily for you." "For me?" Noble Princess Consort Rong looked puzzled, "How do you mean?" Jin Mei lowered her voice and whispered into Noble Princess Consort Rong’s ear, "The Emperor naturally wants you to be his wife." The word "wife" resonated deeply within Noble Princess Consort Rong’s heart. Since childhood, her greatest dream was to become her cousin’s wife. Unfortunately, fate played tricks on her; she did marry her cousin but did not become his wife. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺 Noble Princess Consort Rong could never forget that night over twenty years ago when the Emperor married the previous Empress. She was well aware that her cousin was not willing to marry Miss Xie from the Xie family, but only did so to gain their support. Yet, she couldn’t help but feel jealous, angry, and most of all, heartbroken. Her aunt told her that she could never be her cousin’s wife, but that she was the one he loved and cherished the most, something that Miss Xie couldn’t match. But she wanted to be her cousin’s wife. On the day her cousin married Miss Xie, the whole residence was jubilant, everyone was exceedingly joyous, except for her. She was the only one who felt sad and upset. She hid alone in her room, crying. She cried the entire night until her tears dried up and her heart felt torn apart. Eventually, she had to accept the reality that her cousin’s wife was someone else. Fortunately, her cousin did not like Miss Xie, which made her feel a little better. But soon, Miss Xie became pregnant, which stirred her jealousy anew. The year Miss Xie gave birth to a child for her cousin, she herself finally married him, but as a concubine, unable to have the formal wedding rites. She couldn’t even wear the red wedding attire. That day, she wore a peach-pink outfit and was carried into her cousin’s courtyard. Originally, her aunt wanted her to have a formal wedding ceremony with her cousin, but her uncle said it was against the rules. Actually, she knew that having a wedding ceremony would displease Miss Xie. Her aunt could only compromise by sending her directly to her cousin’s courtyard. That day, her heart was very happy, but at the same time, very sad. Happy that she finally married her cousin after coming of age, sad because she could only marry him as a concubine. Her cousin knew she was sad and promised her that he would always be good to her and would never let her suffer grievances again. Her cousin indeed fulfilled his promise, always treating her with affection, and never letting her suffer any grievances. Later, her cousin became Emperor, Miss Xie became Empress, and she became a noble consort. After becoming a noble consort, her cousin doted on her even more. For over a decade, her position as a noble consort was illustrious and unrivaled, not even the Empress could surpass her. In the third year of her cousin’s reign as Emperor, the Empress’s health gradually declined. After over a year, the Empress passed away. At that time, she felt that her opportunity to become Empress had arrived. She had always thought that if the Empress died, her cousin would surely make her the Empress. After the Empress’s death, her cousin did intend to make her Empress, but unexpectedly, the Xie family intervened, proposing their eldest daughter as her cousin’s new Empress. This daughter of the Xie family was their eldest legitimate daughter. It was said that years ago, the Xie family wanted to marry this daughter to her cousin, but she was too young at the time, so they had to marry him to an illegitimate daughter of similar age. Now that the illegitimate daughter passed away, the Xie family naturally wanted to marry their grown-up legitimate daughter to her cousin. She originally thought her cousin would refuse, but he agreed to let the Xie family’s legitimate daughter enter the palace as the new Empress. Over this matter, she quarreled with her cousin. Her cousin said that since the Great Zhou was newly established, it still needed the Xie family’s support, so the Xie daughters had to continue being Empress. She understood what her cousin said and could only watch helplessly as he married the Xie family’s legitimate daughter as the new Empress. She didn’t hate her cousin, nor the late Empress, but she hated the Xie family and the new Empress. It was the Xie family and Empress Xie who took away her position as Empress. "Your Highness, you are about to become Empress." Jin Mei’s words brought Noble Princess Consort Rong back from her past thoughts. She curved her red lips in a gentle smile, "I’ve finally waited for this day!" She had waited over thirty years, finally waiting to become her cousin’s wife. Jin Mei knelt down to congratulate Noble Princess Consort Rong, "Congratulations, Your Highness!" She added, "Your Highness, just wait a little longer, you will certainly become Empress." Noble Princess Consort Rong smiled faintly, "I’ve waited over thirty years, what’s a little longer?" She knew her cousin would not let her remain a concubine forever. She knew he would ultimately make her his wife. Jin Mei’s demeanor suddenly became very serious, "Your Highness, at such a time, we must also remain steady. We cannot let that one from Zhao Yang Palace take advantage." At the mention of Empress Xie, Noble Princess Consort Rong’s expression turned instantly chilly, her eyes filled with hatred. "Let her enjoy her moment for now. In a while, I will settle old and new scores with her together." "Your Highness, now that the Emperor has decreed the marriage, should we send some gifts to Miss Kong, or invite Mrs. Kong and Miss Kong into the palace?" Noble Princess Consort Rong nodded slightly, "In a couple of days, invite Mrs. Kong and Miss Kong into the palace." She instructed Jin Mei, "I remember I have a pair of red coral bracelets, find them and present them to Miss Kong when the time comes." Jin Mei was surprised, "Your Highness, those red coral bracelets are exceedingly rare, the only pair in the whole palace, given by the Emperor as a birthday gift. How could you give them to Miss Kong?" Noble Princess Consort Rong smiled, "Because she is worth it." "Your Highness, you haven’t even given them to the Princess Consort, but now you want to give them to Miss Kong. If the Princess Consort finds out, she might not be pleased." "The child won’t be displeased." Princess Consort Dai was Noble Princess Consort Rong’s own niece, sent to the palace from a young age, raised by Noble Princess Consort Rong’s side. "The child understands Miss Kong’s importance in her heart." She added, "Compared to the Kong family, a pair of red coral bracelets is nothing." "Only you, Your Highness, think everything through so thoroughly." Noble Princess Consort Rong mentioned a few other precious items and instructed Jin Mei to find them in the storeroom. "In a little over an hour, Prince Dai will be returning." Noble Princess Consort Rong’s mood unconsciously turned excited. "Your Highness, you haven’t seen His Highness for several months, you must miss him very much." "Every time he goes out to quell a rebellion, my heart can’t settle." A mother worries for her child, as does Noble Princess Consort Rong. "This time, his mission to quash the rebels in Liangzhou was fraught with danger. I was even more anxious. Thankfully, he returned from this campaign unharmed." "Your Highness, His Highness is valiant and skilled in battle; there’s no way something would happen." Jin Mei said, "His Highness’s victory over the Liangzhou rebels this time brought you immense honor." "This child has never disappointed me since childhood, nor has he disappointed my cousin." "The Emperor always says our His Highness resembles him the most." Jin Mei said with a grin, "As long as our His Highness leads the campaign, no rebellion remains unconquered." "This child indeed resembles my cousin the most, although compared to my cousin in his youth, he falls a bit short." In Noble Princess Consort Rong’s heart, the Emperor was unparalleled. "His Highness certainly can’t be compared to the Emperor." Jin Mei suddenly remembered something, "Your Highness, since His Highness is back, shall we host a celebration banquet for him tonight?" "Not necessarily, perhaps tomorrow night." Noble Princess Consort Rong responded, "The Emperor might let Prince Dai rest well tonight." "Your Highness, at the celebration banquet, you must dress gloriously, so as to outshine that one from Zhao Yang Palace."