MY PRINCE HUSBAND HAS SEVEN WIVES AND I AM HIS FAVOURITE!
Chapter 69: That rude idiot!

Chapter 69: That rude idiot!

Hua Jing’s jaw tightened, but she forced herself to smile. "I’m grateful for his consideration."

The first consort chuckled softly, the sound delicate but condescending. "How fortunate for you."

Xia Lin stepped forward quickly, her voice steady but deferential. "First Consort, we were just preparing to meet the emperor and empress. I’m sure the young lady would not wish to delay any further."

The First Consort raised a perfectly arched brow, her lips curving into a sly smile. "I have come all this way, yet you have not offered me tea or any welcome. I have been standing here the whole time, yet you are already preparing to leave. Where are your manners, Seventh Consort?"

Hua Jing’s lips twitched as she fought to keep her temper in check. It was becoming increasingly clear that this woman had come with no good intentions. The First Consort wasn’t here for a pleasant exchange. She was here to cause trouble.

Hua Jing took a deep breath, schooling her expression into one of forced politeness. "I deeply apologize for this oversight. Once my meeting with the Emperor and Empress is concluded, I will personally invite the First Consort over for tea. I hope you will not take offense at this delay."

The First Consort clicked her tongue, her expression dripping with disdain. "This is why people often say that those from poor and illegitimate backgrounds lack proper decorum. I had heard you were an illegitimate child, and now I see the rumors were not unfounded. It’s clear you were not given proper teachings beforehand!"

She waved a dismissive hand. "Fine, I will let it slide this time, but remember, Seventh Consort, you will have to make up for this insult in the future."

Hua Jing’s nails dug into her palms, her temper threatening to boil over.

She wanted nothing more than to grab the nearest vase and hurl it at the woman’s smug face.

But she reminded herself to breathe, to stay calm. Losing her temper now would only make things worse.

She forced a polite smile and nodded her head slightly. "This Consort understands."

The First Consort’s smile widened, a victorious gleam in her eyes as she turned and swept out of the room with her entourage trailing behind her.

As soon as the First Consort was out of sight, Hua Jing’s carefully composed demeanor shattered.

She stood up abruptly, her fists clenched tightly. "That rude idiot!" she shouted, the words echoing through the room.

Xia Lin, who had been nervously standing by, jumped at the sudden outburst. "Young lady! Please, calm down!"

"How dare she talk to me like that?" Hua Jing fumed, pacing back and forth. "Illegitimate child? Poor family? Who does she think she is?"

"She’s the First Consort," Xia Lin reminded her cautiously, wringing her hands. "You mustn’t let her words get to you. She’s testing you, that’s all. If you let her provoke you, you’ll fall right into her trap."

Hua Jing stopped pacing and turned to Xia Lin, her eyes blazing. "Oh, I know she’s testing me. But she’s so smug about it! If I weren’t trying to keep up appearances, I would’ve—" She mimed strangling someone, her frustration palpable.

Xia Lin stifled a nervous laugh. "Young lady, please, remember where you are. The First Consort has power and influence. You cannot afford to make an enemy of her."

Hua Jing thought bitterly, Isn’t it already too late for that?

The First Consort had made her stance perfectly clear.

The look she had given her only meant that she hated Hua Jing to the core!

Even if they pretended to go for tea as though they were friends, it wouldn’t change the underlying animosity that the woman harbored!

Hua Jing didn’t even understand where it all stemmed from.

She didn’t know this woman, had never interacted with her before, and yet the hostility was palpable.

It was unsettling.

This palace was an entirely new territory for her. Everyone seemed to have their alliances, rivalries, and hidden motives.

Hua Jing felt like she was walking on a fragile bridge, with no idea of how deep the waters beneath her ran.

Hua Jing’s frustration simmered just below the surface, threatening to boil over. If she didn’t have somewhere important to be, she might have thrown something just to vent her anger. Calm down, she told herself, inhaling deeply. She closed her eyes and imagined the First Consort’s face as a potato she was peeling. The ridiculous mental image made her exhale slowly, a faint smile twitching at the corners of her lips. Potatoes are harmless. Potatoes can’t hurt you.

Her composure regained, she turned to Xia Lin. "You said we’ll be late, right?"

Xia Lin nodded eagerly. "Yes, young lady. The carriage is already waiting."

Hua Jing straightened her shoulders and gave a firm nod. "Let’s go."

As the two stepped outside, the sight of the grand carriage awaiting them momentarily distracted Hua Jing from her thoughts.

Its polished surface gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight, and the intricate carvings along its edges spoke of the wealth and power of the Imperial family.

Hua Jing climbed in first, with Xia Lin following close behind. The soft cushions inside cradled her, but Hua Jing barely noticed.

She stared out the window as the horses began their measured trot. The wheels creaked rhythmically, a soothing sound that should have helped calm her further.

Unbeknownst to Hua Jing, hidden in the shadows nearby, the First Consort stood watching the carriage as it disappeared into the distance.

Her eyes burned with jealousy, her fingers clenching tightly around her ornate fan.

"So," she muttered under her breath, her tone dripping with disdain. "This is the Seventh Consort the prince is so obsessed with?"

"Yes, my lady," her maid replied cautiously, sensing the volatile mood of her mistress.

The First Consort’s lip curled into a sneer. "She does not even compare to me. Look at her—so garish, so lowly. What could the prince possibly see in someone like her?"

The maid hesitated before replying. "Perhaps... it is her simplicity that draws his attention?"

"Simplicity?" The First Consort’s voice rose, her anger barely contained. "How dare you imply that I lack simplicity! I have everything—the beauty, the grace, the status. And yet, he gave her the phoenix robe?"

The maid quickly bowed her head, her voice trembling. "Yes, my lady. The phoenix robe is a high honor."

"An honor that should have been mine!"