A wu looked at Dening in confusion and said, “Tell me.”
Dening said, “Originally, Father wanted her to live with me, but I just can’t get along with her…”
A wu immediately understood and said, “I’ll speak to His Majesty and arrange for her to stay in the palace instead.”
Dening was grateful, “Good, it’s all up to you.”
But A wu quickly added, “There’s one thing I must make clear. If she makes any mistakes while staying here, I absolutely won’t tolerate it. I’ll treat her the same as anyone else. If I have to hold back because of you and act cautiously, I won’t.”
Dening feared Consort Kang but didn’t want to spoil her anymore.
For her sake, A wu was merciful to let Consort Kang stay instead of sending her away, but she would never shrink away like Dening did.
People like that only get bolder when coddled, using the princess’s prestige to bully others, ultimately dragging the princess down.
Dening hesitated but then gritted her teeth, her eyes sharp and ruthless.
“Empress, the country has laws, and the family has rules. I understand everything will be as you say.”
A wu sighed, “Your father once told me to treat you like my own daughter. I used to think that was impossible, but now maybe I can’t fully do it either. But you can tell me anything. You can come to me…”
She paused, “To blow pillow wind.”
Dening’s expression twitched at the phrase “blow pillow wind.”
She wanted to laugh but didn’t.
Then she suddenly hugged A wu and cried.
A wu was startled, “Hey, don’t cry!”
Dening couldn’t hold back, sobbing uncontrollably.
A wu held her and naturally felt heartbroken.
After thinking for a moment, she gently patted her and clumsily comforted, “It’ll be better after you marry. You’ll be able to ride and shoot, and you won’t have to pay her any mind.”
***
A wu was naturally upset about all this.
After returning, she reported everything to Emperor Jingxi in detail.
But Emperor Jingxi acted as if he hadn’t heard, indifferent.
A wu poked him with a finger and asked, “How do you feel about this?”
Emperor Jingxi said, “I’ve already given Dening what she deserves. I won’t shortchange my daughter. As for Consort Kang, if she can’t make a firm decision herself, who else can help her? Not even I can.”
A wu looked at him and saw his face was cold, uninterested.
But she also thought it through.
Emperor Jingxi had seemingly disliked Consort Kang for a long time, but Dening was tied to her.
Still, something felt off.
Even though it was a difficult matter, Emperor Jingxi could intervene.
He must have a way, but he did nothing, watching coldly as if handling state affairs, not the affairs of his own daughter.
At that moment, Emperor Jingxi glanced at her and asked, “Hm? What’s the matter?”
A wu leaned closer, hooked her arm around his neck, and urged him down.
Emperor Jingxi lowered his head slightly.
A wu softly caressed his cheek and said, “But A wu doesn’t like how Your Majesty looks now. You seem a bit scared.”
Emperor Jingxi’s heart softened at this and pulled her closer, kissing her lips softly and intermittently.
He whispered coaxingly, “Dening is a princess of the realm; she must learn to make her own decisions. This isn’t something I should interfere with.”
A wu still felt some resentment.
Seeing her like that, Emperor Jingxi said, “I’ve already made it very clear to Dening. She should understand. But since you are the Empress, her legal mother, this is something I cannot do, but you can.”
A wu gasped, looking at him in puzzlement.
Emperor Jingxi said no more.
A wu felt inexplicably resigned.
“Alright, I’ll handle it. But I’m telling you now—since I’m in charge, you can’t blame me. Whatever I do is right.”
Emperor Jingxi raised an eyebrow, “Oh? What are you planning to do?”
A wu said, “Dening actually resents Consort Kang but is trapped by filial piety. Since that’s the case, I’ll deal with that filial piety for her—without hurting the mother-daughter relationship too much. From now on, she won’t have to be troubled by Consort Kang anymore.”
Emperor Jingxi nodded, “Good, I’ll leave it to you.”
A wu suddenly looked at him over and asked, “What do you mean by that?”
Emperor Jingxi asked, “Hm?”
A wu vaguely sensed he was deliberately distancing himself from Dening and pushing Dening toward her.
But looking at Emperor Jingxi, she didn’t ask.
***
After successfully sending off Princess Dening’s marriage, the New Year arrived, and A wu began preparations for the celebrations.
She started settling the concubines, arranging for them to assist her in managing palace affairs so she wouldn’t have to do much herself—just issue orders.
Of course, she now understood the importance of power, so she had to listen and make the final decisions.
At night, she told Emperor Jingxi, “Anyway, I’m going to hold all the power in the harem!”
Emperor Jingxi watched her ambitious expression, stroked her hair, and smiled.
After the New Year, all the concubines gradually became female attendants.
How the transition happened was none of A wu’s concern.
Emperor Jingxi handled it, and she only had to sign off on the paperwork.
Everyone else complied smoothly, except for Consort Kang, who refused to become a female attendant no matter what.
She swore she would rather die than lose her status as Consort Kang.
She said her daughter had been given unprecedented rewards, proof of the Emperor’s love, and she had given birth to Dening, so she shouldn’t be treated this way.
She even cursed A wu, calling her a demon who brought disaster to the harem.
A wu was shocked, “How bold she is!”
Was she crazy?
Times had changed.
Did she still think she was a low-ranking consort?
Now, she, Ning A wu, had killed the Empress and ridden the Emperor!
Moreover, because of Dening’s matter, A wu was already grinding her teeth at Consort Kang.
She had been looking for an excuse, and now Consort Kang had handed her one.
A wu personally went to Consort Kang’s chamber.
Upon arrival, she saw Li Lady-in-waiting—formerly Lady Li, the attendant who came from a poor family and still supported her parents.
A wu felt sympathy and cared for her, always remembering her.
Li Lady-in-waiting was naturally grateful and had been promoted to female attendant by A wu.
The salary was even higher than when she was an attendant, so she was especially motivated and loyal.
This time, A wu was reorganizing the harem, and Li Lady-in-waiting stepped forward for the first time, ready to fight for A wu.
Consort Kang was a tough nut, difficult to handle.
Li Lady-in-waiting racked her brains but still couldn’t find a way.
When Li Lady-in-waiting saw A wu arrive, she breathed a sigh of relief and looked to her for help.
Consort Kang also noticed A wu and instantly flew into a rage, “I’m Dening’s birth mother! How can you make me leave? I want to see the Emperor! I want to see the Empress Dowager! Who gave you the right to make me leave?”
A wu said calmly, “Then go see them. Am I stopping you?”
Consort Kang was furious, “The Emperor won’t see me, and I can’t see the Empress Dowager either. You expect me to meet them!”
A wu was puzzled, “I am just the Empress. How could I control the Empress Dowager or the Emperor? Consort Kang, you’ve been in the harem for years—don’t you understand this? If the Empress Dowager and Emperor don’t see you, how is that my concern?”
Consort Kang was silenced and glared at A wu with hatred.
“It’s all your doing! You’ve corrupted the Emperor to disband the harem. You’re a disaster to the country—”
Before she could finish, a female attendant quickly covered her mouth.
Now that A wu was the Empress, wielding supreme power over the harem, who dared offend her?
Consort Kang was courting death.
A wu smiled at the half-spoken accusation.
“Corrupt the Emperor? You’re slandering me and the Emperor. Is the Emperor so easily corrupted? Can harem ladies corrupt the Emperor?”
She then ordered a nearby attendant, “Tell me, what crime is Consort Kang’s language? How should she be punished?”
The attendant respectfully replied, “According to Article 37 of Dahui Palace regulations, disobeying the Empress, insulting His Majesty, and breaking palace rules, Consort Kang should be punished with a slap to the face.”
Consort Kang’s eyes went wide, ‘Slapped? A slap?’
Then A wu said, “Very well. Then punish her according to the law. Consort Kang disobeyed the Empress and insulted His Majesty. Bring her here for a slap.”
Consort Kang couldn’t believe it.
“You—you dare hit me?”
A wu replied, “It’s not me hitting you, but the harem regulations of Dahui.”
Consort Kang sneered, “If Dening knows, she won’t forgive you!”
This only made A wu angrier.
She still remembered the red marks on Dening’s face and decided to vent for her today.
“Hit her. Twenty slaps. Hit hard.”
The attendant held Consort Kang down, delivering twenty resounding slaps, one after another.
At first, Consort Kang cursed and shouted in pain, but soon fell silent, her face drooping.
A wu ordered the attendant to lift her swollen face and display it to everyone.
Consort Kang looked miserable, eyes full of tears, and finally knew fear.
A wu asked, “Do you think it’s unfair that I ordered you to be slapped?”
Consort Kang trembled, lips quivering, “I gave birth to Dening for Dahui. I…”
“Smack.”
She still mentioned Dening.
A wu laughed lightly and said, “Bring me the imperial edict. Let the Emperor decide how to punish her.”
Consort Kang’s eyes sparked with a glimmer of hope.
Shortly after, the attendant returned with an eunuch from Emperor Jingxi’s side.
The eunuch relayed the Emperor’s decree: all matters in the harem were to be handled by the Empress.
Since the Empress had ordered the slap, that was the proper punishment.
Consort Kang’s last shred of hope was shattered.
She sat there in despair, unable to believe the Emperor was so ruthless toward her.
Then the eunuch continued, “His Majesty also said Consort Kang is unwell and should recuperate. From now on, she is forbidden to leave Zenghui Palace.”
Consort Kang’s face turned pale.
That meant… she was under house arrest!
A wu didn’t even bother to look at Consort Kang and ordered, “Take her into Zenghui Palace and seal the doors.”
Hearing “seal the doors,” Consort Kang nearly fainted.
“You… you—”
But attendants dragged her inside without mercy.
By old rules, she was allowed two maids.
After locking the three inside Zenghui Palace, eunuchs nailed the palace doors shut, leaving only a small door for food delivery.
Consort Kang collapsed in despair, struggling fiercely but to no avail.
With Zenghui Palace sealed like this, she would never leave again.
Even if Dening came back, she could only visit through the door.
They would never meet again.
A wu watched this scene with great satisfaction.
One, there was finally one less obstruction in the harem.
Two, when Dening returned, if she wanted to see her birth mother, she could grant clemency.
If not, she could just visit through the door and send food to fulfill her filial duties.
After all, palace rules were in place—no one could say a word.
It was a win-win!