Rebirth: Pampered by the Lord

The Empress Dowager said coldly: "Take a seat."

A palace maid immediately brought over a pear blossom wood stool and placed it beside Noble Consort Wang.

Noble Consort Wang had just sat down when she suddenly looked as if she had just seen Xuexue and exclaimed in surprise: "Oh my, isn't this the eldest lady of the Situ Mansion? What wind blew you here to the Imperial Palace today!" After speaking, she covered her mouth with her hand and laughed, the sound very shrill and obviously a fake laugh.

The Empress Dowager frowned slightly, clearly displeased: "Stop laughing, you should be grateful that she came here today, otherwise, you wouldn't be able to enter my palace."

The Empress Dowager's meaning was very clear. If not for Xuexue's presence, there would be no chance for Noble Consort Wang to enter her domain.

Noble Consort Wang's expression changed, but she ultimately suppressed her feelings. After all, the Empress Dowager is of high status, beyond her reach. Moreover, she is the Emperor's Mother Consort, which alone means she cannot be offended; she understands the situation well.

Thinking of this, Noble Consort Wang gave a small smile and said to Xuexue: "Many thanks to Miss Situ for speaking on my behalf, allowing me to come and pay respects to the Empress Dowager."

Xuexue: "Just a small favor, no need to be so polite, Noble Consort."

Ever since entering the Imperial Palace, she noticed that everyone, whether intentionally or not, called her 'miss'.

With the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, she dared not correct them, but with Noble Consort Wang, it was different.

Xuexue felt that compared to them, Noble Consort Wang was still a bit weaker.

And she was just the type to bully the soft and fear the hard, so she boldly said to Noble Consort Wang: "Sister Noble Consort, Xuexue is already married."

Her meaning was clear: stop calling her 'miss' as it may cause misunderstanding.

Noble Consort Wang feigned sudden realization: "Oh, right, I heard you married the War Prince, didn't you?"

Xuexue nodded and said: "Yes."

Noble Consort Wang looked at Xuexue with an expression of pity and added: "Truly, a beautiful flower stuck in cow dung; it's such a pity for Miss Situ."

This Noble Consort Wang, relying on her high status, spoke without any restraint.

Though Xuexue was somewhat displeased in her heart, she maintained an expressionless facade.

The Empress Dowager also said: "Indeed! Such a fine young lady, how did she come to marry the War Prince?"

Xuexue: "It's all fate."

Noble Consort Wang suddenly spat: "Nonsense, fate."

As soon as she said it, the Empress Dowager flared up, her eyes glaring sternly at Noble Consort Wang: "You're so bold, do you not consider your own identity now, speaking such foul language? Aren't you afraid of disgracing our Royal Family?"

Noble Consort Wang felt wronged, "Empress Dowager, listen to me, if you heard the process of Miss Situ's marriage, you'd be angry too."

Only then did the Empress Dowager calm down a bit: "Tell me then."

So Noble Consort Wang proceeded to tell how at the brink of death after killing someone, Old Madam sacrificed Situ Xuexue's happiness to save the Situ Mansion's only heir, crying and making a fuss, insisting Situ Yongjie go to the Prince's Mansion to propose marriage. As it happened, the War Prince was seriously ill at the time and needed a woman to lift his spirits, so Xuexue became the unlucky one.

The Empress Dowager, after hearing this, felt deeply sympathetic towards Xuexue: "Such a good young lady, yet with such a bitter fate."

Noble Consort Wang seemed to find resonance: "Indeed, the War Prince is as ugly as a ghost. Just seeing him at night can be terrifying. Marrying him is like marrying a ghost. Alas! Just thinking about such days is worse than death, especially when the young lady is so beautiful."

Xuexue kept her head down and remained silent.

At first glance, she seemed to be hit right at her heart, appearing sorrowful.