The Female Psychology PhD Who Time Traveled to the Royal Harem

If the Tong family wanted to harm her, they would only reap what they sowed.

Because she understood the kind of person the Emperor was, every step he took was within Jiang Xinyue's expectations.

As long as she prepared countermeasures in advance, even a crisis could be turned into her opportunity.

Once the matter of Lan Xiaolou was resolved, no one would ever bring it up again to claim that she had an affair with him.

Jiang Xinyue's face remained gloomy, and her expression was still unpleasant. "Your Majesty, please return to bed. Since Your Majesty is fine, this concubine will take her leave."

Now that she was here, how could the Emperor let her leave so easily?

He tightly grasped Jiang Xinyue's hand, firmly held her wrist, pulled her into his embrace, and kissed her chattering, rosy lips.

Qingyang Palace—

"What's wrong with you? It's been all morning, and you still haven't finished washing these six pieces of clothing?"

"Nanny, may I... may I wash them for my mistress... my lady?"

"That won't do. The higher-ups have ordered that the clothes washed by Noble Consort Jin are exceptionally fragrant, so she must wash them herself. No one else is allowed to do it for her."

It was clear who the "higher-ups" referred to.

How had Noble Consort Jin been demoted and sent to a remote palace like Qingyang Palace?

Because she had instructed Consort Liang's maid to poison Consort Liang and then framed the Empress, attempting to sow discord between Consort Liang and the Empress.

Therefore, the "higher-ups" who gave the order were undoubtedly the Empress.

Noble Consort Jin scrubbed a few more times, her fingers aching.

In less than two months, her slender, fair, and delicate fingers had already developed calluses.

Most importantly, even with the thin calluses, she still hadn't grown accustomed to this life of servitude.

"Bang!"

"Splash!"

A large basin of cold water was thrown onto the nanny in charge. Noble Consort Jin sneered, "Jiang Xinyue bullies me, but she's the Empress, so I endure it. What are you, to dare shout at me like this? Today, I won't wash anything. Do you dare kill me?"

The nanny was startled by her scolding. By the time she recovered, she was drenched, her face flushed red. "Yes, Noble Consort Jin is so noble, always calling herself 'this princess.' Pray tell, which daughter of our Emperor are you?"

"You!"

Noble Consort Jin glared at her, but the nanny called out, "Someone! Noble Consort Jin has disrespected the Empress. Slap her face!"

"You dare?"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Hit her!"

"Slap! Slap! Slap..."

Hui Yuan knelt on the ground, clutching the nanny's pants. "Please have mercy, Nanny. We'll wash the clothes, we'll wash them. Please spare our lady. If you keep hitting her, her face will be ruined."

Without her beauty, she would truly have no chance left.

Noble Consort Jin was slapped until her vision blurred, her cheeks burning with pain. She glared at the nanny with a murderous gaze, but as Hui Yuan pleaded for mercy, the old nanny kicked her over. "Since Noble Consort Jin doesn't want to wash clothes, she can go wash the chamber pots! Take Noble Consort Jin and Hui Yuan to the latrine. If they don't clean all the chamber pots, they won't eat today."

Noble Consort Jin, numb from the beating, was pushed to the ground and huddled with Hui Yuan, a pitiful sight.

The old nanny's heart was cold and unyielding. "This old servant cannot kill Noble Consort Jin, but there are plenty of ways to make her suffer. Until she learns her lesson and recognizes her mistakes, this old servant will continue to teach her the rules of the palace."

"The palace rules? This princess... this concubine has long memorized them. What do you, this old hag, have to teach me? If you want to torment me, just say it. Does Jiang Xinyue dare not take responsibility?"

"Slap!"

The old nanny slapped her again. "This old servant will say it once more: in the palace, no one but the Emperor may address the Empress by her name."

"The rules this old servant wants you to learn are summed up in eight words. Please listen carefully and remember them well."

Consort Liang stood at the door. "Eight words? This concubine remembers there being three thousand palace rules."

Consort Shu nodded. "To be precise, three thousand and eight. Isn't that right, Concubine Shi?"

Concubine Shi, who had been dragged to Yanxi Palace against her will, was already displeased. Now she had to watch Jiang Xinyue's people flaunt their authority. One might think Consort Liang and Consort Shu were subtly warning her not to oppose the Empress.

Otherwise, she would end up like Noble Consort Jin.

Hui Yuan shrank back. "Eight words?"

"The Empress is the rule."

Everything revolved around the Empress—respecting her, trusting her, submitting to her, and following her commands. That was the rule of the palace, the so-called palace regulations.

Noble Consort Jin had never imagined that Jiang Xinyue had become so powerful.

In the past, she thought Jiang Xinyue looked harmless and easy to bully. But now, she was trapped in the palace, washing clothes, folding quilts, sweeping floors, wiping tables, and even scrubbing chamber pots.

She, a princess of Goguryeo, a noble rose of the royal court, who had never lifted a finger to do any work, was now reduced to washing chamber pots...

"Serves her right!"

Consort Liang laughed heartily, then took Concubine Shi's arm and walked toward Yanxi Palace. "The most important thing for a person is to know their place. Don't you think so, Concubine Shi?"

Concubine Shi took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Consort Liang is absolutely right."

It wasn't until they had escorted Concubine Shi back to her palace that Consort Liang and Consort Shu left together.

Maner stood behind Concubine Shi. "My lady..."

Concubine Shi raised her hand, signaling her to be silent. "It wasn't us who did it. She won't trace it back to us."

Not long ago, a beam in a side hall of Yanxi Palace had suddenly collapsed. Fortunately, no one was inside at the time, so no one was hurt.

But on Concubine Shi's birthday, she had invited a few close concubines to drink, including some who were on good terms with Concubine Tong.

She had merely drawn inspiration from the collapsed beam: "So even the finest rosewood and small-leaf sandalwood can rot from dampness and collapse from neglect over time."

The Empress's palanquin was made of small-leaf sandalwood and golden nanmu, among other precious woods.

Whether she had intended it or not, those who heard her words took them to heart.

There were many in the palace who resented Jiang Xinyue's exclusive favor. Given the chance, they would all want to destroy her.

Who had overheard her words and who had used them—what did it matter to her?

She had merely sighed in passing.

Jiang Xinyue, who had been forcibly kissed, struggled a few times, but the Emperor showed no signs of letting go.

He held her shoulders. "Can you calm down now and listen to what I have to say?"

"When did I ever stop Your Majesty from speaking?"

Then why had she just run off with that "I won't listen" attitude?

The Emperor muttered to himself, then gently stroked Jiang Xinyue's head and smiled tenderly. "What you said that day, I've thought about it for a long time. I believe there's some truth to it. I always say I want a world of harmony, but I haven't achieved equality between men and women. So, for the past half month, I've been working tirelessly, debating with the court officials, and preparing to enact a new law."

A new law?

Was it... what she thought it was?