Things at the palace grew more tensed, after Consort Xīnyí, slapped the Empress with the record of all her gifts, which were always incense sticks. The factions who supported both sides became more defined, as more pressure was placed on the king.
"Your majesty, what do we do? The consorts are all picking sides, the harem is split into two. Won't you take the Empress side and hand over Miss Ming?" His Eunuch asked, massaging the Emperor's shoulders.
Emperor Shufen hissed, "Why should I pick a side? Those women are silly for name calling and throwing tantrums like children."
His Eunuch grimaced, 'If it were the noble consort, would his Majesty still say such a thing?'
"Forget that, go and fetch me the rest of the guard rotation patterns, I still haven't glanced through them all. These petitions keep on piling up." The Emperor charged his Eunuch, the lowly man nodded, then took his leave to the archives.
