Everyone held their breath and waited, but all they got was a comment about old tea.
'That's it?'
'Such a weak attack?'
The crucial part was that the attack wasn't even aimed at Noble Lady Gu, but at the Empress.
But the Empress was accustomed to being gentle and virtuous and wouldn't bicker with the Noble Consort over a comment about old tea. Jianzhang Palace actually had good tea, and in no small quantity. After all, the Empress was merely out of favor, not out of respect in the Emperor's eyes. He made sure she was never short on fine things, and she loved to drink tea.
However, she had noticed that during the morning greetings, everyone was a bit afraid she might tamper with the refreshments. They would only wet their lips with the tea, never truly drinking it. So the Empress saw no point in wasting good tea leaves. She simply served some old tea instead, saving the good stuff to enjoy by herself.
