Everyone except King Nao and King Takeshi did not stand to greet and bow to the Queen.  Yuki made her way to Lihua and personally took Lihua's hands into hers and lifted Lihua up from her bowing position.  

"From now on Imperial Sister must not bow to this Queen.  We are sisters and are in an equal footing with one another."  Yuki said as Lihua rose up to stand.  "Imperial Sister is quiet knowledgeable about manners and etiquette in a royal palace."  

Yuki said as she pulled Lihua around the table and hooked Lihua's hand around her arm.  They start walking around the men's side of the gazebo first.  

"It is good to see my son is doing well."  Yuki said as she dismissed him from bowing.  

"Your son's health is well."  Jing Guo said as he sat down watching his mother make a big play, but against who, he didn't know.  King Nao smiled into his tea cup as he watched his Queen strut around throwing her power around.  He liked this side of her. It reminded him of why he fell in love with her when they first met. It was the reason why, he made her his queen.  Her control over herself and those around her were tightly held within her hands.  Anyone who went against her would know the wrath of the Queen and he loved watching every bit of it.  

"Ministers, Generals.  Sit, you must be tired from court today.  But to come all this way to accompany my King Husband, only this Queen knows how hard my King Husband tirelessly works to ensure the health and happiness of our people.  Only with your hard work is some of this burden is lifted off of him."  

The Ministers and Generals cleared their throat before sitting down themselves. Yuki and Lihua made their way back around to the entrance of the gazebo and Yuki stared at the women still standing and bowing.  

"Now Imperial Sister."  Yuki said slowly.  "With this tea party held in my own Back Palace, why is it that I was never informed about it?  Why was this Queen excluded while Imperial Aunt was invited?"  

Lihua bowed her head, to make it seem like she was guilty to attend the tea party without Queen Yuki.  Seeing the situation, Lisa immediately takes a step forward and kowtows towards Queen Yuki.  Lisa just won Lady Lihua's forgiveness, but to have the Queen blame her for attending a tea party that Lisa planned and hosted, would be taking two steps back. 

"Please forgive me, Imperial Mother.  This Concubine is at fault."  Lisa said as she kowtowed.  "This Concubine did not plan for this tea party to be so big and extravagant so this Concubine did not invite everyone in the Imperial Family."   

"This Queen shall not fight over right or wrong of who you invited from the Imperial Family in front of outsiders."  Queen Yuki said.  "But what this Queen will ask is, why is it that Imperial Sister is the only one who greeted this Queen before coming to this tea party?"  

Immediately the women knelt on their knees.  It is customary to greet the Queen before attending anything else that they were invited to the Back Palace.  By greeting the Queen, you are acknowledging the fact that she is the master of the Back Palace.  Anything that happens in the Back Palace is her responsibility. To greet her first, is to give her the respect due to her as Queen.  

However every single Minister's wife, General's wife and their daughters did not greet the Queen when they first entered the Back Palace.  They all headed straight to the Autumn Pine Courtyard instead. By doing this they have insulted her.  Suggesting that they do not acknowledge her as Queen. The women started kowtowing asking for forgiveness and asking for punishment.  

"And to think, I was thinking of seeking a second concubine for my son."  Queen Yuki said as she looked at the daughters of the Ministers and Generals. "But seeing that these daughters of noble houses doesn't even know the most basic manner and etiquette here in the Back Palace, will make me think twice about who my third daughter in law shall be."  

Queen Yuki just announced to everyone there that because the Ladies and daughters had slighted her, the daughters there would no longer be in running to become the second concubine to Crown Prince Jing Guo.  

Behind Queen Yuki, Carita tightens her fists in anger under her sleeves as she keeps a serine face on her, pretending that she wasn't affected by the announcement of Queen Yuki actively seeking a third woman into the Crown Prince's household.  Reminding everyone that she and Concubine Lisa have thus far been unable to conceive a child with Crown Prince Jing Guo. While Lisa stopped kowtowing to stare at Queen Yuki in disbelief that she would be concubine hunting from Lisa's friends.  Her anger rose up as she had just won Crown Prince's acknowledgement back, how could she let Queen Yuki turn the Crown Prince away from her again?  

"Your punishment shall be that you are no longer welcomed to the Back Place for three years."  Queen Yuki said as she looked at the women and girls kowtowing.  "Three years should be suffeffient for you to relearn proper manners and etiquette for you to teach your daughters as well."  

Prohibiting the women and their daughters from the Back Palace was social suicide.  It would mean they were no longer in the social circles of the nobility for three years.  From any tiny tea party to huge banquets, they were not allowed to attend.  Meaning that their daughters would have less of a chance to marry well.  The wives felt wronged for such a harsh punishment, but the husbands felt it was justified.  

Although they wanted to curry favor with Crown Prince, they still answered to their King.  Their wives should have known better as well.  The Crown Prince's mother is Queen Yuki.  They should have used their brain to curry favor with Queen Yuki and not through Crown Prince's Concubine to get to him.  Sighing heavily, they held their head down in embarrassment and shame, why could they not marry someone who could use their head?  Even just a little?  

Suddenly, Lihua coughs distracting everyone from the tense atmosphere.  From what everyone can see, is a red stain on Lady Lihua's beautiful white veil where her mouth should be.  Queen Yuki quickly let Lihua go as Lihua falls forward.  Takeshi yells in anger as he activates his qi to get to her in a matter of a second.  Catching her before she falls.  The red stain on the veil becoming bigger as she keeps coughing.  

"Lihua!"  Takeshi cries out in concern.  

"P...poi...poison."  Lihua said clearly as she lets Takeshi's catch her.