With those words, Consort Zhao directly silenced Qian Pin.
Even Talent Sun, who had wanted to speak up, found herself unable to say anything more. She could only watch helplessly as her palace maid, Xiao Su, nervously stepped forward and knelt on the ground.
Liu Chan sat upright, observing the scene, and couldn’t help but admire Consort Zhao. As expected of a princess by birth, she was indeed composed and dignified.
Liu Chan actually quite liked Consort Zhao.
If Consort Zhao had been born in the Great Xia Country, with her bearing and presence, she would have been more than qualified to hold the Empress Position. Even as a consort, she managed the other palace ladies with such authority that they all submitted willingly. Moreover, she treated Xiao Lin with neither subservience nor arrogance.
Liu Chan even felt that this Consort Zhao didn’t seem to love the Emperor at all.
Not one bit.
Xiao Su, kneeling before everyone, trembled as she recounted the events of that day, adding exaggerated details. But even with the embellishments, it was still a trivial matter.
However, Consort Zhao had summoned the head of the Si Fu Bureau and brought forward the “eyewitness” from that day.
Thus, even the incident where Xiao Su had slapped Zhen Zhu was laid bare before everyone.
Xiao Su was so nervous she nearly collapsed on the spot.
“Talent Sun, were you aware of this matter?” Consort Zhao’s tone sharpened considerably. Under her management, such an incident of bullying a lower-ranking palace lady had occurred—didn’t that reflect poorly on her governance?
How could Talent Sun dare admit she knew?
She stood up, trying to absolve herself completely, “This humble consort never instructed Xiao Su to bully Consort Liu. It must have been her own… her own resentment…”
Her voice grew softer and softer until even she could barely hear herself.
Seeing this, Consort Zhao didn’t press further. Instead, she swiftly enforced palace regulations right in front of Xiao Lin. “Palace maid Xiao Su, for abusing her position and bullying others, is to be dragged out and slapped ten times. Talent Sun, for failing to discipline her servant properly, is confined to her quarters for three days and must copy the palace rules ten times.”
Soon, palace attendants entered and dragged Xiao Su away.
Consort Zhao then turned to Liu Chan. “Consort Liu, I will have someone make you a new one.”
Liu Chan expressed her gratitude politely, refraining from publicly blaming anyone.
As she sat back down, she didn’t forget to glance at Qian Pin, showing not a trace of fear.
From beginning to end, Jing Guifei sat at the front, unable to get a word in. Even her glances toward the Emperor went unanswered.
She had never been comfortable with such gatherings, sitting and conversing with these palace ladies who had been raised in luxury since childhood…
“Your Majesty…” Jing Guifei began to speak.
But Xiao Lin raised his hand. “Since there’s nothing else, let’s proceed to Deng Que Tower.”
He stood up and walked ahead, leading the way.
The others waited for Jing Guifei and Consort Zhao before following.
Liu Chan trailed at the very back.
“My lady, you’ve avenged me,” Zhen Zhu couldn’t contain her joy.
Today, she finally realized that although her lady was somewhat naive, she was not one to be easily bullied. With just a few words, she could strike back.
But today… she had still suffered.
Zhen Zhu didn’t understand and whispered, “Why didn’t you tell the Emperor earlier about how Qian Pin punished you by making you kneel outside?”
Having served in the palace for a long time, she was accustomed to the ways palace ladies vied for favor. Yet her lady seemed to take an unconventional path.
Deliberately provoking Qian Pin, deliberately subjecting herself to punishment, yet not complaining to the Emperor about her grievances.
If her lady acted as if nothing had happened, how could the Emperor feel pity for her?
“The Emperor saw it,” Liu Chan replied simply.
I see, so there’s no need to say more.
The palace banquet for the Minor New Year was simple—just a few tables gathered for a “reunion meal,” followed by performances of newly rehearsed songs and dances from the palace.
The Empress Dowager claimed to be unwell and did not join.
After the meal, several junior consorts brought out their pre-prepared “specialties,” striving to impress Xiao Lin.
Although Talent Sun was under house arrest, she was at least allowed to finish the meal, so she performed a dance she had prepared in front of everyone.
The dance was beautiful, but Xiao Lin did not pay close attention.
His gaze fell on Liu Chan, watching her occasionally rub her knees—could it be from frostbite?
Just then, someone from the Office of Internal Affairs arrived, announcing it was time to flip the placard.
Usually at such times, Xiao Lin would directly rest in Jing Guifei’s palace, but since Jing Guifei had not attended to him for some time, everyone became more active.
“No need to flip,” Xiao Lin said without even glancing at the placard, raising his hand to point in Liu Chan’s direction. “Her.”
The crowd was stunned.
Then, all eyes turned to Liu Chan, both shocked and unable to suppress their sinking hearts.
Wasn’t it said… that Consort Liu had no Green Head Placard?
Many finally realized—there was no need to flip the placard. If the Emperor wanted someone to attend to him, why would it depend on a placard?
“Congratulations, Sister Liu,” Consort Zhao was the first to speak.
She noticed Jing Guifei’s pale face and found it amusing, deliberately saying, “Sister, why does Noble Consort Sister look unwell? Is she feeling ill?”
Jing Guifei forced a smile. “Sister Zhao must be mistaken. I am fine.”
At this moment, everyone was lost in their own calculations, and few paid much attention to Jing Guifei.
Xiao Lin only glanced at her briefly before turning away.
The palace banquet ended, and Liu Chan followed Xiao Lin directly to Taiji Hall.
She was attended to by palace maids for her bath and change of clothes. When she emerged, she saw Xiao Lin sitting in a chair with a chessboard in front of him.
Xiao Lin had a habit of playing chess alone.
Pretending to be curious, Liu Chan went over and sat across from him. She stared at the chessboard for a long while before suddenly reaching out toward him. “Let me set up the chess pieces for you.”
What a coincidence.
This was an ancient, incomplete chess game from a classic text. She vividly remembered Xiao Lin spending three to five years studying it before finally completing the entire game.
Having seen it too many times, she could reconstruct the game with her eyes closed.
In her past life, one of the most mundane things was leaning over Xiao Lin’s shoulder, watching him study chess or play against himself. Over time, she went from someone who had never learned chess to daring to claim she could beat him.
Xiao Lin was interrupted by her voice and showed displeasure.
This Liu Shi was far too bold.
He hadn’t even fully reconstructed this centuries-old incomplete game, and she, a mere young woman, dared to boast?
Before he could react, he saw her small hand directly pick up the black and white pieces nearby, placing them one after another on the board.
Xiao Lin’s face gradually darkened as he stared at Liu Chan for a long time.
The young girl’s delicate face occasionally furrowed her brows, looking utterly serious. Her moves were swift at first, gradually slowing down later.
He found himself somewhat captivated.
“Done,” Liu Chan said with a pleased expression, tapping the chessboard with her small hand.
Xiao Lin instinctively lowered his head to look and saw the board was now filled. Black pieces intertwined with white, while white pieces besieged the black, leaving no further moves for either side.
A trace of astonishment flickered in his eyes.
For a long time, Xiao Lin’s expression remained unreadable, his skeptical gaze wandering over her face. “Your chess skills are so exceptional—who taught you?”
Huang Jiu had practically investigated her entire upbringing. As a motherless daughter of the Liu family, she grew up ostracized and had never formally studied arts like music, chess, calligraphy, or painting.
Yet, right under his watchful eyes, she had reconstructed a century-old incomplete chess puzzle.
“I learned in secret,” Liu Chan said, shaking her head slightly as if oblivious to the doubt in his eyes. “As a child, I saved up silver to privately buy chess manuals. Later, when I sneaked out of the estate, I met an old man who often used this exact chess puzzle to challenge others, earning a lot of silver daily.”
A hint of pride flashed across her face. “I secretly observed for a long time, then went back and pondered intensely until I finally pieced it together.”
However, her words held some truth.
The old man did exist—a charlatan operating boldly on a street in the western part of the capital.
And in her previous life, it was this very old man who had deceived Xiao Lin, prompting him to later master the complete chess puzzle!
Before Xiao Lin could respond, Liu Chan made to stand up.
But as soon as she rose, she couldn’t suppress a soft “Ah!” and bent over, clutching her knees, her voice delicate. “It hurts so much.”
Xiao Lin, still absorbed in her claim of learning chess, finally snapped back to reality.
Remembering how she had knelt in the snow earlier that day, he scowled at her. “They told you to kneel, and you just did?”
Despite his stern tone, he offered, “Lift your garments—let me take a look.”
Originally, he had thought that summoning Liu Chan to attend him would create tension between them, so he had kept his distance.
Unexpectedly, in their private moments, it was first chess, and now sore knees.
He found himself both amused and exasperated.
“I did offend Talent Sun, after all,” Liu Chan sighed, her small lips rosy. “Of course she wanted to vent her frustration, which is why she urged Qian Pin Niangniang to arrange this.”
She spoke matter-of-factly, without a trace of resentment or tears over the injustice she had suffered.
But when Xiao Lin rolled up her trouser leg, he couldn’t help but frown.
Her knees were flushed red, a stark contrast to the fair skin around them—clearly frostbitten.
“Does it hurt badly?” he asked.
“Yes,” Liu Chan replied honestly. She looked up at him and whispered, “Could we postpone attending you tonight? It really hurts too much. After soaking in hot water, it’s both painful and itchy…”
As she spoke, her small hand fumbled until it found his fingers.
“Your Majesty, could you rub it for me?” Liu Chan’s cheeks flushed pink as she shyly moved closer, sitting beside him and burying her head against his chest. She murmured softly, “I’ve missed you a little.”
Xiao Lin’s hand stilled. Missed him?