Mingyue’s face turned cold; she could hardly resist the urge to kill. If not for the fact that committing murder inside the palace would make escape difficult and bring her lady needless trouble, she would already have torn Yun Xueyao’s body into pieces. So this was the crown princess chosen by the emperor for Pei Ziyan? Utterly without breeding, a disgrace to behold.
Her shouting was so loud it drew many eyes. Palace maids and eunuchs passing by all shrank into corners, eager to watch the spectacle unfold.
Though Pei Ziyan had been named crown prince, his foundation was still shaky. The other princes still had chances, and the consorts of the various palaces had been locked in rivalry for years—anyone who had survived to this age was no gentle soul. Naturally, they delighted in watching the crown prince and his two consorts make a public scene.
Stopped and rebuked before the crowd, if Xiao Qingxue were to keep walking forward, it would inevitably look like she was fleeing in disgrace—damaging her image.
Her steps faltered for a moment before she slowly turned her head, her eyes cold and indifferent as they fixed on Yun Xueyao. “What debt do you want to settle with me? Isn’t the account from Zhenbao Pavilion enough for you to tally?”
Yun Xueyao, furious and flustered, snapped: “Shut up! You wretched—”
“Xueyao!” Pei Ziyan barked in anger.
Smack! The sharp crack of a slap rang out, catching everyone off guard.
No one could fathom how Xiao Qingxue moved so quickly. Just moments ago, when Yun Xueyao was hurling insults, they had still been separated by more than ten paces. Yet by the time her words fell, the palm had already landed squarely across her face.
The world fell into stunned silence.
Yun Xueyao clutched her cheek in disbelief, staring at Xiao Qingxue. “You… you dare strike me? You vile woman dare—”
Smack! Xiao Qingxue’s hand swung back the other way, delivering another slap to the opposite cheek, leaving Yun Xueyao utterly dazed.
“Qingxue, what are you doing?” Pei Ziyan roared, seizing her wrist. “This is the palace—”
Smack! Xiao Qingxue wrenched her hand free and struck him across the face, her gaze icy. “Since you know this is the palace, then, Crown Prince, keep your fiancée’s mouth in check! If she continues spewing filth, I’ll make sure she learns what it feels like to be unable to speak at all.”
Her voice was frigid, a stark contrast to her usual calm detachment. “I’ve endured these slaps for a day and a night already. Pei Ziyan, you and Yun Xueyao are both shameless beyond measure.” With that, she cast them both a cold glance, then turned on her heel. “Mingyue, we’re leaving.”
Mingyue was so thrilled she nearly applauded her mistress.
How satisfying. If her lady never showed her might, did they really think she was some sickly kitten? Yesterday she endured it all—that was her lady’s self‑restraint, too dignified to stoop to petty squabbles. But Yun Xueyao not only failed to rein herself in, but she also grew even more brazen with her taunts. Did she truly believe that just because her lady came alone to Yong, she could be bullied at will?
Xiao Qingxue and Mingyue simply walked away.
The palace road fell so silent one could hear a pin drop.
Pei Ziyan lowered his eyes, his expression shadowed and unreadable. On the half of his face that had been struck, the imprint of five fingers slowly rose, the swelling starkly visible. Because of his constitution, his complexion had always been several shades paler than most men. Though his health had improved in recent years—he even took to sunning himself in spring and autumn to look more robust—his face still carried the pallor of one long convalescent. Now, the slap marks stood out all the more, shocking to behold.
Yun Xueyao was struck dumb. She herself had taken two slaps and was already livid beyond reason, but never in her wildest thoughts had she imagined Xiao Qingxue would dare strike the crown prince as well. It was inconceivable.
Even more astonishing was that after being slapped, the crown prince gave no reaction at all—he just stood there, dazed.
It wasn’t only Yun Xueyao who was stunned—the eunuchs and maids hiding in the corners to watch the spectacle were shaken as well. The sight of Xiao Qingxue slapping the crown prince had truly frightened them. None dared linger to see his reaction; trembling, they turned and hurried off to report the news to their masters.
What an eye‑opening scene. The crown prince’s concubine striking him inside the palace—such audacity was beyond belief.
Indeed, those favored always act with impunity. Xiao Qingxue must have been certain the crown prince would never lose his temper with her, which was why she dared to be so brazen.
“Your Highness, Xiao Qingxue is too… too…” Yun Xueyao’s eyes reddened as she stammered, looking pitiful, her earlier arrogance nowhere to be seen.
Pei Ziyan glanced at her without expression, the look alone making her heart tremble. She instinctively avoided his gaze.
“Find a way to settle the debts you owe. From now on, no more credit,” Pei Ziyan said, his voice low, unreadable. “A crown princess should be strict with herself, generous with others, and mindful of her conduct at all times. Tomorrow I’ll have Mother choose a governess from the palace to instruct you in the proper decorum expected of a crown princess.” With that, he turned and left.
Yun Xueyao bit her lip, seething with resentment. That wretched Xiao Qingxue!
“Miss, shall we go home?” her maid Dongyun asked softly.
Yun Xueyao turned, her gaze icy. “That vile woman’s maid shields her at every turn, while you all stood by and let me be struck without lifting a finger. What use do I have for you?”
Dongyun’s face went pale, her head bowed in silence. They were only lowly maids—how could they possibly fight against the crown prince’s favored concubine? Mingyue had the crown prince’s concubine to shield her, so naturally she was bold and loyal. Yesterday at the palace gates, her lady ordered her to slap the crown prince’s concubine and Mingyue. Yet in the end it was Dongyun who was struck. Her lady’s reaction to Dongyun’s beating was nothing more than anger—anger not out of pity for her maid, but because her own dignity had been marred.
When the crown prince commanded Mingyue to kneel and apologize to Yun Xueyao, what did the concubine say? “Mingyue is mine. No one can make her kneel.”
Such domineering words of protection—Yun Xueyao would never say them. She would never risk offending someone of higher rank for the sake of two mere maids. Even the crown prince himself would not defend his guards so fiercely. But Xiao Qingxue dared. Whether it was because she had the confidence of backing, or simply because she was willing to risk life and death for pride, at the very least she truly cared for her maid. She was willing to stand against the crown prince himself for her servant’s sake.
Dongyun envied Mingyue for having such a mistress. Even if, once the crown princess entered the Eastern Palace, Xiao Qingxue and Mingyue’s days as mistress and maid would be hard, having a master who protected her so sincerely meant Mingyue could die without regret.
Yun Xueyao ground her teeth in fury. “Xiao Qingxue has humiliated me again and again—I will never let her go!”