In Yonghe Palace, the screams of the young eunuch echoed in mid-air, leaving everyone terrified and sending chills down their spines.
Zhang Wanyin, dressed in her finery, stood in the front courtyard watching this scene, her face filled with unspeakable humiliation and anger.
"Emperor, are you using the life of this little eunuch to strike at this Palace?"
"Why?"
Could it be just because she did not let Zhang Wanrou accompany him for a meal?
Her hand, which was gripping Chun Xu's arm, tightened continuously, wishing she could grow sharp nails and stab them in fiercely!
Chun Xu lowered her head and gritted her teeth, her face showing suppressed pain.
In the Side Hall, Zhang Wanrou stood at the doorway, listening to the sounds coming from outside; her face no longer showed the bright and sweet expression from before.
"Qing Ning, did that eunuch named Little Mazi slap you before?"
Hearing the question, Qing Ning hurriedly stepped forward and replied, "Replying to Lady Jieyu, such a thing did happen. It was the first day we arrived at the Side Room of the Yonghe Palace Side Hall. You had been exhausted all day without anything to eat, so this servant went to find the eunuch Little Mazi, who was in charge of our meals, wanting to get some steamed buns or something to fill your stomach."
Who would have thought that not only did Little Mazi not give her any, but he also slapped her twice, saying, "The Noble Consort has given orders that no one is allowed to eat after mealtime! This is the rule of the Imperial Palace!"
But before Qing Ning entered the Imperial Palace, the Young Master of the Zhou Family had specially lent them a Nanny to teach them the rules of the Imperial Palace.
Nanny Xu said that if one were truly punished and had no food, one could privately slip some silver to the young eunuchs to exchange for some food.
Young eunuchs are people too; if no one had given specific instructions, they would generally make things convenient!
She had brought quite a bit of silver that day, but even though that Little Mazi took her silver, he did not give her a single steamed bun!
If it wasn't someone acting with malicious intent, then it could only be said that this young eunuch was both evil and greedy!
"What rules of the Imperial Palace... they are just Zhang Wanyin's own rules!"
Zhang Wanrou's words brought Qing Ning back from her memories, a flash of fear appearing on her face, "Lady, please lower your voice. Outside, there are still the Noble Consort's palace maids and eunuchs!"
If they happened to hear this and told the Noble Consort, who knows what harsh treatment the Lady would have to endure again!
Zhang Wanrou's gaze landed on the courtyard entrance, on the four eunuchs and palace maids who were peering toward the site of the punishment.
"Don't worry, they won't be able to stay for long."
Qing Ning looked up at her, her eyes full of inquiry, "Lady, what do you mean by this?"
Why did she feel that the simple and innocent young lady from before had disappeared, and this person now, when not smiling, was so profound that it made people feel inexplicably afraid and like a stranger?
Just like a moment ago, after the Emperor left, the bright and sweet smile on her face vanished instantly, and her gaze was filled with more indifference and coldness.
What on earth was going on?
The screams outside stopped; it was unknown whether the punishment was over or if the person was gone.
"Let's go back. In a moment, the excitement will be ours," Zhang Wanrou said softly.
Qing Ning followed, not understanding what she had just said.
Back inside the hall, Zhang Wanrou looked at the stool next to the table and used her foot to adjust its position. Afterward, she sat down to drink her porridge.
Soon, Qing Ning realized what the "excitement" Zhang Wanrou had mentioned earlier meant!
"Greetings to the Noble Consort!"
"Greetings to the Noble Consort!"
The young eunuchs and palace maids outside trembled, kneeling on the ground one by one, fearing they would be implicated.
Zhang Wanyin stormed in, and seeing Zhang Wanrou still eating nonchalantly, she immediately went up and flipped the table!
The porcelain shattered all over the floor with a clatter. Zhang Wanrou stood up in a panic, "Elder Sister, what are you doing..."
"Bitch, what did you say to the Emperor?!" A fierce look flashed in Zhang Wanyin's eyes as she gathered her strength and raised her hand to swing at Zhang Wanrou's face.
"Slap!"
The loud sound of the slap was crisp and piercing.
Zhang Wanrou's body was "weak," and she was directly knocked back a step, and then, so "coincidentally," she tripped over the stool nearby, falling out. Her forehead and palms hit the broken porcelain, drawing blood.
"Lady Jieyu!" Qing Ning's expression changed, and she hurriedly went up to help Zhang Wanrou up.
Zhang Wanrou slowly looked up and felt a warm liquid flowing down her face. She reached out to touch it in a daze, her hand covered in blood.
A look of fear appeared on her face as she kept backing away, "Elder Sister, wh-why?"
Zhang Wanyin was also stunned, clearly not expecting things to turn out this way.
She only wanted to slap her once to teach her a lesson...
Seeing this, Nanny Wang hurriedly pulled Zhang Wanyin back and shouted, "Lady Jieyu accidentally fell! Quick, quick, go call the Imperial Physician!"
Zhang Wanyin was flustered, but upon hearing this, she calmed down instantly.
Yes!
It was she who hadn't stood steadily and fell! It had nothing to do with her!
She withdrew her clenched fists into her sleeves and said coldly, "Wanrou, I only lightly slapped you, yet you fell like this. What is it? Are you trying to act pitiful in front of the Emperor to gain sympathy and then slander your Elder Sister?"
Zhang Wanrou shook her head, her eyes filled with uncontrollable fear, "No, no... Elder Sister, I'm sorry..."
Qing Ning held Zhang Wanrou and cried out, "Noble Consort, my Lady Jieyu was already feeling unwell today. With such force from you, how could my Lady stand still?"
The Noble Consort was clearly trying to distance herself from the situation!
Perhaps because Zhang Wanrou had suffered too much harm over the past two days, Qing Ning was unable to hold back at this moment.
"Lady, aren't you the Elder Sister of the Lady Jieyu? Before entering the Imperial Palace, the Marquis and the Madam clearly said that after entering the palace, the Noble Consort would protect my Lady! Why, why are you treating my Lady like this now?"
Zhang Wanrou hurriedly pulled on Qing Ning, wanting to stop her from speaking, but unfortunately, Qing Ning did not understand her intention at all.
Zhang Wanyin's expression became even more ruthless, and she scolded coldly, "Presumptuous! My actions are not for a lowly servant like you to point fingers at!"
"Nanny Wang, this lowly servant has defied her superiors. Slap her face for this Palace!"
Zhang Wanrou hurriedly stepped forward to grab the hem of Zhang Wanyin's skirt, begging, "Elder Sister, no, don't hit Qing Ning! It is all Wanrou's fault. If you want to blame someone, blame Wanrou!"
But how could Zhang Wanyin listen to her?
Nanny Wang called two palace maids to hold Qing Ning down and carried out the punishment herself.
After ten slaps, Qing Ning's mouth was already red and swollen.
Zhang Wanyin raised her hand, and Nanny Wang stopped.
She walked in front of Zhang Wanrou, her expression indifferent, and asked, "Younger Sister, if the Emperor comes to visit you, do you know how to answer?"
Zhang Wanrou was stunned for a moment, and then, tears of fear slipped off instantly as she nodded repeatedly.
"Elder Sister, rest assured. Your subject fell by accident, it has nothing to do with anyone else..."
Hearing this, Zhang Wanyin was finally satisfied; she crouched down and patted her cheek lightly.
"Younger Sister, if you long for the love of Father and your brothers, you should know what Father and your brothers care about most!"
"It is the reputation and glory of the Zhang Family!"
"You must remember one more thing! In this Harem, if you don't have your Elder Sister to help you, you will never get ahead!"
"But Younger Sister, if you think that just because you have been favored once, you can stir up trouble in front of the Emperor and stand over your Elder Sister to show off, then you are too naive!"
"This time, it is a small warning from your Elder Sister. If there is a next time, this Yatou by your side..."
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