Lamei widened her eyes in terror—this was not Su Yunzhao!
If it were the former Su Yunzhao, she would never have reacted like this. She would have long been frightened into obediently listening to her, even begging for mercy.
"With that attitude of yours just now, even if I beat you to death right here, no one in the Houfu would dare say a word, let alone that Second Young Madam you grew up with."
Su Yunzhao's tone had already taken on a playful edge.
Sure enough, Lamei was terrified.
The people she had brought with her automatically knelt there, not daring to plead for leniency.
"Slap her face twenty times to teach her a lesson. As for the clothes she brought, let her change into them herself. Dress her in the ceremonial gown and send her before Consort Tian. Let's see if she dares to discipline someone brought by the Houfu."
From the moment Su Yunzhao stepped out of Weibei Houfu, she had already resolved to sever ties with them. As for returning to Weibei Houfu to listen to their reprimands—were they even worthy?
The guards were momentarily stunned, but Su Yunzhao remained calm and unhurried. She pulled a Silver Needle from her sleeve and directly inserted it into one of Lamei's acupuncture points.
"Don't be nervous, you won't die," Su Yunzhao said with deliberately lightheartedness, as if comforting Lamei. "This point only makes your senses more acute. The pain you feel will be five times that of an ordinary person."
After speaking, she took out a handkerchief to wipe her Silver Needle, then changed her tone: "Did you not hear what I just said? What, do the palace guards have a rule about not hitting women?"
Only then did Lamei realize with a shock that her life was truly in Su Yunzhao's hands.
Even if this Consort of the Heir Apparent didn't hold her position for long, she could still take her life during her limited time of wealth and power…
"Consort of the Heir Apparent, this servant knows her mistake…"
She fiercely knocked her head against the ground, the amplified pain instantly bringing tears streaming down her face.
"A mistake? Then you accept the punishment? Guards, this Consort of the Heir Apparent will personally oversee the execution. I want to hear exactly how loud your slaps are."
No matter how much Lamei struggled, it was useless. The people who had come with her trembled all over, not daring to rise at all.
The guards showed no further courtesy, striking left and right with crisp, sharp sounds that reminded Su Yunzhao of the scene from her original self's childhood, when Lamei and the other servants had pinned her down and slapped her face.
After twenty slaps, Lamei had lost several teeth, her entire face swollen and unbearably painful.
"Today, I did not have you beaten to death on the spot for gross disrespect—that is this Consort of the Heir Apparent's mercy. Aren't you going to thank me for this grace?"
Su Yunzhao didn't even blink. Since she had come to play the role of cannon fodder, she had to have the cannon fodder's awakening.
Helpless, Lamei could only obediently kowtow and admit her mistake.
The amplified agony made her head feel as if it were about to explode.
"You few…" Su Yunzhao looked at the people who had followed Lamei.
"Consort of the Heir Apparent, spare us!" they pleaded nervously.
But Su Yunzhao spoke very gently: "This Consort of the Heir Apparent is not some cruel and ruthless person. As I said earlier, since this ceremonial gown is so fine, let Lamei wear it. Aren't you going to help her change?"
After hearing this, the kneeling servants exchanged glances, then finally stepped forward. Ignoring Lamei's struggles, they stripped off her outer garments and dressed her in that ceremonial gown.
The guards turned their backs, but it was clear that Lamei would never be able to find a good marriage in the future.
Lamei was dragged away. Su Yunzhao glanced at the guards and said casually, "Well done. I'll reward you when I have the money."
Seeing Lamei's condition, Su Yunxiu was so furious that she could hear her own heart pounding clearly.
"You wretched woman, a petty person enjoying fleeting success! Su Yunzhao, how dare you strike my servant! Let's see how long your arrogance lasts!"
Noticing her veins bulging, Xiao Luofan worried she might harm the pregnancy and quickly advised, "My lady, endure it for now. Since we know she's acting arrogantly, it's best not to provoke her for the moment to avoid getting hurt."
Su Yunxiu ultimately smashed a teacup on the floor and said resentfully, "We'll see about that!"
Consort Tian glanced at her, then looked at the bruised Lamei.
She thought to herself, What a fool.
She had originally intended to let the matter pass lightly, assuming that Su Yunzhao, as the Consort of the Heir Apparent without any real authority, would eventually let it go after making a fuss.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Jinyao's people arrived and directly relayed a message: if the side consort's attendants did not understand the rules, he could request palace maids to come and teach them proper etiquette when he entered the palace the next day.
Consort Tian was utterly embarrassed. This kind of reprimand was extremely humiliating.
On one hand, it was a threat to her—tomorrow, when they entered the palace, they would clearly state the matter, leaving her with the reputation of mistreating the legitimate heir.
On the other hand, if palace maids were brought in to teach the rules, it would further expose her as a side consort who failed to maintain discipline and allowed laxity, making her an even bigger laughingstock.
Su Yunzhao heard that Mama Wang had also been sent to the country estate, and Lamei was directly expelled from An Wangfu.
After all, Lamei had served Su Yunxiu for a while, so she arranged for someone to send Lamei back to Weibei Houfu.
She imagined that the pack of wolves and tigers in the marquis's residence would once again scheme about how to torment her, a noble young lady, over a lowly servant.
"Don't provoke Su Yunzhao for now…" This was Consort Tian's advice to Su Yunxiu.
Su Yunxiu couldn't swallow this humiliation. When Lamei was sent away, she felt as if her dignity had been trampled upon in front of everyone.
She and Su Yunzhao had entered the household on the same day, yet Su Yunzhao, who had no dowry, had directly expelled her dowry maid from An Wangfu. How could she establish authority among the servants now?
"Mother, I won't let this go…" Su Yunxiu said.
To make Consort Tian believe she had no ulterior motives, she added, "It's not just about Lamei. Over the past two days, she has repeatedly humiliated the people around you and dared to mock you with such words. How can you endure this?"
Consort Tian's gaze deepened. "Enduring for a moment is to win for a lifetime. If you can't even tolerate this much, it seems the marquis and your five brothers have sheltered you too well…"
Upon hearing this, Su Yunxiu, though still resentful, respectfully replied, "Mother, your daughter-in-law understands…"
"Thank you, Shizi, for upholding justice for me…" That evening in the room, Su Yunzhao said formally.
"Again and again, they clearly don't regard me with any respect," Xiao Jinyao replied, as if unwilling to accept her gratitude.
Su Yunzhao didn't hesitate either and said directly, "So Shizi was protecting his own dignity and incidentally benefiting me. Then I don't need to feel grateful… However, I did save Shizi's life yesterday, so overall, Shizi owes me an enormous favor."
Xiao Jinyao looked at Su Yunzhao. She truly was different from others.
"You deliberately showcased your medical skills in front of Elder Mo so that he would mention you to The Emperor," Xiao Jinyao calmly inquired.
Su Yunzhao showed no embarrassment at having her intentions exposed. Instead, she replied, "The heir apparent's illness was not something I orchestrated. Could it be that the heir apparent knew of my intentions in advance and cooperated with my act? Even if I had such a thought, does the heir apparent believe I should hide my abilities if I possess them?"