After the palace servant delivered Qing Guifei’s latest decree to the courtyard, Miao Xi’s desperate and mournful wails soon erupted sharply within the hall.
Despite the considerable distance, her cries carried into the room with unusual clarity.
“Niangniang, spare me! Have mercy, Niangniang!”
“It was all this servant’s slip of the tongue! Please forgive me, Niangniang! I’ll definitely— mmmph—”
The cries suddenly turned into muffled whimpers, as if someone had shrewdly stepped forward to cover Miao Xi’s mouth.
By the time the twenty cane strikes were completed, Miao Xi’s continuous moans of pain had ceased from outside. Shortly after, the servant who had earlier reported to the hall hurried in once more.
“Niangniang, the caning is finished. The person has fainted. Should we…” Should we summon an Imperial Physician to examine her?
Although the punishment was deserved, she was after all a palace maid from Noble Consort Rou’s establishment. If they truly tore all pretense of cordiality, it might cause some complications.
Zitang left her sentence unfinished, but Qing Guifei had already grasped her meaning.
“As long as she’s not dead,” Qing Guifei said indifferently. “Have her carried. We’re going to pay Noble Consort Rou a visit in her hall.”
Though concern flickered across Zitang’s face, she still arranged everything according to Qing Guifei’s instructions.
Qing Guifei’s gaze swept over Changshun Gonggong, who stood with lowered eyes behind the little one.
Having served by Mingze Emperor’s side all these years, this man had long become exceptionally perceptive.
By now, Mingze Emperor had probably already received word that someone had bullied the Little Princess he’d been doting on these past two days.
Both punishments today were justified by cause, and with the matter brought before Mingze Emperor, Noble Consort Rou would have no choice but to let it go lightly.
Moreover, Noble Consort Rou was in the wrong to begin with—how could she possibly make a big fuss about it?
Qing Guifei understood this perfectly clearly.
Two sedan chairs were carried forth from Anqin Dian, and the procession advanced grandly toward Noble Consort Rou’s Liuhua Hall.
At Qing Guifei’s signal, Changshun Gonggong used the sedan chairs as cover to conceal himself, remaining outside Liuhua Hall instead of entering with the rest.
If Noble Consort Rou wanted outsiders to believe this visit was truly initiated by Qing Guifei, she would deliberately avoid suspicion and wouldn’t send anyone out to investigate.
This conveniently suited their plan.
When they entered Liuhua Hall, Jiang Huaian was present as well.
Noble Consort Rou had specifically ordered a soft couch brought to the main hall for him, having him lie face down upon it while waiting for her to avenge this grievance for him.
Jiang Huaian’s heart was already filled with hatred. The moment Jiang Xingran’s figure appeared, he noticed nothing else around him, his eyes bloodshot as he gritted his teeth: “It’s him! Mother Consort, he’s the one who got me beaten with twenty strokes by Father Emperor! Mother Consort, you must get revenge for me!!”
Jiang Xingran paused briefly at the words, but quickly returned to normal.
His gaze subtly swept over Jiang Yingcheng.
Although this little one had previously helped Jiang Huaian lodge false accusations against him multiple times, her actions today were clearly advantageous to him.
Noble Consort Rou, however, was far more circumspect than Jiang Huaian.
Before anyone could even settle and pay proper respects, she set down her teacup and warmly stepped forward to take Qing Guifei’s hand, pulling her toward the central soft chairs.
Just as Qing Guifei frowned slightly, about to say something, the little one’s clearly excited inner voice rang out—
[Ahahahaha, so that gonggong ultimately couldn’t endure the harsh punishment and ended up implicating Fourth Brother after all.]
[Hahahahahaha, though it was only twenty strikes, it’s enough to keep Fourth Brother bedridden for many days hahaha.]
The little one’s schadenfreude was far too evident in her thoughts. Qing Guifei couldn’t help but relax her brows, a slight smile tugging at her lips as she too revealed a trace of amusement.
Noble Consort Rou had been closely watching Qing Guifei’s expression from the corner of her eye. Seeing the other’s smiling eyes, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed her little schemes had gone unnoticed.
Though she had the backing of a powerful maternal family, Qing Guifei’s own lineage was nothing to scoff at. Moreover, Qing Guifei had no children and posed no threat to her. If a few pleasant words could avoid making an enemy, why wouldn’t she take the opportunity?
The two settled into the soft chairs.
Noble Consort Rou spoke gently, “Yushi, what brings you here today with this crowd?”
She affectionately used Qing Guifei’s childhood name, her demeanor and movements the picture of serenity. Yet from how she never once glanced toward Lan Zhaorong and the others, it wasn’t hard to see she wasn’t someone easily dealt with.
Qing Guifei also sneered inwardly.
They had always addressed each other by their childhood names, and she’d once believed it signified their close relationship. Now it seemed that had merely been her wishful thinking.
Cheng Yunmeng had been waiting anxiously for Noble Consort Rou to turn around, but the other had already begun chatting idly with Qing Guifei. Not daring to interrupt, she could only stand awkwardly in place, carefully awaiting the right moment.
Jiang Huaian wanted to cry out again, but one cold glare from Noble Consort Rou immediately silenced him.
A palace maid stepped forward to present hot tea to Qing Guifei. She lifted the cup, took a leisurely sip, and only then said with a smile, “Today, a palace maid used my name to summon someone from Lan Zhaorong’s courtyard. Lan Zhaorong then brought that maid to pay me a visit at my hall.”
Noble Consort Rou’s heart skipped a beat, knowing full well her scheme had been exposed, but she quickly adjusted her expression.
“I did send someone to Lan Zhaorong’s courtyard today to invite you to Liuhua Hall for a chat. If the person Yushi mentioned was my messenger, I suppose it’s because I often speak of you—she must have slipped up and said your name directly.”
Qing Guifei smiled gracefully, “I can understand that, sister. But she seemed too frightened and forgot to explain the truth initially. By the time she wanted to speak, the servants in my hall had already…”
She left the rest unsaid, merely waving a hand toward Zitang. Immediately, someone carried in the unconscious Miao Xi and dumped her at the side of the hall.
Noble Consort Rou’s breath caught, a surge of anger rising within her.
Though Miao Xi was merely a lowly maid in her hall, when sent on missions she represented the dignity of Liuhua Hall. Now she had been beaten half to death and discarded in a corner like worthless trash…
Noble Consort Rou felt as if she’d been slapped across the face, the sting burning fiercely.
But she was adept at masking her emotions. “Someone who can’t even distinguish her own master deserves punishment.”
With that, she turned her gaze to the three still standing before her. “How is it that you’ve been in the hall this long without paying your respects?”
The intention to vent her anger was all too obvious. Lan Zhaorong shrank back nervously and hurriedly made the three of them perform the proper greetings.
Noble Consort Rou drew out a languid “Hmm” while casually toying with her jade-white fingers. “The two Little Highnesses may be excused, but Lan Zhaorong has deliberately violated palace etiquette despite knowing the rules. Slap her face.”
This sudden shift left Lan Zhaorong momentarily stunned, staring blankly as the palace maid approached under Noble Consort Rou’s direction.
Jiang Huaian, who had remained quiet until now, could no longer bear it despite the pain from his caning wounds. He propped himself up on the couch, his face contorted with malice as he glared toward Jiang Xingran.
“Hahahaha! Jiang Xingran, every bit of suffering your mother endures today is because of you!”
Why couldn’t you just confess to the charges yesterday? Had you admitted guilt earlier, none of this would have happened today!
Jiang Huaian’s face was etched with hatred. Watching her disappointing son, Noble Consort Rou could only suppress the impatience in her eyes.
The Mingze Emperor rarely visited the inner palace, and she had only this one son. All hopes for the succession rested solely on him—no matter how displeasing he might be, she had no choice but to endure.
Turning to Qing Guifei beside her, Noble Consort Rou resumed her previous gentle demeanor. “When Huaian went out to play yesterday, a minor misunderstanding led to His Majesty punishing him. Yet the Seventh Prince who was present didn’t utter a single word in Huaian’s defense.”
“When one’s child is bullied outside, a mother’s heart aches and she naturally wants to seek justice. Yushi can understand this, right?”
She seemed certain that Qing Guifei would take her side and help cover for her.
Seeing that the other made no attempt to conceal her vengeful intent, Qing Guifei curved her lips into an equally gentle smile. “This sister naturally doesn’t mind.”
Why would she mind?
As long as you— can withstand His Majesty’s wrath.