Chen Zhaoyi was sitting in her sleeping palace, fists clenched tightly, while a young palace maid knelt beside her, holding an ice pack to her face.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She reached out and flung the ice pack away, which, by sheer coincidence, landed right at Murong Yao’s feet.
Seeing Murong Yao’s darkened expression, Chen Zhaoyi was so frightened she felt as if she had lost two of her three souls.
Murong Yao, dressed in black, strode in with a stern face, his entire being exuding a chilling aura, cold as ice, freezing one’s bones.
Chen Zhaoyi turned deathly pale with fear. Why had Bixia come at this hour? It was truly unexpected.
She immediately rose and knelt to greet him. “Your servant has been disrespectful before Your Majesty. Please forgive me.”
Murong Yao ignored her. Instead, he pinched her chin with his fingers, examining the bright red slap mark on her cheek, secretly pleased: That little wildcat Changning sure has quite the strength.
Still, it had to be said—the five fingers were perfectly symmetrical, surprisingly beautiful.
“Your face, beloved consort…”
Seeing this, Chen Zhaoyi thought the emperor pitied her and instantly changed her expression, pouting and weeping, her round little face streaked with tears like pear blossoms in the rain.
In a soft, coquettish voice, she complained and tattled, “Bixia~”
“Guifei is so domineering. I don’t know how I offended her, but she struck me.”
After saying this, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief and began to sob softly, “Wah, wah.”
This delicate, pitiable appearance would have moved anyone who saw it. Unfortunately, Murong Yao’s heart was wholly devoted to Xiao Changning; toward others, he was nothing but a blockhead.
Seeing that Bixia remained silent, Chen Zhaoyi added in a strained voice, “It’s not Guifei’s fault. It was all my loose tongue.”
“But I am so aggrieved, Bixia~”
Murong Yao sneered coldly at her affected display, and Chen Zhaoyi trembled so much her legs shook.
He then slapped Chen Zhaoyi on the other cheek.
“Ah!”
Chen Zhaoyi was knocked sideways to the ground, but she dared not utter a single word of complaint. Pressing her lips together, she immediately straightened her kneeling posture, her wet eyes blinking in terror.
Murong Yao crouched down, gripping Chen Zhaoyi’s face and forcing her to look at him. Fear flickered in her eyes, and her teeth chattered.
“Good. This looks much better now,” he calmly admired his own “handiwork.”
Chen Zhaoyi asked, “Why did Bixia do this?”
“I just came from Guifei’s place.”
Murong Yao’s hand, which had been pinching her chin, gradually moved down to grip Chen Zhaoyi’s neck. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “I’m warning you—don’t play tricks in front of me.”
“Just because I don’t interfere in harem affairs doesn’t mean I’m unaware of them.”
“If you dare show disrespect to Guifei again, I won’t mind sending you to meet the King of Hell!”
As he spoke, Murong Yao’s grip tightened. Chen Zhaoyi struggled to breathe, only able to whimper and nod. “Bixia… Bixia… Your servant knows she was wrong.”
“I will strictly abide by palace rules. I beg… I beg Bixia to forgive me.”
Watching Chen Zhaoyi’s face turn red from suffocation, he released his grip. Chen Zhaoyi instantly found relief, gasping for air in large breaths.
Murong Yao snorted coldly, turned, and left without looking back.
The thoroughly terrified Chen Zhaoyi remained slumped on the ground until a palace maid stepped forward to help her up, only then did she barely regain her senses.
“Your Ladyship, since Bixia favors Xiao Guifei, perhaps it’s best not to oppose her.”
Chen Zhaoyi turned her head with a sinister glare, raising her hand to strike the palace maid heavily, venting all the grievances she had just suffered onto her. “You ungrateful wretch, do you even know how to speak?”
The palace maid clutched her arms tightly, bowing her head and sobbing.
The petty-minded Chen Zhaoyi gritted her teeth and said, “It’s clearly that bitch Xiao Changning who stole Bixia’s favor.”
“And it must have been her who complained to Bixia! That’s why Bixia turned his anger on me.”
“That damned bitch, I will never let her off. Sooner or later, I’ll make her taste the humiliation I suffered today.”
Chen Zhaoyi’s eyes flickered, and suddenly, she had an idea.
She reached out to touch her swollen cheek, but because she pressed too hard, the pain made her gasp sharply.
Chen Zhaoyi suddenly stood up, took the food and pastries prepared by the small kitchen, and headed straight for Weiyang Palace.
She tidied her clothes and knelt at the palace gate, putting on a delicate and humble posture.
Alan entered the sleeping palace. “Your Highness, Chen Zhaoyi requests an audience.”
Xiao Changning, who was drinking tea, heard Chen Zhaoyi’s name and recalled the arrogant and domineering woman from the morning.
“Refuse her! Send her away.”
Alan clenched her hands tightly, stealing a glance outside the hall, and said hesitantly, “Chen Zhaoyi also said that if Your Highness refuses to see her today, she will kneel at the palace gate and never leave.”
“Chen Zhaoyi was once quite favored by His Majesty. Your Highness… it might be better to see her.”
Xiao Changning irritably rolled her eyes. What was going on? Murong Yao’s concubines were just like him.
She looked up at Alan. “Bring her in.”
Alan acknowledged the order. Not long after, Chen Zhaoyi walked in respectfully, her humble demeanor leaving no room for criticism.
“Guifei, these are a few dishes I specially prepared with my own hands. I hope Your Highness will not disdain them.”
After saying this, she took the initiative to place the items on the table, noticing that Xiao Changning had no intention of paying her any attention.
Chen Zhaoyi gritted her teeth, stomped her foot, and “thumped” to her knees in front of Xiao Changning, looking up at her. “Your Highness, Bixia has already severely reprimanded me.”
“I also understand the distinction between ranks and have come specifically to apologize to Your Highness. I hope Your Highness will not hold my past actions against me.”
Only then did Xiao Changning notice her pitiful appearance. Murong Yao had been ruthless—how could he bear to strike such a delicate beauty?
Huh?
Xiao Changning suddenly remembered something. Earlier, Murong Yao had said he would stand up for his beloved consort and seek justice for her.
In the blink of an eye, Chen Zhaoyi had been beaten like this. Was he… protecting me?
Ripples stirred in Xiao Changning’s heart. Apart from her mother, no one had ever protected her without question.
She looked at Chen Zhaoyi on the ground and reached out to help her up. “You are too polite, Chen Zhaoyi.”
Chen Zhaoyi was overjoyed, grinning as she bowed slightly. “I will not disturb Your Highness’s rest any longer. I shall take my leave.”
Xiao Changning nodded, giving Alan a meaningful glance. Alan immediately understood and escorted Chen Zhaoyi out.
After seeing her off, Alan returned to the sleeping palace and looked at the pastries on the table. “Your Highness, I will dispose of these things immediately.”
“No need!”
Xiao Changning stopped her, gazing at the enticing delicacies before her. “These look like they should taste quite good.”
“Your Highness, Chen Zhaoyi is jealous by nature. She is not sincere. There might even be deadly poison in these.”
Xiao Changning picked up a piece of pastry. “She’s not that foolish.”
“Everyone knows she sent these pastries. If anything were to happen to me after eating them, she would be doomed.”
“Even if she intended harm, she wouldn’t do it so openly.”
With that, Xiao Changning picked up a piece, eating it while praising, “The flavor truly is excellent.”