Qi Zhaorong was the birth mother of the Second Prince.
Others might not know, but Luo Shuran was aware—she was Shu Fei’s person. In her past life, relying on her rank and having borne a prince, Qi Zhaorong had bullied her both openly and covertly. Now that she had suddenly appeared here, it was likely not without purpose.
These thoughts quickly flashed through Luo Shuran’s mind. Enduring the pain in her right arm, she curtsied and offered greetings.
Seated on the palanquin, Qi Zhaorong wore an orange-red gown. Her figure was plump, her features rather delicate, with round, shrewd eyes.
Maintaining her dignified posture, she looked down. “Talent Luo, you deliberately collided with this consort!” Her voice was cold, clearly intending to pin the blame squarely on Luo Shuran.
Luo Shuran understood Qi Zhaorong well—no matter what she said or how she pleaded, she would be accused of disrespect.
She simply raised her head. “What does Your Ladyship mean? If we speak of collision, it was Your Ladyship’s servants who were clumsy, colliding with this humble concubine and startling Your Ladyship as well.”
Qi Zhaorong stared at her. Before coming, she had heard that this newly entered palace woman was insignificant and easy to manipulate. Unexpectedly, she was a tough nut to crack.
But no matter how tough, she could not defy the hierarchy of the inner palace.
“Talent Luo, you dare talk back? Today, this consort will teach you a lesson. Guards! Slap her face.” Qi Zhaorong’s anger showed on her face as she shouted. Two matrons behind her stepped forward—one seized Luo Shuran, forcing her to kneel on the ground, while the other prepared to slap her.
Luo Shuran did not plead for mercy; she only gave Qi Zhaorong a deep look from below.
Past grievances and present resentment exploded in her mind.
Those who humiliated her—she would repay them one by one!
“Consort Zhaorong, you must not.” Xi Chun knelt forward, quickly saying, “This is abuse of punishment. You must know that behind my mistress is Consort Xian and the Luo family!” She was not doing this for Luo Shuran but felt that suffering punishment in public would be a true humiliation, and word spreading would bring shame to the Luo family.
Seeing a mere maidservant dare to resist, Qi Zhaorong sneered. “What a loyal servant protecting her mistress. Then you shall bear the punishment. Strike!”
The two matrons were old hands at such tasks. While slapping a concubine might give them some hesitation, striking a servant held no pressure at all. After a few slaps, they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Xi Chun never expected that Qi Zhaorong would disregard the Luo family’s face and even involve her. Her body went limp, and before she could utter a plea, her face was struck askew, half of it numb.
She tried to struggle free, but the matron behind firmly gripped the back of her neck, leaving her unable to move. After several slaps, her vision blurred, and her head buzzed.
Qi Zhaorong smiled contentedly, watching with pleasure. She leisurely turned her head and saw Luo Shuran still bowing her head, her expression unreadable.
In the palace, such punishments were all too common. Today’s act of killing the chicken to scare the monkey—even her own people could not be protected—was more painful than striking her directly.
“Talent Luo, once you enter the palace, family background matters not. What matters here is rank. Consort Xian holds a high position, but that does not conflict with this consort punishing you. You should understand this and not place your pride where it does not belong.”
Qi Zhaorong spoke, her eyes filled with mockery. For her, rank was not the most important thing—she had a prince to rely on, and that was the source of her arrogance.
Luo Shuran lowered her head. She knew Qi Zhaorong was a person without principles. As soon as Xi Chun mentioned Luo Wanling and the Luo family, she could guess the outcome.
Listening to the muffled sounds of slaps and groans beside her, she felt no pain or sorrow.
In her past life, Xi Chun’s betrayal had filled her with deep hatred, and now she felt no pity for her.
But the act still had to be played.
“Noble Lady Qi, it is my fault for failing to discipline my servant. Please do not strike her anymore. If my elder sister finds out I have offended you, she will surely be angry and punish me. It is all my fault.” Luo Shuran’s voice carried a slight tremor.
Her words sounded like a plea for mercy, but in reality, she was shifting the blame toward Luo Wanling.
It was well known that Luo Wanling was always proud and arrogant.
By directing the blame upward, the matter would no longer concern her.
Seeing her plead for mercy, Qi Zhaorong snorted coldly, smiling triumphantly with a hint of arrogance. “Talent Luo, do not blame me. I am teaching you the rules and how to manage your subordinates. There is a distinction between the noble and the lowly, and it is important to recognize your own status.”
Her smile grew even more pronounced as she raised her head and lightly gestured with her hand. The palanquin lifted and soon passed by Luo Shuran.
Xi Chun had already been beaten until she was dizzy and disoriented. When she heard that Qi Zhaorong had left, she tried to stand up but felt a hand supporting her arm. Her master’s concerned voice sounded in her ear.
“Are you all right, Xi Chun? You’ve suffered. This Qi Zhaorong truly has no regard for my sister or our Luo family.”
Hearing this, tears streamed down Xi Chun’s face. Her cheeks burned with pain, unsure whether it was from the heat or a searing sensation, and she whimpered softly.
Yes, Qi Zhaorong was despicable, utterly despicable. She must go and report this to Consort Xian.
“She clearly waited here on purpose. With Consort Shu’s joyous news, no one has time to pay attention to us.”
Luo Shuran’s words subtly stirred suspicion in Xi Chun’s mind. They had been walking peacefully when Qi Zhaorong suddenly caused trouble, and coincidentally, Consort Shu had announced her pregnancy. Connecting the two events, it seemed as though Consort Shu had orchestrated Qi Zhaorong’s actions.
Xi Chun made up her mind. Not only would she report this, but she would also tell Consort Xian that Consort Shu harbored ill intentions.
Although Xi Chun’s face was swollen, Luo Shuran could sense a change in her eyes. It seemed her guidance had been effective.
From the beginning, Luo Shuran had suspected that Consort Shu might be pulling the strings behind the scenes. After all, only someone of high rank and great influence could wield Qi Zhaorong as a weapon.
Consort Shu had announced her joyous news in advance, drawing the palace’s attention to herself. Who would care about or remember a lowly talent, let alone concern themselves with her humiliation?
Luo Shuran knew that Xi Chun was wholly devoted to the glory of the Luo family, just as she had been in her past life, always placing Luo Wanling and the Luo family first.
Now that Xi Chun had personally experienced this, she would surely report these events to Luo Wanling. As someone loyal to the Luo family, her words would carry more weight than Luo Shuran’s own complaints.
Caught in the middle, Luo Shuran watched as they fought to the death. For her, the benefits outweighed the risks.
However, what she needed to pay the most attention to this time was the Third Prince’s first birthday banquet. The Third Prince had suffocated and remained unconscious for three days and nights, driving Empress Zhao into a frenzy. Not only did she launch a thorough investigation throughout the palace, but she also executed everyone who had cared for the Third Prince.
Later, the imperial physician said the Third Prince was allergic to floral scents. The Empress arrested several concubines who used floral perfumes for interrogation. Though it was unclear whether they confessed, in the end, they all met with various accidents and perished.
Therefore, she had to be cautious—no matter what, she must not become involved in the slightest.