Gu Youning certainly hadn't expected Prince Duan to appear so suddenly.
The cool night breeze drifted past her burning ears. She felt her face scorching hot, and an overwhelming sense of discomfort besides.
She had wanted to avoid Prince Duan—she wished she could shrink into a corner—yet here she was, running straight into him without warning.
And worse, he had caught her at such a wretched moment.
She even felt that her earlier words, which had sounded so forceful and resolute, now seemed childish and ridiculous.
To him, wasn't watching her quarrel with Old Woman Feng like watching a battle between ants and mantises?
Among everyone present, the first to recover was Lin Bingzhong's Wife. She hastily curtseyed and stammered, "This servant greets Your Highness."
Her words jolted the others to their senses, and everyone hurried to pay their respects. Old Woman Feng bowed stiffly, and Gu Youning also lowered her head in greeting.
Prince Duan said nothing at all. His gaze swept slowly over the crowd. "Which one is Mama Feng?"
At this, Old Woman Feng's knees went weak and her legs trembled, but she steeled herself and stepped forward. "Reporting to Your Highness, this servant… this servant is she…"
Prince Duan: "Repeat what you just said."
How could she possibly dare!
She was on the verge of tears. "Your Highness, this servant was wrong. This servant deserves ten thousand deaths."
She truly couldn't understand it. Her mistress had been in the residence for two years, and this Highness had hardly ever visited Fangting Courtyard. Why had he suddenly come now—and of all things, why did he have to overhear those words!
The maids and servants watching the scene felt chills run down their spines.
Thank goodness, thank goodness it wasn't them!
As for Lin Bingzhong's Wife, watching all this, she could hardly resist clapping and cheering.
So His Highness was a good master after all—truly like a god descended to earth, specially sent to deal with these arrogant, bullying ruffian slaves. Just watching filled her with comfort and indescribable satisfaction.
Just then, the door creaked open with a "creak," and Concubine Chen came running out, lifting the hem of her skirt. Despite the late hour, she was wrapped in a plain white silk gown, her raven hair half pinned, half loose, looking delicate and lovely.
She showed none of her usual arrogance. Gracefully, she curtseyed to Prince Duan and said in a soft voice, "This concubine did not know Your Highness was coming to Fangting Courtyard, and thus neglected You. It was truly discourteous. I beg Your Highness, in your great magnanimity, to forgive this concubine."
These words were spoken so softly and sweetly that anyone who heard them would find it impossible to vent even the greatest anger.
Lin Bingzhong's Wife instantly sensed trouble.
This Concubine Chen was truly beautiful—graceful in figure, charming and smiling, with an inherent air of allure in her glances.
If such a delicate beauty whispered a few words in his ear on the pillow, wouldn't Old Woman Feng escape punishment altogether? Then Gu Youning's slap would have been for nothing!
She wanted to say something but didn't dare, and could only fret helplessly.
Yet despite Concubine Chen's words, Prince Duan didn't spare her so much as a glance, simply looking at Old Woman Feng. "Say it again."
His voice was indifferent, yet brooked no refusal.
His features had always been plain and unexpressive, and he spoke unhurriedly—which only made his authority as a man of power all the more evident.
Concubine Chen was stunned. She hadn't expected that after rushing out, curtseying, and offering her soft-spoken apology, Prince Duan would completely ignore her.
She lost no small amount of face.
Old Woman Feng nearby had already turned deathly pale with fright, kowtowing repeatedly: "Your Highness, you don't know—just now that night patrol servant was outrageously insolent. Relying on the fact that she carried a night patrol lantern, she ran around Fangting Courtyard shouting and giving orders, pointing fingers at everyone. This servant truly could not stand by and watch it. Setting aside the rules of night patrol, such arrogance is a case of the servant bullying her masters. Even if she paid no regard to our Concubine, she should at least show some respect to Your Highness's face. How dare she be so brazen?"
Hearing this, Lin Bingzhong's wife couldn't help but say, "Nanny Feng, how can you, of all people, twist black into white like this!"
The moment she spoke, Concubine Chen shot her a displeased glance, and Lin Bingzhong's wife hastily fell silent—she dared not offend Concubine Chen.
Concubine Chen then sighed and stepped forward, speaking to Prince Duan in a soft voice: "Your Highness, I was feeling slightly unwell today and did not wish to trouble the main kitchen, so I had someone brew some soup. It was really no great matter. If Your Highness is displeased, then punish me—I—"
Prince Duan: "Silence."
Concubine Chen's words were cut off. She froze for a moment, then slowly flushed red.
Yet Prince Duan still did not spare Concubine Chen a single glance. His gaze swept across the people present, finally coming to rest on Gu Youning's face.
The spring night was quiet. She wore a plain indigo cloth skirt, her head slightly bowed, a loose strand of dark hair drifting by her temple, half-concealing her fair skin—and upon that snow-like skin was a shocking red mark.
She had been struck, and had suffered a great grievance.
Prince Duan's fingertips tightened slightly within his sleeve, though his face remained utterly placid as he said only, lightly, "You. Tell me what exactly happened."
At his words, every gaze turned to Gu Youning, and even Concubine Chen frowned as she stared at her.
Gu Youning's face burned hot, yet she felt a chill throughout her body, so much so that the hand gripping her lantern trembled almost uncontrollably.
Still, she forced herself to calm down, tried to gather her thoughts, and recounted the whole affair in the briefest terms she could.
Once everything had been told, she lowered her head slightly, her gaze falling on the gray square bricks ahead, and said in a low voice: "Since this servant has taken on the duty of night patrol, naturally I dared not be lax. It was truly because I saw a fire burning in this courtyard that I had to question them further. But my station is lowly, and I dared not act on my own authority, so I intended to return and report to the steward, Nanny Hu, before deciding what to do. Who could have known—"
She hesitated slightly before continuing, "—who knew that Nanny Feng would refuse to let me leave, which led to the dispute, and that she would then strike and humiliate me, even to the point of disturbing Your Highness."
Hearing this beside them, Concubine Chen's expression grew even uglier. A mere household servant had actually lodged a complaint against her before His Highness—had she eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard!
Still, she suppressed her anger, looked helplessly at Prince Duan, and said in a soft voice, "Your Highness, this Nanny Feng is someone I have long been accustomed to using. She has served me since I came out of the palace. I have always known her character—she acts by the book and values rules above all. I fear it must be that this servant said something improper somewhere, which gave rise to the misunderstanding."
Hearing this, Gu Youning naturally felt unwilling—Concubine Chen was lying so shamelessly through her teeth.
But this Concubine Chen was his concubine, and he was bound to grant her some face.
Yet Prince Duan said, "Concubine Chen, you were present just now as well? Did you witness everything with your own eyes?"
Concubine Chen couldn't help but freeze.
Prince Duan: "Since you saw it all yourself, you still allowed your servant to use open flame, openly violating the rules of this residence?"
Concubine Chen: !!
Her face went deathly pale in an instant, and she hurriedly said, "This concubine doesn't know, this concubine didn't see anything, this concubine knows nothing—"
She quickly retracted her earlier words: "Just now I was merely speculating based on common sense, guessing it was due to some misunderstanding. I was speaking carelessly."
Seeing that Prince Duan's face remained cold, she grew all the more terrified and said through gritted teeth, "I only wished to plead for mercy on Old Woman Feng's behalf—after all, I do cherish old bonds. But if she dared to violate the rules of the prince's residence, then naturally I could never tolerate her!"
Everyone watching this scene was dumbstruck; Lin Bingzhong's wife was utterly stunned.
This Concubine Chen had intended to plead for mercy and twist the truth, yet with a single, indifferent remark from Prince Duan, she had first made excuses, then admitted her fault, and finally pushed Old Woman Feng out entirely.
Truly—
Indeed, a prince was a prince!
Prince Duan spoke again: "Very well. In your opinion, how should she be punished?"
Concubine Chen panicked, muttering, "How should… how should she be punished…"
Old Woman Feng had originally harbored some hope, thinking Concubine Chen would speak up for her. Now, seeing this scene, she hurriedly begged, "Madam, this old servant deserves death, this old servant was wrong. Please beg for mercy on my behalf—it was all for your sake, madam!"
But Concubine Chen had no attention to spare for Old Woman Feng. Prince Duan's mourning period had only half a year left, and she naturally hoped to consummate the marriage soon. If she offended Prince Duan now, wouldn't she be handing the advantage to Madam Jiang and the others for nothing?
Her heart hardened, and she said through gritted teeth, "Since she has committed an offense, she should be dealt with according to the rules of the residence. I dare not show the slightest favoritism."
At this, Prince Duan cast a faint glance to his side. A guard nearby understood at once, stepped forward, and declared, "According to the residence's established rules, after the first watch drum sounds, all open flames are forbidden. Those patrolling the grounds, inside and out, must inspect every place without omission. Anyone found concealing lights or violating the ban may be dealt with by the night patrols according to the rules, without first reporting back. Anyone who resists discipline and willfully defies orders shall receive twenty strokes of the cane."
The guard spoke expressionlessly, each word chilling the maids and servants to the bone. As for Old Woman Feng, she was scared out of her wits.
The guard continued: "Should anyone dare to act violently and assault the night patrol, they shall be expelled from the residence immediately and sent to the estate farm to serve as forced laborers."
The estate farm? Forced labor?
It was only a small matter—how had it come to this!
Everyone was secretly shocked. No one had expected such a severe punishment. As the saying goes, even when beating a dog, one considers its master. Old Woman Feng was Concubine Chen's capable aide, yet the prince showed no mercy at all.
Old Woman Feng's eyes went blank, and she stammered, "Y-Your Highness, spare my life…"
One must understand that household servants, being familiar with all matters within the residence, could never simply be sold off. If they committed a grave offense, they would either be beaten to death on the spot or sent to the estate farm. This so-called estate farm was an agricultural manor belonging to the prince's lands, where hardened laborers were kept under strict guard, made to toil without rest.
One could say that once sent to do this forced labor, there was no hope for the rest of one's life—never to come out again!
Concubine Chen had never imagined it would be so harsh, that her capable madam would be expelled just like this.
She looked at Prince Duan with some despair, only to see that beneath the moonlight, those light brown eyes were utterly indifferent.
Like this, he was ice, he was stone—he would never show favoritism. Even if she begged the Old Consort Dowager herself, it would likely be of no avail.
Her whole body went limp.
Prince Duan's voice rang out once more, still in that forever-flat tone: "A hundred slaps to the mouth, then send her to the estate farms at once to serve as penal labor. No delays."
Old Woman Feng let out a desperate hiss. Panic flashed across Concubine Chen's face, but she steeled herself, not daring to glance at Old Woman Feng even once.
At that moment, two burly maids stepped forward, pinned Old Woman Feng down firmly, and raised their hands to strike.
Old Woman Feng wept and begged Concubine Chen for mercy, but Concubine Chen turned a blind eye.
Desperate, Old Woman Feng cried out: "I did it all for you, Madam!"
Concubine Chen's face was cold. "I only told you to beg for some soup. Who told you to openly violate the rules of the household?"
Old Woman Feng froze, and all the strength drained from her body. She collapsed there like a lump of mud.
Then the two maids raised their hands—with a sharp "crack," a slap rang out. Old Woman Feng screamed in agony. She tried to struggle, but could not.
The maids delivered slap after slap. Old Woman Feng's face turned black and blue, swelling up, her hair at the temples growing disheveled.
All the servants and maids in the courtyard held their breath, not daring to breathe. The courtyard was utterly silent except for the crisp sound of slaps, accompanied by Old Woman Feng's hoarse sobbing.
Gu Youning stood to the side, watching in silence.
She had taken a slap too, though not a heavy one. Compared to the pain, what she had felt more was the humiliation and grievance of being slapped in public.
Now, the very person who had slapped her was being punished so severely, and her grievances naturally vanished like smoke.
Her gaze stole a glance at Prince Duan. The clear moonlight washed over his handsome face; his brows and eyes were calm, his expression cool and indifferent.
Like this, he seemed strikingly handsome and dignified.
Truthfully, she would never have had such a thought before. After all, a servant like her would first notice his magnificent, imposing robes, and first feel his identity as a prince.
In the hearts of these servants and pages, the Prince was wreathed in a halo—the Prince of Great Zhao, the master who held their fates in his hands, the heaven of the manor.
Wrapped in that overwhelming power, his outward appearance was the least important thing.
She slowly withdrew her gaze, lowering her eyes to the bluestone slabs before her.
She thought: right now, she was secretly harboring a bit of expectation, carefully wondering—why would he disregard Concubine Chen's face and punish Old Woman Feng so severely? Was it because she had been hurt, and he was avenging her?
But she also knew how laughable and presumptuous such a thought was.
Amid these drifting thoughts, the slapping finally stopped. The two maids had taken turns with four palms; by the time the last slap landed, Old Woman Feng was barely breathing, her eyes glazed, her voice reduced to a hoarse rasp.
Everyone watching felt a chill in their hearts.
To violate the rules of the household—even Madam Chen's most capable attendant had come to this end. Who would dare be the slightest bit careless again?
The maids dragged Old Woman Feng away. Concubine Chen's face was deathly pale as she stood there cautiously, not daring even to look.
She had truly lost all face today.
Who would have thought that at this moment, Prince Duan would speak again, still in that measured, even tone: "Concubine Chen, the violation of the hearth-fire prohibition began with you, and you have been negligent in disciplining the servants of this courtyard. You deserve punishment. In consideration of this being your first offense, you are confined to your quarters for one month—you may not step half a pace beyond Fangting Courtyard—and three months of your monthly allowance is forfeit."
What?
Concubine Chen couldn't believe it, gazing at Prince Duan through her tears: "Your, Your Highness?"
She had thought that slapping Old Woman Feng would be the end of it—why was she being punished too?
Prince Duan's expression remained calm as he asked in return, "Should you not be punished?"
Concubine Chen froze, stunned, before finally forcing out a smile uglier than crying: "You're right, Your Highness. This concubine was wrong. I deserve punishment, I deserve it."
When she was first bestowed upon Prince Duan as a concubine, she had been overjoyed by his handsome looks and imposing nobility, thinking she had gotten quite the bargain.
But at this very moment, looking at that forever expressionless face and those eyes that never showed the slightest ripple, she found herself grinding her teeth in fury.
What kind of person was this, who could always speak the cruelest words in such a flat, gentle tone!