Jiang Xiuyuan froze.
She truly hadn’t expected Lin Anran to reject her so bluntly.
Could it be that the Empress did not believe in her sincerity?
Thinking this, Jiang Xiuyuan slammed her head down again. She used so much force that her forehead immediately swelled and turned red.
“Your Majesty, this concubine is loyal to you! Please see my sincerity clearly. If you do not believe me, I am willing to keep knocking my head until you do!”
With that, Jiang Xiuyuan went on like a madwoman, gritting her teeth as she slammed her forehead down again and again. Soon, the skin broke and beads of blood began to seep out.
Lin Anran frowned but said nothing.
Seeing this, Chunhua grew extremely anxious. She wanted very much to step forward to stop Jiang Xiuyuan, but without the Empress’s order, as a palace maid she did not dare act rashly.
If Jiang Xiuyuan’s behavior were spread outside, it would likely turn into a rumor that the Empress, in order to support Consort Yue, had punished Jiang Xiuyuan.
That would be harmful to the Empress’s reputation.
Chunhua worried that the Empress might not see the bigger picture, so she anxiously turned to look at Consort Yue, hoping she would help resolve the situation for the Empress.
However, Consort Yue only slightly shook her head and said nothing.
Chunhua was even more shocked.
Was Consort Yue’s attitude suggesting she believed the Empress had a way to turn the situation around?
But… could the Empress really do it?
It was no wonder Chunhua doubted her. The Empress had been overly protected since childhood, lacking schemes and intrigue, and later her depression had made her unstable, causing her to waste what should have been a strong hand.
Jiang Xiuyuan’s head was spinning from the repeated knocking, pain making it almost unbearable. She gritted her teeth, originally thinking that even if the Empress still did not trust her, she would at least get angry and drive her away. Then she could still give an explanation to the Noble Consort.
Unexpectedly, the Empress said nothing and merely watched her coldly continue.
If she kept this up, she would either die or be disfigured—how could she still compete for imperial favor?
Thinking this, Jiang Xiuyuan finally collapsed onto the ground after another hit, gasping for breath. With a tearful voice she begged:
“Your Majesty… this concubine knows her mistake. Please spare me, and also say a few good words for me in front of His Majesty, so that His Majesty may forgive me…”
Hearing this, Lin Anran truly wondered how someone with such a foolish brain had managed to survive in the harem.
In modern workplace terms, Jiang Xiuyuan’s little tricks wouldn’t even be worth mentioning.
“Presumptuous Jiang Xiuyuan! How dare you slander His Majesty—do you know your crime?” Lin Anran suddenly rebuked sharply.
Everyone present was startled and turned to look, but quickly lowered their heads again when they met the Empress’s furious gaze.
The Empress’s eyes were terrifying.
Jiang Xiuyuan was also stunned. “I did not slander His Majesty! What wrong have I committed? Your Majesty, you cannot wrongly accuse me!”
“This palace remembers clearly that His Majesty today only promoted a palace maid to a low-ranking consort and elevated Consort Yue. He did not punish anyone. Yet you keep speaking of begging His Majesty for forgiveness—how is that not slander?”
Lin Anran’s reasoning was clear and orderly.
Jiang Xiuyuan was once again dumbfounded.
She truly hadn’t considered this angle.
But even so, could this really be called slander?
It was clearly the Empress trying to pin a charge on her, yet she had no way to argue back.
“Jiang Xiuyuan, His Majesty did not mention you even once today, yet you’re quite good at making yourself the center of attention,” Lin Anran added mockingly.
Consort Yue and Chunhua both struggled to suppress their smiles.
The Empress’s final words were even more lethal than accusing her of a crime.
Wasn’t this basically calling Jiang Xiuyuan shamelessly self-important?
Truly, a killing blow to the heart.