NOVEL WEB Proofread by Claire.KK
The morning court had lasted for a quite a long time. The emperor, for the sake of his age, was too weak to continue. The pending problems would be solved some other day.
After the morning court was declared over, Wu Jitian took Dong Lin’s hand and walked out of the palace fast in case someone else might ask boring questions.
“I didn’t know you were so clever!” said Wu Jitian.
As he looked down at Dong Ling, he was somehow no longer angry. Instead, he gave a cosseting look.
Ah, sweet! That was how Dong Ling felt.
She looked away so that she wouldn’t make eye contact with him. She blushed with shyness, too. When Wu Jitian held her hand gently, she kind of felt secure.
“Let go of me! People will gossip!” said Dong Ling shyly. She was no longer domineering as she was in the morning court.
“No way! It’s quite a big palace. If you get lost, how can I find you?” denied Wu Jitian as he shook her hand. Looked like he wouldn’t let go of her at all.
Dong Ling smiled and didn’t want to decline again. But her hands were bathed in pinpricks of sweat.
“Let’s go. Let me show you around the Imperial Garden! You’ll be surprised at its beauty!” said Wu Jitian when he took Dong Ling towards the Imperial Garden.
IMPERIAL GARDEN?! Seriously?
Dong Ling was thrilled! After all, she read about the Imperial Garden only in novels or saw some on TV. She really wanted to see what a real Imperial Garden looked like.
It was already the early spring. Flowers of all colors were in full bloom. Taken good care of, so many precious flowers were blooming in a riot of color as if they were floral fairies! Not even a damaged branch or dead flower could be seen!
Enjoying the fragrance from the flowers, Dong Ling exclaimed with admiration, “Marvelous!”
Wu Jitian, however, totally ignored the flowers. Instead, he fixed his eyes on Dong Ling. To him, she was the most beautiful in the garden!
“You bitch! If I don’t teach you a lesson, I’m afraid you’ll get far too conceited!” someone yelled!
The shout broke the silence in the garden, which caught the attention of Dong Ling and Wu Jitian.
“I’m sorry! Your Highness! I’m sorry! Please spare me!”
A maid was apologizing and weeping. She begged and begged in a trembling voice.
“Somebody! Get me the whip!” yelled Princess Mengxuan and it seemed that she wasn’t going to stop.
“Ah!” Horrible cried could then be heard.
Dong Ling and Wu Jitian could hardly stand such terrible cries. They looked at each other and then walked towards the noise.
“Greetings, Your Highness!” greeted the imperial maids when they saw Wu Jitian.
The latter nodded and then saw Prince Wu Mengxuan lashing her maid by herself.
Hearing the greeting, she stopped and looked at Wu Jitian. She hated this brother!
Well, since Princess Mengxuan was born, she had never got on well with Wu Jitian. After all, he was the son of the guilty imperial concubine. Father was too kind to keep him alive.
“Oh, look! I wondered who was the busybody. So, it’s you, Brother? Are you coming to visit me when you’re just back?” asked Princess Mengxuan impatiently.
“I…” Wu Jitian was going to answer. But before he finished, Dong Ling walked up and said, “Your Highness. Benevolent as you are, please spare the maid. She’s almost dying.”
Dong Ling sensed the look of the maid who was trying to ask for help. She looked desperate and dismal. And her back was badly bruised from flogging. Possibly, she had to spend the rest of her life, paralytic in bed.
What was worse, if she was still flogged, she would die!
How inhumane ancient people were! They treated maids or servants like they weren’t even humans! Dong Ling hated that most!
As a guy from the 21st century, she hated it when someone at her age was treated so mercilessly! Obviously, Princess Mengxuan must be an extremely cruel girl!
In fact, Wu Jitian had only meant to give some advice, because he shouldn’t interfere in helping the maid of someone else. Unexpectedly, Dong Ling asked Princess Mengxuan to stop directly.
Princess Mengxuan looked away at Dong Ling and eyed her up and down. She sneered, “So, you must be Miss Dong who dared to contradict my father this morning. Now everyone in the palace knows you!”
“Yes, I am.” answered Dong Ling.
She was bold enough to admit what she had done.
“What? Now you’re trying to teach me, too?” yelled Princess Mengxuan when she got angrier and held the whip tighter!
“Mengxuan, you even lashed the maid who served you for nearly ten years. Don’t you know you’re doomed to destruction?” asked Wu Jitian.
He meant to stop Dong Ling because she had already gone against the princess. All he wanted was to solve the problem and leave!
“Oops, brother. After you lost a battle, now you’re interested in girls’ stuff? Shame on you!” replied Princess Mengxuan sarcastically.
What she said enraged Dong Ling more! And she looked colder.
Okay… Wu Jitian realized he would fail to stop her.
“No offense, Your Highness. I just think as a princess, you should at least pretend to be kind and generous!” said Dong Ling before she lost her temple.
Oh, no! Princess Mengxuan lashed her instead of answering! However quickly Dong Ling reacted, she only managed to cover her face with her arm. Luckily, her face wasn’t disfigured.
But her arm was hurt with harrowing blood stains.
Princess Mengxuan lashed her so hard! Blood oozed down her arm.
“You’re a daughter of a concubine! How dare you interfere with my business! What does it concern you when I punish my own maid?” yelled Princess Mengxuan, gnashing her teeth in anger. “And you didn’t kneel to me! What? You think you can run wild just because Jitian defends you?”
She was still angry and wanted to slap Dong Ling for a few more times.
Dong Ling looked down at her bleeding arm and burst into anger. She had no reason to take a beating again! She blocked Princess Mengxuan and pushed her. To Dong Ling’s surprise, the princess was so weak that she staggered and fell!
Imperial maids, standing around her, were thrown into panic. They rushed up to help Princess Mengxuan up. They would certainly be severely punished!
“She is mad! How dared she hurt me! Somebody! Come and tie her up! I’ll smash her face!” yelled Princess Mengxuan.
Hearing her cry, imperial guards ran over, but they were surprised to see Prince Jitian on site, too.
With pitiless eyes, Wu Jitian said harshly, “I dare you!”
Well, looked like he was still respected.
The imperial guards stopped and didn’t dare to come forward.