NOVEL WEB
Chapter 24
"But, I'm afraid... If Noble Consort finds out, she might implicate you, my lady..."
"I'm not afraid, let her come and find me if she dares."
Jiang Xinyue fearlessly said, "Those who hit me must pay the price. Do you think you can bully me easily?"
Although her status is low, the Emperor dotes on her!
Favor is the best immunity from death. Otherwise, how would Concubine Li dare to provoke the Empress time and time again?
Shuang Jiang's eyes were filled with struggle and tears, but under the encouraging gaze of Jiang Xinyue and Xi Que, they turned into determination.
When they arrived at the Imperial Garden, Jiang Xinyue nodded at Xi Que, who hid herself behind a pillar.
"These begonias are really beautiful."
Xi Que, pulling Shuang Jiang, ran all the way to the weeping begonia, and before Shuang Jiang could stop her, she had already broken off two branches, happily saying, "Tomorrow, we'll use these flowers as hairpins for our lady. She will definitely love the begonias by her temples."
"How dare you!"
A furious voice rang out, startling Xi Que, but when she turned around and saw it was Layue and another maid from Changxin Palace, she didn't move.
She was too calm, showing no fear, which made Layue's face even darker. "It seems that Concubine Zhenji hasn't learned her lesson after being disciplined by our Noble Consort. This weeping begonia was planted by the Emperor especially for our Noble Consort. She, a mere Sixth Rank Imperial Concubine, dares to pick these begonias without the Noble Consort's permission. Today, if I don't teach you a lesson, you won't learn the rules of this palace."
She walked over and raised her hand to slap Xi Que, but Xi Que, who was prepared, grabbed her wrist and pushed her back. Layue almost fell to the ground.
"We are all personal maids to our masters, but Sister Layue, you have quite the air about you. You say you'll hit us as you please. Is this a special privilege given to you by the Noble Consort?"
This was the first time Layue had been defied by a maid. The maids and eunuchs walking around slowed down and pricked up their ears to listen to the commotion.
Feeling humiliated, Layue's face turned red with anger. "You audacious servant, I'm disciplining you on behalf of the Noble Consort, and you dare to fight back? Guards, seize her."
"Who dares?"
A furious Concubine Zhenji emerged from the corridor, striding over with a gust of wind. Without a word, she slapped Layue across the face, then lifted her head proudly. "Even if I am a mere Sixth Rank Imperial Concubine, I am not someone a lowly servant like you can comment on. You're so arrogant, if I didn't know better, I'd think the Noble Consort herself was here!"
Layue, covering her face, glared at Jiang Xinyue. Although she didn't speak, the resentment and indignation in her eyes were clear. She must have cursed Jiang Xinyue a thousand times in her heart.
"Concubine Zhenji, even if I am a dog, I am the Noble Consort's dog. You hit a dog, but have you considered its owner?"
"Pfft~"
Jiang Xinyue covered her mouth and laughed. "This is the first time I've seen someone happy to be a dog. Yes, when you hit a dog, you should consider its owner. But when the dog's owner forgets to leash her pet and it bites my people, I hit back. Does the dog's owner plan to kill me for that?"
"You..."
"What do you mean by 'you'?" Jiang Xinyue kicked Layue's knee, causing her to kneel in pain. "You don't even kneel and salute when you see me. It seems like you're the one who hasn't learned the rules. Shuang Jiang, hit her for me."
"Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap..."
The crisp sound of slaps echoed in the Imperial Garden. Layue was initially stunned, as if she had been slapped silly.
By the time she reacted, ten slaps had already landed. Her face flushed red, she screamed and grabbed Shuang Jiang's hand, ready to fight back.
Seeing this, Jiang Xinyue quickly pulled Shuang Jiang back and grabbed Layue's hand, slapping herself in the face with it.
She let out a cry as she was sent flying, her nose hitting the ground and blood flowing from it.
"Concubine Zhenji!"
"Concubine!"
Xi Que and Shuang Jiang rushed over, crying and shouting, "Concubine Zhenji is bleeding! Layue, how dare you hit Concubine Zhenji?"
Jiang Xinyue smeared some pre-prepared pigeon blood under her nose. With the help of the palace maids, she got up from the ground, gave a gloomy look at the stunned Layue, and turned to leave.
Layue was terrified. Although she often punished palace maids and eunuchs, she had never laid a hand on a mistress or concubine.
The mistresses of other palaces had always been tolerant of her because she was the head maid of Concubine Li. Those who were beaten could only swallow their anger and never thought of seeking justice.
Why was it different in Hexi Palace?
Heart-Nurturing Hall—
After sending away the last minister, Wang Dequan handed a cup of hot tea to the Xuanwu Emperor. "Your Majesty, a doctor has been summoned to Hexi Palace."
The Xuanwu Emperor didn't even lift his head. "Is Concubine Zhenji unwell?"
Wang Dequan pondered for a long time, unsure of how to say it without offending either side.
The Emperor lost his patience and frowned at him. "Speak."
"Sigh..."
Wang Dequan reluctantly said, "Concubine Zhenji was hit... and it's said... she's bleeding."
"What?"
The Xuanwu Emperor found it unbelievable. "How could such a thing happen in the palace? Only the Empress has the right to punish in the palace, and she gets along well with Zhenji. She wouldn't punish her. Could it be..."
"It was Layue... from Noble Consort's side..."
What?
Absurd!
Presumptuous!
Bold!
He thought it was Concubine Li punishing Zhenji again, but it turned out not even to be a high-ranking consort, but a lowly palace maid who dared to lay hands on his beloved concubine. Who gave her the audacity?
Just yesterday, this Layue had beaten Zhenji's maid, and today she hit Zhenji herself. Who exactly is targeting Zhenji?
The Emperor knew it as clear as day.
Apart from Concubine Li herself, who else could command the head maid of Changxin Palace, Layue?
"Prepare the carriage, to Changxin Palace."
The Xuanwu Emperor stormed off to Changxin Palace, and by evening, the news of his quarrel with Concubine Li had spread throughout the harem.
The head maid of Noble Consort, who had been bullying the palace servants for a decade, the notorious Layue, was severely beaten by the Palace Eunuch Office with fifty heavy blows, her buttocks blossoming with bruises.
It was said that it was because Layue had injured Concubine Zhenji of Hexi Palace.
The palace maids and eunuchs all applauded, their admiration for the fearless Concubine Zhenji skyrocketing.
Empress Zhu shook her head with a smile, "I was actually worried she wouldn't fight back, but I didn't expect her first move would be to break Concubine Li's arm. I underestimated her."
Seeing the Empress in high spirits, Fen Yun chuckled along, "The mistress' kindness towards her hasn't been in vain after all, now that Concubine Li has gotten her comeuppance."
A thought seemed to cross Empress Zhu's mind, and her smile faded instantly, "In this harem, she's the only one who dares to quarrel with the Emperor, yet he doesn't punish her... Zhenji... is still far behind."
In the Hexi Palace—
Beneath Jiang Xinyue's small and straight nose, a ball of cotton was stuffed, and on the other side, a streak of light pink blood stained her nostril.
Marks were clear on her half face, like a child who had done something wrong. She pulled at the Xuanwu Emperor's dragon robe in a coquettish manner, "Your Majesty, your concubine realizes her mistake. You are magnanimous, please do not be angry~"