Chapter 65: Chapter 64: Sulky
In truth, due to the angle, they hadn’t seen clearly either. However, Lady Xia couldn’t have fallen for no reason. And with Hu Liyi being so aggressive, if Rong Qiu hadn’t pushed her, who else could it have been?
"You’re talking nonsense!" Rong Qiu suddenly retorted.
Laying hands on a Palace Consort was a grave offense. If confird, Rong Qiu would face severe punishnt, if not death itself. Moreover, she hadn’t done it.
"How audacious! A re Palace Maid dares to be so insolent in front of the Empress!" Yu Lan shouted angrily. Rong Qiu was imdiately so frightened that she dared not speak anymore.
She had just been panicking. She didn’t want to be wrongly accused; she wanted to live. Unfortunately, speaking out against the Empress was yet another cri.
The Empress rubbed her forehead and said with a frown, "Regardless, it was wrong of Hu Liyi to instigate a Servant to commit violence. You will be confined to reflect for one month. As for this Palace Maid..." She paused, then continued, "Your master has erred. Not only did you fail to advise her, but you also abetted the mistake, disrespecting rank and causing injury. You shall be... sent to the Laundry Bureau!"
However audacious Hu Liyi usually was, she didn’t dare talk back now. She quickly kowtowed in acceptance.
As for Rong Qiu, she had already collapsed to the floor. She looked pleadingly at Hu Liyi, hoping her mistress would offer so protection—even a scolding or a beating would have been better than this. However, Hu Liyi didn’t spare her even a glance. In that mont, Rong Qiu felt utterly hopeless.
Yu Lan noticed Rong Qiu’s desolate eyes. Sensing sothing amiss and fearing she might go mad, Yu Lan quickly ordered her mouth gagged and had her dragged away.
The Empress then instructed, "Later, have the Ministry of Internal Affairs send so fine things over, and let Hu Liyi pick two more attendants."
Since Hu Liyi had been promoted, she was entitled to more attendants. One had been taken away, so sending two would replenish her staff.
Hu Liyi kowtowed her thanks. The Empress then rembered sothing else and turned to Xia Ruqing. "Your residence is also short one nial servant. Later, I’ll have so sent over for you to choose from!"
"Thank you, Empress!" Xia Ruqing curtsied in gratitude.
The Empress nodded. After a few more words of consolation to Xia Ruqing, she dismissed everyone.
As Hu Liyi departed, she shot Xia Ruqing several venomous glares before leaving in a huff.
Xia Ruqing, however, appeared unfazed, calmly walking back to her own quarters.
You bullied
once, so I’ll make you suffer this ti. Let’s see if you dare to try again. Though my status is low, I’m not worthless. Why should I tolerate it?
「Back at Zhaohua Pavilion」
Not long after, soone indeed sent over a few Palace Maids for nial tasks for her to choose from.
Xia Ruqing, feeling sullen, didn’t want to bother and left it to Xiao Xizi. "You choose," she told Xiao Xizi. "We need soone simple and honest, not too clever. We wouldn’t know how to manage soone like that."
"Very well!" Xiao Xizi agreed and went out.
Xia Ruqing washed her hands and fetched so ointnt, carefully applying it to Zi Yue’s face. Zi Yue’s face had endured more than a dozen slaps from Rong Qiu. Nurous spots were scratched by fingernails and had begun to fester, a truly distressing sight.
"Does it hurt?"
Zi Yue forced a smile. "It doesn’t hurt..."
"It’s my fault you’ve suffered like this..." Xia Ruqing felt unbearably upset.
Rong Qiu would never have dared to push ; I deliberately fell. That Palace Maid only beca so arrogant because her master gained favor. Although Hu Liyi ordered her to hit Zi Yue, a girl’s face is her most important asset. Anyone with a shred of compassion wouldn’t have struck with such brutal force. But Rong Qiu was different; she scratched and clawed, nearly ruining Zi Yue’s face! It just shows how malicious she is.
Zi Yue’s eyes brimd with tears. "My Lady, please don’t say such things. This little bit of suffering is nothing for a servant like ."
Xia Ruqing clenched her teeth and said, "If I had any real power, I’d have sent her straight to Yama, the King of Hell! Sending her to the Laundry Bureau is letting her off far too lightly!"
Zi Yue was terrified and hurriedly urged, "My Lady, please don’t speak like that! I don’t feel wronged. I only hope for the day when you no longer have to endure being bullied by others!"
"It will happen! It definitely will!" Xia Ruqing said firmly. "You follow
with such unwavering loyalty. I won’t let you suffer like this indefinitely!"
"Mm!" Zi Yue nodded with determination.
「anwhile」
Xiao Xizi had chosen a new nial Palace Maid. She had a plain appearance and seed honest and simple.
Xia Ruqing composed herself and asked with a faint smile, "What is your na?"
"This humble servant’s na is Cuicui," the girl replied.
Xia Ruqing smiled and gave her a new na. "From now on, your na will be... Qiu Ye. You’ll follow Qiu Tong and do nial tasks. If you serve diligently, I naturally won’t treat you unfairly."
These were re formalities. After all, words ant little; only ti would reveal a person’s true heart.
"Thank you, Honored Lady, for bestowing this na. This servant will certainly serve you well!" Qiu Ye answered cautiously.
Xia Ruqing felt weary. She waved her hand, dismissing them all.
When the midday al was served, Xia Ruqing specifically requested light dishes. Zi Yue’s skin was broken and bleeding, so she couldn’t eat any rich or inflammatory foods.
After the al, she had Zi Yue go rest and took a nap herself. Nothing more was said on the matter.
「At the Empress’s residence」
She had returned to Jiaofang Hall. While having her midday al, she gradually mulled things over and frowned.
"Do you think Hu Liyi’s palace maid would truly be so audacious?"
For a palace attendant to assault her mistress was an act of profound disrespect. Whether sent to the Laundry Bureau or directly beaten to death, her life would be ruined.
"Besides, from what I’ve seen, Lady Xia doesn’t seem that timid!" If she were truly that weak, how could she have confronted Consort Yun back then?
Yu Lan pondered for a mont, then said uncertainly, "This servant doesn’t think Lady Xia was faking it. Your Majesty knows the temperants of Consort Yun and Hu Liyi. As the saying goes, even a cornered rabbit will bite when cornered. And in this Harem, well..."
The Empress nodded again. "You have a point. That Palace Maid, Rong Qiu, struck with full force. Lady Xia’s attendant had her face beaten severely. That couldn’t be faked!"
She hadn’t seen the other details clearly, but this, she had witnessed with her own eyes. As the saying goes, seeing sothing once is better than hearing about it a hundred tis.
The Empress sighed. "Enough. Lady Xia is indeed pitiable." Even if she possesses so cunning, it’s hardly surprising. She wouldn’t believe anyone in the palace was entirely without sches.
With that said, having no further doubts, the Empress dismissed the matter from her mind.
「Three days later」
News of the incident reached Zhao Junyao’s ears that afternoon.
The Emperor had selected the naplate for Zhaohua Pavilion. Feng Anfu went to deliver the summons. However, it turned out Lady Xia was ill. Her palace attendants reported they hadn’t yet had ti to call an Imperial Physician or request the naplate be retracted.
Feng Anfu was nearly in tears. This was completely against protocol! In all his years serving in the palace, he had never encountered such a thing.
This... How was he supposed to report back? Did this an he had to ask the Emperor to choose another naplate? If this dragged on, and if such incidents beca common, would the Emperor be forced to choose naplates multiple tis a day? He feared his own life would be forfeit long before that day arrived.
With no other recourse, Feng Anfu sought out Li Shengan, desperately begging for help.
Li Shengan also found it problematic. However, since it concerned the Emperor, he had no choice but to brace himself. "I’ll help you report it," Li Shengan said.
Feng Anfu was moved to tears, thanking him profusely.
「That evening」
When Zhao Junyao returned from the Imperial Study Room for dinner, he noticed the small study in Zichen Hall was empty. He frowned and asked, "Where is Lady Xia?"
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