Concubine i was fuming with aggression.
Su Bai was not surprised. Right after the Imperial Edict was handed to i Changfeng in the Imperial Study, Su Bai herself ca out. Everyone knew she was the one who had reported Chu Qi.
Yet, i Changfeng was sowhat petty.
He did wrong without admitting it and now had his daughter, residing in the palace as a noble, confront her on his behalf.
"Oh, isn’t this Su Bai, the General who is the favorite of our Emperor?" Before Concubine i could speak, her sycophant Chen Jieyu was the first to stir up trouble.
Su Bai stood straight, her gaze unlifted, "This humble officer has seen all the noble Concubines, may you all be well."
"Well?" Chen Jieyu glanced at Concubine i’s expression, then sneered at Su Bai, "That’s hardly ’well’ at all. Recently, one wonders what exactly has been going on in the court; always so duplicity needed to stir up strife, making it impossible to have a peaceful day. General Su, how can one be well in such circumstances?"
She directly accused Su Bai of stirring up trouble with the Emperor.
Claiming Su Bai incited discord.
"If Chen Jieyu has sothing to say, she might as well speak plainly."
Su Bai looked at her directly, her eyes fierce with the aura of battlefield killings; just a glance with those peach blossom-like eyes made Chen Jieyu break out in a cold sweat.
She fiddled with her handkerchief trying to bolster her own courage.
"Does General Su not know what she herself has done?"
"What has this General done to rit such concern from Chen Jieyu?" Su Bai quipped with a smirk, "Feel free to speak openly."
She was famously easy-going both inside and outside the palace because she typically paid no mind to trivial matters. However, if anyone thought they could trample over her, they were gravely mistaken.
Chen Jieyu looked like she wanted to retreat.
Behind her, Concubine i poked her in the back.
That poke seed to give Chen Jieyu the courage she needed.
She cleared her throat and said, "Everyone originally thought General Su was an upstanding person, yet unexpectedly you also engage in tattling. Now, Lord i has been reprimanded by the Emperor, and loyalty has been questioned. Is this what you wished to see?"
"Chen Jieyu, what a joke." Su Bai’s gaze was deep, "Lord i was embezzling military provisions. The Emperor was initially going to have him executed, but this General pleaded for his life. Instead of acknowledging this General’s rcy, Concubine i brought a group to purposefully create trouble. How is this justified?"
"You—" Chen Jieyu beca angry.
Concubine i could no longer restrain herself, pushing her aside, "Useless thing." So tactless, she was rendered mute by Su Bai in just a few sentences.
Concubine i stepped forward, her expression slightly cold, "So, should this palace now thank General Su?"
"That won’t be necessary. This General is not one to sweat the small stuff."
That remark turned Concubine i’s face ashen, "General Su truly does not mince words, discussing execution freely, truly intending to frighten us fragile ladies of the harem."
"Exactly, always about fighting and killing, without a trace of feminine grace," Chen Jieyu jumped in quickly with her comnt.
Su Bai gave her a look, Chen Jieyu’s lips twitched, and she fell silent.
"This General was sent to the battlefield by imperial command, and it is not your place to judge," Su Bai scoffed, "Without us, the enemy would have breached the inner palace long ago, and you wouldn’t be in a position to criticize my manner!"
She thought for a mont, her anger rising again, "What use is grace? At the critical mont, it was still this General who had to draw a sword to save your life!"
"General Su certainly has a mighty presence!" said Concubine i with a sinister tone.
Today, out of nowhere, her father was harshly reprimanded by the Emperor and even fined his salary.
Although the salary was insignificant, everyone in the palace was aware of the news.
Her father was always respected in court, but today he lost face because of Su Bai. How could he maintain his standing in court hereafter?!
"You clearly could have spoken directly to my father about the military provisions. Why did you have to escalate it to the Emperor? Normally you treat everyone with such respect, if your soldiers knew you acted so duplicitously, how would you lead them in battle in the future!" scread Concubine i.
Su Bai was nearly laughed out of anger.
"Concubine i should mind returning ho more often rather than troubling this General for no good reason." She had sent soone to find i Changfeng months ago, searching for three months without a glimpse of him, always receiving excuses of his busyness and delays.
When she went personally later, the door remained shut to her.
What could she do?
War was imminent, her grievances were minor, but this was about the battle, about the lives of soldiers—it could not be taken lightly.
If i Changfeng pushed, why couldn’t she, Su Bai, push back?
"Step aside!" Su Bai lifted her foot to leave.
Seeing her about to leave, Concubine i’s rage ignited, "Su Bai, if you dare leave, I will have you punished!"
At these words, Su Bai’s steps halted.
Initially, she had not wanted to contend with the concubines, but now Concubine i was threatening to punish her.
She subconsciously licked her sharp canine tooth, her red lips curving into a reckless smile.
She slowly turned around, her tone defiant, "I am a court official. What right does Concubine i have to punish ?"
Concubine i’s eyes turned malevolent; without a word, she slapped Concubine Chen Jieyu next to her, sending blood spraying from the impact.
Concubine Chen Jieyu scread and fell to the ground, cupping her face in disbelief.
Concubine i pointed at Su Bai and exclaid loudly, "Audacious Su Bai, how dare you strike at the concubines of the back palace! Guards, seize this traitor for !"
What a spectacular self-directed play.
Very well, this General will see how you wish to continue this performance today.
She did not resist, letting the eunuch seize her by the shoulders.
"Now, let’s go and see the Emperor to settle this matter!"
Concubine i stared fiercely at Su Bai’s face, her hatred mingled with barely contained excitent.
When they stood before the Emperor, she would uncover this despicable woman’s mask.
Let her vile face be fully exposed to the Emperor, clear and unmistakable. Then she would see if the Emperor could still remain infatuated with her.
Guards escorted Su Bai toward the Imperial Study.
Concubine i stopped and looked down from a superior position at Concubine Chen Jieyu: "Get up."
Concubine Chen Jieyu imdiately got up, no longer covering her face. Her right cheek was swollen, no longer delicately attractive, with faint traces of blood making it appear horrific.
Her eyes brimd with tears from the pain, yet she dared not let them fall, fearing Concubine i would get angry.
"Concubine i..." Concubine Chen Jieyu called timidly.
Impatiently, Concubine i spoke, "Do you know what to say before the Emperor?"
Her gaze was venomous as it fell on Concubine Chen Jieyu’s face.
She was just younger; what gave her the right to have the Emperor call her repeatedly?
Seizing the opportunity now served dual purposes, proving herself remarkably clever.
"I rember your brother is serving under my father, is he not?"
Concubine Chen Jieyu imdiately fell to her knees: "Concubine i, I will stand firm that it was Su Bai who started the assault!"
Her brother had just secured a modest position in the court, she could not let her own faults ruin his chances.
This act would gain Concubine i’s trust, perhaps even favor with Lord i, creating opportunities for her brother.
Having made her point, Concubine i walked on satisfied, "Hurry and follow." This ti, she was eager to see how Su Bai would turn the tables!
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