How Could She Possibly Mind?

After a palace servant carried Noble Consort Qing's latest verbal decree out into the courtyard, Miaoxi's shrill, despairing cries soon rang through the hall.

Despite the considerable distance, her cries reached the room with extraordinary clarity.

"Your Highness, spare my life! Your Highness!"

"It was all this servant's slip of the tongue! Please spare me, Your Highness! This servant will certainly-mmph, mmph-"

Her cries abruptly became muffled whimpers, as though someone quick on the uptake had stepped forward to cover Miaoxi's mouth.

By the time the twenty strokes were over, Miaoxi's incessant howls of pain had fallen silent outside. Before long, the palace servant who had reported earlier hurried back into the hall.

"Your Highness, the punishment is finished. She has passed out. Should we..." Should we summon an imperial physician to examine her?

Although she deserved her punishment, she was still a maid from Noble Consort Rou's hall. An outright falling-out would likely bring some trouble.

Zitang did not finish her sentence, but Noble Consort Qing had already understood.

"As long as she isn't dead," she said indifferently. "Have her carried along. We'll pay a visit to Noble Consort Rou's hall."

Worry showed on Zitang's face, but she still made the arrangements as Noble Consort Qing instructed.

Noble Consort Qing's gaze swept over Eunuch Changshun, who stood behind the little girl with his eyes lowered.

After so many years attending Emperor Mingze, the man had long since become shrewd enough to read every situation.

By now, Emperor Mingze had likely already heard that someone had bullied the little princess he had been doting on these past two days.

Both punishments today had been justified, and with the matter also brought before Emperor Mingze, Noble Consort Rou could only let it drop quietly.

Besides, Noble Consort Rou was in the wrong this time. Why would she spread word of it?

Noble Consort Qing had thought it all through.

Two sedan chairs were carried out of Anqin Hall, and the sizable procession headed toward Noble Consort Rou's Flowing Splendor Hall.

At Noble Consort Qing's signal, Eunuch Changshun concealed himself behind the sedan chairs and remained outside Flowing Splendor Hall rather than entering with the others.

Noble Consort Rou wanted outsiders to believe that this visit had indeed been ordered by Noble Consort Qing, so she would deliberately avoid suspicion and send no one else out to investigate.

That also conveniently served their plan.

When they entered Flowing Splendor Hall, Jiang Huai'an was there as well.

Noble Consort Rou had specifically ordered a cushioned couch brought into the front hall for him. He lay facedown on it, waiting to watch her avenge him.

Jiang Huai'an's heart was already filled with hatred. The instant Jiang Xingran appeared, everything else around him ceased to matter. With bloodshot eyes and gritted teeth, he said, "It was him! Imperial Consort, it was him who made Imperial Father give me twenty strokes! Imperial Consort, hurry and avenge me!!"

Jiang Xingran paused at the sound, but quickly regained his composure.

His gaze swept discreetly over Jiang Yingcheng.

Although this little girl had helped Jiang Huai'an make malicious accusations against him several times before, what she had done today had clearly worked in his favor.

Noble Consort Rou, however, was far more calculating than Jiang Huai'an.

Before everyone could settle into place and pay their respects, she set down her teacup and stepped forward affectionately to take Noble Consort Qing's hand, drawing her toward the cushioned chairs in the center.

Noble Consort Qing's brows knitted slightly. She was just about to say something when the little girl's distinctly excited thoughts rang out-

[Ahahahahaha! That eunuch couldn't withstand the torture after all and gave Fourth Brother away!]

[Hahahahahahaha! It was only twenty strokes, but that's still enough to keep Fourth Brother in bed for days! Hahaha!]

The gloating in the little girl's thoughts was so obvious that Noble Consort Qing could not help relaxing her brows. The corners of her lips lifted into a smile.

Noble Consort Rou had been watching Noble Consort Qing's expression closely from the corner of her eye. Seeing the smile in her eyes, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed the other woman had failed to discover her little maneuvers.

Although she had a powerful natal family to rely on, Noble Consort Qing's family background was not to be underestimated either. Moreover, Noble Consort Qing had no children and posed no threat to her. If a few pleasant words meant one fewer enemy, why would she not oblige?

The two women sat down in the cushioned chairs.

Noble Consort Rou spoke gently. "Yushi, why have you come with this group today?"

She affectionately addressed Noble Consort Qing by her personal name, her expression and movements a picture of graceful serenity. Yet the fact that she never once glanced toward Consort Lan and the others made it clear that she was no easy person to deal with.

Noble Consort Qing sneered inwardly as well.

They had always addressed each other by their personal names. She had once believed it a sign of their close relationship, but now it seemed that had merely been wishful thinking on her part.

Cheng Yunmeng had finally found an opening when Noble Consort Rou turned around, but the latter had already begun chatting with Noble Consort Qing. Not daring to interrupt, she could only stand awkwardly in place and cautiously wait for a suitable moment.

Jiang Huai'an tried to start howling again, but a cold glance from Noble Consort Rou silenced him at once.

A maid stepped forward to serve Noble Consort Qing hot tea. Noble Consort Qing lifted the cup and took a leisurely sip before saying with a smile, "Today, a maid went to Consort Lan's courtyard to summon her in my name, so Consort Lan brought that maid to my hall for a visit."

Noble Consort Rou's brow twitched. She naturally knew that the matter had been exposed, but she quickly schooled her expression.

"I did send someone to Consort Lan's courtyard today to invite you to Flowing Splendor Hall for a chat, dear sister. If the person Yushi mentions was the one I sent, then I imagine she simply blurted out your name out of habit, since I mention you so often."

Noble Consort Qing smiled sweetly. "Of course I understand, dear sister. But perhaps she was frightened out of her wits and forgot to tell us the truth. By the time she wanted to speak, the servants in my hall had already..."

She did not elaborate. Instead, she waved to Zitang, and servants carried the unconscious Miaoxi inside and dumped her at the side of the hall.

Noble Consort Rou's breath caught, and an unbidden fire flared in her heart.

Miaoxi might have been only a lowly maid in her hall, but when she went out on an assignment, she represented Flowing Splendor Hall's dignity. Now she had been beaten within an inch of her life and tossed into a corner like a heap of mud...

Noble Consort Rou felt as though someone had slapped her across the face. Her cheeks burned.

But she was well practiced at concealing her emotions. "Someone who cannot even distinguish her own mistress deserves to be taught a lesson."

As she spoke, she turned her gaze toward the three people still standing before her. "You have been in this hall for so long. Why have I yet to see you pay your respects?"

Her intent to vent her anger on them was all too obvious. Consort Lan shrank back, then hastily led the two little ones in making their bows.

Noble Consort Rou drew out a languid "Mm," idly toying with her slender, pale fingers. "I will overlook it for the two young Highnesses. But Consort Lan has disregarded palace etiquette and knowingly broken the rules. Slap her mouth."

The sudden turn left Consort Lan unable to react for a moment. She merely stared blankly as a maid slowly approached at Noble Consort Rou's command.

At the sight, Jiang Huai'an, who had been quiet for some time, forgot all about the pain of his beating. He propped his upper body up from the couch and looked toward Jiang Xingran with a somewhat savage expression.

"Hahahahaha! Jiang Xingran, all the suffering your Imperial Consort endures today is your fault!"

Who told you to refuse to admit to that charge yesterday? If you'd admitted it from the start, none of this would have happened today!

Hatred covered Jiang Huai'an's face. Looking at her own hopeless son, Noble Consort Rou could only conceal the impatience in her eyes.

Emperor Mingze seldom lingered in the imperial harem, and she had only this one son. All her hopes of winning the struggle for the throne rested on him alone. However displeased she was, she could only endure it.

Noble Consort Rou turned to Noble Consort Qing beside her, once again assuming her gentle manner. "When Huaian went out to play yesterday, His Majesty punished him over a small misunderstanding. Yet the Seventh Prince, who was present, did not say a single word in Huaian's defense."

"When a child is bullied outside, his mother's heart aches, and she wants to avenge him. Yushi can understand that, can't you?"

She seemed certain that Noble Consort Qing would take her side and cover for her.

Seeing that the other woman would not even bother concealing her desire for revenge, Noble Consort Qing raised the corners of her lips and replied just as gently, "Of course I don't mind, dear sister."

How could she possibly mind?

As long as you-

Could withstand His Majesty's wrath.