"This cannot go on!"
Noble Lady Jiang put her hands on her hips. "Given that His Majesty has just promoted me, I must help them."
If Noble Lady Jiang had been born in modern times, she would have clearly recognized herself as what we call a "shipper."
In the brightly lit temporary palace, there were empty gardens everywhere, but Low Level Consort Yu had nowhere to go and was taken by the eldest princess to her residence, the Changyin Pavilion.
"Mingyu, you are the royal eldest princess. How could you kneel before that worthless Jiang Xinyue? She's merely the daughter of a dancing girl. If not for your father's favor, she would still be a lowborn daughter not fit to show her face in public. Even though her dancing girl mother has been elevated to the status of an equal wife, it doesn't change the fact that she comes from humble origins. You kneeling to her is far beneath your dignity."
Before the eldest princess could express her disappointment, she was shocked by Low Level Consort Yu's train of thought: "You should have knelt and begged your father to deal with Jiang Xinyue. With her around, not just me, but all the consorts in the palace have no chance of rising up. If she becomes Empress in the future, where will that leave us, mother and daughter? Has your brain been squeezed by a door? Not only do you refuse to help me deal with Jiang Xinyue, but you let your father severely punish me. When I get beaten with the paddle later, will that bring glory to your face?"
"Mother, do you still not see the reality of the situation?"
The eldest princess said with exasperation, "Concubine Zhen is Father's beloved. You and I combined don't match her status in Father's heart. Yes... Concubine Zhen comes from a humble background. But Mother, haven't you heard that true heroes can come from anywhere? How many emperors who succeeded in rebellion came from peasant families? How many empresses entered the palace as mere serving girls? You constantly underestimate Concubine Zhen, blinded by jealousy, but haven't you experienced enough of her cunning and capability? Look at yourself - from one of the four highest-ranking consorts to your current lowly position. Do you still think you're her match?"
"I... I was just..."
"Mother, are you still going to be stubborn?"
The eldest princess glared at her: "You say I shouldn't have knelt to her, but who caused me to do so? I beg you to stop humiliating yourself and leave me some dignity, alright? If you keep falling in rank like this, how can I marry into a good family without being looked down upon? You scheme against her, you feel satisfied, but my marriage prospects are in her hands. Can't you consider my situation before you act?"
Although the eldest princess didn't believe Concubine Zhen was the type to manipulate her marriage prospects, her mother was unclear-headed, so she had to emphasize the severity to make her mother think twice before doing something foolish again.
Low Level Consort Yu pouted, somewhat unconvinced and skeptical, saying weakly, "Don't frighten me. Your marriages will naturally be decided by your father. How could she have any say in it?"
"Are you so certain that Concubine Zhen won't become Empress within the next three years?"
She was twelve years old now, and in three years she would be married - whether as a diplomatic alliance or to a noble family in the capital, enjoying lifelong prosperity, would depend on these few years.
Low Level Consort Yu finally fell silent: "Don't be angry. I won't act rashly or listen to others' instigation next time."
"You're planning on there being a next time?"
"No, that's not what I meant..."
"Noble Lady Yu, Your Highness, we servants have come by imperial decree to carry out the paddle punishment on Noble Lady Yu."
Low Level Consort Yu's face fell as she reluctantly stood up, holding her skirts. She didn't want to be beaten, but there was no choice - it was the Emperor's direct order, and making a scene would only bring shame upon herself.
The eldest princess sighed and had her personal maid bring out several gold ingots: "Father only wants to teach Mother a lesson, not take her life. Please be merciful in your execution, this is a small token of my appreciation."
In the palace, gold and silver were hard currency.
The lead eunuch bowed, accepting the eldest princess's reward with both hands, smiling obsequiously: "Your Highness need not worry, we servants know what to do."
Though they took the money, Low Level Consort Yu felt that those dog servants didn't strike any lighter - with each paddle strike, she felt as if her bottom would split open.
The palace eunuchs in charge of punishment knew how to control the force of their strikes. Although they had accepted the eldest princess's favor, they couldn't offend the Imperial Noble Consort, or they wouldn't be able to give a proper account.
Forty strikes with the paddle could actually take someone's life.
But the eldest princess had pleaded for Low Level Consort Yu, and the Imperial Noble Consort hadn't pushed for the extreme. Otherwise, with just one word from her, even if the eldest princess offered mountains of gold and silver, they wouldn't dare accept it, and Low Level Consort Yu would certainly have met the King of Hell.
But since the Imperial Noble Consort hadn't hinted at taking Low Level Consort Yu's life, they could accept the eldest princess's "bribe."
But how should they strike? How hard?
The eldest princess's word didn't count - it was all in their control.
They had to draw some blood to give a proper account to the ChuangChun Pavilion.
When the forty strikes were finished, Low Level Consort Yu's back was soaked with cold sweat, and her white undergarments were stained with blood.
Her face was pale and covered in sweat. She wanted to curse, but upon seeing the eldest princess's warning look, she rolled her eyes and fainted.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xinyue, having finished washing up, went to sleep without any psychological burden.
Whatever!
After all, she was now the biggest victim. She could freely vent her dissatisfaction with the emperor, as long as she did so within his acceptable limits - she could do whatever she wanted under heaven.
The next day, just as dawn was breaking and Jiang Xinyue was still in bed, a stream of rewards entered the ChuangChun Pavilion.
How many people in the Lanyue Pavilion were green with envy.
A little maid wrapped ice in a damp face towel and gently pressed it against Concubine Cheng's swollen face: "My lady, why don't you tell the Emperor? Now that your father has achieved merit and will soon be transferred from Guangdong to the capital as a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Revenue, he'll be a metropolitan official after all. The Emperor won't allow Noble Consort Ye to bully you like this, disregarding hierarchy."
Concubine Cheng still didn't know exactly what merit her father had achieved, as he was still in Guangdong and only vague letters had arrived.
"Cunxin, you're too naive."
Concubine Cheng took the ice-cold cloth and rubbed her cheeks, saying rather painfully: "If I were to complain, it would inevitably bring up the matter of Noble Lady Liu insulting the Imperial Noble Consort. That fool Liu Xiaoxiao never knows who her real enemies are. She would definitely implicate me, and if the Emperor found out I was deliberately stirring up trouble, I would die a miserable death."
Everyone had heard about yesterday's incident in the bamboo grove, and she was grateful she hadn't been involved. Otherwise, the Emperor would certainly have directed his anger at them, the newly promoted consorts.
The Emperor was feeling guilty and wanted to make amends to the Imperial Noble Consort. Going to complain at this time would be like voluntarily offering herself up as a sacrificial lamb to Jiang Xinyue.
She thought this way because she still had some self-awareness.
But some people always thought they were the exception, believing that acting weak and crying would earn a man's pity and sympathy.
