Half an incense time earlier.
The group of ladies watched as Zhao Hua left the inner chambers, gazing as the heavy gilded rosewood door closed tightly behind him.
They then turned their attention back to Xiao Jingheng.
At that moment, Xiao Jingheng was hunched over the desk, his hands straining to prop up his slumped body.
He scanned the familiar faces before him with fury barely contained:
"What benefits did Song Zhao offer you, that you would be deceived into conspiring against me!"
The ladies exchanged glances in silence,
only responding with mocking smiles at one another.
Xiao Jingheng knew they were laughing at him, further inflaming his rage.
"What are you laughing at? Do you think Song Zhao has won against me? I'm not afraid to tell you, I have already summoned Yan Hong back to the capital to lead troops and restore order!
I imagine at this very moment, he should have already brought men into the Capital City, soon to storm the palace!
You have all been bewitched by Song Zhao's lies into committing these grave errors, a crime punishable by the extermination of your clans! But considering your years of service to me, I can give you a chance to redeem yourselves. As long as you remain obedient, once this storm passes, I vow not to take issue with you!"
He spoke at length with the arrogance of a victor, prompting Qimu Ge to scratch her ear in annoyance. Turning to Ru Naren, she smiled, "Sister, did you hear something?"
Ru Naren feigned listening intently before laughing, "Forgive me, sister, but it sounded like the Pekinese dog I keep in the palace."
Being likened to a dog was even more infuriating to Xiao Jingheng than being publicly slapped.
He bellowed furiously, "Consort Yin! Consort Ru! Have you lost your minds!?"
Qimu Ge completely ignored Xiao Jingheng's incessant barking, continuing to Ru Naren, "The Pekinese is a breed unique to the capital city. You were raised in Mongolia, sister, accustomed to larger, fiercer breeds. Dealing with these ill-tempered lapdogs may be a challenge.
But no matter, I have been in the palace since I was eighteen years old, a decade now. I know how to tame the dogs of the capital city. Watch closely, sister."
She fetched a long, slender curtain rod from the window seat,
then returned to stand before Xiao Jingheng. Without hesitation, she struck his back forcefully.
"Ah!!"
The thinner the rod, the sharper the pain upon impact.
Xiao Jingheng cried out in agony, drenched in cold sweat.
Qimu Ge leaned in close, sneering, "What use is Yan Hong entering the palace? Oh, I forgot to mention, my father has already surrounded the Four Guards of the Capital City with the Ada Tribe Army since last night."
Ru Naren feigned shock, covering her mouth, "Why, how convenient. My father also surrounded Tongling Pass and Shanhai Pass a few days ago. Yan Hong may rush back to the capital at full gallop, but his troops will arrive at least three or four days behind.
They will have to battle the Mongolian Army at the borders first and win, before they can come to your rescue. But the Mongolian Army numbers nearly a hundred thousand. If that battle truly commences, your bones may well be cold by the time they settle the victor on the front lines.
Even if Yan Hong returns now, the men he can call upon are only the three hundred Imperial Guards and the hundred personal guards he brought with him.
If those four or five hundred men surround Chaoyang Palace, what noise could they possibly make? Enough to eat your feast, perhaps?"
Initially, though humiliated, Xiao Jingheng was not afraid.
In his eyes, these palace ladies, no matter how much they caused a ruckus, could never amount to more than a storm in a teacup even if they joined forces.
But upon learning that their families had also allied against him,
he realized the true gravity of his situation.
While the Ada Tribe and Mongols as foreigners could be easily swayed by outside influences,
it was Rongyue's subsequent words that truly horrified him.
All these years, Rongyue had presented herself as quiet and reserved, serene and dignified before Xiao Jingheng.
Yet even now, she spoke to him gently with a placid smile, "Your Majesty, my father the Navy Commander has cut off all waterways for the navy to enter the interior lands. The Capital City is now surrounded, isolated by land and water. Please, calm yourself."
"You... you all..."
Xiao Jingheng's heart raced violently, as if it would cease beating at any moment.
Fortunately,
seeing his change in demeanor, Ru Ge hurried to massage his chest, albeit with a hint of anger as she addressed the other ladies,
"Sisters, you go too far!"
But before Xiao Jingheng could find solace in those words, Ru Ge whispered in his ear,
"You always said I was the most gentle and understanding, that you would treat me well. But in the month since I entered the palace, when my mother passed away and my father duly informed the court, not only did you refuse to let me leave to mourn her, you took the guise of comforting me to strip me bare, forcing me to engage in lewd acts with you as I held my mother's memorial rites..."
Xiao Jingheng panted in protest, "You said you had fancied me for years when you entered the palace. I kept you by my side to comfort you after your mother's death - how is that my fault?"
"Fancied you? Hah..." Ru Ge scoffed, her voice growing increasingly harsh,
"The one I fancied was always Prince An, not you... You would have been better off dead!"
With those words, she shoved him forcefully, sending him crashing to the ground once more.
