novelraw Chapter 538: What Do You Mean!
Chapter 538: What Do You Mean!
Zi Yue knelt on the ground, seemingly anticipating this turn of events, her demeanor remarkably calm.With her head lowered, she did not utter a word, nor did she plead for mercy!
"You wretch!"
Consort Ning, unable to contain her rage, commanded fiercely.
"Guards, this palace maid has committed insolence. Drag her out and give her twenty heavy beatings!"
Xia Ruqing frowned. Twenty heavy beatings seemed excessively harsh.
She cradled Little Bun and rose slowly.
"Consort Ning, my maid is clumsy and can’t even properly brew tea, having offended Your Grace..."
Her intention was to offer some placating words. But who could have known? Consort Ning exploded at the slightest provocation.
"Consort Xian Pin, what are you implying!"
"I asked her to make tea, not to scald me!"
"What was your maid thinking!"
Xia Ruqing was left speechless. In truth, she understood Consort Ning’s irritation, knowing children could be thoughtless.
She thought using Zi Yue as a scapegoat might suffice. A punishment of kneeling or standing was acceptable; she assumed Consort Ning wouldn’t be too cruel—after all, she was just a consort.
But who would have thought she’d order twenty heavy beatings?
Xia Ruqing had seen the Punishment Department’s heavy batons before.
Zi Yue was still a young woman; twenty heavy beatings might cost her life!
Utterly ruthless!
Xia Ruqing’s gaze became sharp.
At this moment, a childish voice chimed in.
"Mother, Yi An saw it, it was Consort Ning who tripped this palace maid sister!"
The four-year-old Second Princess, unaware of the adults’ intricacies, simply said what she saw.
At her words, Consort Ning’s face turned colors instantaneously.
She whipped her head around, glaring at Consort Hui Pin.
"Nonsense, when did I ever trip her!"
"The Second Princess has even started lying!"
"Consort Hui Pin, you are truly something, to have corrupted a perfectly good princess!"
Consort Hui Pin merely smiled faintly, stood up holding the Second Princess, and with a hidden jab, softly retorted,
"Children speak their minds, Consort Ning, why get so angry at a child!"
"Besides, whether the Princess has been led astray by me is not for Your Grace to determine!"
Having said that, she glared at Consort Ning, then left holding the Princess!
Xia Ruqing watched the whole scene in astonishment.
So imposing! The usually gentle Consort Hui Pin unexpectedly lashed out directly at Consort Ning!
Indeed, a mother’s strength is mighty!
She thought if Consort Ning dared to scold Little Bun, she probably wouldn’t even argue; she’d just go up and hit her!
Position, power? To hell with that!
Consort Ning was left so angry she nearly rolled her eyes back.
In her mind, rank and power were everything. Therefore, Consort Hui Pin and Consort Xian Pin must always treat her with utmost respect.
But now, one after another, they dared to defy her!
She glared venomously at Consort Hui Pin.
You just wait!
Afterward, she turned back to look at Zi Yue, still kneeling on the ground.
She yelled, "Callous wretch! Guards, are you all dead? Take her out and beat her!"
Xia Ruqing suddenly chilled her gaze.
"Consort Ning, if you wish to punish my maid for offending you, you may, but first..."
"You must explain how she fell!"
These words instantly blanched Consort Ning’s face, and her thunderous rage disappeared.
She looked away, clearly feeling guilty.
"How she fell, how would I know!"
Having said that, her arrogance returned.
"Consort Xian Pin, protecting your own so fiercely, is it perhaps... your doing?"
Xia Ruqing was so angered by this that she almost laughed. Her doing? This baseless accusation was simply disgusting.
Just as she was about to retort again, Zi Yue suddenly spoke up.
"Consort Ning, my master, this servant is useless. I tripped over my own skirt and caused my fall!"
"Having hurt Consort Ning, this servant is willing to accept punishment!"
Having said that, she kowtowed.
Xia Ruqing looked at Zi Yue, feeling somewhat moved and wanted to stop her, only to hear Zi Yue continue.
"Master, I am serious! I ask Consort Ning to deliver her judgment!"
Xia Ruqing was stunned, unable to say anything more!
Consort Ning felt a bit smug, glanced at Xia Ruqing, and righteously declared,
"This servant at least knows a bit of propriety. Consort Xian Pin, you are even worse than a servant!"
After finishing her statement, she decided not to be lenient, and immediately called someone over.
"Give this wretched maid twenty severe heavy beatings!"
A severe beating!
Xia Ruqing’s eyes widened, but she knew this was not the time to argue.
So she just clenched her teeth and fists tightly!
She could only watch helplessly as Zi Yue was dragged away.
Xia Ruqing sneered at Consort Ning.
"Consort Ning, you must be satisfied now!"
Consort Ning was brimming with complacency.
"This Consort... feels very pleased!"
Having beaten the closest First-Rank Senior Palace Maid by Consort Xian Pin’s side, her mood was not just pleased, but... extremely smug!
She was a consort, after all. Was she not the only consort by the Emperor’s side?
So, as a consort of her status, she had the right to discipline a palace maid who had offended her, correct? Check latest chapters at novel-fire.ɴet
Consort Ning looked as if a petty person had achieved success, flaunting her victory before taking The Eldest Princess and leaving triumphantly.
Right, The Eldest Princess. Only now did Xia Ruqing notice the timid little girl tucked away in the corner. Still... trembling with fear!
This little girl, having a mother like that, was really unfortunate!
Sighing, Xia Ruqing took Little Bun and left.
Little Bun felt very disheartened. His mother had been bullied, and he hadn’t even been able to help.
Unable to protect his mother! Unhappy!
The little fellow’s cheeks were puffed in frustration.
Xia Ruqing found it amusing yet heartbreaking.
She then kissed him on top of his head.
"Son, you’re angry too, aren’t you? Grow up fast and protect Mother!"
In the royal family, the hierarchy was rigid, not something she could challenge!
In front of Consort Ning, at most she could put up a strong front for a few sentences.
She couldn’t even protect Zi Yue!
Indeed, Zi Yue had ’run afoul’ of Consort Ning, and as long as Consort Ning held onto that, Zi Yue... was truly doomed.
However, Xia Ruqing initially thought that she must protect her, regardless; it was a matter of her own dignity.
Having her palace maid beaten was a direct slap to her face!
But then...
On second thought, if she didn’t let Consort Ning vent this anger now, it would cause more trouble for Zi Yue later!
Thinking this way, Xia Ruqing could only reluctantly part with her desire to intervene!
Yet, she still felt uneasy.
Without fault, why should her palace maid be beaten up just like that!
The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt.
She barely touched her lunch.
After putting Little Bun to sleep, she too went to sleep heavily.
Curled up in her quilt, Xia Ruqing’s mind was filled with one thought: How to complain to the Emperor.
If Consort Ning bullied her, she had to file a complaint.
Lacking status, she’d have to rely on favoritism. Who told Consort Ning to bully her anyway?!
It wasn’t about being powerless; it was about being wise to the times!
If she were to foolishly confront Consort Ning and beat her up, she might feel relieved and satisfied at the moment.
But then, her own vulnerabilities would be in others’ hands, and the Emperor wouldn’t be able to help her even if he wanted to!
That would be real bad luck!
Right now, Consort Ning was the one clearly in the wrong.
She would just let the Emperor, her husband, avenge her!