Chapter Eleven: Punishment

"I was just passing through the Imperial Garden when those ladies from Chengde Palace were sitting in the pavilion discussing me..."

Consort Yu rambled on and on, telling Consort Jia what she had overheard in the Imperial Garden, growing more and more distressed as she spoke.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty is truly wronged..."

Consort Yu choked back a sob, tears streaming down her face, the hair ornaments in her hair trembling with each sob.

"I failed to please the Emperor when I served him, but those vile women blamed me for the Emperor's refusal to visit the harem. That's outrageous!"

Incense smoke rose from the incense burner, and Consort Jia leaned against the couch, fiddling with the beads on her fingers, remaining silent throughout.

It's so noisy! It's so noisy!

Every day I would come and talk to her about trivial and petty things. The tears I've accumulated over the years would be enough to flood Chang Le Palace!

"Consort An even said that I'm a jinx!"

Consort Yu clutched the handkerchief in her hand, her red nail polish almost digging into her palm.

She was completely oblivious to Consort Jia's unusual behavior, and was only immersed in her own humiliation, constantly complaining to Consort Jia.

"It's clearly Consort Zhuang who failed to win the Emperor's favor, causing me to suffer humiliation for no reason!"

"Oh."

Consort Jia suddenly let out a cold laugh, and the string of beads in her hand tapped on the table, making a crisp sound.

She finally couldn't take it anymore!

She raised her eyes and glared coldly at Consort Yu, "Do you think I'm blind?"

Consort Yu's crying stopped abruptly, and she carefully observed Consort Jia's expression.

"Your Highness, what do you mean by this?"

Consort Jia sat up straight, raised her hand and lifted Consort Yu's chin, her phoenix eyes as cold as ice.

"If you hadn't been so clever, you wouldn't have become the laughingstock of the harem!"

She knew perfectly well how Consort Yu had imprisoned Jiang Huan in Jinhua Palace and how she had eagerly tried to get close to the Emperor.

Jiang Huan, though extremely beautiful, came from a powerless family. So what if she was rumored to be serving the emperor for a short time?

Unfortunately, this clueless person confined Jiang Huan to her quarters the very next day and even tried to imitate her by cooking for the Emperor.

I don't know where she got her confidence from!

Now look what's happened, the attempt has backfired.

Her rivals all mocked her behind her back, calling her a laughingstock.

Consort Yu actually came up to her and cried, asking for her help!

Consort Yu's face turned ashen, and she opened her mouth to argue, but the words she was about to say were swallowed back by Consort Jia's icy gaze.

Since Consort Yu has come to her for help, that's fine, let Consort Yu test the waters first.

Consort Jia looked at Consort Yu, who was stammering and dared not speak, and beckoned with her finger.

"Come here, I'll show you the way."

Consort Yu hurried over and listened to Consort Jia's whispers. Consort Yu's originally pale face gradually regained its color.

"Your Highness, thank you for your guidance."

Consort Yu knelt on the ground, her fighting spirit rekindled.

Consort Jia sneered inwardly, too lazy to look at Consort Yu any longer, and waved her away.

If it weren't for the fact that Consort Yu was still useful, she would have driven her away long ago.

After leaving Chang Le Palace, Consort Yu immediately returned to Jinxiu Palace and sent Cuiying to the west side hall to summon Jiang Huan.

Before long, Jiang Huan and Xiao Zhao followed Cuiying to the main hall.

Although Jiang Huan had some doubts, she still lowered her head and bowed respectfully.

"This concubine has met Consort Yu. May I ask what brings you here?"

She has been staying in the side hall these past few days and hasn't bothered anyone.

Didn't Consort Yu usually dislike her the most? Why summon her for no reason?

Upon seeing Jiang Huan arrive, Consort Yu raised her chin at her, appearing imperious.

"Consort Zhuang, I've heard that His Majesty enjoys your cooking. So, please prepare some food for me to try as well."

Jiang Huan couldn't help but roll her eyes inwardly.

Consort Yu is the head consort in her palace, and she hasn't even had enough to eat these past few days. Doesn't Consort Yu know that?

Now you're asking her to cook? What will she use to cook? Her life?

Xiao Zhao was impatient; before her master could even speak, she knelt down with a thud.

"Your Majesty, we are so poor in our palace that we have nothing to eat, let alone any extra ingredients to offer you..."

Consort Yu's face immediately darkened, and Cuiying's reprimand followed.

"Your master hasn't even spoken yet, what right do you, a mere servant, have to interrupt!"

Jiang Huan's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

Xiao Zhao is a great girl in every way, except that she talks too fast and too much.

In a palace drama, this character would be cannon fodder in the very first episode.

"Small……"

Jiang Huan wanted Xiao Zhao to stop talking, but Xiao Zhao, fearing that Consort Yu would make things difficult for Jiang Huan, spoke up again.

"Your Majesty, please see the truth! Our young mistress has had the rice jar empty for days, not even a little bit..."

Snap—

A crisp slap rang out, and Consort Yu withdrew her hand, her sharp nails scraping against Xiao Zhao's face, leaving a long red mark.

Cuiying was shocked and hurriedly said, "Your Highness, you don't need to discipline the servants yourself. Let us do it. Please don't hurt yourself."

Consort Yu's palms were numb, but she was still not satisfied.

How dare a mere palace maid be so presumptuous in front of her?

It seems the punishment given last time was too lenient!

Consort Yu snorted coldly and ordered, "Drag her out and slap her!"

As soon as she finished speaking, palace servants came up and dragged Xiao Zhao away.

"Xiao Zhao!"

Jiang Huan was shocked and instinctively tried to stop him.

In the months since she transmigrated into the book, although she has been neglected and mistreated, she has not actually caused any life-threatening incidents.

Having gotten used to being lazy, even his heart became lazy and leisurely, and he even forgot that he was in a cannibalistic harem!

Seeing that Consort Yu was serious this time, Jiang Huan became truly anxious.

This silly girl, she already learned her lesson once before, why hasn't she learned her lesson this time!

Consort Yu was not about to let Jiang Huan save people; her eyes flashed with cold light as she sternly rebuked her.

"Guards, seize Consort Zhuang at once!"

Like master, like servant!

She still needs Jiang Huan to do things for her for the time being, so she can't punish Jiang Huan, which is actually letting her off easy.

However, she's determined to teach this maid a lesson today!

"yes."

Two more palace maids came up, one on the left and one on the right, and pinned Jiang Huan down.

Jiang Huan was sweating profusely with anxiety. At this moment, she couldn't confront them head-on; she had to take a roundabout approach.

"Your Majesty, it was Xiao Zhao who was being impolite. She was just afraid of not being able to entertain you properly and neglecting your dignity. Please forgive her!"

She lowered her head so low that she was almost kneeling in the mud.

He tried to say some gentle words to persuade Consort Yu.

But before Jiang Huan could finish speaking, Consort Yu's cold and ruthless voice rang out again.

"Gag Consort Zhuang! I don't need Consort Zhuang to speak right now!"

Previously, when she asked Jiang Huan to prepare food for her, Jiang Huan did not answer, and now there is no need to answer!

Cuiying was very perceptive; she immediately stuffed a handkerchief into Jiang Huan's mouth and tied it with a rope to prevent Jiang Huan from spitting it out.

"Mmm..."

Jiang Huan struggled incessantly, but her arms were tightly bound, making it impossible for her to move an inch.

Xiao Zhao's petite figure was dragged away, and her panicked state struck Jiang Huan's eyes, tearing a hole in her heart.

When the dull thud of the bamboo stick striking flesh rang out, Jiang Huan's muscles tensed instantly.

She heard Xiao Zhao's first scream caught in her throat, as if she was trying hard not to cry out.

But after a few blows with the bamboo slats, Xiao Zhao could no longer hold back.

"ah!"

A piercing scream rang out, accompanied by the sound of slaps.

Blood trickled down Xiao Zhao's lips, and soon her cheeks swelled up.

The moment it opens its mouth to scream, the wound will tear open again, and blood will flow out once more.

The palace servants who were punished were all Yu Pin's people, and they showed no mercy. In no time, Xiao Zhao's screams gradually subsided.