Imperial Concubine

Shen Meiwu held absolute power in the palace. When an injured palace maid appeared at the gate of the East Palace, it caught Cui Shenzhi's attention. Naturally, this did not escape Shen Meiwu's ears. Just as Shen Meiwu was considering whether to send someone to the East Palace to investigate what was going on, a palace servant came to report that Qi Kang had arrived.

Qi Kang usually respected Shen Meiwu very much and often praised Yan Zhi, who was by Shen Meiwu's side. So the master and servant put their heads together and decided to ask Qi Kang first.

Choi Shin-ji is all grown up now, no longer the child who can be easily fooled. If any clues are missed during the investigation and attract Choi Shin-ji's attention, it will be somewhat troublesome to explain.

Qi Kang wasn't surprised to hear Shen Meiwu's summons. After all, Ping An had caused trouble at the East Palace gate, and with Shen Meiwu's influence in the harem, it was impossible for her not to have heard about it. So he had already prepared a story in his mind on the way here.

Upon entering the main hall of Chengqian Palace, Qi Kang respectfully bowed to Shen Meiwu.

Shen Meiwu did not call out, but instead gave Yanzhi a look.

Rouge understood and asked with a smile, "Eunuch Qi Kang, I heard that a young palace maid caused trouble at the East Palace gate, and even alarmed His Highness the Crown Prince?"

"That's right, that's why Your Highness instructed me to make this trip," Qi Kang said, cupping his hands in greeting. "The head maid of that little palace maid is rather strict and beat her badly. She heard that Your Highness is kind-hearted, so she came to the East Palace to ask for Your Highness's protection and to transfer her to serve there."

"But Your Highness, as you know, is very particular about rules and regulations. Instead of seeking help from the head of the Imperial Household Department when that girl encountered injustice, she made such a commotion and ran to the East Palace. No matter how pitiful she is, His Highness will not keep her."

"She was really pitiful, and His Highness had just returned from Nanzhou. He was in a soft-hearted state. Although he did not want to keep her, he was willing to find her another place. That's why he sent me to ask the Noble Consort if there were any easier places in the palace."

Shen Meiwu raised an eyebrow.

She didn't suspect anything about Cui Shenzhi's part. After all, no matter how she tried to persuade Cui Shenzhi over the years, he always insisted on calling her Imperial Concubine, which showed that he was a person who valued rules and regulations. However, she didn't find the part about the little palace maid very credible.

In her view, whether the bullying by the head maid was true or false was irrelevant; the claim that she wanted Cui Shenzhi's protection was definitely fake. Her real purpose must have been to curry favor with the Crown Prince Cui Shenzhi, which is why she dared to take such a risky gamble.

However, the girl never expected that her actions would displease Cui Shenzhi, resulting in her efforts being in vain. Since that was the case, why not go with the flow?

Shen Meiwu picked up the tea beside her and took a sip. She said slowly, "The Crown Prince is still young and doesn't think things through. Since this girl is so unruly, she is not suitable to stay in the palace to serve. Why bother transferring her back and forth? Just send her out of the palace."

“Your Highness is right. His Highness said the same thing at first, but that girl said that her family was poor and she lived on her monthly salary in the palace and did not want to leave the palace.”

Shen Meiwu chuckled, becoming even more certain of what she was thinking.

“What’s so difficult about that, Rouge?”

"This servant is here."

"Go to the capital and buy a street-front shop, then send the deed to the Crown Prince's Palace."

"yes."

Qi Kang quickly flattered, "Your Highness is kind-hearted. This servant thanks Your Highness on behalf of that girl. Once she is feeling better, I will bring her to kowtow to Your Highness and then send her out of the palace."

“Didn’t you say that girl was seriously injured? Let her go outside the palace to recuperate properly. As for kowtowing,” Shen Meiwu said lazily to Qi Kang, her meaning ambiguous, “There are plenty of people who kowtow to me, so one more won’t make a difference.”

"Yes, after I pay my respects to Your Highness, I will go back to the East Palace to check on that girl. As long as she can walk without any problems, I will send her out of the palace as soon as possible."

Shen Meiwu nodded, and Qi Kang then left the main hall and went to find Cui Lingxian.

*****

Considering that Siwei and Ping'an were close, after Ju'an took Ping'an to the Mixed Hall, Cui Shenzhi asked Siwei to go with them as well. This was both to appease Ping'an and to let her try to get some useful information out of Ping'an.

Siwei didn't refuse and ran after him without saying a word. Cui Shenzhi returned to the study with hesitant steps, picked up a chair at random, sat down, and forced himself to think, barely suppressing his panicked emotions.

Ping An disappeared and reappeared in less than a month. In that short time, she transformed from an innocent and carefree girl into this terrified and frightened person, so much so that she dared not even touch him. Could it be... could it be that the person who harmed Ping An is related to him? Or perhaps that person attacked Ping An out of jealousy for the care he had given her? Or maybe that person disliked him but couldn't harm him, so he took his anger out on Ping An?

After much thought, Cui Shenzhi finally came to only one sentence in his mind.

Ping An was harmed like this because of him.

He's the one who ruined Ping An.

The incident in the slums was because of him, and this incident is also because of him.

He was nearby when they were in the slums, so he still made it in time, but he wasn't there this time, so it was too late...

He lost his peace.

The moment he reached a conclusion, all the emotions that had been weighing on Choi Shin-ji's heart surged up, causing him to sway and almost slip off his chair to the ground.

Lu Fengping, who happened to arrive, saw the situation and, without thinking, quickly pulled out several silver needles and inserted them into the Baihui and Fengchi acupoints.

"Be careful! Stay calm! No matter what happens, you must stay calm!"

Cui Shenzhi could hear Lu Fengping's voice, but he couldn't make out what Lu Fengping was saying. He could only feel a series of sharp pains in his head, so painful that he could only grit his teeth and couldn't say anything or think about anything.

Seeing Cui Shenzhi's increasingly pale face, Lu Fengping knew something was wrong and quickly inserted a few more needles.

After a long time, Cui Shenzhi, who was caught in an emotional vortex, finally managed to regain his composure with the help of Lu Fengping.

He leaned back in his chair, slowly opened his eyes, exhaled a breath of stale air, and said dejectedly, "Fengping, I've ruined Ping'an."

Safety?

Lu Fengping frowned.

Did Choi Shin-ji harm Ping An?

Putting aside the fact that Cui Shenzhi is inherently incapable of harming others, given Ping An's behavior, would she even be allowed to harm herself? It would be a miracle if she didn't. Furthermore, judging from Cui Shenzhi's relationship with Ping An, he's completely manipulated by her; how could he possibly harm her?

Lu Fengping didn't believe it.

"Shen Zhi, are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"No, I... I don't know how to say it. You'll understand when you see Ping An later."

Cui Shenzhi had just lost control of his emotions, and Lu Fengping dared not and did not want to provoke him again, so he could only suppress his emotions and not ask any more questions.

*****

Upon arriving at the bathhouse, Ju An Si Wei carefully removed Ping An's clothes, revealing countless large and small wounds on her body. Both of them couldn't help but tear up. Worried that crying would frighten Ping An, they turned their heads away, naturally missing the fleeting smugness in Ping An's eyes.

Once they calmed down a bit, the two gently helped Ping An wash her body while tentatively starting to chat with her.

“Ping An,” Siwei said as gently as possible, “Ju An said that you dumped Yue Sheng yourself because you felt uncomfortable with Yue Sheng’s excessive control, is that right?”

Ping An has not given any response.

Siwei pursed her lips and continued, "Where did you go after shaking off Yuesheng? Was it at the East Palace? Or did you leave the East Palace?"

Ping An remained unresponsive.

Siwei was both worried and heartbroken, but she had to ask, otherwise wouldn't the person who harmed Ping An go unpunished?

“Ping An, I know you are in great pain right now and don’t want to remember, but you have to speak out. Only if you speak out can His Highness stand up for you, and the person who hurt you will pay the price and will never have the chance to hurt you again.”

Ping An's eyes flashed, but she still didn't respond. It wasn't until Si Wei accidentally lost control and slapped her hard that she curled up into a ball, feigning extreme fear, and whispered in a clear, tearful voice:

"Your Highness, Consort, Aunt Rouge, I was wrong, I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong. I swear I will never go near His Highness the Crown Prince again. Please, please don't hit me anymore, please, it hurts so much, it hurts so much..."

Upon hearing this, Ju'an and Siwei were stunned. After exchanging glances, they were both at a loss for what to do.

They didn't share Cui Shenzhi's opinion that Shen Meiwu was gentle and kind. After all, even though they were palace maids by Cui Shenzhi's side, they were still just palace maids. Shen Meiwu wouldn't waste her energy on them and pretend to be gentle and loving. They naturally knew Shen Meiwu's true character.

But no matter how ruthless Shen Meiwu is, she has no reason to harm Ping An.

Yes, Ping An is close to Cui Shenzhi, but who in the Eastern Palace is not close to Ping An? From Cui Shenzhi down to the maids who just entered the Eastern Palace, who in the Eastern Palace is not familiar with Ping An?

Besides, so what if Ping An is close to Cui Shenzhi? She's just a child who only thinks about delicious food and fun things all day long. All she does in front of Cui Shenzhi is act cute and spoiled; she doesn't do anything else.

Even if Shen Meiwu didn't know Ping An's situation and thought Ping An was trying to curry favor with Cui Shenzhi's palace maid, Shen Meiwu was neither Cui Shenzhi's mother nor someone who wanted to push her to the position of Crown Princess. Was it necessary for her to target Ping An?

Ju An and Si Wei couldn't figure it out no matter how hard they thought about it, so they kept the question to themselves and planned to tell Cui Shenzhi later so that Cui Shenzhi could find the answer.

For now, all they need to do is treat Ping An's wounds and then take her to the study so that Lu Fengping can check if she has any hidden injuries.