Zu Ying struggled constantly, but her arms were held tightly, and she was unable to resist.

Zu Ying shouted, "What are you trying to do? I am the concubine's person. Be careful, or the concubine will punish you."

The old woman ignored her and slapped her across the face, leaving Zuying stunned.

"You're beating the concubine's personal maid; do you think you don't respect the concubine?" Zu Ying roared angrily.

The old woman said, "So what if I hit you? How powerful can an unfavored concubine be? Her servants are even more insignificant."

“The concubine is the mistress. How can you talk about her behind her back? What is your punishment?” Zu Ying scolded her, staring at her.

"You should worry about yourself first," the old woman said with a mocking smile.

Turning her head, the old woman said to the people behind her, "Beat them."

The people behind her stepped forward, pushed Zu Ying to the ground, and began punching and kicking her.

Zu Ying lay on the ground, covering her head with her hands, trying her best not to cry out.

After a while, the head steward of the kitchen saw that Zu Ying was silent and said, "Stop hitting her, or she'll die."

Zu Ying was, after all, the concubine's person. Although they could beat her, if they really killed her, they would have a hard time explaining themselves.

The old woman was still not satisfied. She spat at Zu Ying on the ground and said, "Pah! You little slut, you got off easy. If there's a next time, see who can save you!"

Zu Ying got up from the ground, glared at the people in the kitchen, and said, "You didn't kill me today, but one day I'll pay you back tenfold!"

The old woman was about to hit her again, saying, "You're still not convinced, are you!"

She raised her hand to slap Zu Ying's face, but was stopped by the head of the kitchen.

The steward said to Zu Ying, "You'd better leave quickly."

Zu Ying turned around and limped out of the kitchen.

The head cook turned to the others and said, "Stop looking, get back to your work."

Zu Ying returned to the East Courtyard and went to Xue Ying to apologize.

Seeing that she was limping, Xueying quickly asked her what was wrong.

Zu Ying said, "My lady, I went to fetch the meal, but it wasn't served at all. I even overheard the servants in the kitchen speaking ill of you, and I was so angry that I went to confront them, but they actually hit me."

Xueying sighed and said, "Zuying, I'm sorry to have wronged you."

Zu Ying quickly replied, "No, no, it's nothing. For the sake of Consort, it's nothing for this servant to suffer a little hardship."

Xueying called Alu, who was also surprised to see Zuying's injuries.

Xueying asked Alu to apply medicine to Zuying's wounds, and then said that she would personally go and fetch the meal.

Zu Ying refused, saying, "Madam, how can I let the concubine personally fetch the meal? It would be beneath my dignity! I am still able to move; I will go and serve the meal right away."

Xueying said resentfully, "Now, because the Prince isn't here, even a few servants dare to gossip about me. But I, Ulanara Xueying, am not one to be bullied like this. A'luo, quickly take Zuying to apply the medicine."

After Xueying finished speaking, she called over a plump, rough-looking maid named Rachel. Meanwhile, A'luo obeyed and pulled Zuying out to apply the medicine.

Xueying said to the maid, "Rachel, come with me to the kitchen to get your meal."

Although Rachel was a lowly maid, she still knew the rules. How could a concubine go to get her own meal? However, being of low status, she dared not say much and could only reply, "This servant obeys."