On the other side,

"Your Majesty, there was a mishap during the morning greetings at Kunning Palace today. Consort Wan was targeted," reported Li, the chief eunuch by the Emperor's side.

Because Consort Wan was the emperor's darling, he dared not fail to report it.

"What's going on? Why is Qianqian being targeted?!" Upon hearing Eunuch Li's words, the Emperor frowned and demanded an explanation in a stern voice.

"Your Majesty, I have heard that Consort Wan's gift of a sachet to Your Majesty was discovered by Consort Mo, who revealed it during her greetings."

"How could this be?! How did she find out?!"

"Damn it, it's all because of her. I don't know how scared Qianqian was back then!"

"Using someone as a shield, he dares to rebel! He deserves to die!"

The emperor looked furious.

She was pampered so much because she wanted to protect Qianqian from being targeted by the harem, but instead, she didn't protect her properly and exposed Qianqian. It's outrageous.

"What else? Speak quickly!" The Emperor said angrily when he saw that Eunuch Li was hesitant to speak.

"Your Majesty, Consort Wan was beaten by Consort Jing." Eunuch Li closed his eyes, opened his mouth, and revealed the news.

"What's going on?! How dare Consort Jing touch Qianqian!" The Emperor was furious.

"Your Majesty, it must be because of the sachet incident."

"How is Qianqian? Is it serious?" the Emperor asked anxiously.

"They said he was slapped twice." Eunuch Li shrank back.

"Damn it!" The emperor pushed everything off the table.

Memorials, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were all scattered on the ground.

"Let's go to Chaoxi Palace."

"Keep the news under wraps; no one should know where I've gone."

"It is Your Majesty," said Eunuch Li with a solemn expression.

Afterwards, the Emperor, accompanied only by Eunuch Li, secretly arrived at Chaoxi Palace, the palace where the female lead resided.

"Qianqian, your face is so badly injured!" The Emperor exclaimed in surprise as he entered the inner chamber of the palace and looked at Wan Qianqian sitting on the bed.

Then, it turned into heartache and anger.

"Your Majesty, why are you so late?" The female lead was still able to hold on, but when she saw the emperor, her eyes filled with tears, and tears rolled down her cheeks.

He looked extremely aggrieved.

"Qianqian, it's my fault, I'm late." The Emperor embraced the heroine and wiped away her tears.

"Stop crying, your eyes are all red and swollen from crying," the Emperor said with concern.

"Your Majesty, I am in pain," the female protagonist cried to the emperor, using the other side of her face that was slightly better.

"Don't worry, I'll stand up for you."

"Don't cry."

"Your Majesty, I have been so well-behaved, yet Consort Jing still treats me this way."

"Today, Consort Mo is finding fault with everything." The female protagonist slowly recounted her grievances.

"It's all their fault." The Emperor's eyes flashed with anger upon hearing about Mo Qian and Consort Jing.

"Your Majesty, what should we do now? During the morning greetings, Consort Mo suddenly attacked me, and all the other concubines have turned their anger towards me."

"That's why I suffered this calamity and was beaten by Consort Jing." The female lead looked bewildered and aggrieved.

"Don't worry, I'm here."

"I'll use Consort Mo as a shield whenever I want," the Emperor said resolutely.

"As for Consort Jing's matter, I will give her a warning."

"Your Majesty," the female lead said, her face filled with emotion.

"We still need them now. Once the court is under my control, you can do whatever you want with them," the Emperor said, holding Wan Qianqian tightly in his arms.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Li Peisheng! Come in." Then, the Emperor called out to the outside.

"It's Your Majesty." Upon hearing the Emperor's call, Eunuch Li, who was standing outside the door, quickly pushed open the door and entered the bedroom.

"Give the Yan Yu Ointment to Qianqian."

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Li took out the Beauty Cream and handed it to the female protagonist.

"Qianqian, I brought this ointment specially. Quickly apply some ointment to relieve the symptoms." The Emperor looked distressed.

Then, after taking the ointment and sending Eunuch Li away, she planned to apply the medicine to the female lead.

"Here, let me put some on for you."

"No need to trouble Your Majesty, I can do it myself," the lady said quickly after taking the ointment.

The main reason was that she didn't want the emperor to look at her damaged appearance for too long.

This could damage his image in the Emperor's eyes.

The reason I acted that way before was to get revenge on Consort Jing and to vent my anger.

"Alright then, Qianqian, hurry up and serve some." After the female lead repeatedly declined, the emperor stopped insisting.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

—————————————————

After that day, the Emperor made a special trip to Consort Jing's palace to reprimand her.

He didn't want anyone to know that he cared about Wan Qianqian.

There was no excessive force when hammering.

This simply shows that he disliked the way the concubines in the harem abused their power to bully others.

In addition to the incident of Consort Jing slapping Wan Qianqian, the text also listed other instances of Consort Jing bullying other concubines.

In this context, the act of slapping the female lead is highlighted as a trivial matter.

He both warned Consort Jing and didn't reveal that he cared about someone else.

How could Your Majesty speak of me like that!

"I used to be innocent and naive. If I hadn't offered my heart, how could I be like this now!" Consort Jing said sadly.

The scene of the Emperor speaking to her at that moment was still vivid in her mind.

"Your Highness, please don't be sad." Consort Jing's wet nurse looked distressed.

"Granny, I've done everything for him, yet he speaks of me like this, saying I have no respect for the law, disregard palace rules, and bully others by abusing my power!"

"I...I'm heartbroken." Consort Jing's face was covered in tears, she was extremely sad.

"Your Majesty, it's not your fault; it's that he doesn't know how to cherish what he has."

"It's also because these concubines in the harem are too cunning."

"Your Majesty, please don't be sad. Crying will only make you sick."

Upon hearing the wet nurse's words, Consort Jing felt only sorrow.

She was devoted to His Majesty, yet His Majesty treated her this way because of those lowly women!

"Your Highness, it's Consort Wan! Consort Mo is right, it's all because of Consort Wan!" the wet nurse said with a vicious look.

Consort Jing looked somewhat bewildered upon hearing this.

According to His Majesty, she often bullied the concubines, and it was only after the concubines went to the Emperor that he came to reprimand her.

"Consort Wan?"

"Yes, it's Consort Wan. In the past, Her Highness would also discipline lower-ranking concubines, and the Emperor would turn a blind eye at those times."

"As a result, Your Majesty, you punished Consort Wan, and the Emperor came to reprimand Your Majesty."

"If it's not Consort Wan, then who else could it be?!" The wet nurse was furious, her face darkening.

"Consort Wan!" Consort Jing turned around after hearing what the wet nurse had to say.

The Emperor's previous words had pulled Consort Wan away from the situation.

This led her to mistakenly believe that she had gone too far in her daily life.

Actually, it was the Emperor who was supporting Consort Wan!

Thinking of this, Consort Jing's eyes blazed with fury, and her hatred for Consort Wan intensified.

Then, thinking of Consort Mo, who was now spoiled in the harem, a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes.

Is Consort Mo a target set up by the Emperor?

Is she a shield for Consort Wan?