Everyone was startled, and Yoon Jae-in was taken away.
The Empress Dowager glanced at the concubines kneeling on the ground, and finally her gaze settled on Consort Xu (formerly Consort De).
"Consort De, as one of the four consorts, you have no magnanimity at all. Tell me, how did you go from Consort De to Jieyu?" the Empress Dowager continued to ask.
"Your Majesty, it was all my fault for being ignorant of etiquette and offending His Majesty. I am terrified." Consort De was naturally nervous as well.
"You still think you can fool me now? Go outside and kneel down with Consort Yin!" The Empress Dowager quickly and decisively reprimanded Consort Xu.
"And then there's Consort Lin, and Lady Yang," the Empress Dowager continued calling out. Everyone in the palace dared not breathe too loudly, afraid that they would be the next one called.
"This concubine is here," Lin Baolin replied. Yang Baolin (previous context: near Yajing Residence, Nan Zhiyun was slapped, and the two who fanned the flames) responded.
"What are you doing kneeling there, trembling like that? Do you think I'm going to eat you? Or are you saying you can't kneel for long? If you can't kneel inside, then kneel outside. Get out!" This time, the Empress Dowager didn't even give the two of them a chance to speak.
"Lady Liu" was the next person the Empress Dowager called, who was the previous Lady Min.
"You used to be the most favored, tell me, what methods did you use to achieve that?" The Empress Dowager's questions were becoming increasingly tricky.
"Your Majesty, if I have only fulfilled my duties, and have not..." Before Consort Liu could finish speaking, the Empress Dowager said, "Anxin, slap her!"
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager?" Consort Liu was startled.
The old nanny An Xin, who served the Empress Dowager, went over and slapped Consort Liu several times. Consort Liu's face swelled up instantly.
"You're quite good at being sarcastic, I really can't stand it." The Empress Dowager didn't even bother to come up with a normal reason.
Nan Zhiyun had been flogged because of her, so how could the Empress Dowager let her off? Therefore, she immediately ordered: "Consort Liu dares to defy me! Strip her naked, give her a hundred lashes, and drag her out!" The Empress Dowager issued the order. Anyone could see that the Empress Dowager was supporting Nan Zhiyun.
Everyone who did anything to Nan Zhiyun has now been punished by the Empress Dowager on some pretext. Besides these people, there's also... Lady Chen in the Cold Palace (Chen Xiurong (Zhaoyuan)'s previous incarnation, Consort Yun. Previous context: the person who made Nan Zhiyun kneel and slapped her).
Just when everyone was still living in fear, the commoner Chen, who had been banished to the cold palace, was brought in.
Her appearance startled all the concubines present; she was no longer human. She was completely emaciated, her face was rotten, and her legs were useless, as she had knelt to go to the Elegant Residence.
"Take him to the courtyard," the Empress Dowager ordered.
"The rest of you should go out and take a look too," the Empress Dowager continued, then looked at Nan Zhiyun: "Yun'er, do you want to go out? It's cold outside, and you're not well. Why don't you rest here?" the Empress Dowager asked softly.
To everyone's surprise, Nan Zhiyun shook her head: "This concubine will stay with the Empress Dowager."
The Empress Dowager smiled and let Nan Zhiyun help her to her feet. The concubines below each had their own thoughts, and most of them probably wanted to crumple their handkerchiefs.
The Empress Dowager led the concubines into the courtyard. Besides some kneeling, there was Consort Liu, who was being flogged. The attackers were very brutal; Consort Liu's mouth was gagged.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
