Upon hearing this, Yu Jingchen surprisingly didn't get angry. Instead, he said, "Get up."
Chen Zhaoyuan stood up anxiously.
Yu Jingchen glanced at the object being carried by the palace maid beside Consort Chen and asked casually, "Did you make this?"
"Yes, this was made by my own hands, Your Majesty. Would you like to try it?" Consort Chen's eyes held both trepidation and anticipation.
The next second... Yu Jingchen slapped Chen Zhaoyuan across the face.
Chen Zhaoyuan screamed and was slapped to the ground.
Xing Lai was shocked; this was the first time His Majesty had ever personally laid a hand on a concubine in the harem. Consort Chen was completely stunned by the slap, her face swelling instantly. She felt as if her teeth were loose.
"Your Majesty..." Chen Zhaoyuan couldn't believe that Yu Jingchen would lay a hand on her.
Yu Jingchen ignored her and instead picked up the bowl of chicken soup, pouring it all over Chen Zhaoyuan. The soup was still scalding hot, and it was poured onto Chen Zhaoyuan's face and body. This would likely disfigure her, and Chen Zhaoyuan's screams were deafening.
"She humiliated you? What counts as humiliation?" Yu Jingchen's expression was rather unpleasant.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I know I was wrong, Your Majesty, spare my life! Your Majesty, spare my life!" Consort Chen cried out as she knelt.
"I'll ask you one more time, did she offend you? Did she humiliate you?" Yu Jingchen's tone was icy.
"No, no, it's all my fault. I'll go apologize to Consort Nan and punish myself!" Consort Chen no longer cared about manners or face.
"Very well, Consort Chen has behaved improperly before the Emperor and has punished the Empress without cause. Her virtue is unworthy of her position. From this day forward, she shall be demoted to a commoner and imprisoned in the Cold Palace, never to be released again," Yu Jingchen immediately decreed.
"Your Majesty, I truly know I was wrong. I will never dare to do it again. Please forgive me this time!" Consort Chen had not expected the punishment to be so severe.
However, it was clear that Yu Jingchen's punishment was not yet finished.
"Didn't you say you were going to apologize? Then kneel from here all the way to Ya Jing Ju, slapping yourself as you go, and drag him out." Yu Jingchen showed no mercy, not even for Chen Zhaoyuan... who was now a commoner named Chen. He showed absolutely no pity for her pleas for mercy.
After they dragged the person out, Yu Jingchen looked at Xing Lai and asked, "Who else was involved?"
"It seems quite a few low-ranking concubines are present today, but... Consort Lin and Lady Yang exchanged a few more words." Fortunately, it seems that none of those involved today can escape punishment.
"Consort Lin and Lady Yang, both shall receive thirty strokes of the cane and be demoted to the rank of Baolin, confined to their quarters for six months, and punished by copying the palace rules fifty times a day while kneeling. The rest of the consorts present shall be confined to their quarters for three months, and similarly, shall copy the palace rules fifty times a day while kneeling!" This was the first time Yu Jingchen had punished so many consorts at the same time.
When the imperial decree reached the inner palace, everyone was shocked, including the Imperial Concubine.
"Your Majesty, what does His Majesty mean by this? This Consort Nan..." Hua You, the palace maid beside the Imperial Concubine, was somewhat worried.
"Ignore it. Keep your subordinates in check and keep them away from the people at Yajing Residence. Don't recruit them, but don't treat them too well either." The Imperial Concubine kept her eyes closed, showing little reaction and seemingly indifferent.
"Yes," Hua You replied.
Since the Empress entered the palace, she seems to have paid little attention to His Majesty. I wonder what the Empress is thinking.
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