Ling'er was so frightened that she shuddered and dropped the umbrella she was holding to the ground: "Aunt Wenhui, spare my life!"
“I know you’re just a servant too. We servants all have to obey our masters in everything.” Wen Hui’s tone softened a bit. “Alright, get up now. Leave these things to me. I’m going to the Imperial Garden to deliver Her Majesty the Empress’s decree to Consort Zhen.”
Ling'er paused for a moment, then hurriedly handed the clothes in her hands to Wen Hui: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Auntie."
"Alright, go back now." Wen Hui said gently, "I won't tell Her Majesty the Empress about what happened today. If you insist on telling others, then no one can save your life."
"Yes, Ling'er wouldn't dare, thank you Aunt Wenhui." Ling'er knelt on the ground and kowtowed.
This rain.
It completely suppressed the sweltering heat that permeated the Imperial Garden.
Consort Zhen knelt in the rain and couldn't help but shiver.
Although it is already early summer.
Unfortunately, the temperature difference between day and night is too great, coupled with this torrential rain.
Consort Zhen's lips had turned purple from the cold.
Just then, several servants from the flower room came with umbrellas to cover some of the more expensive flowers with cloth.
To prevent the flowers from being broken by the heavy rain.
"With such heavy rain, why is there still someone over there?"
"Isn't that Consort Zhen? I heard she offended the Empress this morning and was punished by being made to kneel here. She still can't get up."
"Didn't I just see Consort Shu come by? Why did she leave so quickly?"
"In this palace, everyone seems to be on good terms, but when something really happens, it's all about taking care of yourself."
"This Consort Zhen was favored as soon as she entered the palace. I don't believe that Consort Shu is really on good terms with her."
"That's right. When Consort Shu was confined to Qiluan Garden, if she hadn't gotten involved with Consort Zhen and wanted to go home to visit her family, she probably would never have been able to leave the gates of Qiluan Garden in her entire life."
"Look at this, it's been so long, and you still say you'll bring her an umbrella. Qiluan Garden is just a few steps away from the Imperial Garden."
"She was afraid of implicating herself."
"Alright, alright, stop talking. Someone's coming. Let's hurry up and leave..."
Wenhui watched the servants in the flower room walk away before walking in front of Consort Zhen.
"Your Highness Consort Zhen, Her Majesty the Empress says that due to the heavy rain, today's punishment ends here. We hope Your Highness will be more careful with your words and actions in the future."
Consort Zhen gave a wry smile and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty live a thousand years."
The maid behind her hurriedly helped Consort Zhen up.
The stone path in the Imperial Garden was uneven and full of potholes; I knelt there for several hours.
At this point, she was no longer able to stand up straight.
"Your Highness, why are you doing this? No matter what the Empress said about Consort Shu, you shouldn't have acted so impulsively," the maid said helplessly.
Consort Zhen didn't speak, but glanced at the flowers covered with cloth in the Imperial Garden: "Even those flowers have someone who cares about them..."
"Your Highness, let's go back quickly. I'm afraid the rain is getting heavier and heavier, and there will be thunder soon," the maid advised.
Consort Zhen nodded and, supported by her maid, limped forward.
Blood mixed with rainwater flowed down her leg from where her knee had been cut by a pebble.
It was just a few short steps.
She felt like she was about to die.
Consort Zhen did not know how she left the Imperial Garden.
It was only when passing by Qiluan Garden.
A piercing laugh came from inside...
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