04 I hit you only because I thought highly of you
A dilemma, neither option seemed right, like a deadlock. Liu Hanxue knew that only one person could untie this knot: the Prince Xiaoyao, whose rank and status far surpassed Liu Hanruo's. But if she invited the Prince, everything would be exposed, inevitably affecting her standing in his eyes. It seemed the only option was to strike first. Having made up her mind, Liu Hanxue secretly instructed her maid, Meixiang, to invite the Prince. Her only task now was to stall for time and…
Just then, a maid in green led a doctor carrying a medicine chest through the courtyard gate. Liu Hanxue, quick-witted, said:
"Sister, we can talk about other things later. Look how badly Chunxiang is injured. We can't delay any longer. Let's have the doctor take a look first, in case there are any aftereffects."
"It seems my sister is indeed 'merciful,' not forgetting Chunxiang even at this time, and still thinking about treating Chunxiang's injuries. However, sister, some things can be avoided, but not escaped. It's better to finish it as soon as possible."
If she hadn't already known from her memories that Liu Hanxue was a femme fatale, why would she have delayed calling a doctor and had to send someone to fetch one? Fortunately, she had already secretly checked Chunxiang's pulse and found that it was just a superficial injury and nothing serious, so she was relieved and began to deal with Liu Hanxue. After so long, Liu Hanxue was probably trying to use this as an excuse to avoid the issue. Understanding this, Liu Hanruo gave a cold laugh, her mind clear as day.
“Sister, what are you saying? Chunxiang is still a life. How can we let her die like this? If word gets out, people will say that the Prince Xiaoyao’s Mansion treats human life like dirt, and that the Princess Consort is cruel and beat a maid to death. For the sake of your reputation and the honor of the Prince’s Mansion, how can I watch Chunxiang die!” Liu Hanxue’s words were righteous and accusatory.
Liu Hanruo couldn't help but sigh. What a sharp tongue! She cleverly made everyone overlook the real culprit, shifting all the blame onto her. Everyone present thought that this princess was cold-blooded and heartless, only caring about herself and abandoning her seriously injured maid, trying to use her ruthlessness to highlight Liu Hanxue's kindness. This younger sister seemed to be no simple character either. No wonder the original had been manipulated by her until death. It's just a pity that the current princess is not the same as before. As the daughter of the Prime Minister, she had already witnessed countless struggles in the inner court. Trying to set a trap for her seemed to lack the necessary skill.
“What you say makes sense, but I don’t understand. If you really care so much about the reputation of the Prince and me, why haven’t you sent someone to fetch a doctor yet? Also, it seems you’ve forgotten that it was you who had Chunxiang injured. If this gets out of the manor, it doesn’t seem to involve me. Perhaps this version will become the talk of the town.”
"It's rumored that Consort Liu, the concubine of Prince Xiaoyao, is narrow-minded and jealous. She's not only jealous of the princess's beauty but also of her first-rank status. Seeing the princess enjoy all the treatment befitting a first-rank princess, she's resentful and her mind is twisted. She targets the princess at every turn. But since ancient times, there has been a world of difference between a principal wife and a concubine. Every time they clash, she can only come out on the losing end. Over time, her resentment has accumulated and become uncontrollable. She can only vent her anger by beating the princess's personal maid. Alas, it really is true that once you enter the royal palace, it's like entering a deep sea, and from then on, kindness becomes a stranger! I never imagined that Consort Liu would become so vicious, enjoying beating her maid." Liu Hanruo deliberately stroked her chin, pretending to think, before slowly saying each word.
His words were clear and blatantly sarcastic, which made Liu Hanxue's blood boil and she couldn't catch her breath.
"Why are you so agitated, sister? I said it might be rumored that way, but I didn't say it definitely would be. Such agitation isn't good for your health. You know, extreme emotional fluctuations can easily make you age faster, and wrinkles and all that will appear. It wouldn't be good if that frightened the Prince. Seeing how agitated you are, could it be that my prediction was right? You're jealous of me, which is why you beat Chunxiang? If not, I advise you to relax." Liu Hanruo feigned composure and gently comforted her.
Her words were ostensibly persuasive, but the last sentence took a sharp turn. If she were to react to this, wouldn't it confirm the rumors? One moment she had the upper hand, and the next she was immediately at a disadvantage. This contrast left Liu Hanxue feeling angry but unable to vent her frustration, so she could only grit her teeth and force a smile.
"Sister, you jest. We've been sisters for over a decade; how could I not know your character? Besides, our sisterly bond is deep. How could I possibly be jealous of you over such a trivial matter? It's utterly absurd. Hehe..."
"That makes sense. My sister is so virtuous and generous, how could she be jealous of me because of my rank? In the end, I was just joking and didn't really think so. My sister doesn't need to take it to heart."
"By the way, sister, recently many concubines have come to me to complain that you are the only one who is favored by the prince and that they haven't seen him for a long time. Sister, it's not that I'm blaming you, but you've gone too far. You should know that the prince is not just your prince, but the prince of all the concubines in the harem. Now that you've married him, how can the prince leave them aside and ignore them? Sister, you should let the prince's favor be distributed equally among them."
Liu Hanruo's words were eloquent and impeccable, yet they made Liu Hanxue tremble with anger. To ask her to tell the prince to favor other women was worse than tearing her flesh out.
Seeing Liu Hanruo's smug look, Liu Hanxue wanted nothing more than to slap her, but because of her status, she had to swallow her anger and said helplessly:
“Sister, a woman should obey her husband after marriage, for he is her heaven. I am but a woman, how can I possibly influence the prince’s decisions?”
“Sister, I have always thought that you are a polite, intelligent and generous person, and that you would definitely have a way to persuade the prince. So I entrusted this matter to you. But now it seems that you are unwilling and want to monopolize the prince? Alas, sister, it seems that I have to remind you that 'jealousy' is one of the seven grounds for divorce. You must not have it!”
"Damn it! Liu Hanruo! I've been backing down step by step, don't push your luck! Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're a princess. Don't forget, at the bottom of the matter, you're just a disfavored princess, without the prince's favor. Let's see how long you can be arrogant! If you have any self-awareness, then live your life peacefully and don't try to put on airs in front of me! I won't fall for that! In my eyes, you're not even as good as a dog! If you piss me off, I don't care who you are, I'll beat you up without hesitation!" Accused of jealousy, Liu Hanxue was furious, her nails digging deep into her flesh. She couldn't hold back any longer and spoke sarcastically!
"Hmph, very good! You have guts!" Liu Hanruo laughed instead of getting angry, walked up to Liu Hanxue, and slapped her from both sides.
"This slap is for your lack of respect for others!"
"This slap is for your rudeness!"
Liu Hanxue's cheeks were flushed red from the beating, and the five finger marks were clearly visible on her face. Enraged, she roared:
"Liu Hanruo, you bitch, how dare you hit me!"
"Liu Hanxue, I'm doing you a favor by hitting you! A person should know their place. Who are you calling a 'lowly person'? You should know that no matter how bad I am, I am still a princess! Since you don't recognize your own status, then I'll teach you what reality is!"
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