Chapter 597 Shield 7
Ning Yan asked casually, but everyone present understood the implication—if you dare to say yes, I'll expose you all tomorrow!
Finally, the Empress, her lips trembling, ordered, "Take Consort Mu and Consort Ning away and slap them thirty times each!"
"Your Majesty, Consort Mu was the one who made the mistake first. Shouldn't Your Majesty punish her first?"
Consort Liang, always eager for drama, chimed in, "That's right, Consort Mu was indeed at fault first and should be punished."
Empress: Whether you fight first or second, you'll still get beaten anyway.
"Then let's take Consort Mu away and have her punished first."
Ning Yan immediately stepped forward and curtsied to the Empress: "Your Majesty, I request permission to go out and observe the execution."
Don't underestimate me just because I'm young. I know very well what's going on. The people who carry out the punishments in the palace are all shrewd. Even if it's the same thirty strokes of the cane, some people will die after being beaten, while others will be completely healed after a couple of days.
What if Consort Mu bribed the head matron of punishments, feigning leniency while secretly disobeying, and I find out later? Wouldn't that tarnish the Empress's reputation?
Empress: ...This is a threat, isn't it?
What she cared about most was her reputation, so even though she could save Consort Mu from punishment, she didn't speak up.
"So I'll keep an eye on them, so they won't make mistakes that would implicate Your Majesty!"
The concubines were truly watching the spectacle with their own differing intentions.
Some people felt that Ning Meiren was too arrogant, and that even if they didn't intervene, she could kill herself.
This group consists of those in high positions, excluding the Empress.
Some people felt that Ning Meiren was too arrogant and that they couldn't afford to offend her, so they should stay away. They thought that if she suddenly went crazy and targeted them, they would be in trouble, and it wasn't worth it.
This group consists of concubines of lower rank, who lacked support and were timid.
The Empress's chest heaved with anger, but she finally waved her hand and said, "Granted."
Consort Mu: ...Then wouldn't she really get slapped thirty times?
She immediately looked at the Empress, who gave her a reassuring look, but Consort Mu was not comforted.
That's her face! What if she ruins it?
I wish I hadn't come to complain.
Consort Mu was still dragged away and tortured, and Ning Yan followed her out.
The head clerk in the Empress's palace, expressionless, held a board and struck Consort Mu's face repeatedly.
Ning Yanxiao stood to the side, and she even had the mood to ask, "Consort Mu, did that slap hurt? Did it not hurt at all? I saw that the nanny didn't use any force. Sure enough, the Empress cares about you. She is so good to you."
The head executioner's lips twitched, and she subconsciously increased the force.
Consort Mu's body was stiff with pain, and she let out a piercing howl with every blow.
Inside the Empress's palace, as the concubines listened to Consort Mu's screams, they all had the same thought: Never mess with this Consort Ning, she's really ruthless!
These women were all daughters of officials before entering the palace. Even when they dealt with servants, no one would personally do it, let alone stand by and watch—that would be too cruel.
But Consort Ning insisted on going to see it. She even had the mood to stand by. If it were Consort Mu in their place today, they would probably be furious even if they weren't beaten to death.
That kind of woman is terrifying; it's best to stay away from her if possible!
Didn't Consort Mu faint once during the time she was taken to the courtyard for execution?
Ning Yan was kind and helpful. She pulled out a hairpin from her hair and stabbed it into Consort Mu's philtrum, instantly waking her up.
The old women who originally wanted to stop the execution by taking advantage of Consort Mu's fainting spell: ...
The slapping continued, and this time Consort Mu dared not faint again, because if she didn't faint, she would only receive thirty slaps, but if she fainted, she would get an extra hairpin!
When the execution was over, Consort Mu's face was completely swollen and bruised.
Several old women dragged Consort Mu into the room to report back.
"Quickly, go and fetch the imperial physician."
The young eunuch went out to fetch the imperial physician, and Consort Mu was also taken to a side hall.
Gu Yu was extremely anxious looking at her mistress who seemed completely unaffected. The imperial physician was coming, and her mistress was about to be punished—thirty slaps! Would she still be able to keep her pretty face?
"Guards, take Consort Ning away to be executed!"
Ning Yan suddenly laughed: "Your Majesty, may I ask what I have done wrong that warrants my punishment?"
"Didn't you just admit it yourself? Disrespecting a high-ranking concubine, shouldn't you be punished?"
"When did I admit I was wrong? I only said that it was wrong to disrespect a high-ranking concubine."
Now that Her Majesty the Empress has punished Consort Mu fairly and justly, this matter is over. What does it have to do with me?
If there's any connection, it's my fault for helping Consort Mu get to know her.
"Your Majesty should be rewarding me, why are you punishing me?"
The Empress and all the concubines: ...They've finally learned what shamelessness truly means!
"You mean, Consort Mu was wrong, that's why you hit her, and not only were you right, you actually did something good?"
Ning Yan clapped her hands, "Your Majesty the Empress is so clever, that's exactly what she means."
The Empress was indeed frail; she was tricked by Ning Yan and fainted from anger.
Kunning Palace was in chaos. Ningyan sat in a chair drinking tea. The Empress was so stingy that she didn't even serve a plate of snacks.
The head maid in the Empress's palace, fearing that her mistress might faint from anger again upon waking, politely sent all the concubines away.
Back in Zhu Yan Palace, Ning Yan quickly ordered the servants to serve her a meal; after all that commotion, she was starving.
Lunch was eaten together by the two sisters. All the dishes were first eaten by Ning Yan before Ning Xuexian was allowed to eat them. Of course, anything that Ning Xuexian was willing to eat was not poisoned.
Ning Xuexian was unaware of what had happened outside that day. She only instructed her younger sister to stay in the palace if there was nothing else to do, and not to wander around outside, lest she offend any of the higher-ranking concubines and suffer the consequences.
Gu Yu, listening to the Empress's nagging: ...Your Majesty, you're a little late in giving your instructions. Our young mistress has already offended two people this morning, one of whom is the Empress herself!
Ning Yan maintained the original owner's persona in front of her sister, being obedient and well-behaved. No matter what her sister said, she would say "okay, okay," "fine, fine," and "I'll listen to you, sister." In reality, once she was away from her sister's watchful eye, she would do whatever she wanted.
However, by evening, the news still reached Ning Xuexian's ears.
Because the emperor let it slip.
"Isn't Consort Mu just bullying my sister because of her high rank? Then Your Majesty should also promote my sister's rank. Anyway, we've already offended everyone, so we might as well do whatever makes us comfortable!"
The Emperor understood this principle; his sister-in-law was determined to be the target, so he might as well promote her!
So, early the next morning, Ning Yan, who had just been promoted to Beauty the day before, became Consort Zhao again!
Those with titles are half a rank higher than those without, so when Ning Yan encounters Consort Mu, the latter will have to pay her respects first.
For Ning Yan, this imperial edict made it easier for her to bully others, and for everyone in the harem, it was a resounding slap in the face.
Of course, the slap wasn't directed at them, but at the Empress and Consort Mu. However, it served as a warning to them: Consort Ning, or rather, Consort Zhao, is not to be trifled with!
Thank you so much, Wang Xifeng, for the 100 reading coins!
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