The young eunuch in his light blue robes reacted swiftly, rushing forward and snatching the infant from Chu Baiwei's arms. His courage and audacity in front of everyone, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, were truly admirable.
The other palace maids' eyes were filled with shock, fear, and admiration. Consort Chu was truly the most favored concubine in the harem; everyone respected her, and even the Chu family, including Chu Baiwei's maternal family, the Duke of Chu, had risen to prominence. Three years of exclusive favor were not merely empty words; everyone knew of the Emperor's deep affection for Consort Chu.
Although the Emperor himself said these words, who knows if Consort Chu will hold a grudge afterward, or if the Emperor will go back on his word? If one were to rush forward and offend Consort Chu, one might have to risk one's life.
"Your Majesty, the little princess's breathing is very weak." Xia Zi ignored the gazes of others, touched the cheek of the baby in her arms, and looked panicked.
"What... How could my little princess be like this? How have you servants been serving her? If anything happens to my little princess, I will have you all dragged out and executed."
Upon hearing this, Wuyou seemed to instantly come to life, her face flushed with anger, her peach blossom eyes blazing with fury and anxiety. The servants, upon hearing this, all knelt on the ground, trembling. Yunxiang even couldn't help but cast pleading glances at Chu Baiwei; only Her Highness could save their lives.
Chu Baiwei's expression was slightly stiff. She stared at Wuyou without blinking, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. She looked rather comical and completely missed Yunxiang's pleading look.
Chu Baiwei felt that Wuyou in front of her was both familiar and unfamiliar. He still had the familiar face, the familiar tone, and the familiar movements, but his aura was indeed not like that of the indecisive emperor in the past.
"Your Majesty..." Chu Baiwei's lips trembled uncontrollably as she spoke, her voice shaking, "It's all not Yunxiang's fault, it's all my fault. I dared not leave. The little princess should have stayed by his side every day, otherwise someone wouldn't have been able to take advantage of the situation. Your Majesty, punish me if you must!"
Tears streamed down her cheeks as Chu Baiwei tilted her head back at a 45-degree angle, presenting her pure and beautiful face to Wuyou from every angle. Her pearly teeth bit her full red lips, and her long, raven-feather-like eyelashes swayed gently, revealing her uneasy heart.
Given the Emperor's favor towards me, he will surely be reluctant to punish me, and this matter can be left unresolved.
"Since Consort Chu is so insistent, I cannot refuse your request. You shall spend three months reflecting on your actions in Chengqian Palace and shall not leave. The little princess shall be entrusted to the Empress!"
Her long eyelashes suddenly fluttered, and her amorous phoenix eyes could no longer maintain their pitiful appearance; her pure face was filled with shock and confusion.
"Your Majesty, the little princess is my daughter. How can I entrust her to the Empress to raise? How can I bear to do that?" Chu Baiwei crawled on her knees, reacting quickly as she reached out and grabbed Wuyou's dragon robe, pleading bitterly, her voice filled with sorrow and despair.
"The bond between blood relatives has always been this way. Forcing the little princess to leave me is tantamount to taking my life. You might as well just take my life instead!"
Wuyou could even feel her robes constantly slipping down, and the feeling of her thighs being held tightly was unpleasant. She couldn't help but frown, a faint displeasure spreading between her brows.
"Enough! Has Consort Chu forgotten her status? You are an imperial concubine, how can you be so shameless as to wail like this? Do you want everyone to laugh at me?" Wuyou shouted angrily, turning around and breaking free from Chu Baiwei's grasp.
Chu Baiwei hiccuped, but dared not speak again, feeling that Wuyou was completely unfamiliar to her.
"The little princess is so sick, and you're still worrying about these trivial matters. I think these servants are more important to you than the little princess. You asked me to punish you, but now that I've punished you, you're not happy about it." These words were like a knife to the heart, and Chu Baiwei's face showed a bit of panic, as if someone had hit her deepest thoughts.
At this moment, Eunuch Liu finally arrived, followed by the old physician with white hair and beard. The two hurriedly prepared to pay their respects, but were interrupted by Wuyou.
"Quickly show the little princess." Wuyou sat down in the main seat with a flick of her sleeve, looking down at Chu Baiwei who was doing the work. Her usually gentle eyes had become more fierce, making people afraid to meet her gaze.
"You bunch of lackeys only know how to cheat and shirk your duties. The little princess is sick and you don't even know to call the imperial physician. Do you want the little princess to be burned to death? It seems that I have been too lenient in the past, which has made you bunch of scoundrels develop a heart of disloyalty. Guards, drag him away and give him fifty lashes. If he dies, drag him to the mass grave. If he lives, drag him to the laundry department."
Looking at the timid servants below, Wuyou pursed his lips and smashed the cup beside him to the ground. The scalding tea splashed onto Chu Baiwei's beautiful face. He exclaimed in surprise, but under Wuyou's powerful pressure and aura, he dared not act rashly.
"Your Majesty, spare us!" Yunxiang and the other palace maids cried out in protest, accusing the princess of being so cruel. They had no idea how the little princess could have done this; she had been perfectly fine just moments before. Although the Emperor was kind and doted on the Consort, and they had become somewhat complacent and arrogant, they still didn't dare to do such a thing.
"What are you all standing there for? Drag them all away!" Wuyou didn't care about their pleas for mercy. They might not dare to now, but they might not dare to later.
"Your Majesty, Yunxiang is my personal maid, we grew up together and are like sisters. He is at fault this time, but I beg Your Majesty to forgive him this time." Chu Baiwei was also somewhat anxious. Yunxiang was his most capable maid; losing her would be like losing his right and left arms, something she absolutely could not afford. Although she feared Wuyou's intimidation, she was still blinded by the emperor's past favor and couldn't help but plead for him.
"Precisely because Yunxiang was Consort Chu's dowry maid, she should be punished even more severely as a warning to others. Consort Chu, the memorial impeaching Duke Chu and you is right here in my study! Relying on your daughter's favor, you run rampant in the capital, bullying men and women. Do you really intend to make this charge a reality?"
"This is all slander! My father is kind and gentle, and would never do such a thing. This is all slander against Your Majesty! You must stand up for me!" Chu Baiwei denied it outright, raising her voice and involuntarily adding a touch of sharpness.
"Of course I believe you, my beloved consort, but someone has already impeached you, and I have no choice but to investigate. If rumors spread in the harem that Consort Chu is abusing her favor to protect her personal maid..." Wuyou lazily lifted her eyelids, looking at Chu Baiwei with a half-smile.
"..." Chu Baiwei opened her mouth, but stammered out the words. She could only watch helplessly as Yunxiang and the others were dragged out, giving them helpless looks.
His right and left arms were very important, but he couldn't disregard his parents and family, so he had to apologize to these girls. Once the storm had passed, they would surely plead for him.
Seeing Chu Baiwei's gaze, Yunxiang's face fell. He knew he had been abandoned.
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