"Beauty!" May shouted and jumped down.
The water in the ditch had ice shards, but it wasn't frozen solid. Wen Meiren fell in and hit the edge of the ditch.
Blood was already seeping from his face, but it wasn't immediately clear how he was injured.
Consort Jing panicked. She didn't intend to kick the person down, but it was too late to say so now.
Someone has already run to inform the Queen.
Consort Jing's people also rushed to inform the Empress Dowager.
May cried out, "Consort Jing is too cruel! What did our beauty do to you? The Second Princess had a high fever the night before last, such a young child, how could Your Majesty bear to do that? You... you really are..."
Wen Meiren was a little stunned, feeling completely lost.
Liu Ying hurriedly said, "Your Highness didn't mean it, please help the person up first!"
Then the eunuchs who were serving nearby went to help him up.
The beautiful woman who came up was soaking wet, with blood streaming down her face, and looked incredibly disheveled.
Consort Jing was unable to utter a single word.
The nanny serving her said, "Your Highness is still pregnant, please go back and rest."
May refused, but nobody took her seriously.
A moment later, Wen Meiren was helped back to Zhuyi Pavilion.
The Queen has arrived, and the others are arriving one after another.
"What's wrong? Has Consort Jing gone mad?"
May knelt at the Empress's feet: "Your Majesty, you must stand up for our Lady. Consort Jing said it was because of what happened the day before yesterday. But the day before yesterday... the day before yesterday, the Second Princess was ill. For so many years, Consort Jing has been relentless towards our Lady. Our Lady has never dared to say anything, but... but this is too cruel."
"Don't worry, I will definitely stand up for her. Where is the imperial physician?"
"The imperial physician has not arrived yet."
"Your face was cut by ice shards, but the wound doesn't look deep. It shouldn't be anything else." Yan Nangui said, lifting Wen Meiren's chin to examine her.
It must be said, this gentle beauty is indeed beautiful.
That's just bad luck.
The second princess next door also started crying.
The Empress hurriedly said, "Soothe the Second Princess, don't frighten the child."
After the imperial physician arrived, Shu Chengfeng also came over.
Fei, the old nanny from the Empress Dowager's quarters, also came.
Shu Chengfeng came in, listened to the Empress's explanation, went into the inner room and looked around, and saw that Consort Wen was still in a daze.
After reading it, Granny Fei said, "The Empress Dowager has said that this was Consort Jing's fault, and His Majesty can punish her however he wishes. Just be mindful of the child in her womb."
That's a very magnanimous statement.
But Shu Chengfeng didn't respond to that.
When the imperial physician came out, he said, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, Consort Wen is fine. She was just frightened and chilled. Her face was indeed cut by ice shards, but some medicine will heal it and it won't leave a scar. However, Consort Wen's waist was badly injured and she will need to rest for more than a month."
"Thank goodness! He should rest and recuperate as needed," the Empress said.
"Tell Consort Wen to take good care of herself. I will take care of her. Go to the Empress's place first. You two take good care of the Second Princess and Consort Wen." Shu Chengfeng got up and left.
It's really not big enough here; with so many people, it's a bit cramped.
Just before leaving, he added, "Summon Consort Jing."
Before long, the group arrived at Fengxiang Palace again.
The Empress personally served tea to Shu Chengfeng: "Your Majesty, please calm down; your health is of utmost importance."
Consort Jing had already been reprimanded, and upon entering, she immediately knelt down and admitted her mistake: "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. I was angered in a moment, but I did not truly intend to push her down. It was my fault."
"Ye, I have been more than lenient with you," Shu Chengfeng said calmly.
Consort Jing's heart trembled: "Yes, it was my fault. I know I was wrong. Please punish me, Your Majesty."
"Over the years, you have made no progress whatsoever. I don't interfere when the women in the harem quarrel. But you always get involved, no matter what. You may not be annoyed, but I am."
How could Shu Chengfeng not know that in the harem, there was no one that Consort Jing hadn't targeted?
Even if she says she's very sincere to herself, it's still enough to make people irritable.
"Your Majesty..." Consort Jing cried, but dared not offer any excuses.
"Strip him of his title and deduct a year's salary. You can rest assured and prepare for childbirth. If you dare to act recklessly again, I will demote him further. There are plenty of ranks in the harem. This time, it's a small punishment to serve as a warning. If you remember it, that's good. If you don't, then remember this: Ye Shi, this is the last time." Shu Chengfeng's voice was indifferent.
"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty." Consort Ye was already on the verge of tears.
"Consort Wen was injured innocently, so she is promoted to the rank of Jieyu. She shall move to the side hall of Yucui Palace," said Shu Chengfeng.
"Your Majesty, I thank you on behalf of Consort Wen," the Empress said.
Shu Chengfeng stood up: "I have other matters to attend to."
He left immediately after saying that, clearly showing his bad mood.
The Empress glanced at Consort Ye a few times: "My sister is still pregnant, so you should take care of yourself. There's no need to talk about this. His Majesty cares for you. In the whole palace, you are His Majesty's cousin. You met and got along with him before you were married. Isn't that wonderful? You should cherish it."
The Empress's words struck a nerve with Consort Ye.
Consort Ye had no choice but to accept: "Yes, Your Majesty, I will remember."
"Alright, go back now. You don't need to pay your respects until three months have passed," the Empress said.
Consort Ye then withdrew.
"Today's events serve as a warning to everyone. Jealousy is human nature, and no one can control it, but it's important to know what is acceptable and what is not. If such a thing happens again, I will punish it severely without exception. Alright, go back now."
Everyone said, "Your Majesty, we will follow your teachings."
Back at Zhaochun Palace, Yan Nangui changed her clothes and looked at the chrysanthemums on the table: "In the dead of winter, the chrysanthemums in the greenhouse are growing so well."
"Yes, it was delivered this morning. It's quite pretty," Chanyi said.
"Your Majesty, isn't Consort Wen a blessing in disguise? She'll probably rise even higher in the future," Luo Kui said.
"Climbing up is her skill." Yan Nangui smiled. "What are you worried about? Your mistress is already a concubine even without having children, what's there to be afraid of?"
Luo Kui laughed. Yes, as people outside say, their mistress is very favored.
Even though there are still people in higher positions, those few... are different after all.
"Actually, her title of Jieyu is just a temporary one. Even without today's events, His Majesty would have promoted her by the New Year," Yan Nangui said.
After all, he has a princess, and he's getting on in years. He's been in the palace for several years now; it's time for him to be promoted.
That's true.
Wen Jieyu slept fitfully until evening before regaining some energy. She was burning up with fever and could barely speak.
"Jieyu, you're awake!" May and Qingshuang said happily.
"His Majesty has stripped her of her title; she is now merely Consort Ye. She has also been fined a year's salary," Qing Shuang said.
Consort Wen sneered: "Even if she's stripped of her title, she's still the esteemed Imperial Concubine. She's still the Empress Dowager's niece. What is a year's salary to her?"
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