Chapter 4 Reorganization
The palace was buzzing with praise for the Fifth Prince, but Liu Xi couldn't gain any advantage whatsoever.
His Majesty's heartache for Liu Xi only sustained the lively atmosphere of Yi Huai Pavilion for a short time; a few days later, everything returned to its quietude.
Only Zhixiang was truly loyal to Liu Xi; most of the other maids and eunuchs were spies planted by the Consort under the guise of "feeling sorry for the princess being neglected."
The Imperial Concubine still harbored resentment over the humiliation she suffered on her way back to the capital. Even while feigning illness and hiding in the palace, she did not forget to order her servants to make things difficult for Liu Xi.
That day, Liu Xi was enjoying tea and listening to the wind in the courtyard when she heard Zhi Xiang angrily scolding someone outside from afar.
"What do you mean there are only these two bolts? And they're the cheapest antique satin! Winter is almost here, how can the princess use such shoddy fabric to make new clothes!"
Liu Xi perked up her ears and listened carefully to their conversation.
"It was all arranged by the Imperial Household Department, why should Aunt make things difficult for a servant like me who just runs errands?"
"Don't think I don't know how much you've been siphoning off the princess's treasury. Let me tell you, if you don't bring me your full share of the princess's allowance today, I will..."
"Whatever you want to do, Aunt, don't forget that I used to serve the Imperial Concubine!"
Liu Xi poured herself a bowl of tea and loudly interrupted the conversation outside.
"Zhixiang, bring the person in."
Liu Xi recognized the faces, but it had been so long that she could no longer remember the names of these vile people from her past life.
"What's your name again?"
"This servant, Dongchun, greets the princess."
Dongchun held her head high, clearly not taking this princess seriously.
"You audacious lowly servant, how dare you not bow properly before the princess!"
Zhi Xiang reprimanded him sternly, but Dong Chun remained unmoved.
Liu Xi stared at Dong Chun with narrowed eyes, her gaze like a sharp knife, making one's heart tremble.
She threw the teacup to the ground, shattering it into pieces.
"It's my fault for neglecting to discipline my servants, causing all the palace staff in Yihuai Pavilion to forget their place."
It was a simple sentence, yet Dongchun sensed its authority within it.
Previously, this fourth princess was just a dog at the behest of Consort Ren. How come she suddenly has the courage to bite back today?
Dongchun was so frightened that her legs went weak, and then Zhixiang shoved her from behind, causing her to kneel on the broken porcelain shards with a thud.
"Tell me, how did your former master usually punish those who were disobedient and ungrateful?"
It is said that killing one person to warn a hundred is a powerful deterrent, but killing secretly is not as effective as killing in public.
Liu Xi instructed Zhi Xiang to gather all the palace servants of Yi Huai Ge in the courtyard, but did not speak immediately. Instead, she made everyone look at Dong Chun kneeling on the ground covered in blood, exchanging bewildered glances.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Liu Xi finally spoke softly.
“Among you are many old servants who used to serve in the Imperial Concubine’s palace.”
"It must have been tough for you to move to my shabby Yi Huai Pavilion."
An old woman, oblivious to Liu Xi's implied meaning, responded proudly instead.
"Of course, the princess should know how to accept the favor of the Imperial Concubine."
Liu Xi smiled and beckoned her to come forward and talk.
"Since you remember the Consort so well, you shall return to Jinle Palace to serve her from today onwards."
The old woman looked up in surprise. What servant wouldn't want to serve a master with a bright future?
"The others present also heard it. Today, the princess has shown great mercy and allowed you to leave. This is a one-time opportunity, so you must seize it."
Hearing this, the crowd began to stir. One or two bolder individuals stepped forward first, and soon more people started clamoring to leave.
Liu Xi stood up and walked past Dong Chun, stopping in front of the old woman.
"What are you waiting for, Granny?"
The wrinkles on the old woman's face trembled with her smile, making Liu Xi feel nauseous.
"This old servant will go back and pack my things now."
"Huh?"
Zhixiang reached out to stop her, "The princess said that people can leave, but their belongings must remain."
"Princess, what do you mean by this?"
Liu Xi blinked, revealing an innocent expression.
"What, do you really think I'm so compassionate that I'm willing to cut off my own flesh to feed the eagle?"
"You've been by my side for three years, and your gold, silver, and valuables have all been hidden away and divided up among you. What you owe me, I could tear you apart and sell you on the black market and still not get it back!"
After saying that, Liu Xi pushed the old woman to the ground and stared down at her.
"Zhixiang, take a few people to search through all her belongings for me and take a detailed inventory. If they don't match the amount I lost, start by cutting off her hands and feet."
A chilling atmosphere immediately filled the Yi Huai Pavilion.
Liu Xi was quite interested in having a deck chair brought into the courtyard, where she leaned back, humming a song and rocking back and forth.
Dongchun couldn't hold on and fainted on the spot, but Liuxi just had someone drag her aside so she wouldn't get in her way.
Cries for mercy and wailing filled the Yi Huai Pavilion in a chaotic mess.
Liu Xi did not intend to go too far. After all, there are no secrets in the harem. If she punished too many people at once, she might be known as a cruel person.
Seeing that the deterrent effect had been achieved, she stopped the torture.
"This is the last time I will go to the trouble of torturing you."
"If there's a next time, he'll be beaten to death."
With Zhixiang's help, Liu Xi got up and covered her nose in disgust as she passed Dongchun and the old woman.
"Have someone clean it up, it's filthy."
Since Liu Xi dared to do this, wasn't he afraid that the matter would reach the ears of the Imperial Concubine?
In other words, she did it specifically for the imperial concubine's benefit.
At this moment in Jinle Palace, the Imperial Concubine smashed a lavish dinner table to pieces and stood amidst the leftovers, gritting her teeth.
"That little slut has really grown up."
"Dare to challenge me? Don't you know your own limitations!"
The Imperial Concubine's personal maid, Xiangying, stood beside her, soothing the Imperial Concubine's emotions by following the lead of the conversation.
"Your Majesty, why bother with the daughter of a vile concubine who has long been despised by His Majesty?"
The imperial concubine was in a fit of anger and promptly slapped Xiangying across the face.
"Speak of such things? This wretched girl is trying to ride on my head!"
"I sensed something was amiss during the autumn hunt. Ah, just like that vile mother of hers! Using her seductive looks to seduce His Majesty's favor!"
Xiangying covered her face and knelt on the ground.
"Your Majesty is right. It was this servant who was foolish. Your Majesty, please calm down. It's not worth getting sick from anger."
The imperial concubine was so angry that she trembled all over and had a splitting headache. She could only sit down by holding onto the table.
Upon seeing this, Xiangying quickly got up, took the Consort's arm, and called for the maid outside the door to fetch the imperial physician.
"If I weren't worried about implicating the Fifth Prince, what harm would it do for me to get rid of that wretched girl directly?"
Xiangying pondered for a moment, then asked softly.
"If Your Highness registers the Fifth Prince under your name, then the Fifth Prince will no longer have any connection with that vile woman, and you will have no worries when you take action."
These words immediately enlightened the Imperial Concubine.
"There is some truth to that."
"Xiangying, convey my message to my father, saying that I intend to assist the Fifth Prince, and ask him to find a way to whisper in the Emperor's ear."
Interestingly, the news didn't get out of the palace first; instead, it was written down and presented to Liu Xi in a proper manner.
Liu Xi glanced at the words on the note and wrote casually.
"The fish has taken the bait."
For Consort Gui, it was only a matter of time before she would bring Liu Yan under her own name, but she preferred to wait until the time was right before acting discreetly.
All Liu Xi did was to push the situation to the point where it was like an arrow on a bowstring that had to be released, thus causing the Imperial Concubine to lose her composure and act rashly.
First, Liu Yan saved the emperor's life, and then the imperial concubine openly expressed her intention to support Liu Yan.
Isn't this just deliberately making the emperor suspicious and doubt their original intentions?
Liu Xi raised an eyebrow slightly, held the note between two fingers and burned it over the candle flame.
"The Dingyuan General's Mansion has held immense power in the court for many years, and his arrogance has made him forget what it means to act cautiously."
"Zhixiang, send a message to General Huo and tell him to keep a close eye on the movements of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion."
"When He Qing displeases His Majesty, that will be the perfect opportunity for the general to shake his position in the emperor's heart."
The next day, Liu Xi got up early and dressed up very carefully.
Liu Yan survived the ordeal and has slowly regained consciousness.
How could Liu Xi miss such a scene?
If His Majesty were to personally visit him at the Imperial Medical Bureau after the morning court session, it would be inappropriate to leave any good impression in just a few words.
While His Majesty did not see her, a maid of special status preemptively caused quite a stir in the Imperial Medical Bureau.
"Please, please save the Seventh Prince!"
"Even if the imperial physicians don't come to examine me in person, they could at least give me a few prescriptions to take back with me."
The imperial physicians looked troubled, not because they didn't want to treat the Seventh Prince, but because there was a large Buddha statue enshrined in the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Liu Yan's voice came from inside the hall.
"Some people are born with a lowly fate. Even if they are born into royalty, they are only fit to be lowly and insignificant."
"Think carefully. If you dare to slight me for the sake of a worthless life, you'll regret it."
One of the imperial physicians sighed and whispered in the maid's ear.
"You heard His Highness the Fifth Prince's instructions."
"We really have no way to visit His Highness in his illness. With this time, why don't you go back and fetch some well water for His Highness to soak in? Maybe he'll survive."
"What do you mean by 'no way'?"
Liu Xi approached the two and angrily rebuked the imperial physician.
"We are all sons of the same emperor, so why should you be divided into different classes?"
"The Fifth Prince is a prince, and the Seventh Prince is also a prince. By what right do you only obey the Fifth Prince's orders and ignore the Seventh Prince's safety!"
The imperial physicians stammered and hesitated for a moment.
"This, this Fifth Prince, His Majesty and the Empress Dowager ordered the Imperial Medical Bureau to do everything in its power to treat him, but the Seventh Prince..."
Liu Xi raised her hand and brought it down heavily, slapping the imperial physician across the face with a loud crack.
"Does this mean there is no law in the palace, and that sycophants can act so self-righteously?"
"If His Highness the Seventh Prince is unwell, are you all going to pin the blame on His Majesty and the Empress Dowager?!"
"Well said!"
Suddenly, the emperor's voice rang out behind Liu Xi, and everyone knelt down in response, shouting "Long live the emperor!"
The Empress Dowager accompanied the Emperor.
Unexpectedly, a few unintentional words from Liu Xi earned her the favor of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
It's just unknown how long His Majesty and the Empress Dowager have been here, or whether they heard Liu Yan's crazy ramblings earlier.
"Everyone says that doctors are benevolent, but I only see greed and lust in you!"
"How could such a large Imperial Medical Academy be equipped with such a bunch of incompetent doctors!"
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