Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

“Huan’er.” Shen Mei Zhuang was also frightened by Huan Bi’s bold recklessness. “How could Huan Bi…” “Sister Mei, we have to find a way to save Huan Bi.”

Zhen Huan said anxiously, “She can’t have anything happen. I can’t let anything happen to her.” “This…” Deep down, Shen Mei Zhuang did not like Huan Bi much either. She always felt Zhen Huan spoiled that maid too much and let her forget her place.

But facing Zhen Huan’s anxious expression, she could not refuse. She could only say, “His Majesty handed harem authority to Noble Consort Hua, Concubine Xin, and Concubine Jing. Noble Consort Hua and Concubine Xin are in confinement right now, so we can only go to Concubine Jing. I live with Concubine Jing in Xian Fu Palace.

It’s best for us to go to her.”

“Alright, I’ll listen to you, Sister Mei.” Zhen Huan found it reasonable and agreed at once. Shen Mei Zhuang gave Cai Yue a look, telling her to go back and find Concubine Jing.

By then, the two who had been fighting had already been pulled apart. Their faces were not injured, but their hair ornaments were crooked and in disarray. Their clothes had been torn and tugged until they were a mess. No matter how you looked at them, they were wretched.

“You vile maid, you dared to strike this one!” Yu Ying Er was furious. It was the first time she had suffered such a huge loss, and she was seething. “This one will never let you off!”

“You were the one who hit me first!” Huan Bi was both aggrieved and angry. “You were disrespectful to the two Noble Ladies, and you struck first…” “So what if this one hit you!”

Yu Ying Er was arrogantly overbearing. “You’re nothing but a lowly servant. So what if this one hit you? This one didn’t take your life – that was giving your mistress face.

You dared lay hands on this one – who gave you the guts? Someone, drag this vile maid into the Department of Careful Punishments. No one is to let her out.”

“You dare!” Zhen Huan flared with anger and shouted, “Huan Bi is mine. Touch her if you dare!” “Why wouldn’t this one dare!”

Yu Ying Er was so angry she was practically smoking as she screamed, “Someone, take that vile maid away, now!” The two young eunuchs following her immediately stepped forward, ready to seize Huan Bi. “Second Attendant Yu, don’t go too far!” Zhen Huan glared at her.

“When have you ever put this one or Noble Lady Hui in your eyes? Huan Bi certainly shouldn’t have offended her superior, but aren’t you the same? You were disrespectful to higher-ranked consorts. This one can punish you as well.

This one had Huan Bi stop you so you would apologize. What was wrong with that? Yet you dared to strike someone outright. Did you put this one and Noble Lady Hui in your eyes at all?”

“Bah!”

Yu Ying Er was livid. She pointed at Zhen Huan’s nose and cursed, “What are you, Zhen Huan? Believe it or not, this one will accuse you of deceiving the Emperor! This one was kind enough to let you off, yet your vile maid dared bully this one.

Today, this one isn’t finished with you!” Then she turned and roared at the two eunuchs who still hesitated, “Why are you still not moving? Believe it or not, this one will report you to His Majesty and wipe out your nine clans!” Hearing that, the two young eunuchs did not dare delay any longer.

Without another word, they grabbed Huan Bi and dragged her away.

“Let go of me! Let go of me!”

Huan Bi finally grew afraid. She screamed in panic, “My Lady, save me! My Lady, save me!”

“Stop! How dare you!” Zhen Huan shouted furiously, “Yu Ying Er, you’d better not do something rash!” “Bah!”

Yu Ying Er clenched her teeth in hatred. “You dare bully this one and still want this one to spare her? Keep dreaming!” “You…” Zhen Huan was so angry her vision went dark.

She almost wanted to slap her herself. “Second Attendant Yu, why turn a small matter into this?” Shen Mei Zhuang frowned slightly and tried to steer it away. “You were disrespectful to us first.

Even if Huan Bi was improper, she did it for her mistress’s honor. That is understandable.”

“Noble Lady Hui, have you no shame!” Yu Ying Er’s anger had not subsided at all. She immediately spat at her, “If this one tells palace maids and eunuchs to beat you two right now, then it’s because they’re protecting this one and venting this one’s anger. Wouldn’t that be ‘understandable’ too?”

“Absurd.”

Shen Mei Zhuang’s face flushed red with anger. “Second Attendant Yu cannot just make up nonsense. You were rude first. If you hadn’t spoken so wildly, why would we have Huan Bi stop you?”

“Don’t treat this one like a fool.” Yu Ying Er said hatefully, “Today’s matter will be decided by His Majesty. This one wants to see what happens to your vile maid for offending her superior and beating her mistress. Hmph!”

Seeing Zhen Huan and Shen Mei Zhuang joining hands against her, Yu Ying Er could only turn to her biggest backer. When she turned to leave again, Zhen Huan naturally would not let her go find the Emperor. “Wait.” Zhen Huan hurried forward, pressing down the anger in her chest.

“Palace matters should be handled by the consorts in charge of harem authority. His Majesty has already handed harem authority to Noble Consort Hua, Concubine Xin, and Concubine Jing. Noble Consort Hua and Concubine Xin are in confinement. This matter can be handled by Concubine Jing.

This little matter doesn’t need to disturb His Majesty.”

“Bah!”

Yu Ying Er showed a look of contempt. “Zhen Huan, do you take this one for a fool? Who doesn’t know Noble Lady Hui lives in Xian Fu Palace with Concubine Jing? Go to her?

As if she wouldn’t favor you! You’re all the same kind. This one won’t trust any of you…”

“Since you don’t trust this palace, then let’s go see His Majesty.” A gentle voice sounded. Concubine Jing’s figure appeared in their sight. “This concubine pays her respects to Concubine Jing.”

Shen Mei Zhuang and Zhen Huan saluted at the same time. Yu Ying Er reluctantly flicked her handkerchief and saluted. “This concubine pays her respects to Concubine Jing.” “Between you, it was only a quarrel.”

Concubine Jing’s attitude was neither warm nor cold. “Second Attendant Yu has already said she doesn’t believe this palace can handle matters fairly. This palace won’t force it. Let’s all go to the Imperial Study.”

She gave them no chance to speak. Concubine Jing turned and left. Yu Ying Er was the first to follow. Zhen Huan and Shen Mei Zhuang could not help exchanging a glance, both of them worried.

No matter how wrong Yu Ying Er was, she was still a consort with rank. No matter how much Huan Bi had tried to protect her mistress, the single crime of striking a mistress could cost her life…. The Imperial Study. The group knelt before the Emperor.

Concubine Jing held the highest rank among them, so she explained first. “Your Majesty, this concubine is not clear on the reason either. Noble Lady Hui’s maid came to report that Noble Lady Wan and Second Attendant Yu had a conflict in the Imperial Garden, and they hoped this concubine would go mediate. When this concubine arrived, Second Attendant Yu looked somewhat disheveled and kept saying she did not believe this concubine could handle matters fairly.

With no other choice, this concubine could only bring them here to trouble Your Majesty.”

“Your Majesty, you must uphold justice for this concubine!” Yu Ying Er seized the advantage first and began crying to the Emperor. “Your Majesty, Noble Lady Wan’s maid dared to strike this concubine. This is bullying too far!”

“Speak properly.” When the Emperor saw Yu Ying Er’s disheveled state, displeasure rose in his heart. No matter what, she was still his consort, yet she had been bullied into such a state by a mere servant.

He frowned and looked toward Zhen Huan and Shen Mei Zhuang, then casually instructed, “Noble Lady Hui, you speak. What happened?” “Yes, Your Majesty.” Shen Mei Zhuang did not dare guess at His Majesty’s intentions.

She could only recount what had happened. Yu Ying Er’s arrogant attitude was not reduced in the slightest, and she described Huan Bi stopping her as Zhen Huan’s idea. As for Huan Bi striking Yu Ying Er in the heat of the moment, she glossed it over with vague words. Most importantly, she did not mention Yu Ying Er accusing Noble Lady Wan of deceiving the Emperor.

So the moment she finished speaking, Yu Ying Er shouted, “Of course – you’re all in it together! Noble Lady Hui, do you think this one is dead? Even if this one doesn’t say it, there were plenty of witnesses at the scene. Yet you dare, right in front of His Majesty, to twist things and take them out of context.

Do you have His Majesty in your eyes at all?” The moment she said that, Shen Mei Zhuang’s face went deathly pale.