Chapter 58

Chapter 58: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

They saw the bend by the rockery ahead. Yu Ying’er and Zhen Huan faced off. Neither of them seemed to notice the people in the pavilion. Noble Consort Nian might not like those two wretches, but that didn’t stop her from enjoying the show.

“Attendant Yu, aren’t you going to pay your respects to me?” Zhen Huan lifted her chin slightly and immediately slapped her with a charge of disrespect. “Attendant Yu, are you trying to scorn the palace rules and refuse to respect a higher-ranking consort?” “This concubine greets Noble Lady Wan.”

Yu Ying’er flicked her handkerchief, not even bending her knees. Her gaze fell on Huan Bi, and hatred flashed across her face. “This bitch of a maid is really lucky. Thirty strokes didn’t take your life, and you still dare to stay in the palace.”

Huan Bi’s face changed slightly. She bit her lip hard and didn’t dare answer. After a lesson burned into her bones, she didn’t dare act on impulse again. “Attendant Yu, don’t go too far.”

Zhen Huan glared at her. “Huan Bi is allowed to remain in the palace by His Majesty. Are you trying to defy an imperial decree?” “Pah, stop trying to pin crimes on me!”

Yu Ying’er was furious. “Zhen Huan, what do you think you are? Consort Xin gave birth to dragon-phoenix twins, and she’s not half as arrogant as you are. Especially someone as unlucky as you – so what if you get pregnant?

You still can’t keep your imperial child. That just proves you, Zhen Huan, are no good.”

“How dare you!” A blaze of anger surged up, and Zhen Huan shouted harshly, “Attendant Yu, I didn’t expect you to be this arrogant and rude. You even dare to gossip about my imperial child and Consort Xin’s – believe it or not, I’ll have someone beat your mouth to pieces!” “I’m stating facts.”

Yu Ying’er wasn’t afraid at all. Her attitude only grew more savage. “You, Zhen Huan, aren’t just unlucky – you’re useless too. You deserved to lose your imperial child.

At least Consort Xin gave birth to dragon-phoenix twins and rose to the consort rank. But I’d say her luck is nothing special either. She gave birth to dragon-phoenix twins, and she still has to hand them over for someone else to raise. Dragon-phoenix twins, my foot.

If someone wants to snatch them, they snatch them – that’s what it means to be favored. A pair of dragon-phoenix twins turned into someone else’s playthings. Who knows if they’ll even survive…” Zhen Huan and her maids stared at her, all of them dumbfounded. This woman really dared to say anything.

It was the first time they had ever seen someone so eager to throw her life away. “I’ve always known there are fools in this palace.” Noble Consort Hua’s voice suddenly rang out, packed with towering rage. It snapped the smug Yu Ying’er back to her senses.

The moment she realized what she had just said, her face went dead pale. Her whole body went limp as she dropped to her knees, trembling so hard she couldn’t force out a single word.

“This concubine greets Noble Consort Hua.” The instant Zhen Huan saw who had arrived, she hurried to bow. Right then, she wanted nothing more than to turn and run, so that Yu Ying’er’s stupidity wouldn’t drag her down with it. “I’ve seen plenty of fools, but I’ve never seen someone this stupid.”

Unstoppable fury flickered in Noble Consort Hua’s eyes. “If I don’t ‘reward’ you with something, it would be hard to justify.” She gave a cold laugh, her gaze sweeping over the colorful Imperial Garden. The corners of her lips lifted high.

“I think the flowers in the Imperial Garden aren’t bright enough, and they aren’t red enough either. I’ll grant you One-Zhang Red.” “One-Zhang Red?” A terrible feeling rose in Yu Ying’er’s heart.

She could tell it wasn’t anything good. “What a fool.” Noble Consort Hua snorted with laughter. “Song Zhi, explain to her properly what One-Zhang Red is.”

“Yes, Your Ladyship.” Song Zhi answered, then explained to Yu Ying’er. “Attendant Yu, One-Zhang Red means using a plank two inches thick and five feet long to beat from the waist down. There’s no set number – they keep going until tendons and bones are all broken, and from the lower body to the legs it’s nothing but mangled flesh.

From a distance, it looks like a whole stretch of bright red. That’s why our lady named it One-Zhang Red.” As soon as those words fell- Zhen Huan and her maids stared at Noble Consort Hua in horror, their hearts turning ice-cold with fear. “Ah!

No, I don’t want it!” Yu Ying’er screamed in terror. “I’m a consort! No one can touch me…!”

“What a joke.” Noble Consort Hua looked at her like she was already dead, then ordered the person beside her directly. “Zhou Ning Hai, why aren’t you dragging her away already?” “No!” Yu Ying’er struggled with all her strength.

“You can’t beat me! Noble Consort Hua, spare my life! This concubine will never dare again! I’m His Majesty’s consort – Noble Consort, you can’t beat this concubine…!”

“I manage the inner palace. I naturally have the right to punish consorts.”

Noble Consort Hua examined her beautiful nail guards. “Even His Majesty won’t say much about it. Drag her away. I don’t want to see her again!”

“Yes, Your Ladyship.” Zhou Ning Hai personally seized Yu Ying’er by the hair and hauled her off. No matter how Yu Ying’er cursed or begged, he didn’t waver. As she was dragged farther and farther away, her screaming grew smaller and smaller.

Noble Consort Hua’s gaze landed on Zhen Huan. She even glanced once at Huan Bi beside her. Zhen Huan and her maids trembled so hard they barely dared to breathe. “I’d say Noble Lady Wan is far too idle.”

Noble Consort Hua snorted coldly. “Even when there’s nothing, you still stir up trouble. Go back and copy the palace rules ten times. When you’re done, send them to Yi Kun Palace.

I’ll inspect them personally.” After speaking, she looked Zhen Huan over again. Then she rested her hand on Song Zhi’s arm and walked off with graceful, light steps. She swayed with each step, unhurried as she made her way toward Yong Shou Palace.

“Yes, this concubine obeys!” Zhen Huan didn’t dare delay. She bowed toward Noble Consort Hua’s back. “This concubine respectfully sees Noble Consort off.”

Only when Noble Consort Hua and her entourage had completely vanished from view- The panicked Zhen Huan hurried back to Sui Yu Pavilion with her maids. She didn’t dare wander around again. The news that Attendant Yu had been granted One-Zhang Red by Noble Consort Hua soon spread through the entire harem. Everyone felt as if they were seeing that arrogant, domineering, vicious Noble Consort Hua again.

But once they heard what Yu Ying’er had said- No one had anything to say. She was stupid beyond saving. She dared to say absolutely anything. Ending up like this really wasn’t unfair at all.

Jing Ren Palace. The Empress, whose color had finally returned, showed fury when she heard the news. “Noble Consort Hua is slapping my face. Who doesn’t know Attendant Yu was someone I recommended to His Majesty?

She knew I’ll resume receiving the consorts’ morning greetings in three days, and she moved against Yu Ying’er right at this moment. She’s arrogant to the extreme.”

“Your Majesty, it’s because Attendant Yu spoke without thinking,” Jian Qiu replied. “Targeting Noble Lady Wan would have been fine. At worst, she’d be punished to kneel for an hour or two and it would be over. But Attendant Yu’s nerve was too big. She didn’t spare Consort Xin or the dragon-phoenix twins, and she even dragged Noble Consort Hua into it. She truly offended people to the death. Even if His Majesty learns of it, he won’t say much.”

“No matter what, I know that bitch Noble Consort Hua did it on purpose.”

The anger on the Empress’s face didn’t fade. “Why didn’t she trouble Yu Ying’er earlier? Why strike at her now? Who can’t see she’s deliberately targeting me?”

“It can only be blamed on Attendant Yu having no brain at all.”

Jian Qiu had no choice but to keep soothing her furious mistress. “Someone like her is destined not to last long in the harem. Why should Your Majesty be angry over her? A fool like her isn’t worthy of stirring Your Majesty’s wrath.”

“I’m not angry for that fool.”

The Empress was still angry, but she had already calmed down. “Jian Qiu, send someone to keep an eye on her. If she isn’t dead, let her live. That fool may still be useful in the future.”

“This servant understands.” Jian Qiu answered seriously. “As long as she hasn’t breathed her last, this servant will make sure she clings to life.” “Good.”

The Empress nodded. “Even if she’s ruined, as long as she’s alive, she can still be used. Now then, how have the low-ranking consorts been lately? Have you found one or two who might be useful?”