Chapter 40: Noble Lady Shen Strikes Back

Noble Lady Shen was brought before Consort Yu. Upon seeing her, Consort Yu looked down at her with disdain.

Noble Lady Shen bowed and greeted, “Greetings to Consort Yu.”

Consort Yu did not acknowledge her greeting. Instead, she asked indifferently, “I heard you’re unwell?”

“Yes,” Noble Lady Shen replied.

“What’s wrong with you? I see your hands are fine, and your complexion looks good. You just don’t want to copy the scriptures and now you’re making excuses!” Consort Yu snorted coldly. “I asked you to copy scriptures as a form of penance. What? Do you dare to object?”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Noble Lady Shen lowered her head until it nearly touched the ground.

“Since you don’t dare, then continue copying. You were slack in copying scriptures in your own palace. Now, with me watching, you’ll copy them here!”

Tears welled up in Noble Lady Shen’s eyes.

Consort Yu squinted at her pitiful appearance. “Noble Lady Shen! Are you unwilling?”

Trembling, Noble Lady Shen replied, “I am willing.”

“To show your sincerity, you will kneel while copying.”

Consort Yu sipped her tea, watching Noble Lady Shen with boredom. Noble Lady Shen knelt and began copying the scriptures. After a short while, she coughed twice but didn’t dare to cough loudly. Her body swayed unsteadily.

Consort Yu had seen such a frail appearance before in Shen Qing. Now, seeing it again, she frowned.

Are they all this weak?

Consort Yu narrowed her eyes but said nothing for the moment. She wondered if Noble Lady Shen would faint as well.

Wen Qiu, who had witnessed Shen Qing fainting before, now saw Noble Lady Shen’s condition and was reminded of Shen Qing.

Indeed, both master and servant had the same thought.

Noble Lady Shen looked increasingly haggard. Eventually, she couldn’t endure it any longer. The brush in her hand fell to the ground. When she tried to pick it up, her fingers trembled. She couldn’t even pick up the brush, let alone write.

Consort Yu shifted her gaze slightly and suddenly said, “Enough, that’s all for today.”

She gave Wen Qiu a look.

Wen Qiu understood immediately. “This servant will escort Noble Lady Shen out.”

Noble Lady Shen trembled as she stood up and walked out of Zhongyu Palace.

Wen Qiu escorted her out but didn’t leave. After some thought, she followed Noble Lady Shen, who was heading towards Fengyi Palace. Suddenly, Noble Lady Shen collapsed at the gate of Fengyi Palace!

Wen Qiu was caught off guard. Noble Lady Shen had already fallen. The palace maids at the gate of Fengyi Palace exclaimed in shock and rushed to help her.

Wen Qiu immediately returned to Zhongyu Palace to report.

Upon hearing the report, Consort Yu slammed the table. “She’s faking it!”

“This servant thought so too!”

Consort Yu had previously wondered if she would faint. Shen Qing had fainted inside Zhongyu Palace, but Noble Lady Shen was more cunning—of all places to faint, she chose the gate of Fengyi Palace!

Fainting at the gate of Fengyi Palace was no small matter; it concerned the Empress.

Upon receiving the news, the Empress immediately summoned the imperial physician. Shortly after, the maids from Noble Lady Shen’s palace arrived. One of the maids looked pale, devoid of blood, appearing pitiful.

The Empress frowned upon seeing this. “What’s going on? What happened to your mistress?”

The maid knelt and kowtowed to the Empress. “Please, Your Majesty, seek justice for us. Both this servant and Noble Lady Shen are being tormented by Consort Yu to the point where we can’t survive.”

“What?” The Empress was incredulous. “What exactly happened? Tell me in detail.”

The maid lifted her sleeve, revealing deep and shallow whip marks on her arm, which were shocking to see.

The Empress frowned. “Consort Yu did this?”

“This servant wouldn’t dare to falsely accuse Consort Yu. It’s just that a few days ago, Noble Lady Shen was punished by Consort Yu to kneel and copy scriptures, which she endured. But now, she’s unwell and can’t bear such torment. Please, Your Majesty, seek justice for Noble Lady Shen!”

The Empress’s expression darkened. “Consort Yu has always been somewhat domineering and sharp-tongued. I have tolerated her for being the mother of the Second Prince and Third Princess. But now, she’s endangering lives. This cannot be tolerated. Someone, bring Consort Yu here and have her explain herself. I want to see what reason she has for tormenting Noble Lady Shen like this!”

“No need, Your Majesty. I have come on my own!” As soon as the Empress finished speaking, Consort Yu entered.

She looked at the maid kneeling on the ground and kicked her. “Plotting against me! How dare you!”

The maid was kicked to the ground and couldn’t get up.

The Empress was furious. “Consort Yu! How dare you behave so recklessly in front of me! Do you think I can’t control you? If that’s the case, I will go to the Emperor!”

Consort Yu was startled but remained unafraid. She sneered coldly.

Emperor Xuanyuan Ling already disliked matters of the harem. Now, with the Empress coming to him, he was immediately angered. “As the head of the six palaces, you can’t even handle this matter?”

Jinzhi knelt on the ground, biting her lip before saying, “This concerns Consort Yu. After all, Consort Yu is the mother of the Prince and Princess. If the Empress were to handle it herself, it might harm the reputation of the Prince and Princess. That’s why she seeks Your Majesty’s intervention.”

The Empress had no children and couldn’t suppress Consort Yu. Otherwise, how could a mere consort overshadow the Empress?

Xuanyuan Ling was annoyed that the Empress was not only malicious but also incompetent. He didn’t want to give her a child. Now, with this situation, he had no choice but to intervene.

He was also furious—Consort Yu again!

The Emperor proceeded to Fengyi Palace.

Everyone in Fengyi Palace knelt.

The Empress immediately pleaded, “This consort is incompetent. Please punish me, Your Majesty.”

Xuanyuan Ling couldn’t blame her at this moment. “Rise.”

The Empress stood up.

Xuanyuan Ling didn’t even glance at Consort Yu.

Consort Yu’s face stiffened, turning pale. She clenched her handkerchief tightly.

“How is Noble Lady Shen?”

The Empress replied, “She hasn’t awakened yet. I saw her face devoid of color, lips pale, and her knees bruised. I don’t know how long she was punished to end up like this. Moreover…”

The Empress summoned the maids serving Noble Lady Shen. There were now more than one; Noble Lady Shen had four attendants, all of whom had arrived.

Each of them lifted their sleeves, revealing their injuries to Xuanyuan Ling.

All four were covered in bruises and wounds.

Xuanyuan Ling’s expression turned grim.

Punishing servants in the palace wasn’t unheard of, but Consort Yu’s domineering nature was well-known. She often punished others to kneel. Now, she had become so vicious as to beat people until they were covered in wounds. It was truly cruel.

He had just been disgusted by marrying an Empress who harmed pregnant women. Now, Consort Yu was following suit.

Moreover, unlike the Empress, who had never received his favor, Consort Yu had once been genuinely favored by Xuanyuan Ling.

It was like with Beauty Wang before—he felt disgusted for having favored her. Now, seeing Consort Yu, he felt increasingly repulsed.