Chapter 6 Bullying with Power  

The punishment of Consort Nian being made to kneel was truly unexpected.  

“Empress Dowager…” De Consort rose to her feet. “This is Nian Shi’s first audience with you. She was so nervous that she forgot her manners. This humble one is dull-witted and will surely teach her properly later. Please calm your anger, Empress Dowager.”  

Calm her anger?  

The Empress Dowager snorted, easily discerning the veiled plea in De Consort’s words.  

Nian Shi pretended to be so meek yet dared to mock the Eighth Fu Jin. Could it be that she had misjudged her? The Empress Dowager waved her hand dismissively. “This old one was never angry to begin with. De Consort, sit down. There’s no need to be so cautious.”  

How was she supposed to respond to that?  

De Consort glanced at Nian Jiao, her heart sinking, though her face remained composed with a smile.  

She then looked at the Fu Jin beside her, trusting that her daughter-in-law would understand her silent message.  

The Empress Dowager was the Emperor’s stepmother, revered by him, and thus they too must show reverence. To speak further would be tantamount to defiance.  

“…” Seeing De Consort’s plea fail, the Fu Jin pressed her lips together, burying her indignation deep within.  

This was not just a humiliation for Nian Shi but also for De Consort and the entire Yong Prince’s Manor. She fixed her gaze on the Eighth Fu Jin—how could she not see what was happening? Guo Luoluo Shi was utterly despicable!  

Yi Fei, seated diagonally across from De Consort, saw everything clearly. The newly appointed consort of Fourth Master stood with impeccable posture—where was the impropriety the Empress Dowager spoke of?  

Yet, to appease the Eighth Fu Jin’s grievances, whatever the Empress Dowager said had to be accepted as truth. Branded with the accusation of disrespecting the principal wife, there was no choice but to endure it.  

The hall fell into abrupt silence. Without the Empress Dowager’s permission to rise, Nian Jiao could only remain kneeling.  

In the early spring chill, the floor tiles radiated a biting cold. The icy sensation crept up her knees, and Nian Jiao’s delicate brows drooped slightly as she silently calculated how much longer she would have to kneel. Would she be able to soothe her nerves with a pig’s trotter tonight? Lost in her wandering thoughts, her eyes met those of the Eighth Fu Jin.  

The Eighth Fu Jin looked down at her, a mocking smile curling her red lips.  

Hui Fei, who had been observing coldly, suddenly spoke. “Empress Dowager, in this humble one’s opinion, there must be some misunderstanding here. The Emperor holds the Nian family in high regard. As the daughter of such a family, her character surely cannot be flawed. Look at how pale Consort Nian’s little face is—how old is she? What ulterior motives could she possibly have?”  

……  

No one expected Hui Fei to come to Nian Jiao’s defense—not even the Empress Dowager, who looked between Nian Jiao and Hui Fei in astonishment, visibly hesitating for once.  

Had De Consort said the same, she would have ignored it outright. But Hui Fei was different.  

Hui Fei was the Eighth Fu Jin’s rightful mother-in-law!  

Eighth Master had been raised under Hui Fei’s care from birth—her nurturing grace was undeniable. Even though his birth mother had recently been elevated to Liang Fei, placing her on equal footing with Hui Fei, Eighth Master still treated Hui Fei as his true mother.  

Now that his adoptive mother had spoken, declaring Nian Shi innocent of ill intent, how could the Eighth Fu Jin, as Eighth Master’s wife, dare to contradict her?  

To refute would be unfilial.  

The Eighth Fu Jin’s expression instantly darkened. “Mother Hui…”  

Hui Fei did not look at her.  

Instead, her gaze lingered on Nian Jiao, carefully tracing the contours of her delicate features before sighing and addressing the Empress Dowager. “Your Majesty, take another look. Is what this humble one said not true?”  

The old Empress Dowager was easily swayed—she had heeded the Eighth Fu Jin’s words, and now she could heed Hui Fei’s as well. Moreover, ever since Prince Zhi, Yin Ti, had been placed under house arrest, Hui Fei seemed to have lost her backbone, listless day after day. The Empress Dowager had noticed and wished to lift her spirits.  

She had not missed Hui Fei’s mention of “the Emperor’s regard for the Nian family.” Though she still disliked Nian Shi, she now hesitated, weighing the implications.

Squinting at the latter’s face, it did seem paler than before…

At this moment, Yi Fei interjected: “Sister Hui Fei speaks wisely. Empress Dowager, please grant her request.”

Even Yi Fei said so?

Weren’t she and De Consort at odds?

After a long hesitation, the Empress Dowager finally relented: “Rise. This old one might have been mistaken earlier. Xiu Zhu, bring an embroidered stool for Consort Nian to sit on.”

The storm dissipated without a trace, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Nian Jiao pressed her lips together and quickly expressed her gratitude, thinking the Empress Dowager truly had discerning eyes—as did the other noble consorts!

Trembling, she straightened up, and when her face was finally revealed, the entire hall fell silent.

This appearance… truly…

Nian Jiao squared her shoulders and sat down with dignified poise, not even glancing at Eighth Fu Jin, which infuriated the latter so much that her nails dug deep into her palms.

She had become a laughingstock.

After paying respects, De Consort led Fu Jin and Nian Jiao back to the Palace of Eternal Harmony.

The palace maids hurriedly served hot tea to calm their nerves. Holding her teacup, De Consort sighed as she watched Nian Jiao obediently sitting to the side.

Still so naive. Anyone else would have been overwhelmed with grievance or trembling with fear by now.

That Hui Fei would step in to help Nian Jiao was something De Consort had never anticipated. Exchanging a glance with Fu Jin, she pondered whether there was some hidden scheme at play.

De Consort finally managed to ask, “Do you have anything to say?”

Nian Jiao lowered her head. “This concubine has caused trouble for Your Highness and feels deeply sorry.”

Then she added softly, “My knees hurt.”

De Consort: “…”

Fu Jin: “…”

An utterly predictable response. De Consort didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, her earlier frustration in the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility completely dissipating. She turned to Fu Jin and said, “You’ll have to bear some hardship.”

Fu Jin acquiesced: “This daughter-in-law understands.”

Nian Jiao had no idea what cryptic exchange they were having. Still bewildered, she was dismissed by De Consort.

This time, the palace corridors were quiet, and they encountered no one. Clutching the medicinal ointment bestowed by De Consort and the pastries packed from the Palace of Eternal Harmony, Nian Jiao returned to the estate. As soon as she alighted from the carriage, Fu Jin urged her to rest: “Her Highness gave you a rare treasure from the Imperial Hospital. Apply it two or three times, and the bruising will fade. The harder you massage it, the better.”

After a pause, Fu Jin added, “Don’t fear the pain.”

Perhaps the floor tiles were too cold, or her skin too delicate—though she hadn’t knelt for long, Consort Nian’s knees were already mottled with bruises. When Fu Jin had peeked at them in the carriage earlier, it had startled her.

Nian Jiao gave her a sweet smile. “This concubine understands. Fu Jin must also be tired after taking me to the palace so early. Please rest as well.”

She was a yaoguai—what were a few bruises? They would heal soon enough.

Fu Jin was taken aback, watching the delicate figure retreat into the distance. Mama Fang whispered beside her, “Consort Nian… Since it was the Empress Dowager who troubled her, we can’t call for a physician. This matter must be tightly concealed.” Otherwise, it would imply resentment toward the Empress Dowager.

That was true.

Fu Jin sighed and shortly summoned Zhang Qilin from the front courtyard to ask, “Is His Highness in?”

Zhang Qilin replied, “His Highness is hosting the Thirteenth Prince in the study.”

Fu Jin nodded, whispering a few words into his ear. Zhang Qilin’s expression shifted, and he withdrew at once.

…

In the study, the steam from tea mingled with the curling scent of incense.

The furnishings on the desk were simple: the four treasures of the study, a few volumes of Buddhist scriptures, books, and memorials.

The Thirteenth Prince teased, “In the midst of newlywed bliss, with a lovely bride in your mansion, Fourth Brother, how could you be so heartless? After examining Hongshi’s studies, you’d rather sit idly in the study?”

The man being teased didn’t even look up. “Then why are you here?”

“Your younger brother is actually here to mooch some tea,” the Thirteenth Prince said, rubbing his nose. “After drinking tea, one naturally seeks some amusing gossip to pass the time.”

Upon closer inspection, his eyes still held their usual brightness, but the spirited vigor of the past was now overshadowed by a thick gloom.

He was no longer the reckless Thirteenth Prince of old.

“Fourth Brother, you don’t know…” He wanted to mention the undercurrents hidden in the bridal chamber when Nian Shi entered the mansion, but the words died on his lips.

This also involved the Fourteenth Brother. A blood brother sharing the same mother as Fourth Brother—it wasn’t his place to comment.

The Fourth Master looked up at him, frowning slightly.

After a moment, he said, “There’s plenty of tea here. Drink as much as you like. As for amusing gossip to pass the time, there is none.”

The Thirteenth Prince immediately stopped his wandering thoughts, thinking to himself, *This icy tone—so typical of Fourth Brother!*

Even such a beauty couldn’t make him linger. On Fourth Brother, it made perfect sense.

The Thirteenth Prince laughed heartily, the stinging pain in his leg wound easing slightly. Suddenly noticing someone peeking outside the door, he stroked his chin and called out, “Come in already.”

“Your Highness, Thirteenth Prince,” Zhang Qilin hurried in. “It’s Consort Nian…”

Nian Shi?

Last night, he had stayed in the study and hadn’t gone to her courtyard. So she couldn’t hold back after all.

The Fourth Master leaned back, seeing the Thirteenth Prince rooted to his chair, his “eavesdropping” intentions blatantly obvious. Turning his head, his expression unchanged, he said, “Continue.”

Zhang Qilin spoke in one breath, “Consort Nian went to the palace today and somehow caught the Eighth Fu Jin’s displeasure. When the Eighth Fu Jin paid respects to the Empress Dowager… she was punished with kneeling… The Fu Jin hurriedly sent this servant to inform you.”

The Thirteenth Prince was stunned.

He glanced at the Fourth Master, who had already set down his brush and was striding out the door.

·

Dwelling of Peach Blossoms.

After a flurry of chaos, the courtyard returned to calm. Though Wen Chun and the others knew Nian Jiao’s resilient constitution, their hearts ached for her. When had their pampered Princess ever suffered such hardship!

Mama Qiu felt a pang of bitterness, forcing a smile as she said, “It’s time to apply the medicated cream.”

Nian Jiao had changed into fresh clothes, her pant legs rolled up high, her face sullen.

She had already said she’d recover quickly—why did she still need the cream?

In her displeasure, she longed to see her floral jewelry, so she cast a pleading look at Mama Qiu.

Mama Qiu quickly relented, instructing Dongxi to inform the Prince while fetching Nian Jiao’s treasured jewelry box. With a *snap*, she opened it, revealing a dazzling array of red and gold, radiant and luxurious.

She then emphasized, “Only half an incense stick’s worth of time.”

Nian Jiao’s eyes sparkled.

As she lovingly admired her jewelry, Mama Qiu sighed, holding the medicated cream. “This needs to be rubbed in firmly. Only by dispersing the bruising will you heal quickly. Don’t be afraid of the pain, Princess.”

Nian Jiao: “Mhm, mhm.”

Her mind wholly occupied by her floral jewelry, Nian Jiao let the words go in one ear and out the other.

Suddenly, an announcement came from outside: “The Prince has arrived—”

Nian Jiao’s eyes widened in panic as she hurriedly stuffed her jewelry away, her heart pounding wildly!

How had he come so quickly?

The Fourth Master strode into the inner chamber, where Nian Jiao sat by the bed, her knees bruised purple, her beautiful eyes wide with fright, shimmering like pools of water.

The plain blue robes made her resemble a little white flower in the field, wilted and pitiful.

The Fourth Master’s fingers curled slightly.

The next moment, Nian Jiao pursed her lips slightly and pouted before throwing herself into his arms.  

No one had expected Consort Nian’s sudden action. Fourth Master was so startled that he instinctively reached out, catching her in his embrace while carefully avoiding her injuries. His voice turned cold and stern as he scolded, “Do you not care about your knees anymore?!”  

Nian Jiao tilted her head up and sniffled.  

That was close… she almost got caught.  

The man’s reprimand and icy expression now seemed insignificant to her. Suppressing the frantic beating of her heart, she buried her face against Fourth Master’s chest.  

Fourth Master fell silent.  

Su Peisheng stood at a distance, not daring to approach. He could vaguely make out the figures nestled together, his eyes widening in shock as he inwardly gasped.  

He watched as the Prince lifted Consort Nian and placed her on the edge of the bed, gently patting her head before turning to Mama Qiu. “Has the medicine been applied?”  

Mama Qiu, still dazed, replied, “We were just about to. This is a rare ointment from the Imperial Hospital, bestowed by Consort De…”  

Fourth Master took the medicated cream and recognized it at a glance—it was the same kind he had often used in his childhood after roughhousing with his brothers.  

Effective, but painful when applied.  

Dipping his fingertip into the ointment, he said coolly, “All of you, leave.”  

……  

Su Peisheng didn’t even want to recall how he had stumbled out of the inner chamber like a clumsy fool.  

He glanced at Mama Qiu beside him, who stared back at him in equal bewilderment.  

A breeze swept through the courtyard, rustling the tender willow leaves and adding a touch of green to the scenery.  

Spring had arrived.  

Inside the room, Nian Jiao blinked rapidly, watching intently as the man sat down beside her.  

Cool fingertips brushed lightly against her knee before skillfully massaging the ointment in—  

Tears immediately spilled down her cheeks as she whimpered, “It hurts!!”  

The man ignored her protests, continuing mercilessly.  

Dizzying sparks burst before her eyes, and Nian Jiao felt as though her knees no longer belonged to her.  

When had the Little Flower Sprite ever suffered like this? Through her tear-blurred vision, a surge of resentment rose in her heart. She leaned her head against Fourth Master’s left shoulder and rubbed her face against it with force.  

Soon, a large patch of his robe was soaked.  

Still unsatisfied, Nian Jiao sniffled and muttered, “Bullying others with your power.”  

“I didn’t even need this medicine!”  

Fourth Master’s brow twitched. After a long pause, he reminded himself—she was still young. There was no need to take it to heart.  

Gradually calming down, he murmured, “The Eighth Prince’s Consort did indeed bully you with her power.”  

“……”  

Nian Jiao couldn’t quite make out his words. By the time the ointment was fully applied, she looked as though she had been fished out of water—her cheeks flushed, her breathing ragged.  

After washing his hands, Fourth Master glanced first at his damp outer robe, then at Nian Jiao. Under his gaze, guilt crept into her heart as her rationality slowly returned.  

Oh no.  

Would the Boss be angry with her?  

Her plan to cling to his thigh had nearly gone awry. Alarm bells rang in her mind—one second, two seconds, three seconds—  

She buried her face against him again.  

If I don’t lift my head, no one will see the wet patch on his shoulder.  

Fourth Master: “…………”