Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Hua Jin's Benefits (1)

Empress Hua interjects as Cold Nine's words grow more severe, "Empress Dowager, you speak too harshly! It's just a maid's offense. Let's not anger the Emperor over this."

"Slap!"

As Empress Hua finishes, the sound of a sharp slap rings out. When the concubines look up and see Empress Hua's shocked face turned aside, disbelief spreads among them. Did the Empress Dowager just slap Empress Hua in public?

"Empress Dowager!" Emperor Long Yi's voice reveals his anger.

Cold Nine withdraws her hand, looking coolly at the Emperor, "My ears work fine, Your Majesty. No need to raise your voice."

The Emperor clenches his fists, his tone restrained, "She is the Empress!"

"His Majesty remembers her as the Noble Consort, but forgets that I am the Empress Dowager. Should I praise his memory or lament it?" Leng Jiu said, wiping her hands with a handkerchief handed by Zi Yu. "I am the Empress Dowager, the highest authority in the palace. Even if the Noble Consort becomes the Empress, she must still respectfully greet me. Since when did my people become subject to her discipline? And is a Noble Consort allowed to interrupt when I speak with the Emperor?"

Bending down to open Cano's cage, the creature, knowing it had caused trouble, climbed obediently onto Leng Jiu's shoulder, no longer acting haughty. Leng Jiu petted its fur, eyeing the concubines below, "Cano is a bit mischievous but never causes trouble without reason. Are you sure it wasn't because you were tempted to touch it, seeing how adorable it is?"

The intimidating gaze of the Empress Dowager was scary, and the concubines, having seen her hit the Noble Consort in front of the Emperor, dared not protest, knowing her words were true.

Seeing no one speaking, Leng Jiu's tone softened, "Cano's claws are sharp; I've been scratched before. Proper treatment will leave no scars. I have some 'Ningzhi Dew' here. Apply it when the wound heals a bit, and there will be no scars."

The two injured concubines were overjoyed at the prospect of no scars on their faces, gratefully responding, "Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your generosity!"

Leng Jiu waved them off, "Go see the physician quickly! If you delay, real scars might form."

The two concubines left gratefully, with no grievances against the Empress Dowager. Hua Gui Fei's refusal to let them see a doctor, seeking instead to trouble the Empress Dowager, contrasted sharply with the latter's concern for their injuries. They knew who was kind and who was not.

The concubines departed, and Leng Jiu looked at the remaining trembling figures, "It's autumn, and the lake is cold. Why are you still here? Don't you know a woman's body is precious? Hurry and go bathe and change."

They warmed to her words, "We take our leave!"

"We take our leave!" The other women followed suit, seeing no reason to stay.

Soon, the palace entrance cleared, leaving only Emperor Long Yi and Hua Yuxuan.

Leng Jiu smiled at them, "Is there anything else, Your Majesty?"

Long Yi flicked his sleeve and left with a huff.

Hua Yuxuan, clutching her face, was left with her grievances unspoken as the Emperor walked away. Angry and helpless, she realized she couldn't win against the Empress Dowager and had no one to support her. Reluctantly, she left with her entourage.

"It seems the Noble Consort has forgotten something," Leng Jiu reminded with a smile.

Hua Yuxuan halted, turning back to face Leng Jiu with suppressed fury, her teeth nearly clenched, "Please, Empress Dowager, enlighten me!"

Leng Jiu pointed at her attendant, "That maid hit my person. Naturally, she should be left to my judgment."

Hua Yuxuan trembled with anger, "Empress Dowager! I have already endured your slap. Why do you persist in this matter?"

"My slap was for your disrespect towards me, Empress Hua, unrelated to your maid's actions. Her mistake, she must bear," Cold Nine smiles.

"Does the Empress Dowager not know mercy? Why be so relentless towards me?"

"I'm not as eloquent as you, Empress Hua, and unaware of the phrase you mention. This isn't about pressuring you, but addressing the matter at hand," Cold Nine stands serenely, her composure stark against Empress Hua's frustration.

Empress Hua, almost grinding her teeth in anger, realizes her defeat and leaves with her attendants.

The abandoned maid kneels before Cold Nine, "Please, Empress Dowager, forgive me!"

Cold Nine glances at her, her smile chilling, "I thought she would fight for you more, but she gave up so easily. Seems you're not that important. Keep kneeling!"

The maid trembles, "Yes!"

"Empress Dowager!" Autumn Heart calls timidly.

Cold Nine pulls her up, tries a pearl flower on her hair, and disdainfully remarks, "You looked somewhat human before, now more like a pig. Wasting my mood!"

Tossing the flower to her, "Go get treated! Don't let me see this pig-like face, or I won't be able to eat my meal!"

Autumn Heart smiles through her tears, "I'll go right away, not to trouble you further, Empress Dowager."

"Why are you still standing here?"

"Oh!" Autumn Heart hurries away, clutching the pearl flower, her steps light and joyful.

Purple Rain comments, "Lucky for her to have the Empress Dowager. Any other mistress, and she'd have suffered worse."

Cold Nine orders Lu Chang, "Prepare some meals, I'm hungry."

Lu Chang replies with a smile, "As you command."

Entering the palace, Cold Nine hands Purple Rain the other pearl flower, "Take this trinket from the street. It looks nice."

Purple Rain accepts it gratefully, "Thank you for your generosity, Empress Dowager."

"Enough," Cold Nine waves her off. "Check the storeroom for some nourishing items, send them to the kitchen for a tonic, and distribute it to those concubines who fell into the water."

Zi Yu, puzzled, said, "Why did the Empress Dowager go to such lengths today? It seems like an attempt to please them."

Leng Jiu chuckled, "Why would I please them? The medicine will only spoil if unused. Giving it to them earns me a favor. I don't often interact with them, so making a strong impression is necessary. Although I don't need their gratitude, if it troubles Hua Gui Fei, I won't be stingy with these things."

Zi Yu understood, smiling, "I'll personally deliver it when the time comes."

"Hmm."

While Wei Yang Palace was tranquil, Fu Rui Palace was in turmoil. Hua Yuxuan, fuming, slapped her maids before calming down. Still feeling aggrieved, she slammed her hand on the table, "Someone! Bring ink and paper! I need to write to my father!"