Chapter 614: House Arrest and Salary Deduction

**Chapter 614: Confinement and Fines**

Emperor Jiazheng now felt that Consort Bai was indeed too spoiled.

It seemed that although Xidi was a frontier state, they had raised their princess with excessive indulgence—always prone to weeping.

Unable to hold back, Consort Bai said tearfully, "Your Majesty, Noble Consort Rou used unauthorized corporal punishment in the palace. Does Her Majesty intend to let it go just like that? I know I’m from Xidi and unwelcome here, so it’s understandable if Her Majesty does not wish to stand up for me..."

Emperor Jiazheng's expression suddenly darkened. "Silence!"

Consort Bai trembled at the Emperor’s sudden snap, completely stunned.

Emperor Jiazheng frowned at her. "Who gave you the audacity to speak ill of the Empress?!"

Consort Bai’s mind went blank.

She had only been in the palace for a short time, and Emperor Jiazheng had always doted on her, showing great tolerance. She had never imagined he could be so harsh.

She had merely—merely criticized Empress Nie once, and the Emperor had snapped at her like this?

Her thoughts raced before she finally bowed to necessity and knelt. "...Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I spoke out of turn."

Emperor Jiazheng remained silent, his attitude cold.

Empress Nie looked at Consort Bai with detached composure. "Consort Bai, considering your youth, I have not corrected your etiquette until now. Addressing yourself as 'I' before His Majesty is already an overstep."

Consort Bai bit her lip, still resentful. She wanted to argue that on the night she first entered the palace, in private moments, the Emperor had found it amusing and specially granted her this privilege. But before she could speak, she caught sight of Emperor Jiazheng’s indifferent expression.

She shuddered with apprehension and dared not defend herself further. Swallowing her humiliation, she lowered her head and replied, "Yes, Your servant acknowledges her mistake and will heed Your Majesty’s teachings."

Empress Nie nodded without pressing further. "Very well. You are still injured—rise."

Supported by a palace maid, Consort Bai stood up, too aggrieved to speak further.

Empress Nie then turned to Noble Consort Rou and sighed. "Noble Consort Rou, you are a long-serving consort in the palace. Why did you resort to violence out of nowhere?"

Her tone was gentle.

Yet tears brimmed in Noble Consort Rou’s eyes. "Your Majesty, you know my temperament. I’ve always taken pleasure in lively affairs, but otherwise, I rarely bother with others’ affairs."

Seeing her with eyes brimming, Empress Nie’s heart ached, and she quickly reassured her. "I know, I know. You are not the domineering type. So why did you whip Consort Bai?"

Noble Consort Rou wiped her tears with a handkerchief before glaring fiercely at Consort Bai. "...This barbarian woman, relying on His Majesty’s favor, has been brandishing her whip around the imperial gardens all day long. Does she think this is Xidi's rough-hewn courts?! My nursemaid was carrying Ah Si through the garden to take the air when Consort Bai lashed her whip, laughing and boasting about her skill, claiming she wouldn’t hurt anyone! She didn’t injure them, but the nursemaid and Ah Si were frightened out of their wits—the nursemaid nearly dropped Ah Si, and he returned burning with fever, retching in distress!"

Ah Si was the nickname of the Seventh Prince, Noble Consort Rou’s cherished child. Speaking of him, her tears flowed freely.

She fell to her knees before Emperor Jiazheng again, her voice choked with sobs. "By the ancestors! Your Majesty, when Ah Si first came to my palace, he was such a feeble little one. It was only after I cared for him day and night that he grew into the healthier child he is now. Consort Bai’s reckless behavior in the garden left him burning with fever, vomiting in agony... My heart aches to see him like this... I know I was wrong to force my way into Muchen Palace and whip Consort Bai, but I do not regret it!"

Emperor Jiazheng hadn’t realized this involved the Seventh Prince.

He frowned. Consort Bai was indeed too young and careless.

"Enough, Noble Consort Rou. Rise and speak," Empress Nie said, stepping forward to help her up. Concerned, she asked, "...Is Ah Si alright now?"

Noble Consort Rou was a picture of maternal anguish. "Before coming here, I and the nursing matron just fed him medicine. He has only just fallen asleep. Your Majesty, seeing such a small child endure this—it feels like a dagger piercing my heart."

Having brought forth three imperial sons herself, Empress Nie understood the pain all too well.

She patted Noble Consort Rou’s hand before turning to Consort Bai, her tone hardening. "Consort Bai, I will assign discipline matrons to you. For now, you are confined to Muchen Palace—undergo discipline and cultivation!"

Consort Bai was stunned, never expecting that after receiving a whipping, she would also be punished with confinement.

"Your Majesty!" Consort Bai hurriedly grabbed Emperor Jiazheng’s arm. "I… I didn’t mean to scare that nursemaid! She was the one who approached with the Seventh Prince in her arms… I just couldn’t stop the whip in time… Your Majesty, please tell Empress Nie that I don’t want to be confined!"

Emperor Jiazheng, however, brushed off Consort Bai’s hand and said indifferently, "Guards, escort Consort Bai back to her palace for confinement."

Consort Bai, unable to believe what was happening, struggled and wept as she was led away by the attendants.

The emperor then turned to Noble Consort Rou with a frown. "Consort, it’s not that I blame you, but you were too impulsive. After all, Consort Bai is a princess sent by Xidi. Striking her so rashly is truly inappropriate."

Noble Consort Rou softly acknowledged his words, but Empress Nie interjected, "Your Majesty, it’s true that Consort Bai is a Xidi princess, but she is also a tribute bride from Xidi. Since she has entered Your Majesty’s harem, even with her status as a princess, she must abide by the rules of Your Majesty’s inner court… I understand Your Majesty appreciates Consort Bai’s innocence, but regardless, she is now one of Your Majesty’s consorts and can no longer be allowed to act recklessly. Noble Consort Rou holds a higher rank than Consort Bai and naturally bears the responsibility of disciplining lower-ranking consorts. Though she acted excessively this time, it wasn’t a grave mistake."

Emperor Jiazheng hesitated. "...The Empress does have a point."

Empress Nie smiled. "Still, wrongdoing must be addressed. Noble Consort Rou shall suffer a half-year stipend cut as a warning. Noble Consort Rou, you are now Ah Si’s mother. For Ah Si’s sake, you must not act impulsively in the future."

Of course, palace consorts all received stipends, though none relied solely on them for survival. Moreover, Noble Consort Rou was raising the Seventh Prince—she’d hardly want for anything.

A half-year stipend cut was barely a slap on the wrist.

Emperor Jiazheng chuckled helplessly. "Since the Empress has spoken, let it be so."

With tears in her eyes, Noble Consort Rou bowed and retreated.

Confined to the Morning Dew Palace, Consort Bai stormed into her quarters and shattered several decorative items the moment she returned.

Trapped within her quarters, how could she find an opportunity to meet that archenemy from the former court, Yu Yonghuai, and get her revenge?

No—Emperor Jiazheng’s birthday celebration was approaching, and the imperial banquet would be her best chance to get close to that traitor!

Before then, she absolutely had to lift this confinement!

A flash of malice flickered in Consort Bai’s eyes.