Chapter 93: A Slap in the Face

Chapter 93: Slapping

"Xiao Songzi, slap her."

The Hundredth Day Celebration was traditionally a family banquet, typically held in the Liangyi Hall, where members of the royal family were invited to join in the festivities. However, this time it coincided with the Spring Banquet, so they decided to combine the two events and hold them in the Imperial Garden.

Noble Consort Mi was organizing the Spring Banquet for the first time and took extra care, personally instructing the palace servants to meticulously trim the Imperial Garden. She personally oversaw everything from the dance performances to the menu.

On this day, the heavens smiled upon them, a bright and sunny spring day.

Su Jiaojiao was dressed and groomed by Ling Xiao, wearing a goose-yellow hibiscus dress that matched the spring season, paired with a light green, gold-trimmed butterfly-patterned robe. In the sunlight, the butterfly embroidery seemed to shimmer with brilliant colors.

The robe was made of soft gauze, light and flowing, highlighting Su Jiaojiao's graceful shoulders and slender waist, her figure exuding a delicate, youthful charm, full of spring vitality and the grace of dancing butterflies.

Although she was the mistress of her own palace, she was still in the prime of her youth. With careful dressing, her beauty was both cool and charming, radiantly beautiful.

The Spring Banquet was a midday feast. Although late April was not particularly hot, the midday sun was still harsh and glaring. Yu Ying held up a six-paneled bone umbrella to shade Su Jiaojiao from the sun, helping her onto the palanquin and carrying her towards the Imperial Garden.

The shortest route from the Southern Four Palaces to the Imperial Garden was the palace path between the Guanju Palace and the Fengyi Palace, which connected to the Taiji Hall. Su Jiaojiao set off neither early nor late, hoping to avoid encountering any troublesome people on the way.

But unfortunately, shortly after leaving, she saw the procession of Concubine Lian approaching.

Concubine Lian and Su Jiaojiao both held the rank of Noble Consort, both with titles, and were officially on equal footing.

However, the palace path leading to the Imperial Garden narrowed, and the procession of a Noble Consort was quite large, allowing only one group to pass at a time.

The two groups found themselves at a standstill at the palace path entrance.

Concubine Lian, looking lazily at Noble Consort Zhen sitting on the palanquin, had a flicker of admiration cross her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by disdain. Her expression was cold and proud, showing no hint of a smile towards Su Jiaojiao.

In the entire harem, the only person Concubine Lian respected was the Empress, her original wife. All other Imperial Consorts were beneath her notice.

Especially Noble Consort Zhen, who was her most hated thorn in the side, a seductress who monopolized the Emperor's attention every day. Moreover, Concubine Lian had been granted the title of Noble Consort first, and Noble Consort Zhen was a later addition, so she had no reason to yield.

Given the Emperor's favor and indulgence towards her as his cousin, what harm was there in making the Su family wait a little longer!

Concubine Lian suddenly remembered the scene at the New Year's banquet when Su Jiaojiao sat beside the Emperor, smiling charmingly. She clenched the armrest of her palanquin in frustration, involuntarily lifting her chin, her pride even more evident.

The Emperor could never truly fall for Su Jiaojiao; he was merely bewitched by her tricks. No matter how much favor she enjoyed now, it meant nothing!

She gave Lvwan a cold glance, who immediately understood, flicking her handkerchief and saying, "Hurry up, let Her Ladyship pass first."

Both were Noble Consorts, so why should Concubine Lian go first?

Yu Ye, being impatient, frowned and said, "Our Lady arrived first, so why should Concubine Lian pass before Noble Consort Zhen? What kind of logic is that!"

Lvwan remembered clearly that it was Noble Consort Zhen who had caused Lv Yao to have her tongue cut out and sent to hard labor. Now that they had encountered each other, how could she have a good expression?

She immediately sneered and raised her voice, saying, "It's true that Noble Consort Zhen and Concubine Lian hold the same rank, but even in the harem, the principle of first come, first served applies. I remember that when Concubine Lian was granted the title of Noble Consort, Noble Consort Zhen was still a Concubine, only later being granted the title of Noble Consort."

"Moreover, Concubine Lian is the Emperor's cousin, so by both sentiment and reason, our Lady should pass first. If the maidservants around Noble Consort Zhen don't understand propriety, it would be a shame if Noble Consort Zhen herself also lacked understanding."

Su Jiaojiao shifted from her casual posture to a more upright one, her long lashes fluttered open as she looked at Concubine Lian before her.

Her expression was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger, but her gaze fell on Lvwan as she finally spoke, "Xiao Songzi, slap her."

Xiao Songzi was Su Jiaojiao's head eunuch, young and strong, always perceptive and tactful.

But most importantly, Xiao Songzi was a eunuch. Having a eunuch slap a palace maid was a far greater humiliation than if a maid had done it.

Moreover, Lvwan is after all the chief maid of Noble Consort Lian. If she were slapped by a common maid, it would easily lead to gossip. However, if she were slapped by the chief eunuch of Noble Consort Zhen, it would not be considered a breach of etiquette.

Su Jiaojiao looked at Noble Consort Lian, calmly raising her hand to adjust her hairpin.

Lvwan below did not expect that Noble Consort Zhen, who appeared so delicate, would act so decisively. She instinctively paled and looked to Noble Consort Lian for help.

Though a slap isn't a harsh punishment, it's a deep humiliation, not just to the maid but also to Noble Consort Lian's face.

Noble Consort Lian, who already disliked Su Jiaojiao, was furious when she saw her daring to speak so arrogantly and order a slap for Lvwan. She slammed her hand on the armrest and scoffed, "Lvwan is my chief maid, my own person, and it's not for others to discipline!"

Su Jiaojiao said calmly, "Lvwan has behaved improperly and offended me. Noble Consort Lian may be fond of her maid and hesitant, but as the mistress of a palace, disciplining a maid is also my duty."

Seeing her so justified, Noble Consort Lian was even more infuriated and shouted, "What if I refuse to allow it?"

Yu Ying, seeing Noble Consort Lian's anger and embarrassment, smiled and bowed, "Your Highness jests, the harem has its rules, and it's never up to one person to decide. Lvwan's words have offended my lady. If she isn't punished, won't the whole palace think Noble Consort Zhen can be bullied by a maid? Your Highness is the Emperor's Imperial Consort, and if Your Highness loses face, the Emperor loses face. If this spreads, Your Highness, do you think the Emperor would see my lady as unforgiving, or that Noble Consort Lian can't manage her servants again?"

While speaking, Yu Ying deliberately stressed the word "again" to remind Noble Consort Lian not to forget the incident where Lvyao, Noble Consort Lian's maid, was ordered by Noble Consort Mi to have her tongue cut out and sent to hard labor for attempting to slap Yu Ying.

Noble Consort Lian had only brought Lvyao and Lvwan as her dowry maids when she entered the palace, and dowry maids are the closest and most capable servants to their mistresses.

She'd already lost Lvyao, and if she insisted on protecting Lvwan today, she might face the same fate.

Hearing this, Noble Consort Lian understood the implication in Yu Ying's words and pointed at her nose, angrily saying, "Are you threatening me?!"

"This servant dares not," Yu Ying straightened up, smiling at Noble Consort Lian, but her words were directed at Xiao Songzi and the servants behind him, "Didn't you hear the mistress's order just now? Hurry, if you delay the Hundred Days Ceremony, can you handle the consequences?"

Xiao Songzi immediately called people forward to pull Lvwan out from the crowd.

Lvwan cried, "Your Highness! Your Highness—!"

Noble Consort Lian's grip on the armrest tightened, and she leaned forward slightly, but still gritted her teeth without speaking.

Although Yu Ying's words were harsh, she had to consider the Emperor's opinion of her.

Now that the Emperor and she had finally achieved a normal imperial-consort relationship, if he became dissatisfied with her again because she couldn't manage her maids, wouldn't it just benefit other women for nothing!

Lvwan was pulled to the middle of the two processions, and Xiao Songzi swung his arms wide, slapping her cheeks "slap slap," and in just a few hits, Lvwan's face swelled up, red and swollen.

Su Jiaojiao and Noble Consort Lian's processions together had about twenty people, and since this palace path was already busy with people coming and going, the scene of Lvwan being beaten was quite large, and many people secretly looked over.

After about twenty slaps, Su Jiaojiao indifferently said, "Stop."

"Lvwan has not been in the palace for long, and I believe she did not intentionally offend me. A small punishment is enough. I hope you remember your status in the future, be cautious in your words and actions, and do not embarrass Noble Consort Lian again. However, Lvwan's current appearance is quite unsightly. At the Hundred Days Ceremony, the Emperor and the Second Prince will be present. If they see Lvwan's frightening appearance and it frightens the Second Prince, that would be another crime."

After saying this, she looked at Noble Consort Lian and softly smiled, "Noble Consort Lian was indeed granted the title of Noble Consort before me. Step back, let Noble Consort Lian go first."