Chapter 5 Disciplining the Wicked Servant with Repeated Slaps

Chapter 5: Putting a Bully in His Place, and a Flurry of Slaps

Chen Hu felt a sudden, sharp pain in his thigh. Looking down, he saw a silvery dagger embedded in his leg, blood staining his trousers.

Even the slightest move sent a piercing agony through him, and Chen Hu's face instantly turned pale.

"You... you cheated!"

Ji Yuntang remained calm as ever. "All's fair in war."

"Forgot to tell you, the dagger was poisoned. And only *I*, the Princess, have the antidote. If you don't want to die too quickly, you'd better scram."

Chen Hu snorted disdainfully. Poison? Who did she think she was fooling?

Two young maids hiding in the back, watching the scene unfold, were terrified.

They never expected the newly wed Princess to be so brutal.

Chen Hu was someone who had once killed an adult tiger with just three punches. How could he lose to a weak woman like Ji Yuntang?

For him, this was nothing short of sheer humiliation.

Ji Yuntang wasn't about to waste any more time. Her cold gaze swept over the two maids.

"Aside from this Jinghong Courtyard, prepare the best room in Prince Ye's mansion for His Highness. All furniture and clothing must be replaced with new. The teacups and utensils should be of the finest quality. You have fifteen minutes. Now go! Immediately!"

As soon as Ji Yuntang finished speaking, one of the maids, named Tao Zhi, trembled in fear and instantly knelt down.

"P-Princess... the best room in Prince Ye's mansion is... is occupied by Miss Liu..."

"Miss Liu?"

Ji Yuntang frowned. How did she not know a Miss Liu was living in Prince Ye's mansion?

"Miss Liu Linlang is Nanny Xu's daughter. Currently, the authority to manage Prince Ye's mansion is in Nanny Xu's hands. And Nanny Xu is His Highness's savior, held in high esteem by him. So, basically, all the servants in Prince Ye's mansion obey her."

After hearing this, Ji Yuntang got the picture.

So, after Luo Junhe became bedridden, Prince Ye's mansion had been taken over by a nanny. And that so-called Miss Liu had presumptuously assumed the role of the mansion's mistress, enjoying privileges throughout the entire estate that even Luo Junhe didn't have.

Ji Yuntang sneered inwardly. Talk about a cuckoo in the nest. She'd have to go and have a little chat with this Miss Liu later.

She looked at Tao Zhi. "You, go and prepare a clean room for His Highness to rest. Remember to make the bedding thick."

Then she turned to Qiao Ye. "You, go to the kitchen and have them cook some easily digestible spinach and carrot porridge. The spinach and carrots should be finely chopped. I'll personally see to His Highness's meal later."

"Yes, Princess."

Tao Zhi and Qiao Ye dared not disobey and scurried away.

Ji Yuntang had already fed Luo Junhe glucose and anti-inflammatory medicine last night and given him a small cup of spiritual spring water this morning. He was now asleep.

Soon after, Tao Zhi came out, looking apprehensive. "Princess, the room in the West Courtyard is ready."

"Take me there."

Ji Yuntang carried Luo Junhe to the West Courtyard.

The room wasn't large, but it was well-lit, clean, and tidy. Inside were a tea table and a desk made of nanmu, with brand-new tea sets. Sunlight streamed in through the window lattice, and Ji Yuntang was reasonably satisfied.

She carefully placed Luo Junhe on the bed and casually instructed, "From now on, His Highness's quilts and bedding must be taken out to sun daily, and the windows must be opened every day for ventilation."

Tao Zhi looked conflicted, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. Suddenly, she fell to her knees with a thud.

"Princess, but... this servant is Miss Liu's maid. I cannot come to serve His Highness..."

She and Qiao Ye were originally Luo Junhe's maids but were later assigned by Nanny Xu to serve Liu Linlang.

Today, Liu Linlang had specifically sent her and Tao Zhi to spy on the new Princess.

On one hand, Tao Zhi dared not disobey Liu Linlang; on the other, she dared not defy Ji Yuntang.

Neither of these two was someone a mere maid like her could afford to offend.

Ji Yuntang's lively eyes darkened slightly. How could Liu Linlang wield more power in Prince Ye's mansion than she, the Princess, did? Was that reasonable?

It seemed she had to make an example of Liu Linlang today to establish her authority.

"Get up and lead the way. I am going to see Liu Linlang."

"Yes." Tao Zhi complied, keeping her head down as she followed behind Ji Yuntang.

Inside Yayun Pavilion, flower shadows danced, and the pond water shimmered. Carved railings surrounded the elegant waterside pavilion, while exotic flowers and rare plants adorned the courtyard, forming a picturesque scene that was utterly enchanting.

Under a peach blossom tree, on a grand master's chair, lay a girl of about seventeen or eighteen, dressed in a green cuìwén (kingfisher-feather green) lotus-patterned skirt embroidered with delicate gold trim. Behind her, a young maid gently fanned her with a round fan.

Her features were pretty, her hair styled in an elaborate liúyún (flowing clouds) bun adorned with jade and gold hairpins. Silver filigree earrings dangled from her earlobes, and jade ornaments tinkled around her, exuding an air of opulence.

Seeing Ji Yuntang walk in without even greeting, Bi Chi, the maid serving Liu Linlang, rushed forward aggressively to scold her.

"How dare you! Who are you to barge into Miss Liu's courtyard!?"

"Get out now, disturbing our—"

Before Bi Chi could finish, Ji Yuntang slapped her across the face, hard enough to make her spit blood.

"Tsk, with such a foul mouth, you're surprisingly fragile. I didn't even use much force."

"Huh? You're the newly arrived Princess Ye?" Bi Chi was stunned. Even Liu Linlang, pretending to sleep on the grand master's chair, was shocked.

She opened her eyes, her gaze falling on Ji Yuntang in the courtyard. The woman was thin and frail, with barely any flesh on her chest—clearly malnourished. She wore only a simple wooden hairpin and a plain white dress that looked shabby.

What Liu Linlang found most contemptible was Ji Yuntang's appearance. A black mark covered almost the entire left half of her face, making her as ugly as could be.

"So you're Princess Ye, the fifth wife Brother He just married?"

Ji Yuntang took in the woman's scornful expression, a cold smile curling at the corner of her red lips.

"You know my status, yet you don't pay your respects. It seems Nanny Xu didn't teach you the rules of Prince Ye's mansion."

"In that case, I don't mind teaching you the rules myself."

With that, Ji Yuntang swiftly darted in front of Liu Linlang. Grabbing her arm, she executed a beautiful shoulder throw, slamming Liu Linlang heavily onto the ground.

"Thud—"

Flat on her back, limbs splayed in all directions.

"Ah, you bitch, how dare you hit me!?"

Liu Linlang's voice was shrill, her lovely features contorted in rage and disbelief.

Having lived in the Night Prince's estate for ten years, she had always been treated like a young lady by the servants. She had never suffered such a beating before. She immediately lurched to her feet, ready to pummel Ji Yuntang.

"You bitch, don't think that just because you've entered the Night Prince's estate, you're the princess consort! I'll rip you to shreds today!"

Furious and flustered, before she could even steady herself to lunge, Ji Yuntang swept a leg out, sending Liu Linlang tumbling face-first into the dirt once more.

This time, Ji Yuntang directly straddled her, raining down slaps on Liu Linlang's face from both sides.

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