Concubine Xian trembled with anger.
Fu Liu quickly helped her up: âYour Highness, where did you get hurt?â
Concubine Xianâs face turned purple, and she pointed at Jiang Ning with her sharp, red-nailed hand, tremblingly saying, âThis is a rebellion⦠I must report this to His Majesty and ask him to uphold justice!â
âOh?â Jiang Ning asked, âWhat do you want to accuse me of?â
âTo accuse you of assaulting your elders!â
âIn that caseâ¦â Jiang Ning rubbed her wrist, âI wonât be polite.â
Concubine Xian took a step back: âWhat are you going to do?â
âI cannot allow myself to be wronged and shoulder the blame falsely. Since you say I hit you, I must finish hitting you, then let you sue me!â Jiang Ning slapped her across the face and called out to the people in the courtyard, âWhat are you all standing around for? Help me out!â
Concubine Xianâs cheek burned as she fell to the ground.
As for everything that had happened, she had never dared to believe it, and she began to doubt if she was dreaming or not fully awake.
How else could such an absurd thing happen?
Although the Princess Consortâs status was higher than hers in terms of seniority, she was still a junior, so even if she didnât show respect, she shouldnât have been violent, right?
Not to mention slapping her directly in the face?
As the saying goes, âdonât hit the face when hitting others,â even when punishing palace attendants, they rarely hit the face.
Not to mention the masters themselves.
Slapping the face was an extreme humiliation.
Concubine Xian, born to a prestigious family, had given birth to a son early and had smoothly ascended to the position of one of the four consorts. Since then, her life had been smooth sailing, and she had never suffered such humiliation.
She felt like she was about to explode with anger, almost fainting from it.
Her head buzzed loudly.
Around her, the eunuchs and maids of the East Palace, as well as the people she had brought with her, clashed and scuffled with each other.
The scene was chaotic for a moment.
Even the gentle and elegant Huang Ying got involved in the fight.
Jiang Ning looked up and saw a young man in black clothes, Gucheng, sitting on the roof, watching from afar, as if asking her if she needed his help.
Generally speaking, he wouldnât take action unless Jiang Ning was in danger.
Jiang Ning shook her head at him.
This was a fight amongst the women of the harem, and it was under control.
But if he got involved, the situation could escalate greatly.
Once Gucheng confirmed that he wasnât needed, he disappeared from the roof.
Jiang Ning shifted her gaze and assessed the chaotic scene.
Concubine Xian had come to pick a fight, and brought a fair number of people with her, about seven or eight.
But this was the East Palace, Jiang Ningâs home turf.
She would never be at a disadvantage in terms of the number of palace attendants.
At a glance, Jiang Ning saw that the people Concubine Xian brought were being completely crushed by Huang Ying and the others, being surrounded and beaten, crying out in pain.
Concubine Xian sat alone on the ground.
Jiang Ning chuckled, found a knife, went over and pinched Concubine Xianâs chin, the tip of the knife pointing at her face, âAlthough Your Highness Concubine Xian is no longer young, you still possess charm. When women fight, thereâs no holding back. What would happen if I accidentally left a few scars on your pretty face?â
Concubine Xianâs cheek felt the cold touch of the blade.
Her anger had long since vanished without a trace.
A chill ran from the soles of her feet up to her forehead.
She couldnât help but tremble all over: âYou, donâtâ¦remove the knife, donât hurt meâ¦â
Besides trembling and begging, she could not say half a word more.
âI thought you were a formidable character, only to see you scared so easily?â A trace of cruelty emerged in Jiang Ningâs smile, as she tapped the knife against her face, leaning close to her.