Noble Consort Xue let out a cold laugh, her rage reaching a peak, which paradoxically calmed her down.
Narrowing her eyes and about to speak again, she suddenly heard noises from afar, a series of thuds, like the sound of someone being beaten with a plank.
Startled, she asked, "What is that sound?"
Following the sound, she saw people under a distant tree, appearing to be carrying out an execution.
Upon hearing this, Cai Qin clasped her hands in front of her chest, bowed, and said, "This servant will go and take a look." She then hurried towards the direction of the sound.
Consort Xu De spoke indifferently, "Your Highness, do not panic—that’s merely the sound of punishment being meted out."
She sighed again, "Are these servants so weak? They’re only executing a servant; how can they still be beating now, disturbing Your Highness—what is to be done?"
Walking towards her seat, just about to sit down, she suddenly remembered that the Noble Consort was still standing and instructed someone, "Bring a chair for the Noble Consort. Your Highness wouldn’t mind if this concubine sits for a while, would you?"
After a brief contemplation, she shook her head, "No matter, Your Highness is unwell—please take the seat," offering a gesture of invitation.
Noble Consort Xue’s recently calmed heart immediately began to boil over again, a towering inferno of rage with nowhere to vent, surging to the top of her head, making her feel as if her brain had exploded, setting off countless spots of blood and needle-like pain.
That phrase echoed in her ears non-stop; it’s just an execution, merely executing a servant. How could Xu Rongying speak of it so lightly? How dare she not inform her before arbitrarily executing a servant.
No wonder the managers were so obedient, all of them behaving like startled quails—she had thought they were cowed by Xu Rongying’s whipping, not realizing that a servant had been executed upfront, and it was an execution on the spot!
How dare Xu Rongying, how dare she!
She was the foremost person in the harem, controlling all matters within the palace walls. Without her delegating power, how could Xu Rongying have the audacity to act first and report later!
Her father was the Minister of Revenue, who had begun to assist in governance since the era of the Late Emperor and had contributed to stabilizing the state. Without her father’s support, His Majesty’s ascension to the throne would not have been so smooth.
Xu Rongying had nothing but General Xu backing her; a military figure of no significance during the Late Emperor’s time, nothing more than a brash warrior. Yet, armed with this alone, Xu Rongying dared to oppose her, brazenly challenging her authority, without giving her any regard!
Noble Consort Xue’s eyes turned bloodshot, and, overcome with rage, she sneered, "Have someone save that servant for me. I want to see what crime he committed to make Consort De so eager to misuse her private power to beat him to death!"
Consort Xu De raised an eyebrow; the term "misuse of private power" was elegantly put. The Noble Consort was indeed adept at affixing labels.
She smiled, unconcerned with the Noble Consort’s rage, casually assuming the air of one watching a play, finding the spectacle of the Noble Consort’s anger quite amusing.
Ming Jing and a few others immediately responded, "Yes."
After taking about a dozen steps, they saw Cai Qin with her usual expressionless face at the forefront, somehow having convinced the executioners to bring over the punished servant along with the stool.
They could see that the servants’ clothes on his lower back and buttocks were torn apart, stained with a crimson blood, adhering blood to flesh. The servant’s hands hung limp, and it was clear Cai Qin had arrived too late; the man seemed to be lifeless already.
Ming Xin, unable to help herself, stopped in her tracks, a deep chill rising in her heart. Consort Xu De had indeed executed the man, under the broad daylight, right outside Huaying Hall...
At that moment, she truly believed that Consort Xu De must have killed countless on the battlefield before entering the palace; otherwise, how could her conduct be so fierce.
In the palace, a master wasn’t allowed to kill a servant on a whim, even if the servant belonged to them.
If there were servants who had committed grave sins deserving death, by rule they should be reported to the Noble Consort for judgment, then handed over to the Punishment Bureau to be executed within the Imperial Prison...
Being beaten to death on the spot, such an occurrence had not happened for many years...
As Cai Qin approached with her entourage, swaying as she moved, Cai Xia caught a glimpse of half the face of the dead servant, her heart jolted—it was Cheng Shisan!
She had seen this young eunuch before; he used to frequent Nanny Chen to report matters, and she had even spoken to him.
Smelling the strong scent of blood wafting over, her throat began to convulse, and Cai Xia could no longer hold back, retching on the spot, which made her involuntarily shiver with fear.
If she fell into the hands of Consort De, perhaps even the Noble Consort would not be able to save her...
The Noble Consort watched the people being carried over, then suddenly turned her head towards Consort Xu De, a chilling smile appearing on her lips.
She did not rush to act but walked to the other side at the front, glancing at the newly promoted eunuch, Sha Qiandao.
Sha Qiandao, quick-witted as always, immediately understood and signaled two eunuchs to run to the eunuchs from Huaying Hall carrying the chair, bringing it over and placing it before the Noble Consort, even wiping it with his sleeve before inviting the Noble Consort to sit.
Apart from Cai Qin, the Huaqing Palace’s servants, including Cai Xia who had retched a few times, hurried over and stood on both sides and behind her.
Noble Consort Xue flicked her sleeves and sat down, her gaze sweeping across the room, her presence fully unleashed.
The noble and majestic image of the Noble Consort had returned, as if the scene where she was being led away was nothing but an illusion to everyone, vanishing without a trace.
It made people feel that the Noble Consort was still the sovereign of the harem, unchanged, still the foremost person appointed by His Majesty, in charge of the harem, and of unparalleled prestige.
Watching this scene, Consort Xu De couldn’t help but clap and cheer; Noble Consort Xue, who had controlled the harem for years, was indeed adept at taking control and letting go as needed, switching between the two effortlessly.
Just this alone was admirable.
Ming Jing, Ming Xin, and the rest from Huaying hall also gathered behind Consort Xu De upon seeing this.
The two halls’ people took on a confrontational stance.
The Managers standing below all bowed their heads, not daring to look up at the two camps above, their expressions varying as they stared down at the floor.
Some trembled with fear, dreading the fire might burn them next;
Others were greatly relieved they had not yet taken sides;
Managers who were close to Huaqing Palace revealed a hint of joy, as the little flame of hope that had been extinguished was rekindled.
The kneeling and bound servants also rekindled their hopes, looking towards Noble Consort Xue with eager eyes; they had all done work for Huaqing Palace to some extent.
Yang Liuwan, seeing the Noble Consort regain her footing after being at a disadvantage, felt a chill in his heart, wondering repeatedly if he had made clear that he had pledged allegiance to Consort De.
Remembering his promise to meet Consort De’s expectations and perform his duties well, his spirit sank into an abyss, stripped of any joy of promotion.
Thinking further, his resolve hardened; the outcome between Consort De and the Noble Consort was not yet decided, and he could not afford to give up or become disorderly.
Now he had no choice but to follow Consort De down this dark path, otherwise, once Chief Steward Li returned, he would certainly not let him off easily.
Ji Yunlai silently sensed trouble; earlier, Consort De clearly had the upper hand, but in the blink of an eye, the Noble Consort had recovered her composure. With the situation appearing evenly matched, the outcome was unpredictable.