Chapter 14: A Tea Cup

Ah!

Just as she drew a little nearer, a scream rang out. The old maid drove the hairpin she held into the palace maid's arm.

Fresh blood welled up, staining the sleeve red.

The young palace maid was only fifteen or sixteen, her eyes bright, clearly a clever one.

Now, writhing in pain, she begged desperately: "Old maid, I was wrong, please, I beg you, spare me!"

"If I spare you, the Imperial Household Department won't spare me."

On the ground lay a box, inside which was a broken tea cup.

The young palace maid sobbed, her cries choked, and said plaintively: "Old maid, I've always held it carefully, never knocked it."

"The cup was already broken."

"You mean, I've wronged you?" The old maid raised the whip in her hand and struck down hard.

The whip, soaked in water, each strike tore skin and flesh open.

The young palace maid wailed repeatedly, hurriedly pleading: "Old maid, spare me; from now on, all my monthly salary is yours."

Yet the old maid's eyes showed a hint of pity, but her actions did not cease in the slightest.

【Xu Luoyan is truly hypocritical; the people she framed, the beatings she ordered, and now she comes to rescue them.】

【Indeed, it won't be long before Xu Luoyan's men arrive. Then we'll intervene to save them, and have Li Ping'er repay the favor with her life.】

【Shei gave Li Ping'er such a lofty status; you all know Li Defu, right…】

【But someone knows that Li Defu's root was never fully cleared. After it was discovered, it was a coincidence that the Xianhuang passed away, which spared his life…】

Wan Tang's hand clenched hard, her heart pounding like a drum.

Li Defu wielded power and privilege, unaware how many palace maids he had harmed, while the biggest commotion came from the sweeping maids of Jingxin Hall.

Back then, the Taifei was still in Jingxin Hall, keeping the sweeping maids locked inside.

Five years later, Jingxin Hall gained a little girl, delicate and charming, a young palace maid the Taifei herself had bought from outside.

The young palace maid accompanied the Sixth Prince.

When the succession dispute began, the Sixth Prince took the Taifei to his fief, and that chapter ended.

Sweat dotted Wan Tang's palms, fine and numerous.

Just last year, Li Defu had asked someone to investigate that little girl's whereabouts. A letter arrived from the General's Residence, but Wan Tang herself burned it.

Could it be that they've already uncovered it?

If that's true, it becomes interesting. She'd rather endure humiliation than seek Li Defu; what is the little girl's purpose in returning to the palace?

Wan Tang's gaze fell on Li Ping'er; she stepped forward and shouted first: "Stop!"

"Yo!" the old maid turned, seeing Wan Lady of Grace: "Isn't this Lady of Grace Wan?"

"Lady of Grace Wan, your golden body, you should leave quickly, lest you soil your eyes."

The old maid said so, but her tone held no respect, only a hint of sarcasm.

From this, it's certain they're Xu Luoyan's men.

"Audacious!"

Wan Tang roared angrily: "If you won't help, I'm also a Lady of Grace, you're a Nubi, how dare you not bow!"

In the harem, everyone bows to the high and steps on the low; if you don't crush the other's prestige, they'll step on your head.

The old maid's complexion changed; reluctantly kneeling, she said: "I have seen Lady of Grace Wan."

Wan Tang did not rise.

She only said: "What crime did she commit to deserve such punishment?"

"The imperial tea cup was broken." The old maid replied dismissively: "Lady of Grace Wan, you're still a newcomer; there are many palace rules you don't yet understand."

"Please, Lady of Grace Wan, return."

"Such a trivial matter need not concern a Lady of Grace."

After speaking, the old maid's tone shifted, and she snorted coldly: "After all, this belongs to the Noble Consort."

She lifted her eyes, her gaze full of provocation.

Wan Tang nodded, suppressing a sigh: "It's just a tea cup."

Turning, she took an item from the Empress's bestowal and handed it over: "The Ru Kiln tea cup is far more precious than the one you broke."

Wan Tang passed the item over.

The old maid scoffed.

Wan Tang let go while her hand was still a fingertip away.

Snap— the cup hit the ground and shattered.

Seeing the shards, the old maid finally panicked: "What are you trying to do?"

Wan Tang's face darkened: "Audacious, you dog Nubi, you actually smashed the Empress's gift to me."

"Men, strike for me."

The palace maids and eunuchs behind her stayed still, cowering.

Seeing this, the old maid, though kneeling, lifted her head proudly: "I am the disciplinarian old maid, specializing in training work palace maids."

"The harem knows countless favors, fleeting as a fleeting bloom."

"Lady of Grace Wan, you're a new favorite, but don't make too many enemies; keep a low profile, and preserve a way out for yourself."

What Wan Tang has now is only the Emperor's favor.

Yet in this harem, the most costly thing is favor, and the least valuable is also favor.

Serving with beauty, how much can one gain?

It's clear; how to act, she will decide.

She has no support in the Imperial harem; if that old palace maid bullies her again, she will never be able to move again.

Whether to win hearts or to maintain her own authority in the palace, this step must not be retreated.

"Alright, alright, you're all doing fine."

"So this Lady of Grace is still not as good as an old maid!"

Wan Tang's brows lifted slightly, she sneered, "But I am the master, you are the servant."

"Even if I'm a servant, I'm still the Noble Consort's Nubi," the old maid said, directly mentioning Xu Luoyan, indicating her status.

The Noble Consort, after all, is one of the six palaces' most favored, and even if confined, it would only be for a few days.

The palace is rife with turmoil; who dares to act rashly?

Wan Tang nodded, then said slowly, "I wonder whether the Noble Consort disregards these Palace Rules, or you, the sly servant, are borrowing the tiger's might?"

The old maid's heart raced; she hurriedly knelt and said, "It was I (serving woman) who misspoke; it has nothing to do with my lady."

"In this Imperial harem, those who speak nonsense should have their tongues cut," Wan Tang said calmly.

The old maid was instantly terrified, her gaze resentful, she lifted her neck, "I am the supervising old maid beside the Noble Consort; whatever it is, the Noble Consort decides."

"You know, you're just a dog!"

"Ha ha." Wan Tang smiled lightly, "Fine, even beating a dog requires a master, but this slap is inevitable."

Wan Tang's tone stretched, understanding that a centipede cut does not die, Xu Luoyan is indeed the Noble Consort.

Now that she has just received the holy favor and becomes arrogant, it's inevitable that Schemers will exploit her, chilling the Emperor's heart.

No one intends to make a move.

The old maid also acted arrogantly, even adding, "Old servant's skin is thick, Master hurt my hand, don't call out."

It was plainly mocking that Wan Tang has no one.

"How can such vulgar deeds be left to the Master? I (serving woman) am willing to share the burden for the Master," Li Ping'er, though not daring to look up, kept watching every detail.

She knelt forward and said respectfully.

Wan Tang smiled; she was waiting for Li Ping'er to speak up. After all, she doesn't need a timid, fearful person.

Moreover, she intends to become Li Ping'er's support in the palace, cutting off her other options.

Wan Tang gave a slight smile, nodded, "Fine!"

Li Ping'er scrambled up from the ground, her body covered in scars, and walked up to the old maid.

The old maid glared angrily, gritted her teeth, and growled low, "How dare you?"

"Old maid, I have offended!"

Li Ping'er raised her hand and struck hard; the slap split the old maid's mouth corner.

Li Ping'er was a rough servant maid; her palm was calloused and her strength enormous. Even using only seventy percent of her force, it was beyond what a merely gesturing old maid could endure.

This strike further tore the wound open, blood filling her mouth.

Now Li Ping'er is completely cut off from the Noble Consort's faction.

Wan Tang, looking down from above, sneered at the old maid, "Although I am only a Lady of Grace, I can reside alone in Cuivei Palace."

"The Emperor also said, Cuivei Palace is under my authority."

"The person, I have taken away!"

"If you dare speak nonsense again, you may have to ask the Empress to decide."

Although Cuivei Palace is a bit small, it is still a separate palace.

Usually only those of Zhaoying rank or higher have the qualification to be a palace's master.

Wan Tang can immediately move into Cuivei Palace's Zhudian, showing the weight she holds in the Emperor's eyes.

Wan Tang deliberately pointed at her mouth.

"Old maid." she called cheerfully, "I advise you to speak less; if you talk too much, it means the beating is insufficient."

"You say… right?"

The old maid covered her mouth, so angry that tears were about to fall.

Yet now she cannot even rely on the Noble Consort's power.

She stamped her foot in hatred, what else could she do?

She could only watch helplessly as Wan Tang took Li Ping'er away.

A tiny maid, favored by a Lady of Grace, caught his eye.

No need to speak; the Imperial Household Department staff would rush to deliver her.

After holding back for a while, the old maid could only stand behind, shouting angrily, "Don't be so arrogant."

"The Empress will not let you go."

Wan Tang turned back, smiled faintly, and said gently, "Then please have the old maid tell Xu Luoyan that I await at any time."

"Who will claim the deer when it dies? That's impossible to predict."

The old maid's face was full of disbelief; among so many favored concubines, only this one dares to declare war on Xu Luoyan.

And this one, repeatedly, can precisely strike Xu Luoyan's weak points.

It seems the heavens of the Imperial harem are truly about to change!

Although Cuivei Palace is farther from the Imperial Study, it excels in its serene elegance.

Moreover, the Emperor's absence is never due to distance, but whether he wishes to come.

Li Ping'er took medicine; from now on, she will serve beside Wan Tang.

Now Wan Tang comes daily; everyone in Cuivei Palace is busy, even a speck of dust on the steps must be swept spotless.

The Imperial Kitchen even personally delivers the menu, letting Wan Tang order dishes.

"I've been saying the recent menus lack novelty; turns out all the good dishes have come to Cuivei Palace."

A voice rose higher.

Li Pin walked gracefully, with two maidservants trailing behind, a round fan clasped in her hand.

Hearing the voice, Li Ping'er felt a tightening in her heart.

Someone nearby whispered, "Since Li Pin returned from the Empress, she has been in the Quiet Heart Hall, chatting merrily with the Noble Consort."

"Coming now, they must be looking for trouble."

"If it weren't to save me, they wouldn't have implicated the young master."

Seeing Li Ping'er nervous, Wan Tang's gaze deepened, and she lightly patted Li Ping'er's hand back.

In a gentle voice she said, "Don't be afraid; when soldiers come, the generals block, when water comes, the earth fortifies. We'll go have a look."