CHAPTER 249: CHAPTER 248: ARE WE GOING TO DIE?

The little eunuchs dared not make a move.

Qiaoqiao lay pinned to the ground, unable to struggle, and no one came to her aid. She just endured dozens of slaps as they came.

Zi Yue’s hand began to hurt, so Zi Su and Zi Ning took turns. Although both were new, they were spirited. With pent-up frustration in their hearts, they lost all fear when striking someone.

They delivered the slaps sharply and swiftly. Xia Ruqing was very satisfied.

"Just like that, continue!"

Qiaoqiao wanted to cry but had no tears. She looked down on Xia Jieyu, but there was nothing she could do about the fiery pain on her face, which was almost battered to a pulp.

Finally, unable to endure it any longer, she knelt on the ground, weeping and kowtowing.

"This servant dares not, Xia Jieyu, please spare this servant!"

"This servant will not dare again!"

Xia Ruqing nodded with satisfaction.

"This is how a palace maid should be!"

"Stop!"

Zi Ning and Zi Su ceased their actions.

Xia Ruqing stood up.

"Zi Yue, help me change my clothes. We’ll go to Taiye Pool to apologize to the Noble Consort," she commanded.

"Yes!"

With that, the master and her servants entered the inner chamber.

Qiaoqiao was pulled up by Xiao Xizi and Xiao Zhu Zi and thrown into the courtyard. The few little eunuchs she had brought with her didn’t go to help; they just stood there watching her.

Xiao Xizi sneered. "Miss Qiaoqiao, it seems you’re not that beloved, are you?" Even in such a state, no one helped her.

Xiao Zhu Zi joined in the mockery. "Being unbeloved is no big deal. The Noble Consort will surely stand up for her! Right?"

After a moment of thought, Xiao Xizi feigned fear. "What should we do then? We’ve hit her! Will the Noble Consort spare us? I’m scared to death!"

Xiao Zhu Zi added, "I’m scared too! What if the Noble Consort comes looking for us? We won’t survive!"

After saying that, both couldn’t contain their laughter and began to chuckle.

Who in the Harem doesn’t know? The Noble Consort wasn’t known for treating her attendants well. Senior Palace Maid Ying Yue was a first-class palace maid and a bridal companion, fiercely loyal to the Noble Consort. Yet, even she would face the Noble Consort’s wrath; when angered, the Noble Consort would turn hostile and refuse to recognize her. Slaps and kneeling as punishment were common occurrences, let alone for others.

Once ready, Xia Ruqing proceeded with her entourage, carrying Da Bai, towards Taiye Pool.

Noble Concubine Shih was growing anxious from the wait. Just as she was about to send someone to hurry them along, she saw them approaching.

Xia Ruqing slowly advanced and saluted. "Greetings to the Noble Consort!"

Noble Concubine Shih squinted at her and then looked past her. Qiaoqiao’s face was a swollen, discolored mess of black, blue, and purple, resembling a pig’s head.

"Xia Jieyu, have you beaten my servant?" Noble Concubine Shih inquired.

Xia Ruqing bowed her head, her face full of apology.

"I have come especially to offer my apologies.

"As soon as this palace maid entered, she spoke insolently to me, so I punished her!

"You wouldn’t mind, would you, Noble Consort?"

Noble Concubine Shih huffed. "Insolence?"

Xia Ruqing nodded. "Indeed. This palace maid showed no respect for her station. Not only was she insolent to me, but she also attempted to harm my cat! Noble Consort, you have always been known for your propriety. Therefore, I surmise this was surely not your intention! Am I right?!"

Xia Ruqing smiled cunningly. Flatter them, put them on a pedestal so they can’t back down, and then make them swallow the bitter pill. Such routines, who *doesn’t* know them?

Noble Concubine Shih was at a loss for words. Could she say no? Wouldn’t that imply she lacked propriety? So, she couldn’t say no.

Grinding her teeth, Noble Concubine Shih demanded, "Gao Changyi! Why haven’t you taken her away yet? Don’t let such an impertinent servant out again!"

Gao Changyi was the trusted Chief Eunuch by Noble Concubine Shih’s side. Since Ying Yue hadn’t come out today, Noble Concubine Shih had brought Gao Changyi with her instead.

"Yes! Your servant obeys the command!" As he spoke, the eunuch hastily summoned people to take Qiaoqiao away.

Inside, he felt a flicker of satisfaction. Qiaoqiao always looked down on us eunuchs. Now, who pities her? It’s high time someone taught her a good lesson and some manners!

Having dismissed the eyesore, Noble Concubine Shih smiled. "It’s rare for Xia Jieyu to come out. Accompany me for a while and have a seat! You wouldn’t be unwilling, would you?"

Xia Ruqing looked at the seat, separated from the ice by only a railing. She felt a bit unsettled. Noble Concubine Shih had long wanted to kill her; she was well aware of this. Inviting me out like this... there must be some scheme, right?

"What, are you scared?" Noble Concubine Shih spoke with a hint of sarcasm.

After speaking, she looked around and sighed. "Of all the places around Taiye Pool, this pavilion has the best view!"

With that, she walked to the edge of the pavilion. "Look, the first lunar month is almost over, and the ice here is melting the fastest!"

Xia Ruqing followed her gaze and looked down. Indeed, the ice surface already had many cracks, and in some places, chunks of ice had broken off, floating on the water.

Standing in the pavilion above, Xia Ruqing could feel the chilling drafts emanating from the icy water below. Such water was piercing to the bone.

Xia Ruqing didn’t want to look anymore and sat down at the spot designated by the Noble Consort.

Noble Concubine Shih looked at the cat in her arms and said, "It seems very well-behaved. Come, let this consort hold it!"

Da Bai, in her arms, chose that moment to meow.

Xia Ruqing’s heart trembled slightly. Should I give Da Bai to her, or not?

Noble Concubine Shih spoke again. "This consort knows the cat was a gift from the Emperor. No matter how much this consort dislikes you, I wouldn’t harm the cat!"

Xia Ruqing thought it made sense and slowly handed Da Bai over.

Noble Concubine Shih took it and indeed stroked it affectionately for a while. "Such a good kitty!"

Xia Ruqing breathed a slight sigh of relief. But a string of tension remained taut in her heart; she couldn’t truly relax. Her gaze followed Da Bai constantly, not daring to look away for even a second, fearing the Noble Concubine might do something to him.

Noble Concubine Shih cast her a sidelong glance, the corners of her mouth curling into a subtle, barely detectable sneer.

After a while, Xia Ruqing could no longer endure it and rose to leave.

Noble Concubine Shih stood up, still holding the cat. But unexpectedly, she lost her footing, slipped, and fell backward. Da Bai was thrown from her arms.

"MEOW!"

Da Bai yowled miserably, its small body hurling straight out of the pavilion.

"Da Bai!" Xia Ruqing lunged forward.

But then, she unknowingly stepped on something slippery. Her feet went out from under her, and she too shot past the railing, flying outwards.

"My Lady!" Both Xiao Xizi and Zi Yue turned pale.

Without a thought for their own lives, they rushed forward and leaped down.

"My Lady, this servant is coming to save you!"

"My Lady, don’t be afraid, this servant is coming to save you!"

The two cried out almost in unison.

Cold! A bone-chilling coldness.

The icy water, with its penetrating chill, gradually swallowed Xia Ruqing. It’s like I’ve fallen into an eternal ice cave; I’m going to freeze solid.

Her cotton-padded clothes, soaked with icy water, felt like a pair of hands from hell, dragging her heavily downwards. And below was a frigid hell.

Her mouth, nose, breath, vision—everything became increasingly blurred.

"Help... GLUG!" She couldn’t open her mouth; she couldn’t breathe.

Xia Ruqing closed her eyes, rapidly succumbing to despair.

The voices of Zi Yue and Xiao Xizi, calling from the ice surface, faded away. And she, after crashing through a patch of broken ice, began to sink ever deeper.

Am I going to die?