CHAPTER 89: CHAPTER 88: YOU’RE JUST A LIYI

"Honored Lady Xi!"

"Sister Xi!"

Xia Ruqing was frightened out of her wits.

Honored Lady Lan’s face turned deathly pale as she collapsed to the ground, all in a fluster, completely out of her wits.

Hu Liyi stared at her own feet, frozen in shock...

How? How could this happen!

"Imperial Physician, quickly send for the Imperial Physician..."

"Quickly help Honored Lady Xi back..."

Xia Ruqing hurriedly ordered.

The palace attendants all snapped to their senses and clumsily carried Honored Lady Xi away...

Honored Lady Lan also regained her composure, shakily getting up from the ground.

Now, only a pool of bright red blood remained on the grass.

She trembled her lips, looked at the pool of blood, then turned her gaze to Hu Liyi.

Gathering all the courage in her body, she gritted her teeth and said, "You’re just a Fifth Rank Liyi. We treat you with respect, and you really think we’re afraid of you!"

Although Xia Ruqing was surprised, it was within her expectations.

Even a cornered rabbit will bite!

Both of them had lived together ever since they entered the palace, inseparable as shadows.

Possibly, they shared a very close relationship.

Hu Liyi, who had originally been stunned, became instantly sober after this provocation.

She was inherently overbearing and had recently risen in rank.

Who dared to talk to her like that?

So, on impulse, she blurted out, standing her ground, "What’s wrong with being a Liyi? Some people will never reach this rank in their lifetime!"

As she spoke, she looked at Xia Ruqing.

Hmph, if it weren’t for this wench, how would I have made such a mistake!

Xia Ruqing massaged her temples.

Oh, how misfortune piles up; when you’re down on luck, even a swallow of cool water may choke you. I really should have consulted the almanac before leaving today!

"We should pay no mind to her, Lady Xia," Honored Lady Lan said indignantly.

Xia Ruqing nodded, ignored Hu Liyi, and said directly, "Let’s go, we should see how Honored Lady Xi is doing..."

Saying this, she also instructed Xiao Xizi to catch the rabbits and bring them to Yaoyue Palace.

As the two were about to leave, suddenly a sound of clapping hands came.

"Bravo! What a drama! A truly marvelous show..."

"Consort Yun..." Honored Lady Lan knelt down.

Xia Ruqing also hurried to pay her respects.

Consort Yun did not even glance at them but walked straight up to Hu Liyi.

"What a Hu Liyi, what a ’Liyi’ that some people could never achieve in their lifetime. Today, you have indeed caused me to... take a fresh look," said Consort Yun.

Hu Liyi was initially a little scared, but when she heard the words ’take a fresh look,’ she got somewhat confused.

Could it be... Consort Yun was praising her?

On second thought, Consort Yun didn’t get along with that wench, Lady Xia. Nor was it likely for her to favor Honored Lady Lan and Honored Lady Xi. When they moved into Yaoyue Palace, Consort Yun had thrown quite a tantrum. Then... was Consort Yun truly praising her?! With this thought, her heart settled.

"Your Highness flatters me..."

She then continued, "Lady Xia brought rabbits into the Imperial Garden without permission. I merely intended to teach her a lesson, yet accidentally injured Honored Lady Xi. Please, Your Highness, see the truth..."

Saying this, she knelt down, her face bearing a sycophantic and ingratiating expression.

The Empress disapproved of her, and she had long wanted to cling to the high branch of the Noble Consort but never had the opportunity... If I could pin this on Lady Xia and bring her down, the Noble Consort would certainly regard me favorably in the future. With such a supporter, would I ever worry about not having good days in the palace? Hu Liyi tallied her schemes with a rapid CLICK-CLACK in her mind.

But Consort Yun continued to smile.

She glanced at Lady Xia and Honored Lady Lan, still kneeling, and said lazily, "You two, rise..."

"Thank you, Your Highness..."

The two stood up and moved aside.

Consort Yun leisurely took a seat on an embroidered carpeted stone bench, distractedly fiddling with her nails.

Hu Liyi also wanted to rise, but without a word from Consort Yun, she dared not do so.

"Your Highness?"

Consort Yun said leisurely, "Just now... were you intending to discipline Lady Xia?"

"Yes, Your Highness. Lady Xia truly has no respect for the rules, secretly raising rabbits and even daring to bring them to the Imperial Garden..."

Hu Liyi eagerly tried to take credit.

If not for that nest of rabbits, how could I have accidentally injured someone? As long as Consort Yun supports me, this matter would surely be Lady Xia’s fault!

Seeing Consort Yun leisurely drinking tea handed to her by a Palace Maid, not in a hurry to speak, Hu Liyi started to feel anxious inside.

Her eyes darted around, and she hurriedly spoke again, "This servant also wishes to ease Your Highness’s worries, to ease the Noble Consort’s worries..."

This attempt to ingratiate herself was blatant indeed.

Consort Yun let out a soft laugh, her gaze swept over Xia Ruqing and Honored Lady Lan, then chuckled. "Ease worries? Hu Liyi, you should not speak rashly, and certainly should not involve the Noble Consort..."

"In my opinion, since... those little beasts are at fault, Lady Xia might as well slaughter them. That way both Honored Lady Xi and Hu Liyi can vent their anger, and we’ll consider this matter closed..."

Xia Ruqing clenched her teeth, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

"What, you’re unwilling?"

Those rabbits most likely came from the Emperor; she wanted to see how Lady Xia would resolve this. But Hu Liyi, such a fool, to even dream of seeking my favor—how ludicrous!

Xia Ruqing said, "The rabbits were gifted by the Emperor; this servant dares not!"

She didn’t want to say it, but if she didn’t, those few little rabbits wouldn’t be saved. So, she had no choice but to speak out...

As soon as she did, Hu Liyi was utterly petrified!

What? Gifted by the Emperor? The rabbits were gifted by the Emperor?

Consort Yun smiled to herself. As expected!

However, on the surface, she remained calm and said, "Does Hu Liyi want to discipline not only Lady Xia but the Emperor as well?"

Hu Liyi finally realized she had caused a huge disaster!

The Emperor! No wonder Consort Yun did not help me!

Once she understood, her entire body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground. "Consort Yun, please pardon me..."

Consort Yun laughed softly as she got up. "I cannot pardon your offense..."

"Besides, Honored Lady Xi is currently unconscious. Hu Liyi, you better think about how you will ask for her forgiveness!"

With that, she took Ying Yue’s hand. "Let’s go, let’s see how Sister Xi is now?"

Saying so, she strolled away.

Xia Ruqing and Honored Lady Lan also left, leaving only Hu Liyi kneeling on the ground, her complexion deathly pale!

「Yaoyue Palace」

After the Imperial Physician’s examination, it was concluded that Honored Lady Xi was not in mortal danger. But a kick to the chest is no light injury. To heal properly, she would require careful recuperation, so a treatment for internal injuries was prescribed.

It wasn’t until the following evening, after being in a coma for a day and a night, that Honored Lady Xi finally came to.

And this incident spread throughout the palace that very night. It was said that even the Empress Dowager was alarmed!

In her two years at the palace, the diligent Hu Liyi managed to offend everyone comprehensively! So, the very next morning, the decree of demotion and thirty strokes of the cane were almost delivered simultaneously.

The beating was ordered by the Emperor; the demotion was the Empress’s Benevolent Decree!

And just like that, the Fifth Rank Liyi became a Sixth Rank Honored Lady. Overnight, she returned to the ’days before liberation’.

Honored Lady Hu was still Honored Lady Hu.

Xia Ruqing laughed when she heard the news. "In the future, we will all still sit on equal footing..."

This time, clamoring for a promotion won’t be so easy... Wonderful!