CHAPTER 148: CHAPTER 148 MALICIOUS FRAMING

Amidst the Golden Osmanthus Tree, Lady Bai stood high and imposing with two palace maids behind her.

While Ming Changzai and her maid Pei’er were kneeling on the ground, one in pain and unable to speak, the other too frightened to cry.

If anyone happened to pass by and saw this scene, they would likely avoid it and hurry away without meddling.

Ming Changzai took several deep breaths, aware without looking that the injury on her foot was not minor.

But now was not the time to entangle with Lady Bai, so she could only endure the pain and plead.

"Your Ladyship must be mistaken, it was my carelessness that caused me to fall and injure my foot, which delayed Your Ladyship’s enjoyment of the flowers. It is my fault."

After saying this, her brows furrowed again.

Clutching her injured leg tightly, she couldn’t help but let out some whimpering sounds.

Lady Bai glanced at her miserable state without a hint of sympathy.

She immediately spoke.

"Bai Zhi, Bai Ling."

"At your service."

"Where is the Haitang Hairpin that His Majesty gave me? Quickly look for it, or else some cunning villain might have taken a fancy to it and plans to steal it for themselves!"

At these words, the two palace maids exchanged a glance, immediately understanding Lady Bai’s intention.

Strangely enough, the step-shaking hairpin, which she had been toying with just moments ago, suddenly disappeared.

This implicit accusation frightened Pei’er beside her into desperately kowtowing and begging for mercy.

"Your Ladyship, spare us, it wasn’t my mistress who stole it! Really, it wasn’t!"

"Oh, so you’ve confessed without being pressed?"

After speaking, she glanced at Bai Zhi.

Bai Zhi nodded and was about to tie up Ming Changzai to give her a good thrashing.

But Pei’er desperately blocked her.

"No, it’s not... my mistress has been wronged, Your Ladyship!"

While struggling with Bai Zhi, she cried out in tears and anguish.

Hoping that someone passing by might hear and come to their aid!

"Wronged?"

A pair of calculating eyes looked over with a mocking smile.

"Whether stolen or not, let my people search her, and it will be clear. You lowly creature interfering here, are you helping your mistress hide something?"

With that, a glance was sent to the palace maid Bai Zhi by her side.

Receiving her mistress’s signal, the palace maid smirked and said.

"Rest assured, Your Ladyship, we’ll conduct a thorough search of Ming Changzai right now. If she indeed didn’t steal Your Ladyship’s hairpin, we can at least clear her name."

As soon as the words fell, both Bai Ling and Bai Zhi came up to act.

Seeing Ming Changzai’s collar about to be torn open, Pei’er anxiously fought against them.

In the scuffle, Pei’er was subjected to several pinches in the dark, now her whole body hurt.

But she still stood unwaveringly in front of Ming Changzai.

"Your Ladyship, please see clearly, under the broad daylight, how could my mistress possibly steal your hairpin!"

Lady Bai had no time for such nonsense and urged Bai Zhi and the others to strip Ming Changzai’s clothes.

Being so humiliated in public, if they truly succeeded in tearing her clothes, it’s no wonder Ming Changzai wouldn’t choose to end her life in disgrace.

"Enough!"

Suddenly, Ming Changzai, who had been silent all along, suddenly bellowed in anger.

The palace maids, who were just a moment ago wild and frenzied, were somewhat deterred by her stern gaze.

Their actions slowed.

Ming Changzai pushed them away and stood up, enduring the pain.

Her clothes were already in disarray, stained with quite a bit of dirt.

But her gaze was no longer that of the previous timorous submission.

Instead, she resolutely addressed the high and mighty Lady Bai.

"Whether Your Ladyship’s hairpin is lost or not, we both know the truth. If you wish to suppress me while there’s no one around, Your Ladyship might be disappointed."

With that, she pulled out a Hehuan hairpin from her hair and prepared to pierce it into her tender, fair cheek.

Her actions scared Lady Bai, whose face immediately turned unsightly.

Gritting her teeth, she glared at Ming Changzai, only to see her face filled with a resolute fearlessness.

"What are you doing? Threatening me?"

Ming Changzai let out a cold laugh.

"Thanks to the Emperor not despising me, he often summons me to keep him company recently. Idle gossip doesn’t reach the Emperor’s ears; however, if this scar remains on my face, how will Your Ladyship explain it, who does Your Ladyship think will ultimately suffer?"

The same mocking gaze was returned to Lady Bai, rendering her speechless.

Bickering and throwing sharp words among the concubines was one thing, but to go as far as disfiguring someone was a malicious attack.

Given her current ability to say a few words in front of the Emperor, it’s likely this matter wouldn’t end well.

Although it was July, the peak of summer, Lady Bai felt a chill down her spine.

Glaring intently at Ming Changzai, along with the sharp hairpin in her hand, she wished for her to slip up and ruin her face.

But Ming Changzai’s words were not without truth.

Though she was arrogant, she hadn’t yet firmly established herself in the harem.

A consort disciplining a lower-ranked changzai could not be faulted, but if it offended the Emperor, it would be asking for trouble.

So her gaze softened slightly.

Seeing her hesitance, Ming Changzai didn’t push further; instead, she knelt immediately with utmost sincerity.

"If Your Ladyship’s hairpin is lost, I will naturally help find it, I implore Your Ladyship to calm down and let this matter rest."

This sudden concession gave Lady Bai a chance to save face.

Watching Ming Changzai’s slightly bent figure, a brief flash of resentment appeared, but it was no longer appropriate to continue being difficult.

She spoke coldly.

"Enough, it’s just a hairpin; I can afford to lose it."

She then turned toward another clump of Golden Osmanthus Trees not far away.

"I can’t be bothered with you any longer; don’t spoil my mood for flower viewing. Bai Zhi, Bai Ling, let’s go."

"Yes!"

Bai Zhi glanced at Pei’er, who was also kneeling, snorted, and went up to support Lady Bai as they left the scene.

After walking a good distance away, she whispered.

"My Lady, Ming Changzai surely won’t really go to the Emperor to complain, will she?"

She had served Lady Bai since entering the palace, naturally aligning with her mistress.

If today’s incident truly escalated, her mistress probably wouldn’t gain any advantage, hence her concerned inquiry.

Lady Bai let out a few cold laughs, fingers like jade caressing her hair, speaking with confidence.

"Rest assured, I hope she goes to complain. If she really accuses me before the Emperor, won’t that give me a chance to see the Emperor? At that point, the truth or falsehood won’t solely be up to her."

Hearing her mistress speak with such confidence, Bai Zhi felt reassured.

"Indeed, in the palace, isn’t everything just occasionally twisted by what’s spoken?"