CHAPTER 736: CHAPTER 736: SLAPPING THE FACE 20

Kong Yinyin’s face flushed red, and after a long inner struggle and recalling what Lian Hua had said to her, she finally mustered the courage and knelt down with a tremble, "Noble Consort, it’s not like that, Talented Lady Cui, she usually makes things difficult for concubines... and Beauty Lian was just standing up for us, so..."

Just moments ago, Cui Laner, who seemed weak, turned her head sharply at the sound of Kong Yinyin’s voice, and even at such a time, the residual authority of Cui Laner made Kong Yinyin choke on her words, her eyes spinning with tears.

Suddenly, a shadow fell before her eyes, blocking Cui Laner’s devouring gaze. Kong Yinyin blinked in surprise, looked up, and saw a pair of sly eyes winking at her, which suddenly calmed her down.

Lian Hua, with a smile, took a few steps forward, positioned Kong Yinyin completely behind her, tilted her head, and looked at Cui Laner with a mischievous smile, praising her, "Well said, beautifully spoken, even I feel pity for Sister Cui after hearing it. Are you finished? Or would you like to add something more?"

Xiao Jizi almost laughed out loud; his master was clearly insinuating that Cui Laner was exaggerating.

Cui Laner withdrew her gaze, unable to look directly, and instead prostrated herself at the steps, pleading to the Noble Consort with a grievance, "Every word I said is true, please discern the truth, Noble Consort."

Only by clinging to the Noble Consort could she free herself; even if Consort De arrived, she could then do nothing to her.

Noble Consort Xue looked down at the individual kneeling before her, her expression changing unpredictably. She had no desire to deal with this person who had no utility in the future, yet she didn’t wish for the Canglan Court’s mistress to have an easy time either.

She coldly looked toward Lian Hua, her tone chillingly calm, "Beauty Lian, do you admit to what Talented Lady Cui accused you of?"

Unintimidated, Lian Hua grinned, "Your Highness’s justice shines bright like a mirror. If I don’t readily admit, surely you will find another way to make me confess, right?"

Her words were innocent and charming, as if discussing something completely ordinary, completely disregarding the Noble Consort’s icy stare.

Beauty Zhao’s eyes flickered as she perceived the hidden implications in the words; not only her but also Attendant Changzai, who forcibly suppressed a smirk. Initially, when Beauty Li slandered Beauty Lian, she heard that the Noble Consort had quickly decided to charge Beauty Lian based solely on the words of Beauty Li’s servants.

The Noble Consort narrowed her eyes, ignoring the mockery in the statement, her phoenix eyes seething with intensity, "So, you admit it?"

"Well..." Lian Hua toyed with the Feather Arrow in her hand, nonchalantly responded, "If Your Highness instructs me to admit, then I shall admit. But Your Highness, you should think carefully—didn’t Lady Cui call me a ’dog servant’ and ’mongrel,’ hmm? What else was there?"

She paused, trying to remember, finding that she couldn’t recall many phrases, it was too bad that Xiao Linzi was good at this, she added regretfully, "There was a lot actually, oh dear, my memory has worsened a lot since I became pregnant, I temporarily can’t recall to tell you; how about when my Young Eunuch returns, I let him mimic it for you, would that be alright?"

Back then Lian Hua endured for so long, it wasn’t in vain; in just that short time, Cui Laner, venting her anger, cursed fiercely and vulgarly.

Upon hearing this, the faces of the Noble Consort, Attendant Changzai, and Beauty Zhao changed dramatically. Although Lian Hua’s status wasn’t very high, the child she carried was the only Imperial Heir in the palace; calling her a ’dog servant’ and ’mongrel’—what then was the child in her belly?

Beauty Zhao’s lips turned suddenly pale, breaking into a cold sweat from fear, grateful she hadn’t been foolish enough to defend Cui Laner. Insulting a Palace Concubine and defaming the Imperial Heir—she would have been implicated in such a grave offense.

The Noble Consort looked sharply at Cui Laner, like a blade’s edge, this vile woman hadn’t finished her story, nearly causing her to fall for the tricks of Canglan Court’s mistress.

Talented Lady Cui panicked, for previously Lian Hua had been pursuing her rudeness towards Kong Yinyin and had not delved into this matter; therefore, she deliberately omitted this part when she had just started to speak. However, she did not expect that Lian Hua would bring it up then. At that moment, she felt an evil fire with nowhere to vent and, seeing several servants daring to ignore her, she flew into a great rage and began to curse. Once caught up in her momentum, she held nothing back and everything came spilling out.

She looked towards the Noble Consort in a plea for help. When she met the Noble Consort’s icy gaze, she became completely flustered, and a boundless fear crawled up inside her: "It was not intentional, this concubine was cursing those servants, not Beauty Lian..."

"Oh, so you were actually cursing in my direction, eh? Xiao Jizi, what exactly was she cursing about those servants at the time?" Lian Hua was not going to be lenient; she directly turned her head to ask.

Xiao Jizi stood with his head bowed, having waited a long time for this moment, and he spoke each word clearly: "Replying to my master, she called them ’a bunch of dog servants’ and at one point particularly pointed out a few people, calling them ’four dog bastards’. There were only three servants..."

The implication was clear without saying.

Lian Hua looked triumphantly at Talented Lady Cui, humming internally, eager to see how she would try to talk her way out of this. Originally, she did not intend to fuss over too much, but Lady Cui had really mistaken her for someone who could be easily bullied, hmph.

Talented Lady Cui stood frozen in place for a moment, puzzled, as she had only seen vaguely figures of servants with someone shorter hidden behind them initially. Looking down further, she saw four pairs of feet, thus speaking without filtering her words...

She wept bitterly, repeatedly explaining that it was not intentional, that she thought there were only a few servants, and that she had not seen clearly who was there.

After hearing what Lian Hua had to say about not allowing the strong to oppress the weak or those of lower status, Daying Jia fell into a peculiar state, having anticipated this scene all along. Therefore, when she apologized to Lian Hua previously, she had not neglected her own mistakes.

Even though she had yet to be questioned, she was already trembling like chaff.

Seeing this situation, the Noble Consort understood everything, deeply despising Talented Lady Cui’s foolishness—even wanting to trap her. Disgusted, she asked: "Talented Lady Cui, do you realize your fault?"

Talented Lady Cui kept kowtowing: "This concubine knows her faults, but it was not intentional, I beg the Consort to show mercy, please show mercy."

Xiao Jizi rolled his eyes secretly, knowing well that pleading with the Noble Consort was less effective than pleading with his own master. Tsk.

The expression of the Noble Consort was unreadable. After glancing at the triumphant Lian Hua, who made her heart grow even colder, she finally raised her hand slightly: "Considering your past minor faults, you will be punished by slapping your face twenty times. Take heed from now on and be careful with your words."

Upon hearing this, Talented Lady Cui felt not dismay but joy: "Thank you, Consort, this concubine will carefully heed your teachings."

Cai Xia took the command and soon began slapping the kneeling Talented Lady Cui.

Lian Hua blinked, feeling something was amiss. Why did it seem like Talented Lady Cui was eager to be slapped by the Noble Consort’s maid? Looking at the way she was crawling forward to receive her punishment even before Cai Xia reached her...

She leaned towards Xiao Jizi and asked softly, "Is this how punishment is administered?" She did not feel satisfied at all; Talented Lady Cui obviously showed no remorse.

Xiao Jizi clenched his fist, knowing full well why Talented Lady Cui was happy—what she committed was a grave offense of disrespect, which usually warranted severe punishment. Twenty slaps were exceptionally lenient.