CHAPTER 535: CHAPTER 534: THIS TIME, LET’S SEE HOW YOU, SU BAI, CAN TURN THE TABLES!

Concubine Mei was fuming with aggression.

Su Bai was not surprised. Right after the Imperial Edict was handed to Mei Changfeng in the Imperial Study, Su Bai herself came out. Everyone knew she was the one who had reported Chu Qi.

Yet, Mei Changfeng was somewhat petty.

He did wrong without admitting it and now had his daughter, residing in the palace as a noble, confront her on his behalf.

"Oh, isn’t this Su Bai, the General who is the favorite of our Emperor?" Before Concubine Mei could speak, her sycophant Chen Jieyu was the first to stir up trouble.

Su Bai stood straight, her gaze unlifted, "This humble officer has seen all the noble Concubines, may you all be well."

"Well?" Chen Jieyu glanced at Concubine Mei’s expression, then sneered at Su Bai, "That’s hardly ’well’ at all. Recently, one wonders what exactly has been going on in the court; always some duplicity needed to stir up strife, making it impossible to have a peaceful day. General Su, how can one be well in such circumstances?"

She directly accused Su Bai of stirring up trouble with the Emperor.

Claiming Su Bai incited discord.

"If Chen Jieyu has something to say, she might as well speak plainly."

Su Bai looked at her directly, her eyes fierce with the aura of battlefield killings; just a glance with those peach blossom-like eyes made Chen Jieyu break out in a cold sweat.

She fiddled with her handkerchief trying to bolster her own courage.

"Does General Su not know what she herself has done?"

"What has this General done to merit such concern from Chen Jieyu?" Su Bai quipped with a smirk, "Feel free to speak openly."

She was famously easy-going both inside and outside the palace because she typically paid no mind to trivial matters. However, if anyone thought they could trample over her, they were gravely mistaken.

Chen Jieyu looked like she wanted to retreat.

Behind her, Concubine Mei poked her in the back.

That poke seemed to give Chen Jieyu the courage she needed.

She cleared her throat and said, "Everyone originally thought General Su was an upstanding person, yet unexpectedly you also engage in tattling. Now, Lord Mei has been reprimanded by the Emperor, and loyalty has been questioned. Is this what you wished to see?"

"Chen Jieyu, what a joke." Su Bai’s gaze was deep, "Lord Mei was embezzling military provisions. The Emperor was initially going to have him executed, but this General pleaded for his life. Instead of acknowledging this General’s mercy, Concubine Mei brought a group to purposefully create trouble. How is this justified?"

"You—" Chen Jieyu became angry.

Concubine Mei could no longer restrain herself, pushing her aside, "Useless thing." So tactless, she was rendered mute by Su Bai in just a few sentences.

Concubine Mei stepped forward, her expression slightly cold, "So, should this palace now thank General Su?"

"That won’t be necessary. This General is not one to sweat the small stuff."

That remark turned Concubine Mei’s face ashen, "General Su truly does not mince words, discussing execution freely, truly intending to frighten us fragile ladies of the harem."

"Exactly, always about fighting and killing, without a trace of feminine grace," Chen Jieyu jumped in quickly with her comment.

Su Bai gave her a look, Chen Jieyu’s lips twitched, and she fell silent.

"This General was sent to the battlefield by imperial command, and it is not your place to judge," Su Bai scoffed, "Without us, the enemy would have breached the inner palace long ago, and you wouldn’t be in a position to criticize my manner!"

She thought for a moment, her anger rising again, "What use is grace? At the critical moment, it was still this General who had to draw a sword to save your life!"

"General Su certainly has a mighty presence!" said Concubine Mei with a sinister tone.

Today, out of nowhere, her father was harshly reprimanded by the Emperor and even fined his salary.

Although the salary was insignificant, everyone in the palace was aware of the news.

Her father was always respected in court, but today he lost face because of Su Bai. How could he maintain his standing in court hereafter?!

"You clearly could have spoken directly to my father about the military provisions. Why did you have to escalate it to the Emperor? Normally you treat everyone with such respect, if your soldiers knew you acted so duplicitously, how would you lead them in battle in the future!" screamed Concubine Mei.

Su Bai was nearly laughed out of anger.

"Concubine Mei should mind returning home more often rather than troubling this General for no good reason." She had sent someone to find Mei Changfeng months ago, searching for three months without a glimpse of him, always receiving excuses of his busyness and delays.

When she went personally later, the door remained shut to her.

What could she do?

War was imminent, her grievances were minor, but this was about the battle, about the lives of soldiers—it could not be taken lightly.

If Mei Changfeng pushed, why couldn’t she, Su Bai, push back?

"Step aside!" Su Bai lifted her foot to leave.

Seeing her about to leave, Concubine Mei’s rage ignited, "Su Bai, if you dare leave, I will have you punished!"

At these words, Su Bai’s steps halted.

Initially, she had not wanted to contend with the concubines, but now Concubine Mei was threatening to punish her.

She subconsciously licked her sharp canine tooth, her red lips curving into a reckless smile.

She slowly turned around, her tone defiant, "I am a court official. What right does Concubine Mei have to punish me?"

Concubine Mei’s eyes turned malevolent; without a word, she slapped Concubine Chen Jieyu next to her, sending blood spraying from the impact.

Concubine Chen Jieyu screamed and fell to the ground, cupping her face in disbelief.

Concubine Mei pointed at Su Bai and exclaimed loudly, "Audacious Su Bai, how dare you strike at the concubines of the back palace! Guards, seize this traitor for me!"

What a spectacular self-directed play.

Very well, this General will see how you wish to continue this performance today.

She did not resist, letting the eunuch seize her by the shoulders.

"Now, let’s go and see the Emperor to settle this matter!"

Concubine Mei stared fiercely at Su Bai’s face, her hatred mingled with barely contained excitement.

When they stood before the Emperor, she would uncover this despicable woman’s mask.

Let her vile face be fully exposed to the Emperor, clear and unmistakable. Then she would see if the Emperor could still remain infatuated with her.

Guards escorted Su Bai toward the Imperial Study.

Concubine Mei stopped and looked down from a superior position at Concubine Chen Jieyu: "Get up."

Concubine Chen Jieyu immediately got up, no longer covering her face. Her right cheek was swollen, no longer delicately attractive, with faint traces of blood making it appear horrific.

Her eyes brimmed with tears from the pain, yet she dared not let them fall, fearing Concubine Mei would get angry.

"Concubine Mei..." Concubine Chen Jieyu called timidly.

Impatiently, Concubine Mei spoke, "Do you know what to say before the Emperor?"

Her gaze was venomous as it fell on Concubine Chen Jieyu’s face.

She was just younger; what gave her the right to have the Emperor call her repeatedly?

Seizing the opportunity now served dual purposes, proving herself remarkably clever.

"I remember your brother is serving under my father, is he not?"

Concubine Chen Jieyu immediately fell to her knees: "Concubine Mei, I will stand firm that it was Su Bai who started the assault!"

Her brother had just secured a modest position in the court, she could not let her own faults ruin his chances.

This act would gain Concubine Mei’s trust, perhaps even favor with Lord Mei, creating opportunities for her brother.

Having made her point, Concubine Mei walked on satisfied, "Hurry and follow." This time, she was eager to see how Su Bai would turn the tables!