Volume One, Chapter Three: The Servant Who Struck Consort Xu

After another round of passion, Yunxi’s eyes held a sorrowful hue, faintly shimmering like autumn waters, her weak and soft demeanor revealing clearly that she had been harshly wronged.

Gu Nanxiao swallowed hard, suppressing the surge of desire rising within him once more. He controlled himself and coldly ordered from outside the door, “Moyu, go fetch some... medicinal ointment for women’s injuries.”

Upon hearing the command, Moyu signaled Qianyu, who also heard it, to carry out the order. Yet Qianyu hesitated, taking a moment before making a move. When Moyu cast an inquiring glance his way, Qianyu looked puzzled and earnestly asked, “Master didn’t specify if it’s a knife wound, whip injury, or a penetrating wound. How can I find the right medicine without knowing?”

Moyu stared at this dimwit freshly released from the training camp, wishing he could gouge a penetrating wound on his head with his eyes. He sighed deeply and vanished from sight.

Moyu found an old nurse, bartered for a bottle of ointment, and handed it to Zisu, who took it into the bedchamber.

At this moment, Gu Nanxiao had just taken a cold shower, changed into his court robes, and left the room.

Yunxi ordered the servants to bring food inside and had breakfast in Gu Nanxiao’s room. Naturally, she noticed the maids sent by the princess consort, their eyes filled with disdain, yet she ignored them and continued eating.

After the meal, she did not return to her shabby side chamber but went back to Gu Nanxiao’s bed to rest. She knew this was against etiquette for a concubine, but she also understood the principle of playing one’s role to the end. If she had played the humble servant from the start, she might never have a chance to fight for equal rights in the future.

The other servants exchanged glances but dared not question anything. Everyone understood the temper of the young master—without his consent, how could a concubine act so boldly in his chambers?

The empress dowager had already informed the emperor about what happened in Gu Nanxiao’s room the previous night. Upon hearing the news, King Yong presented a memorial at this morning’s court, requesting that the heir be officially titled.

The princess consort was overjoyed upon hearing this, finally releasing the pent-up resentment she had harbored.

She immediately ordered the side courtyard adjacent to Gu Nanxiao’s residence to be cleaned and bestowed it upon Yunxi. Poor Yunxi was woken prematurely by Zisu before she could finish resting and was sent to accept her new quarters.

Looking at the assorted gifts, Yunxi felt no emotion. She casually grabbed a handful of bracelets and jade bangles from the boxes and distributed them to the newly assigned servants.

Two second-tier maids, four third-tier maids, two nurturing nurses, four rough housekeepers, and four guards at the door all received gifts.

With the princess consort’s change in attitude, the servants now dared not treat this concubine disrespectfully.

Moreover, the eldest young master, who was usually indifferent to women, had actually favored her last night—and reportedly called for water three times including this morning. This was the most astonishing event in the entire household.

Now, having received such generous gifts, everyone felt that this master, only slightly above a servant in rank, was remarkably generous.

Just as Yunxi was about to return to sleep, an unexpected group arrived—servants sent by the favored Consort Xu of King Yong.

Two nurses and four maids came under the pretense of delivering gifts, but their true purpose was to provoke and mock.

Yunxi recognized the two leading nurses as the very ones who had humiliated the original mistress, driving her to drown herself in despair. Calling them murderers would not be an exaggeration.

Since they had come looking for trouble, Yunxi decided to seek justice on her predecessor’s behalf.

The two nurses barged in without announcement, arrogantly snorting and acting as if they were above their master. They dumped the modest gifts onto the dressing table and proceeded with their usual verbal abuse.

Yunxi listened quietly and attentively. The more they spoke, the more mistakes they made—if she wanted to find fault with them, she had to let them speak freely.

Her calmness made those who were shouting themselves hoarse gradually sense something was amiss.

Seeing their momentum falter, Yunxi poured fuel on the fire with a few sharp retorts, reigniting their desire to fight. They hurled even cruder insults like pouring out beans.

While the other servants’ eyes burned with anger and Zisu was moved to tears, Yunxi raised her hand to stop the bickering. She summoned the guards at the door and the rough housekeepers to restrain the six offenders and ordered each to be slapped thirty times.

Within King Yong’s mansion, the princess consort and Consort Xu were longtime rivals, but with Consort Xu favored and backed by the empress, the princess consort had never gained the upper hand.

Thus, when Yunxi commanded the slaps, no one dared to act immediately. Sensing their hesitation, Yunxi said coldly, “Do as I say. I will bear all consequences.”

Hearing this, the servants wasted no time and immediately seized the nurses and maids, delivering the sharp slaps.

The haughty servants of Consort Xu’s quarters were universally hated by those from the princess consort’s side. This was their long-awaited chance.

Moreover, if blame fell, they could simply pin it on the concubine. Why not take this opportunity to vent for the princess consort?

After the rounds of slaps, the once insolent maids and nurses had swollen cheeks and blood trickling from their mouths, yet their eyes blazed with hatred, threatening, “When the young master returns from court, he will not spare you, little vixen. No one in this household dares lay a hand on Consort Xu’s people!”

Yunxi ignored their threats and waved the guards to drag the six to the young master’s courtyard, awaiting his judgment after court.

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