flstandardbreds Chapter 172 How Deep Is Love, How Deep Is Hate
Chapter 172 How Deep Is Love, How Deep Is Hate
The old woman felt a chill run down her spine as she watched Consort Zhang stride out.
As for the old nanny, she had been by Consort Zhang's side for many years and knew Consort Zhang's habits best. She was also very clear about Consort Zhang's little thoughts about Xie Jinghan.
The calmer Consort Zhang appears now, the more it proves that she has accumulated immense anger within her.
Especially... Xie Jinghan's visit today might still be for his princess.
Over the years, Consort Zhang has harbored hatred for all women who have appeared by Xie Jinghan's side. She even secretly resented her own niece, let alone women who actually stayed by Xie Jinghan's side and received his favor.
Thinking of this, the old woman sighed inwardly and quickly walked behind Consort Zhang.
"Your Highness, you must think this over!" the old woman said in a low voice, her tone full of helplessness. "At this time, you can't..."
"I know," Consort Zhang said impatiently. "What exactly is the old nanny worried about? I'm under the Empress's watchful eye everywhere I go. What outrageous thing could I possibly do?"
She was indeed angry, but she wasn't crazy.
If her ulterior motives were revealed to others, her life and the entire Zhang family would be doomed.
The old woman breathed a sigh of relief, but her heart was still pounding, and she followed Consort Zhang out with her nerves on edge.
Outside the hall, Xie Jinghan stood in a black court robe. He was already handsome, and the black robe accentuated his tall and elegant figure. If it weren't for the coldness in his eyes, he would have been as captivating as a refined young master from a noble family.
Even though he was radiating coldness, Consort Zhang couldn't control her heartbeat the moment she saw him.
"What brings Prince Jing to my palace?" Consort Zhang sneered, adopting a distant posture. "The Empress has already punished him; surely a mere prince like you can come and reprimand me?"
Xie Jinghan slightly raised his deep, peach-blossom eyes and coldly glanced at Consort Zhang.
"I have come here today to ask Consort Zhang for the person."
"People?" Consort Zhang asked knowingly. "What people? This is the inner palace, not a place for you to run wild."
Xie Jinghan glanced at Consort Zhang for a moment, then slightly raised his slender fingers.
Behind him, several imperial guards strode in.
The appearance of the Imperial Guards inside the palace caused panic among many of the palace maids.
Normally, the Imperial Guards would not venture into the inner palace. Only eunuchs skilled in martial arts patrolled the inner palace; these Imperial Guards…
It was obvious that Xie Jinghan had brought them in on purpose—just to get people from Consort Zhang, which was against the rules!
"Prince Jing, have you gone mad?" Consort Zhang stared incredulously at Xie Jinghan and the dozen or so imperial guards behind him, her eyes wide as she sharply rebuked, "This is the inner palace! You brought so many imperial guards in, do you perhaps intend to..."
"Consort Zhang is not strict in managing her subordinates," Xie Jinghan said coldly. "I have brought people here specifically to share your burdens."
"Find the person who delivered the message today," Xie Jinghan ordered the imperial guards behind him. "Punish him properly in front of everyone today."
Upon hearing this, Consort Zhang took a step back, staring intently at Xie Jinghan: "Are you crazy? How dare you touch the people in my palace?"
"I'd like to see who dares to run wild in the inner palace!" she shouted, which startled the imperial guards who were preparing to take action.
However, Xie Jinghan took out a token from his sleeve.
Under Consort Zhang's incredulous gaze, Xie Jinghan waved the token in front of her: "This is a token given to me by my imperial brother. Seeing this token is the same as seeing my imperial brother."
"Bring that palace maid out immediately." Xie Jinghan coldly swept his gaze across the crowd, and the palace maid with swollen, red cheeks was immediately spotted by him. "What is the punishment for maliciously slandering me behind my back?"
Si Qing strode forward and shouted, "He should be given fifty lashes!"
Upon hearing these words, the palace maid's vision went black, and she nearly fainted.
Fifty strokes of the cane? She'd probably lose her life.
Consort Zhang shouted sternly, "Who dares?"
Even if Xie Jinghan has a token, so what? She has the emperor's favor, and in this harem, the emperor's favor is her confidence. Even when facing Xie Jinghan, she is not afraid at all.
Almost everyone in the hall was one of her people.
If she can't even protect her own people, then who will be willing to work for her in the future?
We absolutely cannot let Xie Jinghan get those fifty lashes!
"I want to see His Majesty!" she shouted. "If you want to fight, you must first get His Majesty's permission!"
Upon hearing this, Xie Jinghan stopped what he was doing.
The Imperial Guards stood behind Xie Jinghan; there were only a dozen of them, yet they exuded an intimidating aura.
Xie Jinghan glanced at Consort Zhang, seemingly hesitant.
Consort Zhang thought her words had worked and added, "If His Majesty agrees to this punishment, I will have no objection!"
Just when she thought Xie Jinghan had backed down, she saw him gently raise his hand.
"beat."
"No!"
Consort Zhang, her eyes blazing with fury, stood in front of the palace maid.
However, the imperial guards moved extremely quickly, and she had no time to stop them. As soon as she reached out her hand, the palace maid was taken away by several imperial guards.
Xie Jinghan parted his thin lips slightly: "Let's fight here."
He wanted everyone in Consort Zhang's palace to witness firsthand the fate of those who deliberately sowed discord between him and the princess and spread rumors about him.
At the same time, he also wanted to let Consort Zhang know that his Achilles' heel was Wen Shuyao, and if she were to be touched, there would be only one word: "death".
The Imperial Guards always obeyed Xie Jinghan's orders. No matter how sharp or abusive Consort Zhang's voice was, or how she invoked the emperor's authority, they showed no mercy.
The palace maid was pressed onto the execution bench, and the board struck her back again and again.
The severity of punishment, such as caning, can vary, depending entirely on how the person administering the punishment controls the situation.
The orders given to the Imperial Guards who carried out the execution today were clearly ruthless.
With one blow, the palace maid screamed in agony, her voice piercingly mournful, and the entire palace seemed to be shrouded in a dark cloud.
After being struck ten times, the palace maid could no longer even scream. She lay on the execution bench, barely breathing, her eyes bulging out and bloodshot.
Consort Zhang dared not look at her, and could only watch helplessly as she endured blow after blow of the cane until she finally breathed her last.
After twenty strokes of the cane, the palace maid died.
"How dare you..." Consort Zhang was filled with hatred, clenching her teeth, "How dare you humiliate me like this?"
This isn't punishing a palace maid; it's clearly a deliberate act of humiliation!
This palace maid was her confidante; apart from her personal nanny, she was the one who spent the most time with her.
Even the Empress didn't dare to touch her easily!
Xie Jinghan actually dared to beat her to death!
This is clearly stepping on one's own face!
Consort Zhang had never been so angry. She glared at Xie Jinghan and said, "Prince Jing! How dare you!"
She was the emperor's most beloved woman; how could Xie Jinghan dare to go against her?
Anger filled Consort Zhang's mind, almost stopping her from thinking.
Seeing that her eyes were bloodshot and she was staring at Xie Jinghan with hatred, the nanny knew that she had lost her mind and hurriedly advised, "Your Highness! Please calm down!"
“Now is not the time to clash with Prince Jing.” As she spoke, she glanced at the palace maid’s corpse with pity, closed her eyes briefly, and said rationally, “You will not be able to see His Majesty at all now. Even if you want to seek justice for Lian’er… you will have to be patient for some time.”
Upon hearing this, Consort Zhang trembled violently.
She bit her lower lip hard, suddenly realizing that she couldn't even step out of the palace gates.
How could this be?
How could she have fallen to such a state in just one day?
Her face was pale, and her anger was gradually replaced by more panic.
What should she do?
The old woman noticed Consort Zhang's blank expression and knew that her words had worked.
She hurriedly escorted Consort Zhang into her bedchamber, then repeatedly apologized to Xie Jinghan: "Your Highness was also deceived by a villain, please forgive her, Your Highness! This little vile woman spread rumors, causing a rift between you and the Princess, she deserves to die!"
The old woman cursed as she gestured for people to collect the palace maid's body.
Xie Jinghan noticed her subtle movements but did not stop her.
"This is just a warning," Xie Jinghan said calmly. "If there's a next time... the punishment won't fall on the servants."
After saying that, he strode away.
Once the menacing figure was gone, the old nanny finally breathed a sigh of relief and instructed the palace servants around her, "Make a fine coffin for Lian'er and send her out of the palace for burial."
Lian'er's eyes widened, her dying expression frozen on her face.
Every palace servant who glanced at the corpse felt a chill run down their spine.
He merely relayed a single message on Consort Zhang's orders, and yet he ended up like this... truly...
That's truly pitiful.
Consort Zhang was at the height of her power in the palace. Even the Empress turned a blind eye to what Consort Zhang had done, only giving her minor punishments as a warning.
But Xie Jinghan's actions today have completely shattered everyone's illusions about Consort Zhang's status.
Compared to Xie Jinghan, who wielded immense power, the favor Zhang Guifei received was insignificant.
Xie Jinghan dared to do this because he was certain that the emperor wouldn't hold it against him.
Even someone as favored as Consort Zhang had no choice but to swallow her pride and bear it in front of Xie Jinghan.
Even... once the Empress gave the order, she could no longer send messages out.
Is such lavish favor truly effective?
Consort Zhang also realized this. She sat in her bedchamber, tears wetting her pretty face.
"Granny, I am now at their mercy," Consort Zhang said in a trembling voice. "Everyone says I am still favored by the emperor, and I actually believed those lies."
“Even now… I can’t protect Lian’er…” she said in a trembling voice, “I’ve only just realized how pathetic I am! I’m not reconciled! I will repay all the humiliation I suffered today!”
The more she loved Xie Jinghan, the more she hated him now.
Xie Jinghan actually trampled on her dignity to death for the sake of other women!
How could she not hate that?