167 Taunt

Yunqing claimed she had ulterior motives, but exactly what those motives were, she did not elaborate. That night's conversation thus ended inconclusively. Since Yunqing was unwilling to spell it out, I had no way to press further.

Yet the very morning after, unable to withstand Zhang Bitong’s relentless pestering, Yunqing was forced to go to the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility.

At present, the only person Zhang Bitong could find to intercede on her behalf was Luoning.

However, Zhang Bitong had previously offended Luoning over the incident involving Han Feiyue. Going to Luoning for help this time would likely prove to be a wasted trip. I knew this, and Yunqing knew it too. But regardless of her prior promises to Yunqing, Zhang Bitong insisted that Yunqing must go to the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility, leaving Yunqing with no choice but to comply.

Scarcely had Yunqing departed when Jialin arrived, accompanied by Fang'er, who was carrying a food box in her hands.

"This servant pays respects to the Imperial Princess."

"Rise. Is Consort Mother inside?"

I replied, "Her Ladyship is currently in her chambers!"

"Good, then I shall go see her."

"Please enter, Imperial Princess!"

"Oh, well, who do we have here?" Before we could even step inside, Lin Tanwei and Meng Pingjun walked over.

True to form, they were hardly going to let Zhang Bitong off easily.

"This servant pays respects to Your Ladyships."

"Jialin offers her greetings to the two Consorts."

"And here I thought who it might be, turning out to be Imperial Princess Jialin! How remarkably filial you are, coming specially to visit your Consort Mother who has been cast into the Cold Palace. What is inside that?"

Speaking with a smirk, Lin Tanwei opened the food box Fang'er was carrying, peered inside, and remarked, "My, some rather fine dishes indeed. As expected of someone accustomed to being a mere servant, this is precisely the sort of thing you know how to do."

"Our Imperial Princess is also the consort of the Ninth Prince; how can you speak to her in such a manner?" Fang'er protested indignantly.

"Xiaojing."

At a subtle glance from Lin Tanwei, Xiaojing stepped forward and delivered a sharp slap directly across Fang'er's face.

"Before her mistress has even spoken, a mere servant dares to open her mouth and chatter. Imperial Princess Jialin, this palace will discipline your domestic help for you; surely you have no objection?"

Jialin had always been accustomed to enduring humiliation; back in Huyan Ya's presence, she had possessed a meek and submissive disposition. Even now, seeing Fang'er struck, she refrained from uttering a word, recognizing that Lin Tanwei held a superior rank.

Hearing the commotion, Zhang Bitong emerged from within.

"What are you doing here? Have you come purposely to mock my misfortune?" Although Zhang Bitong’s attire no longer possessed its former splendor, the haughty demeanor of a imperial consort resurfaced the moment she laid eyes upon Lin Tanwei.

Lin Tanwei covered her mouth with a laugh and said, "Sister Tong, are you still addressing yourself as 'this palace'? Do you truly have the shamelessness to style yourself as 'this palace' in a wretched place like Lingbo Hall? By now, you should be kneeling and paying proper homage to me."

As Lin Tanwei spoke, her expression hardened, and she glared at her fiercely.

"You—"

"Is it not so?"

"Consort Mother, let this daughter-in-law kneel in your stead," Jialin said, unable to bear watching Zhang Bitong subjected to such degradation.

"What kind of thing are you?" Lin Tanwei shot her a cold, sidelong glance. "Are such matters something you can substitute for? A servant remains a servant; down to their very bones, they can never alter a servant's lowly nature. The moment they see anyone, they instantly want to grovel!"

Stung by Lin Tanwei's scathing tongue, Jialin was left entirely speechless. Zhang Bitong had never held Jialin in high regard to begin with, and now, deeming Jialin useless and a disgrace to her own dignity, she snapped impatiently, "Why on earth did you come here? To make my humiliation even worse? If you have this idle time to spare, you should be figuring out how to assist me instead! Hurry back, hurry back. Your proper duty right now is to look after Xuan'er properly; do not idle about going everywhere and seeing everyone."

"Yes, Consort Mother, this daughter-in-law will bear it in mind. These are meals I specially prepared for you, I beg you to—"

Before Jialin could finish, Lin Tanwei chimed in with a sweet, radiant smile, "How truly enviable Sister Tong is. Having a son and a daughter-in-law makes all the difference; even after being sent to the Cold Palace, you still have such fine food to eat. Who need fear being cast into the Cold Palace when it is no different from living in one's former quarters! Xiaojing, make a note of this for me. If His Majesty visits the Xiyu Pavilion today, be sure to mention this to him."

Zhang Bitong gnashed her teeth in fury, yet remained utterly helpless against Lin Tanwei.

Lin Tanwei continued, "If you truly wish to eat these meals, you may—simply address this palace as Your Ladyship, bow your head and kowtow to me once, and declare that you were in the wrong. Out of consideration for our past sisterly ties, this palace will show mercy and let you have your food."

"In your dreams!" Zhang Bitong glared at her with venomous hatred.

"Xiaojing!" Lin Tanwei signaled Xiaojing once more. Xiaojing stepped forward, snatched the food box directly from Fang'er's hands, and proceeded to pull out all the dishes inside, tossing them straight onto the ground.

The sound of clattering porcelain and shattering plates startled everyone present.

Lin Tanwei sneered, "How about this instead, Sister Tong? If you are willing right now to crouch down and eat it up like a dog, this younger sister will pretend she saw nothing. How does that sound?"

"Lin Tanwei, you wretched creature, do not push your luck too far!"

"Push my luck? Lin Tanwei laughed coldly. "Compared to everything you subjected me to, can this be considered pushing my luck? When I fell from grace, the way you treated me is something I have forgotten not a single bit of! You even had the audacity to plot against me alongside this lapdog of a servant beside you. Did you really think this palace knew nothing of it?"

Shifting her gaze evasively, Zhang Bitong stammered, "I have no idea what you are blabbering about. Do not hurl baseless accusations."

"Baseless accusations? The wicked reap what they sow. Sister Tong, the actions you took are the cause of the retribution you face today; you brought this entirely upon yourself, do you understand? Xiaojing, since Sister Tong is unwilling to eat, lend her a hand."

"Yes, Your Ladyship!"

So saying, Xiaojing moved to grab Zhang Bitong, causing the latter to stumble back several steps in alarm. "You vile wretch, what do you think you are doing?"

"This servant is merely here to assist Your Ladyship." With those words, Xiaojing grabbed Zhang Bitong by the arm and dragged her toward the food scattered across the floor.

"Your Ladyship, I beg you, spare Consort Mother, I beg of you—" Jialin dropped to her knees, clutching at the hem of Lin Tanwei's skirt as she pleaded for mercy.

"Jialin, you spineless creature, stand up at once! This palace's people are forbidden from begging for mercy from the likes of such people. Get up!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk... Your daughter-in-law pities you after all; why must you reject her good intentions? Still, do you truly think shedding a few tears while kneeling will make everything okay? If so, matters in this world are far too simple."

With tear-filled eyes, Jialin looked up at Lin Tanwei. Then, as if arriving at a heavy resolve, she whispered, "Very well, I shall eat it in Consort Mother's stead. I shall eat it in her stead."

Jialin turned on her knees, lowering her face closer and closer to the food on the ground, on the verge of lapping it up just like a dog.

Unable to watch any longer, I stepped forward and kicked the remaining plates over, sending them flying.

"Little Xiao, you have quite some nerve!"

"Your Ladyship is the one with quite some nerve," I retorted. "Though Her Ladyship has been relegated to the Cold Palace, she remains an imperial consort, and the title of the Ninth Prince remains unchanged. Her Ladyship has done nothing wrong, yet you use your status to inflict such shameful humiliation. For you to settle personal scores so blatantly, Your Ladyship, might it not reflect poorly on you should His Majesty catch wind of it? Would not your pristine image before His Majesty be utterly ruined?"

Lin Tanwei offered a chilling smile. "Little Xiao, a wretched eunuch like you—do you honestly dare to threaten this palace?"

"This servant wouldn't dare threaten Your Ladyship; this servant merely speaks the truth."

"Very well. This palace will spare this Imperial Princess then. But disciplining a rebellious, insubordinate slave like you is surely well within my rights, is it not? This was food kindly prepared for your mistress, yet you kicked it over and ruined it—what a terrible waste. Why don't you lower yourself and lick it clean? Then this palace will pretend none of this ever happened."

"Little Xiao, no, let me do it instead!" Jialin immediately shook her head at me.

I said, "Imperial Princess, you would do well to return to your palace. It is best if you rarely set foot in Lingbo Hall from now on. As for Her Ladyship, this servant will attend to her properly, so please set your mind at ease."

Rather than letting Jialin stand by in agony, it was better to have her leave this place entirely and see nothing. If she witnessed this, she might end up reporting it back to Jiang Xuan. And I had no desire for Jiang Xuan to learn of such wretched humiliation befalling me.

"Little Xiao, you—"

Urging her onward, Fang'er coaxed, "Imperial Princess, we had best return first."

Though pulled away by Fang'er, Jialin continually glanced back over her shoulder every few steps as she departed.

I dropped to my hands and knees, crawling forward inch by inch.

Lin Tanwei, you claim Zhang Bitong reaped what she sowed and deserved her fate. And you? I shall most certainly ensure that you pay the proper price for everything you have done today.

Reaping what one sows shall be your ultimate end as well.

Just as my fingers were about to brush against the scattered food, an embroidered shoe suddenly appeared before me. Xiaojing ruthlessly ground her heel down into the mess, churning it into the dirt before stepping aside. "Eat up! This is a gracious bounty from Her Ladyship, after all!"

I raised my eyes to give Xiaojing a single glance, then lowered my head once more.

"Sister, why not simply spare Little Xiao?" Meng Pingjun spoke up abruptly, having remained silent throughout the ordeal.

"Sister Jun, you are actually pleading for this slave?" Lin Tanwei asked, her face a mask of bewilderment. "Surely you do not harbor some other motive?"

Meng Pingjun curtsied lightly. "Today this younger sister accompanied you here, and we have seen all there was to see. Now that Sister Tong and this Little Xiao have been reduced to such a state, it would be best to let them be. Sister, you should consider your anger vented by now. If this matter is blown out of proportion and reaches His Majesty's ears, it can hardly bode well."

"Sister Jun?" Lin Tanwei whipped her head around to stare at Meng Pingjun. "It sounds as though there is a deeper meaning to your words! Are you attempting to threaten this palace as well? Do not forget, the favor you enjoy today is largely due to my assistance. Since we are in the same boat, there is no need to put on airs of noble detachment at a time like this."

"This younger sister has no such intentions. Sister, I merely spoke a plain truth. If you remain bent on pursuing this, this younger sister will not obstruct you further. In that case, I shall return to South Fragrance Hall first."

Seeing that Meng Pingjun genuinely intended to leave, Lin Tanwei hastily laughed it off. "Very well, very well. I was merely joking, yet you take it to heart. Sister, you rarely ask me for favors under normal circumstances, so since you have interceded this once, how could this elder sister possibly refuse to give you face? Enough; bullying a mere slave holds no amusement for me anyway. Get up!"

Pressing my lips together in silence, I rose without offering any gesture of gratitude.

"Zhang Bitong, my visit today was merely to make you realize precisely what status you hold now, and what status is mine. Let me tell you: whatever this palace wishes to do to you, is what will be done. Tell me, what can you possibly do to me now?" With that, Lin Tanwei burst into a triumphant laugh.

"The wicked strut in petty triumph. Lin Tanwei, you will not be rejoicing for much longer. Little Xiao, I am receiving no visitors; chase them out." Uttering these words with bitter resentment, Zhang Bitong retreated into the inner chambers.

"Chase us out, indeed! Who in their right mind would want to linger in a dump like this? It's utterly laughable. Only she could regard such a place as some kind of treasured land!"

Lin Tanwei chuckled, and Xiaojing joined in with a smirk.

Smoothing the corner of her kerchief, Lin Tanwei murmured, "Well then, Xiaojing, this palace is somewhat fatigued. Let us return to our palace."

"Yes!"

"Sister Jun, what about you?"

Meng Pingjun replied, "Sister, you go ahead. This younger sister has somewhere else to be and our paths do not lie in the same direction."

Giving Meng Pingjun a deeply meaningful look, Lin Tanwei asked no further and departed directly.

Once Lin Tanwei had walked far enough away, Meng Pingjun turned to me and asked, "Little Xiao, are you alright? Sister went a bit too far, but do not take it to heart."

Had she spoken to me with such gentle solicitude in the past, I might have felt a shred of gratitude. But now, knowing Ruer's actions, how could it be possible that Meng Pingjun had not authorized them? This woman was, in truth, an equally formidable adversary.

I replied, "Your Ladyship flatters this servant; I am merely of lowly birth. I would not dare harbor resentment toward Consort Tan, nor would I dare trouble Your Ladyship to intercede on my behalf. If Your Ladyship has no further business here, I must ask you to take your leave. Though this servant is now stationed in Lingbo Hall, this palace was personally bestowed by His Majesty, and we retain the authority to manage it."

"How audacious!" Ruer rebuked sharply from the side.

I offered a faint, silent smile.

"Ruer, hold your tongue," Meng Pingjun reprimanded, before turning back to me with a gentle tone. "Little Xiao, the truth is I came here today because there is a matter upon which I wish to consult your opinion."

"Please speak, Your Ladyship."