Chapter 14: 014 Overbearing Li Xi

"Slap!" A crisp sound echoed throughout the entire Qinxin Palace.

"Consort Xi, please spare this servant!" A delicate-looking palace maid knelt on the ground, one hand clutching her face while her head repeatedly struck the floor, leaving thin streaks of blood behind.

"Presumptuous!" Li Xi grabbed the maid by her collar and roared, "I gave you one small task and you couldn't even manage it. What use is there in keeping you around?"

"Your Ladyship, this servant did not lose sight of His Majesty on purpose!" The maid sobbed incessantly, her legs trembling uncontrollably. She had been following the Emperor, but he had eventually discovered her and ordered her to get back to the palace, or he would take her life.

"Get out!" Li Xi released her grip and shoved the maid away forcefully, roaring, "I shall spare you this time!"

The maid fell heavily to the ground, slowly crawled back up, wiped away her tears, and forced a smile through her weeping. "Thank you, Your Ladyship! Thank you, Your Ladyship!"

"Call Ying'er!" Li Xi said with a cold face, glaring at the maid.

"Yes, Your Ladyship! This servant will go fetch Ying'er immediately!" The maid lowered her head and retreated quickly; she feared that if she were even a minute late, she would lose her life.

Li Xi reclined on a soft couch, reflecting on the events of yesterday. She had never imagined that Liu Qian'er would be such a peerless beauty. She went to intimidate every concubine who entered the palace, yet she had somehow overlooked Liu Qian'er. It seemed that as long as Liu Qian'er was around, the position of Empress would never fall to her. Since her entry into the palace was already a reality, she naturally wanted to be the phoenix among men. However, the Emperor was nowhere to be seen all day; how much more torment would she have to endure to ascend to the position of Empress?

"Your Ladyship!" A handsome-looking palace maid rushed into the room, gave a slight bow, and asked, "May I ask what business requires you to call for Ying'er so urgently?"

Li Xi pulled her thoughts back and said coldly, "Go and investigate the situation at Yilan Palace and report back to me!" She needed to have every move made at Yilan Palace at her fingertips!

"Yes, Your Ladyship!" Ying'er answered respectfully. Yesterday's events had already spread like wildfire through the palace; surely Her Ladyship was afraid she could not compete with Liu Qian'er, which was why she had ordered her to investigate.

...

Hanyu rubbed her sleepy eyes and let out a large yawn. How had she fallen asleep? Wasn't she supposed to be waiting for Her Ladyship to return? She stood up and scanned the room, only feeling relieved when she saw Liu Qian'er sleeping peacefully on the soft couch. She wondered how the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet had gone yesterday? She wondered if Her Ladyship had suffered any grievances?

"Hanyu..." As soon as Liu Qian'er opened her eyes, she saw Hanyu standing there blankly and couldn't help but call out softly.

"Your Ladyship, why didn't you sleep a little longer?" Hanyu stepped forward and knelt down, asking, "Did you suffer any grievances yesterday?"

"The Empress Dowager did not make things difficult for me yesterday; in fact, she was very kind to me!" Thinking back to yesterday, Liu Qian'er still found it hard to believe. She had originally thought the Empress Dowager would cause her all sorts of trouble, but in the end, she was incredibly kind to her. After a moment of silence, she added, "Actually, the Empress Dowager is quite pitiful."

"She's pitiful?" Hanyu pouted in protest. "When she was slapping my mouth, did she think Hanyu was pitiful?"

"The Empress Dowager told me about the slapping incident. She even said our Hanyu is a very good girl." Liu Qian'er patted Hanyu's head and said with a smile, "Let the past stay in the past, alright?"

Hanyu was startled. How could the Empress Dowager praise her? She certainly hadn't given her a single pleasant look that day!

After a moment, she said, "Fine! Hanyu will listen to Your Ladyship. For the sake of the Empress Dowager praising Hanyu, I shall forgive her!"

Liu Qian'er gave a drunken smile and said, "Silly girl!"