Chapter 51: The Punishment

“小 Yu, they’re so noisy and annoying, my head hurts,” Ali pouted, furrowing her brows into a small frown, clearly displeased.

Yan Ziyu reached out, pinched off a piece of osmanthus cake, and stuffed it into Ali’s mouth. “I didn’t want to bring you along, but you insisted. Just ignore them; pretend they’re just mosquitoes buzzing.”

“Mm,” Ali mumbled, savoring the sweet osmanthus cake, her eyes darting around mischievously, clearly scheming something.

About half a teacup’s worth of time passed…

“Qiu He, have someone serve tea to the ladies. After all this talking, they must be thirsty. Some tea will soothe their throats and help them continue,” Yan Ziyu said, yawning unceremoniously as she turned to Qiu He behind her.

Her voice was naturally clear and she made no effort to lower it, so everyone heard her words.

“Princess, don’t you feel guilty in your heart?” Su Qing looked at her with righteous sarcasm.

Yan Ziyu raised an eyebrow. “What does it have to do with me? Or rather, what does it have to do with you?”

A fierce glint flashed in Su Qing’s eyes. Yan Ziyu’s repeated opposition was truly infuriating.

Even though her mistress ordered her to cooperate with Yan Ziyu, she was reluctant. If she completed this mission on her own, surely her mistress would look upon her differently. She wanted to prove she was better than that useless Yan Ziyu.

“Recklessly taking lives, plotting against the heir to the throne—by the laws of our Great Yun, each of these is punishable by death!” Su Qing’s eyes locked onto Yan Ziyu, her smiling face concealing a cold, menacing gaze.

“Little sister, you’re quite diligent. Not only do you serve the prince, but you’ve also memorized all these laws,” Yan Ziyu said with a faint smile, tinged with coldness and mockery.

She was insinuating that Su Qing’s painstaking effort to infiltrate the prince’s mansion was motivated by ulterior motives, the words carrying an implicit threat.

Su Qing understood Yan Ziyu’s meaning perfectly. A flash of resentment crossed her eyes, and she forced a somewhat strained smile. “I don’t deserve such praise; it’s simply my duty.”

Yan Ziyu smiled faintly without replying and brushed back the dark hair from her forehead. Her indifferent gaze swept over everyone present.

Her usual cool demeanor sent an unusual chill down everyone’s spines, a foreboding sense creeping in.

“Qiu He, go inform the steward and the accountant: starting tomorrow, all the ladies of the mansion, including the secondary concubine Yu, will have their monthly allowance cut by one month and be confined for seven days. Any violations will be dealt with according to family rules!” Yan Ziyu’s crisp voice suddenly rang out while everyone was lost in thought.

Everyone was stunned, looking at her in confusion.

“Yes, I will obey,” Qiu He nodded in response.

Secondary Concubine Yu frowned. “Princess, what do you mean by this? Why punish us so severely? Please give us sisters an explanation.”

Concubine Qian and the others stood behind Yu, glaring at Yan Ziyu with indignation.

“Defiance, framing, slandering, false accusations, and reckless talk… do I need to continue?” Yan Ziyu lazily lifted her eyelids, revealing the thorns beneath, and glanced at Yu. “For the past few years, you have been managing the affairs of the back courtyard on my behalf. Do you think my handling of this matter is wrong? There’s no need to take it personally. If I have made a mistake, just say so. If worst comes to worst, there is still the prince!”

Yan Ziyu deliberately mentioned Long Xiaoyan, a veiled threat: the back courtyard is under her control now, she is the princess, not them. If they are unhappy with her punishments, they can take it up with Long Xiaoyan. She herself does not care.

Faced with Yan Ziyu’s almost provocative words, Secondary Concubine Yu gritted her teeth in hatred. Everything she was entitled to had been taken by Yan Ziyu. The position of princess rightfully belonged to her; if she were the princess, would she endure such humiliation?

With this thought, her hatred for Yan Ziyu deepened.

Suddenly, Yu’s eyes shifted to the soft smile of Noble Consort Rou, who sat watching the scene unfold. An idea sparked in her mind. Smiling without anger, she said to Yan Ziyu, “Sister, your reprimand is justified. As the head mistress, you naturally have the right to punish us. However, Noble Consort’s presence today and the words exchanged between you and her seem connected. May I dare ask if you intend to punish Noble Consort as well? I humbly ask that if any punishment is to be given, please direct it at me. Let us not provoke the displeasure of Noble Consort and disturb the imperial presence.”

After saying this, Yu cast Yan Ziyu a deep glance.

As the saying goes, “You have Zhang Liang’s plan, I have the ladder over the wall.”

If you use the prince to pressure me, then I will use Noble Consort and the emperor to deal with you. Yan Ziyu is not qualified to contend with me; on what grounds does she challenge me? Yu sneered coldly in her heart.

Upon hearing Yu’s words, which not only invoked Noble Consort Rou but even the emperor, Concubine Qian and the others, not fools, knew it was no longer their turn to speak. Silently, they watched Noble Consort Rou, who remained silent with closed eyes, not daring to utter a word.

Yu kept her eyes fixed on Yan Ziyu, hoping to catch a look of surprise or regret on her face. Unfortunately, there was nothing. Yan Ziyu’s face showed no change, still adorned with an elegant, composed smile. For the first time, Yu found a smile so utterly detestable.

“…I just nodded off for a moment and didn’t catch what you were saying. I vaguely heard someone mention punishing me. Did someone say that? Or was I dreaming?” After a long pause, Noble Consort Rou slowly opened her eyes, her lazy voice imbued with an alluring charm, her exquisite makeup and attire mesmerizing all who saw her.

Nodding off? Yan Ziyu thought silently, as if you went fishing in your dreams.

“It is my failure to manage the affairs of the back courtyard properly. Noble Consort made a special visit to the Xiaomansion and witnessed such a disgraceful scene. It is my fault. I shall later apologize to the prince. I beg Noble Consort’s forgiveness and ask that she not blame Secondary Concubine Yu. I apologize on her behalf,” Yan Ziyu deliberately feigned ignorance of the relationship between Yu and Noble Consort Rou. Since Yu wanted to drag Noble Consort in, she might as well help her. Though Noble Consort Rou would likely be furious.

Noble Consort Rou studied Yan Ziyu for a long while, then slowly shook her head, saying meaningfully, “Princess Xiaoyao, you hide your cards well! Even I feel humbled.”

“Noble Consort’s praise is too generous. I acted out of necessity. Noble Consort is of noble birth, incomparable to me,” Yan Ziyu replied with a faint smile, handling the sudden compliment with ease as if everything was expected, adding a mysterious aura to herself.

In Yan Ziyu’s eyes, the women of the harem were pitiful and tragic. They lived their entire lives for one man, who was shared among many. Like beautiful flowers, they inevitably wither with time. No matter how much effort and schemes they employed, how many found a happy ending? Those favored faced countless plots and threats to their lives; those not favored ended alone, watching the seasons turn until they returned to dust.

“Whether compelled by circumstances or playing the fool to catch the tiger, it no longer matters,” Noble Consort Rou waved her hand casually, her gaze sweeping over everyone present. “Having watched this lively spectacle, it’s time I reveal my purpose. Princess Xiaoyao is so clever; why not have the ladies guess why I have come? Anyone who guesses correctly will receive a generous reward!” Her sudden enthusiasm was contagious.

This…

Guessing Noble Consort Rou’s purpose in coming to Xiaomansion? Where does one even begin?

Everyone present, including Yan Ziyu, was puzzled, unsure where to start. Noble Consort Rou had thrown them a truly difficult challenge.

They all thought she was deliberately making things hard. Yet the next moment Yan Ziyu discarded this thought, noticing that Secondary Concubine Yu was equally confused. It was understandable for Noble Consort to be difficult to them, but there was no reason to trouble Yu as well—unless…

“I’m ignorant. Noble Consort, please give us some hints; otherwise, it’s truly hard to guess,” Yan Ziyu said, her intuition telling her her guess was close to the truth, hence her request.

Noble Consort Rou had anticipated someone would ask for hints, though Yan Ziyu’s inquiry came sooner than expected. Their last encounter and the intelligence gathered confirmed Yan Ziyu was not one to concede easily. She bore the pride and tenacity of that person deep in her bones.

“I have already given a hint,” Noble Consort Rou said, lazily brushing back her hair, her expression a mix of indolence and mystery, her voice laced with seduction. “Very well, I shall give another. My purpose lies among you.”

After speaking, she thoughtfully fixed her gaze on Yan Ziyu. That lazy yet calculating look gave Yan Ziyu a bad feeling, as if something was about to happen.