Chapter Two: Striking with the Hand Hurts More Than Whipping with the Sole

“Bring the Princess Consort back to the residence,” Xiao Jingxuan ordered, his face dark as he signaled to the guards.

Several guards moved to drag Su Jingluo into the prince’s mansion.

“Don’t touch me. I have feet of my own. What a fine rule you’ve set, Prince Jing—having your guards lay hands on your Princess Consort.”

With her words, the guards froze, casting miserable glances at Xiao Jingxuan, not daring to move.

Xiao Jingxuan frowned. How had this woman become so sharp-tongued? She seemed capable of insinuations, insults, and causing a scene—was she possessed? Yet, no matter where her words fell, they were justified, leaving Xiao Jingxuan with a fury he could not vent.

He gave a tacit nod.

Su Jingluo smoothed her disheveled hair. Though dressed in plain, coarse garments and feeling dizzy and short of breath, she strode into the mansion with her pride intact.

Xiao Jingxuan took her straight to the main hall. Once inside, he seated himself at the head of the table, glaring at Su Jingluo as if he meant to devour her.

The guards slunk away, sensing a clash fit for the heavens.

Su Jingluo paid Xiao Jingxuan no heed and simply seated herself at the head as well.

Before Xiao Jingxuan could speak, a figure in pink flashed through the doorway. Lin Feifei, unchanged after five years, exuded grace and charm, her fine attire noble and elegant.

Catching sight of Su Jingluo sprawled boldly in the seat of honor, Lin Feifei paused in disbelief. She strode quickly to Su Jingluo, towered over her, and pointed at her nose, saying, “Su Jingluo, how dare you sit there?”

Su Jingluo sipped her tea unhurriedly, glanced at Lin Feifei from the corner of her eye, and said, “Kneel.”

Lin Feifei’s mind blanked—was she hearing things? Did Su Jingluo just command her to kneel?

“Su Jingluo, have you lost your wits? Do you know to whom you’re speaking?”

Suddenly, Su Jingluo stood atop the chair, and with a swift, decisive motion, slapped Lin Feifei hard across the face. Her movement was crisp and unhesitating.

“How dare a mere concubine address the Princess Consort in such a manner?” Su Jingluo had used her full strength. Her own hand ached from the blow, and with the wound on her head throbbing, blood began to seep anew.

The slap stunned both Lin Feifei and Xiao Jingxuan. Only after several seconds did Lin Feifei’s wailing begin. She clung to Xiao Jingxuan’s leg, crying and pleading.

Xiao Jingxuan leapt up, but before he could act, Su Jingluo spoke again.

“Showing disrespect to the legitimate wife is a grave offense. You didn’t even pay respects to the prince upon entering. Who taught you your manners? Ignorant of propriety and decorum, failing to distinguish rank—your arrogance shames the Prince’s household and disgraces the Prince in court.”

Xiao Jingxuan’s raised foot hovered awkwardly, neither striking nor lowering. Every word Su Jingluo spoke was justified. It seemed she was defending his reputation, yet just moments before at the gates, she’d spared him no dignity at all.

“Su Jingluo, you—” Xiao Jingxuan pointed at her, at a loss for words. This woman was certainly deranged.

“No need for your praise, Your Highness. Disciplining the concubines and upholding the family’s honor is my duty,” Su Jingluo replied glibly.

“Lin, did you think it ended here? You dared deceive the young heir behind the Prince’s back. Servants, fifty lashes to Lin!”

The servants trembled in the doorway, but none dared approach Lin Feifei. After five years’ absence, the Princess Consort’s authority had vanished; Lin Feifei had managed all affairs. Who knew if the Princess Consort was truly possessed? Today’s uproar was fierce, but perhaps by tomorrow she’d be nothing again. Besides, the Prince’s expression betrayed no clear allegiance.

“Well, if you won’t do it, I’ll stretch my limbs myself.” Su Jingluo removed her cloth shoe, seized Lin Feifei by the hair, and brought the sole down upon her face. She marveled at herself—striking with her hand hurt too much; a shoe sole was the perfect household tool for disciplining a concubine.

With that blow, Lin Feifei let out a genuine wail, not for show but from real pain. She turned to Xiao Jingxuan, crying, “Your Highness, save me! I was wrong, I was wrong! I’ll never dare disrespect you again.”

Su Jingluo had just raised her hand for another strike when Xiao Jingxuan seized her wrist, truly furious now, his face contorted.

“Su Jingluo, will you never stop?” he growled, enunciating each word.

Blood oozed from Su Jingluo’s reopened wound, her face streaked with dried and fresh blood, her hair wild, her appearance that of a fury. She screamed hoarsely, “No, I won’t stop! I want my child!”

“Don’t forget who you are!” Xiao Jingxuan’s gaze sharpened, his voice cold and menacing.

“Who am I? I am the Princess Consort decreed by imperial edict, Yunbai’s own mother. Is that enough? Let me be clear, Xiao Jingxuan—I want the child. As for you, I long ago gave up on us. Return my child to me, and from now on, we’ll go our separate ways.” Su Jingluo herself was surprised at the desperation she could muster for her child.

Su Jingluo broke free of Xiao Jingxuan’s grip, then lowered her head and gave Lin Feifei a chilling smile.

“You’d best fetch the child now, before I ruin that pretty face of yours.”

Lin Feifei, faced with Su Jingluo’s ghostly visage, felt her heart lurch. She glanced at Xiao Jingxuan, whose inscrutable gaze betrayed no stance.

“Cuihong, bring the young heir here—quickly!” Lin Feifei shouted toward the door.

A trembling maid answered and scurried off. In moments, Cuihong returned, panting, clutching a small child in her arms.

The little boy, cheeks pink and lips red, his large eyes swollen and red from crying, immediately spotted Su Jingluo and flew into her embrace.

“Mother, Mother, they said you didn’t want Yunbai anymore.” The little one was truly heartbroken, sobbing until he could hardly catch his breath.

The fierce Su Jingluo melted instantly as she embraced the soft, small form. Tears spilled uncontrollably down her face. She held Yunbai tightly, terrified he might disappear again. Such is the bond between mother and child.

“Don’t cry, Yunbai. Mother will never leave you. Hush now.”

Yunbai calmed a little as Su Jingluo dried his tears.

Suddenly, Yunbai’s face turned solemn as he noticed the blood on Su Jingluo’s face and the wound on her brow. Trembling, he asked, “Mother, how did you get hurt?”

Before Su Jingluo could answer, Yunbai spun around, drew a small dagger from his clothes, and lunged at Lin Feifei, who was still sprawled on the ground.