The deeply sleeping Yao Huang turned over. The discomfort caused by her skin rubbing against the brocade quilt made her furrow her brow—she awoke.

Through the two layers of gauze curtains, she saw bright light by the window.

The quilt beside her lay flat. The Prince…

Recalling what happened before dawn, Yao Huang suddenly felt a tingling numbness in her tailbone. It was at this moment she discovered she was still completely bare.

She couldn’t summon the maids in for now. Yao Huang sat up properly while clutching the quilt, deliberately ignoring what that person had left on her. Following along the quilt, she searched around—her middle robe was beside the pillow, her middle pants at her feet, her small garment… Yao Huang remembered now. After finishing, the Prince had thoughtfully helped wipe her clean, and must have casually grabbed her small garment to use!

Ruining two bed sheets and small garments in one night—he was truly something!

After tying the sash of her middle robe and putting on her pants, Yao Huang stuffed the bed sheet into the bamboo basket that was already half full. She lifted the bed curtains to air things out, poured herself a bowl of water, and supporting her waist, sat down at the vanity.

In the mirror, the Princess Consort had disheveled hair, swollen eyes, and a faint red mark showing at the collar of her middle robe?

Having been dizzy while dressing and not looking at herself at all, Yao Huang doubtfully pulled open her collar and was shocked to find more traces scattered between her collarbone and waistline—dense in some places, sparse in others. Most striking was an obvious palm print on her left shoulder, evidence of the Prince restraining her and not allowing her to hide!

Yao Huang slumped against the chair back. Was this Prince part wolf?

Yao Huang put on another outer garment. After concealing all the marks, she called for A’Ji in a hoarse voice.

The door was pushed open and A’Ji nearly rushed in, while Hua Mei, Bai Ling, Chun Yan, and Qiu Chan remained in the outer room awaiting orders.

“Princess Consort, are you alright?”

Yao Huang shook her head: “What time is it?”

While scrutinizing the Princess Consort, A’Ji said: “In another hour it will be time for lunch. Why did the Princess Consort sleep so long? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”

Seeing her strange look, Yao Huang instinctively gathered her collar: “No, why do you ask?”

A’Ji didn’t want others to know the Princess Consort’s secrets. Leaning close to the Princess Consort’s ear, she said: “Last night you cried for too long, and this morning you cried once more. Tell me truthfully—did the Prince bully you?”

A’Ji was truly worried.

Yao Huang’s face felt hot. Looking at the tabletop, she said: “It was alright. You’ll understand after you marry. Enough now, I’m starving to death. Quickly have the water room prepare bathwater. After washing, get me something to eat.”

A’Ji went out to pass on the message, and Bai Ling had the young maids run errands to the water room and kitchen.

Since a full bath was needed, there was no need to bring water to the inner chamber. Hua Mei and the others came in to make the bed and fold the quilts.

Hua Mei caught sight of the Princess Consort’s obviously tear-swollen eyes and took the initiative to carry out the bamboo basket.

After the bathhouse water was ready, Yao Huang called only A’Ji in to attend her. Hua Mei became increasingly certain of her speculation—last night the Princess Consort had suffered the Prince’s fists and feet, probably fainted, which was why she rose late. After waking, she had lain on the bed crying for a while, leaving a fresh wet mark on the bed sheet. A’Ji had heard everything last night, which was why she’d been worried all morning. The Princess Consort had injuries on her body, so she only allowed the informed A’Ji close.

Prince Hui’s legs were crippled, and his relationship with his only intimate companion, the Princess Consort, was also poor. Hua Mei felt very pleased on behalf of Consort Noble.

Consort Noble’s favor crowned the rear palace. The only dissatisfaction in her youth was her delayed childbearing. Everyone knew Emperor Yongchang’s “seed” had considerable problems. Empress Zhou bore two sons who both died young. Among the other consorts, only Consort Liu was fortunate enough to have a prince. In such circumstances, when a humble dancing girl who had been favored by the Emperor on a whim announced joyful news, all the imperial consorts fixed their eyes on her belly.

Several months later, the dancing girl died in difficult childbirth after giving birth to a prince.

Consort Du, relying on her own favor, successfully brought the young prince to her side and petitioned to have him registered under her name.

For the entire eight years thereafter, Consort Du never conceived. The more disappointed she became, the more Consort Du valued Prince Hui. She engaged the best literary and martial tutors for Prince Hui, having them teach him with the strictest methods. It was said Prince Hui had to rise at cock crow every day, reading books until the third watch before sleeping. He was the most diligent and hardworking among all the princes and princesses, and because of this diligence learned both civil and martial arts, receiving the most praise from the Emperor.

When Prince Hui was eight years old, Consort Du miraculously found herself pregnant, but unfortunately this child was a daughter, so Consort Du continued strictly educating Prince Hui.

When Prince Hui was ten, Consort Du finally got her wish and bore her own flesh and blood, the Fourth Prince.

Consort Du relaxed her strict upbringing of Prince Hui and began pouring all her maternal love and expectations onto the Fourth Prince. She arranged for teachers to begin the Fourth Prince’s education at age three, yet couldn’t bear to make the Fourth Prince suffer the hardships Prince Hui had endured. This resulted in the growing Fourth Prince’s learning and martial skills being inferior to Prince Hui’s at the same age. When the Emperor casually commented that his fourth son wasn’t as clever as his second son, how grating must that have been for Consort Noble to hear?

The more brilliant Prince Hui shone, the more mediocre the Fourth Prince appeared by contrast. The more the Emperor valued Prince Hui, the further the Fourth Prince was from the Eastern Palace.

The consorts of the outer palace gloated from the sidelines, openly and covertly mocking how Consort Noble had properly educated her adopted son while her biological son fell short.

Prince Hui was like a needle stuck in Consort Noble’s and the Fourth Prince’s throats for all these years. Of course Prince Hui being depressed and unhappy would satisfy Consort Noble.

Yao Huang had no idea of Hua Mei’s wild imaginings. She had a comfortable bath, applied cold-water-soaked cloths to her eyes, and her whole person became refreshed and clear-headed again.

Today she didn’t need to eat at the same table as Prince Hui. Yao Huang ate alone in relaxed comfort. After eating, while lying on the couch in the outer room waiting to recover her strength, Hua Mei came over, her face full of concern as she asked: “Has the Princess Consort suffered grievances from the Prince?”

There were still two half-damp small garments in the bamboo basket, showing how miserably the Princess Consort had cried during the night. Her lightheartedness after waking was all put on for appearances.

Yao Huang glanced at her: “What do you mean?”

Hua Mei didn’t mention the evidence that would easily embarrass the Princess Consort, saying tactfully: “This servant noticed the Princess Consort seemed to have been crying.”

Yao Huang: “So what if I cried?”

Hua Mei hinted: “Consort Noble instructed that after the Prince’s accident his temperament changed greatly, and he often vents his resentment on those around him. If the Princess Consort has suffered grievances, you may enter the palace and complain to Her Ladyship. Her Ladyship will certainly take your side. Think about it—no matter how noble the Prince is, he’s still Her Ladyship’s son. When a mother disciplines and constrains her son, the Prince will certainly listen.”

Yao Huang, who had just been acting as if she didn’t take Hua Mei seriously, now sat up straight. Looking at Hua Mei, she asked hesitantly: “Does the Prince truly enjoy punishing those around him?”

Hua Mei nodded.

Yao Huang: “Does he punish severely? Tell me everything you know.”

Hua Mei had no choice but to fabricate two examples to gain the Princess Consort’s trust: “These two were expelled from the manor long ago. The others fear the Prince and absolutely dare not mention it again.”

Yao Huang thought for a moment, then called out for Bai Ling.

Bai Ling walked in obediently.

Yao Huang repeated Hua Mei’s two examples and asked Bai Ling: “Did the Prince really do these things?”

Bai Ling looked completely bewildered.

Hua Mei’s heart skipped a beat. Having previously been slapped in the mouth by the Princess Consort through Bai Ling at the Yao family, Hua Mei feared the Princess Consort was setting another trap for her.

Sure enough, Yao Huang’s gaze toward her filled with suspicion: “What’s this—were you making all this up, deliberately tricking me into creating discord between Her Ladyship and the Prince’s mother-son relationship?”

Hua Mei’s thoughts raced. Admitting fabrication would mortally offend the Princess Consort—this bold and daring Princess Consort might directly punish her to the laundry room. Not admitting it, she could claim Bai Ling was too withdrawn when at Yikun Palace, paying no attention to outside affairs. Given Bai Ling’s usual deference to her, she would tacitly accept her version and wouldn’t dare openly contradict her.

As long as the Princess Consort believed her and truly entered the palace, after Prince Hui was scolded by Consort Noble he would certainly give the Princess Consort the cold shoulder. At that time, the Princess Consort could only cling tightly to Consort Noble’s big tree and would never again dare look down on her.

Thinking this, Hua Mei said calmly: “This servant speaks nothing but truth. When Bai Ling isn’t on duty, she stays behind closed doors and has no way of knowing these things.”

Bai Ling truly hadn’t heard of this, so she couldn’t judge whether these matters were true or false.

Hua Mei sent Bai Ling away. She drew close to the Princess Consort and earnestly said: “The Prince struck the Princess Consort, didn’t he? Princess Consort must not compromise. When a husband beats his wife, there’s a first time and there will be a second time. If you tolerate the Prince today, next time the Prince will dare beat you even harder. You have no powerful natal family to rely on—the Prince won’t value your life. Only by having Consort Noble intervene will the Prince have any scruples.”

Yao Huang clutched her handkerchief, her brow worried: “You go out first. Let me think this through carefully.”

Hua Mei offered more advice before withdrawing. After staying outside for a while, she heard the Princess Consort summon A’Ji. In less than two exchanges, A’Ji came out without even looking at them and walked straight outside.

Hua Mei stopped her: “What are the Princess Consort’s orders?”

A’Ji said irritably: “Don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask.”

Hua Mei: “…”

She hoped even more that the Princess Consort would make up her mind quickly. While hoping, A’Ji returned, followed by one of the manor’s chief stewards, Nanny Liu, who specialized in managing female servants.

Yao Huang sat upright on the couch, having Hua Mei repeat those words in front of Nanny Liu.

Hua Mei’s face went white. Though Nanny Liu had also been arranged by Consort Noble in early years to care for Prince Hui, after Prince Hui established his manor, Nanny Liu no longer heeded Consort Noble’s words. Together with Eunuch Cao, she was utterly loyal to Prince Hui. Making her slander Prince Hui before Nanny Liu—did she have a death wish?

When Hua Mei wouldn’t speak, Yao Huang had Bai Ling speak.

Bai Ling was inarticulate but had a good memory, repeating it almost verbatim.

After hearing this, Nanny Liu’s expression darkened. Maintaining propriety toward the Princess Consort, she said: “Princess Consort must not listen to this person’s wild slander. In the three years since the Prince established his manor, it has always been Qing Ai and Fei Quan attending him personally. He has never punished any servants.”

Yao Huang: “Then Hua Mei committed insubordination and slandered the Prince?”

Nanny Liu: “Precisely so.”

Yao Huang sighed: “Though the Prince entrusted all manor affairs to me, Hua Mei was bestowed by Consort Noble. I truly dare not decide on my own authority how to punish her. Nanny, you’d better take her to see the Prince and let the Prince decide.”

Upon hearing this, Hua Mei dropped to her knees with a thud, her face white as she loudly protested her innocence: “This servant knows the Princess Consort dislikes me, but you cannot bribe Bai Ling to frame me! This servant never said those things. I beg Nanny to investigate clearly!”

She wanted to make this matter big, big enough to reach Consort Noble. Her Ladyship already disliked the Yao woman and would certainly take her side!

Bai Ling panicked and knelt down too, looking at Nanny Liu: “She’s lying! It was she who first slandered the Prince, which is why the Princess Consort called this servant in to testify…”

Hua Mei refused to admit it.

Yao Huang simply watched the drama unfold.

Nanny Liu produced a handkerchief. With one hand pressing Hua Mei’s shoulder and the other stuffing the handkerchief into Hua Mei’s mouth, after stuffing it she covered her mouth. Looking up, she said: “Princess Consort, this old servant will take these two to see the Prince immediately. You rest well. Once the Prince has made his decision, this old servant will return to report.”

Yao Huang: “Thank you for your trouble, Nanny.”

She had A’Ji help Nanny Liu restrain one of Hua Mei’s arms. Nanny Liu was nearly fifty—she mustn’t be injured over this.