“Reporting to the First Prince, this old servant has no clan of nine generations to speak of. This old servant is just a dog that Noble Consort Ya rescued.” Nanny Huang knelt up straight.

“His Majesty visits the rear palace less and less, and has no idea that the Empress constantly bullies those beneath her.”

“Before Beauty Xin was struck with thirty strokes of the rod, the Empress had already made a move against Noble Consort Ya.”

“At the time, Noble Consort Ya’s face was badly festering. Many imperial physicians were at a loss. If not for Noble Consort Ya’s strong fortune, she would have…”

Nanny Huang wept and sobbed in a mess, her whole body trembling as she spoke of her grief.

“To keep the Empress from pressing her advantage further, this old servant only meant to give Her Majesty the Empress a small lesson. The medicine would not kill anyone — truly, it would not.”

“Drag her out and behead her.” The Empress arched an eyebrow lightly as she spoke.

In an instant, the entire hall fell silent.

Noble Consort Ya looked at her own nanny. She did not make a scene — only tears fell from her like they cost nothing.

The Empress raised her eyes, meeting the Emperor’s gaze, her expression unchanged. “Your Majesty, does this concubine not even have the right to execute an old servant?”

“Drag her out and behead her.” The Emperor turned his gaze away and waved his hand.

“Yes.” The guards standing at the edge of the hall came forward and seized Nanny Huang.

“Noble Consort, take care of yourself! This servant cannot serve you any longer. Noble Consort, please take care!” Nanny Huang cried out loudly.

“No!” Noble Consort Ya turned back and grabbed the hem of the Emperor’s robe.

“Your Majesty, no! Nanny Huang has served this concubine for over ten years — please, Your Majesty, take back the order!”

Seeing that Feng Qiongcang showed no response, Noble Consort Ya let go of him and stumbled down the steps, rushing toward the Empress.

“Noble Consort, please take care!” Nanny Huang called as she was dragged away.

Noble Consort Ya, frantic, tripped and fell right in front of the Empress.

Ignoring the pain in her body, she immediately scrambled up and knelt.

“Empress, please be magnanimous and spare Nanny Huang, just this once.”

“From now on, whatever the Empress says, this concubine will listen.”

“Empress, please calm your anger! This is a living, breathing life! Empress, please calm your anger!”

“If you must, whatever medicine you took, this concubine will take too — double the dose — as long as you spare Nanny Huang, this concubine is willing to accept any punishment.”

The Empress set down her teacup slowly and unhurriedly, lowering her eyes.

By now, Nanny Huang’s crying could barely be heard by anyone in the hall.

“A living, breathing life?” The Empress looked at Noble Consort Ya, the corner of her mouth curling.

“This June, a maid from the Tailuan Hall was beaten to death with rods simply because her clothing happened to share a color with one of Noble Consort Ya’s outfits.”

“And in July, when Noble Consort Ya’s face nearly ended up ruined, I heard she went straight for three people in the imperial kitchen with a blade, without asking who was truly at fault.”

“Cut after cut, blood and flesh flew, screams didn’t stop — and Noble Consort Ya watched with great relish.”

“Of course, June wasn’t only about little Ya. There were also three other maids who went missing, and I heard all three had been given the rod by Noble Consort Ya just before they disappeared.”

“And May.” The Empress poured herself another cup of tea, lowering her eyes once more.

“What’s wrong? Do you hate me so much? Regret not killing me sooner, so you’d have one less good helper left short?”

“If Noble Consort Ya truly cherished life the way everyone assumes, the rear palace wouldn’t need new maids brought in every two or three months, would it?”

“Don’t worry.” The Empress blew gently on her tea before taking a sip.

She set down her cup, and her gaze fell on Noble Consort Ya once again.

“Basically, the whole rear palace — and even people from other palaces — all know that Noble Consort Ya doesn’t treat servants as human beings.”

Noble Consort Ya glared at the Empress, stood, turned, and walked back.

The Empress’s cold voice followed behind her.

“I already told you, you have nothing to worry about. Everything has been reported to His Majesty in full detail, in writing, from start to finish.”

“Since His Majesty has no intention of pursuing it further, I have nothing further to pursue either.”

“Your Majesty.” The Empress rose, bowing slightly. “Since the scapegoat is already dead, this concubine does not intend to pursue the matter further for now.”

“But, please tell Noble Consort Ya, this concubine hopes that this is the last time such a thing happens.”

“Should it happen again, this concubine will absolutely show no mercy!”

“Your Majesty.” The Empress took a deep breath and bowed again. “This concubine has an unreasonable request to make.”

“Speak.” Feng Qiongcang waved his hand lightly.

“This concubine has received word that her royal brother is gravely ill, beyond hope of recovery.” The Empress stepped forward and knelt down.

“This concubine begs Your Majesty’s permission to return home, to the Kingdom, just once!”

“You wish to return to the Kingdom of Fengxi?” Feng Qiongcang furrowed his brow.

“Yes!” The Empress nodded, bowing once more. “Please, Your Majesty, grant permission!”

“Mother.” Feng Jin looked at the Empress, somewhat confused.

For all these years, the Empress had never once left, not even when both her parents passed away. Everyone had grown used to it, assuming she no longer wished to go back.

“Please, Your Majesty, grant permission!” The Empress bowed once more.

Rather than wait to die in the depths of the palace, why shouldn’t she be allowed to go back, just once?

Noble Consort Ya stood frozen for a moment before finally turning back.

She glanced at the Empress, then turned and trotted toward Feng Qiongcang.

“Very well!” Suddenly, Feng Qiongcang’s voice rang out, carrying a note of menace.

Noble Consort Ya stopped in her tracks again, looking at Feng Qiongcang, brows furrowed. “As the Empress, how can she simply say she’ll leave and then leave?”

“Your Majesty.” She knelt at the foot of the steps. “The Empress slandered this concubine and even killed this concubine’s servant, and now she wishes to simply walk away — this…”

“Noble Consort Ya.” The Empress cut her off.

“There’s still a matter tonight that hasn’t been settled, and yet you’re already scheming to stir up trouble?”

“Your Majesty.” The Empress’s gaze returned to the Emperor. “Since you’ve given your consent, this concubine plans to set out within the next two days.”

“It’s getting late, this concubine will take her leave now!”

The Empress rose from behind the table, bowed, turned, and walked away with light, graceful steps.

Today’s Empress was very different from before. In the past, even with rosy cheeks and a graceful bearing, she had always walked slowly, sometimes even needing someone to support her.

Today, she looked more than ten years younger.

The Empress left, and the generals departed as well, leaving behind only two more generals guarding the suspects.

Feng Jiu’er had been pacing outside for a long while, still hesitant to sneak in.

In the end, she sat beneath a large tree, waiting idly.

When Feng Jiu’er saw the Empress’s figure — with no sign of the Emperor or Feng Jin — she stood and went to meet her.

Jian Yi, who had been keeping watch not far off, turned and vanished from sight upon seeing this.

“Empress.” Feng Jiu’er came before the Empress and bowed.

“We’ll talk once we’re back.” The Empress arched an eyebrow and kept walking.

Feng Jiu’er turned, went ahead, and lifted the curtain of the carriage.

The two of them boarded the carriage and returned to the Empress’s palace.

Feng Jiu’er helped the Empress inside, and once the Empress was seated, she asked at once, “Empress, what happened?”

“Tonight — what exactly was that whole show about?”

“Would it count as a good show if Noble Consort Ya was caught with a lover?” The Empress raised her eyes, looking at Feng Jiu’er, who resembled nothing so much as a gossiping woman with a long tongue.

“Noble Consort Ya was caught with a lover?” Feng Jiu’er sat down beside her. “But His Majesty was there too — who was the lover with?”