Chapter 63

Chapter 63: Her Mindset Shattered Sun Miaoqing had just left Suiyu Pavilion when Hongqu, spotting the distant apricot blossom tree, remembered the swing Xiao Lezi had set up and casually mentioned it. She noticed the apricot blossoms were nearly withered, yet the Emperor hadn’t caught a cold. The scene of the Emperor pretending to be Guo Zili under the apricot tree was likely not going to happen. “Since we’re here, let’s go sit for a while.” Sun Miaoqing had just turned a corner when she caught sight of a pair of embroidered shoes, appearing and disappearing intermittently. Instinctively, she thought it was Zhen Huan. But to her surprise, it was Mala Tutou. Not wanting to cause trouble, she glanced at Hongqu, who immediately said, “Yu Xiaozhu, this swing was set up by my mistress’s orders. Please step aside.” Her tone was still relatively polite. Yu Ying’er sat on the swing, not even turning her face in their direction, showing no intention of giving up her seat. Not only did she refuse to move, but her words were also sharp. Staring straight ahead, she said, “I heard Sister Sun has been copying Buddhist scriptures day and night to please Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. What brings you here today with such leisure?” “Eighty volumes of scriptures are no small task. Sister, you’d better not wander around outside. If you can’t finish copying them before the Bathing the Buddha Festival and end up implicating those around you, that wouldn’t be good.” Once Yu Ying’er’s voice turned acerbic, it truly was acerbic. Coupled with her current arrogant demeanor and her knack for hitting a sore spot, she effortlessly ignited Sun Miaoqing’s anger. It was because of this wretched woman that she had lost a Lvzhu and was punished to copy so many scriptures! Her hand was about to break. Not only did she steal her swing, but she also had the nerve to make sarcastic remarks and mock her. Given how secluded this place was, and with the Emperor visiting Consort Hua at Yikun Palace these past few days at this hour, he wouldn’t be coming here. Sun Miaoqing poured all the resentment she had accumulated over the past few days, along with the cold shoulder she had just received at Suiyu Pavilion, onto Yu Ying’er. “Yu Ying’er, how dare you! Seeing a mistress of higher rank than yourself, you don’t even show proper respect. Do you believe that with this alone, I can send you straight to Shenxing Si?” Yu Ying’er continued swinging, not even looking at her. “Consort Hua may be ill, but Her Majesty the Empress is still in charge of the rear palace. This concubine is ignorant, but I didn’t know that Changzai Gong is now in charge?” “Truly taught by Consort Hua—even your words are identical!” Sun Miaoqing snorted with a laugh and stepped forward gracefully. “No matter how favored you are, you’re still just a palace maid by origin. I have been ordered by the Emperor to learn to assist in managing the affairs of the Six Palaces. You show no respect for your superiors, so of course I can punish you!” Just then, Yu Ying’er fell off the swing. Yes, she fell off. She clung to Sun Miaoqing’s leg, her emotions flaring up instantly. “Sister Gong, this servant truly didn’t know this swing was set up by your orders. I didn’t mean to steal your swing. Please, don’t send me to Shenxing Si.” Sun Miaoqing was startled by her sudden action: What act was she putting on? In an instant, she realized something was wrong. This wretched woman was probably trying to trap her. “Let go!” Yu Ying’er refused to release her grip, crying out tearfully, “That night’s incident—even if the Emperor asked, this servant never said a word. Her Majesty the Empress punishing you to copy scriptures truly has nothing to do with me.” Sun Miaoqing gritted her teeth as she tried to pry Yu Ying’er’s fingers loose. As expected of someone with a palace maid background—her strength was immense! She only wanted to free herself from this rabbit head as quickly as possible, so she used all her strength, even speaking through gritted teeth: "Would you dare to speak of what happened that night?!" "Ah—" Yu Ying'er suddenly released her grip and threw herself backward. At the same time, a sharp "slap!" rang out. Yu Ying'er covered her face and said, "Sister Sun, even though I come from a maid's background, we both serve the Emperor. How could you hit me?" What a clumsy trick! "Outrageous! Who gave you the audacity to strike someone in the rear palace?" When the Emperor's voice sounded from behind, Sun Miaoqing felt as if the sky were collapsing. Such a clumsy trick—even the most outdated palace dramas from centuries ago no longer used it. How hateful that she had fallen for it. Clearly, she held the script, yet she had repeatedly stumbled in the gutter, and several times it had been at the hands of this Mala Tutou. How humiliating. She felt so wronged she wanted to cry. But no matter how wronged she felt, she had to resolve the current predicament first. Sun Miaoqing knelt on the ground, her heart in her throat, her mind racing at high speed: The slap just now had been crisp and loud—the rabbit head must have struck herself quite hard, and there would surely be finger marks on her face. She was determined to play a game of framing and slandering right in front of her. If she were to say she hadn't hit her now, Yu Ying'er might use a retreat-as-advance tactic, not only solidifying the accusation that she had struck her but also making the Emperor think she was making excuses, leaving her no chance to refute. Better to admit fault first and downplay the severity. "Your Majesty, just now..." Yu Ying'er had also seized the moment. Sniffling, she appeared utterly bullied yet still respectfully performed a bow to the Emperor: "This humble maid Yu Ying'er pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless fortune and peace." She smoothly cut off Sun Miaoqing's words. The Emperor frowned. "Who told you to refer to yourself as 'humble maid'?" This term "humble maid," along with the matters they had just discussed, successfully stirred the Emperor's memory. That night, when the Phoenix and Luan Spring Favor Carriage brought Yu Ying'er to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, her back was bruised and battered, and she had knelt just like this, calling herself a humble maid. From this, it wasn't hard to see who was behind that night's incident. The Emperor was already in a foul mood today. He had mustered all his energy to extract something useful from Nian Shilan, only for her to fall asleep as soon as she lay down. Coming here from Yikun Palace to clear his mind, he had hoped to run into Wanwan, but instead encountered these vexing matters. This Sun Miaoqing was truly foolish! He had placed high hopes in her, yet she! Repeatedly, over trivial matters, she stirred up jealousy and caused trouble in the rear palace. And to think he had considered promoting her rank—now it seemed he had overestimated her. Useless thing. "Help your mistress up." Seeing Yu Ying'er suffer twice, the Emperor felt a pang of pity. He gestured toward Hua Sui beside Yu Ying'er. Sun Miaoqing wanted to say something more, but before she could utter a single word, Yu Ying'er interrupted again. "Thank you for Your Majesty's grace." Without explaining immediately, the matter would become impossible to clarify. "You haven't corrected your old habits." Hearing the Emperor's familiar words, Sun Miaoqing's hanging heart finally sank. What shouldn't have come had still arrived. Her composure somewhat shattered, she gave up on explanations and only uttered dejectedly, "Your Majesty, this concubine is wronged..." "Wronged? Your words repeatedly involve Consort Hua, showing disrespect to your superiors—is this also me wronging you?" The Emperor said angrily, "I tasked you with learning to assist in managing the affairs of the Six Palaces, yet you abused your power and bullied others. You have truly disappointed me!" The might of heaven was vast, and Sun Miaoqing trembled inexplicably. "Su Peisheng!" "Your servant is here!" It's over, the punishment for Yu Ying'er has arrived!