Xia Dongchun from Legend of Zhen Huan: I want to live till the last episode

When Xia Dongchun brought Yun Ling out, what they saw was An Lingrong still standing there hesitantly, looking in the direction where Noble Lady Fucha had left.

Seeing Xia Dongchun coming out, An Lingrong shrank back again, as if she was afraid that Xia Dongchun would embarrass her again.

Baojuan also looked at Xia Dongchun warily.

Xia Dongchun frowned and glanced at An Lingrong. She tried to hold back, but couldn't help it and pouted, "What's that expression on your face? Would I eat you? I wasn't the one who had the dispute with you, so why did you look so pitiful?"

An Lingrong's eyes were red, and she bowed: "It's my fault, sister, please don't blame me."

Xia Dongchun didn't want to get too involved with her for the time being, but Xia Dongchun didn't forget what Yun Ling said - Yun Ling was killed by An Lingrong.

She also did not forget what she said, she wanted to avenge Yun Ling!

But now is not the right time, and she just dodged a sword. She doesn't want to cause any trouble now. She said a few sarcastic words to An Lingrong today only because she couldn't stand An Lingrong's pitiful look as if everyone was bullying her.

Yun Ling followed behind Xia Dongchun, trembling with fear, fearing that Xia Dongchun would disregard all rules as before and quarrel with An Lingrong. Given her own mistress's temperament, she would definitely resort to violence in the end.

By then, Concubine Hua would find evidence against me again.

Fortunately, Xia Dongchun only said a few words to An Lingrong and then turned around and left the Yanxi Palace. Yun Ling's heart was relieved a lot.

An Lingrong stood there, looking at Xia Dongchun's graceful back as she left, and almost couldn't hold back her tears.

Baojuan quickly advised her, "My lady, you can't cry now. You will soon go to pay your respects to the Queen. If you cry now, people will see it and it will be troublesome again."

An Lingrong quickly took a handkerchief to wipe her tears. Although her eyes were still a little red, if you didn't look closely, you couldn't tell what was going on.

"Let's go. We can't be late to pay our respects to the Queen." An Lingrong wiped away her tears and went out with Baojuan.

After everyone arrived, Xia Dongchun discovered that Concubine Hua had come to pay her respects on time for the first time ever and was not late.

The queen looked around, frowned slightly, and looked concerned: "Why hasn't Concubine Shen come yet?"

Everyone then noticed that Shen Meizhuang, who seemed to attach the most importance to rules and etiquette, had not arrived yet.

Concubine Qi was the most careless when she spoke. She put down her teacup, looked at everyone and said with a smile, "Oh, I thought Concubine Shen was the one who attached the most importance to rules, but now that Concubine Hua is here, Concubine Shen..."

At this point, Concubine Qi paused, looked at the expressions of the people around her, and then continued, "This is really not right."

"What does Concubine Qi mean by that?" Concubine Hua was unhappy. She had always disliked Concubine Qi's outspokenness just because she had a stupid son. "Do you have any opinion about me? The Queen hasn't said anything yet. You are wasting your breath here!"

Concubine Qi immediately sat up straight: "You!"

"I'm late in paying my respects to Her Majesty the Queen. Please forgive me." Before they could say anything else, Shen Meizhuang arrived.

The queen smiled tolerantly: "It's okay, you have always been diligent in paying respects and have never slacked off, so it's okay to be late once in a while."

"Why does the Queen think this is just a small matter?" Concubine Hua smiled and met the Queen's gaze. "Noble Shen was late in paying respects to the Queen for no reason. She should be punished with thirty strokes of the cane."

Everyone was shocked. Although they expected that Concubine Hua wanted to use this opportunity to embarrass Shen Meiyu, no one expected that she would actually start by asking for a caning.

After thirty strokes of the cane, even the eunuchs and guards would have to recover for a month or two, let alone the concubines in the palace?

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty. Our young lady is not late for no reason. Her clothes were wet by the eunuch on the way here, so she went back to change them. That's why she is late." Shen Meizhuang's personal maid Caiyue quickly knelt down to explain.

The Queen was about to speak, but Concubine Hua interrupted her: "Why do you think that you don't deserve to be punished? If you are guilty, you should be punished. If you are wrong, you are wrong. If you are wrong, you should bear the consequences!"

Jingpin, who was standing by, couldn't bear to watch any longer: "Empress Hua..."

"The same goes for Jingpin," Concubine Hua turned her spearhead towards Jingpin the next second, "Noble Shen is a member of your palace. She made mistakes because of your poor teaching!"

Jingpin's words were choked back. Xia Dongchun was stunned watching from behind. For a long time, she only heard one sentence: Shen Meizhuang is going to be beaten with a stick.

Xia Dongchun couldn't help but think of the time when she was beaten with a stick in her previous life, and subconsciously worried that Shen Meizhuang would end up like her. It's not that she cared about Shen Meizhuang that much, but she felt a bit of sympathy for her as they were both people who were troubled by Concubine Hua.

Fortunately, Concubine Hua didn't really want to beat Shen Meizhuang. She just changed the subject and said to the Queen, "It's just that I think that there is no exception to the law except human feelings. Considering that Shen Guiren is a first-time offender, she will be fined for two months' salary. Jingpin has not taught well, so she will be fined for three months' salary!"

Xia Dongchun also breathed a sigh of relief. Compared to being beaten with a stick, fining him monthly salary was better.

"It's almost the end of the year, and it's a bit inconvenient to deduct three months' salary..." The Queen looked reluctant, "Why not deduct one month's salary each?"

"Yes, I will remember the Queen's teachings and will never make the same mistake again." Shen Meizhuang and Jingpin said together.

"Okay, you all go back. Concubine Hua, stay here. I have a few words to say to you, my sister." The Queen waved her hand to signal them to leave.

Xia Dongchun took Yunling with her and didn't want to stay any longer until they returned to the Yanxi Palace and sat in her own room. Only then did Xia Dongchun feel truly relaxed.

"Yunling, what did the Queen want to say when she said that she wanted to keep Concubine Hua?" After Xia Dongchun's fear faded away, doubts arose.

Yun Ling shook her head. She didn't know. "Maybe they want to discuss something. Isn't Concubine Hua in charge of the six palaces? Maybe it's about Concubine Shen's matter today."

Xia Dongchun grabbed Yun Ling's hand and said, "I always feel that today's matter is not that simple. Concubine Hua was late for paying respects to the Empress so many times. I heard about it before I entered the palace. But today, she insisted on the fact that Shen Meizhuang was late. Although the Empress let her off lightly in the end, she still punished Shen Meizhuang..."

As Xia Dongchun was talking, she began to think seriously, "Could it be that the Queen wants to use this opportunity to warn Concubine Hua?"

It has to be said that Xia Dongchun's reaction was a little slow, but she actually guessed it right by accident.

The Queen did take this opportunity to criticize Concubine Hua, but was rebuked by Concubine Hua in a light tone.

But these are things that other people don’t know.