Traveling through the Tang Dynasty: The Concubine Goes to War

Last time we talked about Yunxi knowing that there were rumors in the palace that she abused the little prince, so she was cautious and observed secretly, vowing to find out who spread the rumors.

However, this rumormonger seemed to be very good at hiding, and Yunxi had no clue for a moment.

On this day, Yunxi went to the Empress Dowager's bedroom to pay her respects as usual.

On the way, she overheard the whispering of several palace maids.

"Have you heard? Someone saw Concubine Xi secretly abusing the little prince!"

"Ah! Really? Why would Concubine Xi do this?"

"Ah, who knows, maybe it's to win favor..."

Yunxi was shocked. Could this be the source of the rumors in the palace? She decided to quietly follow the palace maids to see if they would reveal more clues.

Yunxi followed them carefully, keeping a certain distance to avoid being discovered.

The palace maids continued chatting as they walked.

"I think that Concubine Xi is a vicious woman. She actually attacked a child!"

"That's right, the little prince is so cute, how could she have the heart to do that to him?"

"Maybe she is jealous of the little prince being favored by the emperor, so she wants to take revenge on him. After all, the little prince is not her biological son..."

Yunxi listened to these words and became more and more angry. These palace maids were talking nonsense! She didn't abuse the little prince at all. Where did these rumors come from?

As she was thinking, she suddenly heard one of the palace maids say, "Oh, by the way, I also heard that Concubine Xi often sneaks out at night. I don't know what bad things she does..."

Yunxi's heart tightened. She did go out sometimes at night, but that was because she had some personal matters to deal with, not to do anything bad. How could these palace maids make up such a story?

Yunxi couldn't bear it any longer, she strode forward and stopped the palace maids.

"You are spreading rumors and slandering me here. What is your intention?"

The palace maids were startled, and when they saw it was Concubine Xi, they immediately knelt down in fear.

"Please spare us, Madam! We just heard it from others..."

"Hear it from others? Do you believe what others say so easily?" Yunxi glared at them.

"I'm telling you, I've never abused the little prince, and I'd never go out at night to do anything bad. If you dare to gossip about me again, don't blame me for being rude!"

The palace maids kowtowed and begged for mercy, saying that they would never dare to do it again.

Yunxi watched them leave, thinking to herself: It seems that this rumormonger is not only well hidden, but also very scheming, knowing how to use the palace maids to spread rumors. However, she will not give up just like that, she must find this person and clear her name.

Back in the palace, Yunxi thought about it and realized that this rumormonger seemed to be quite familiar with some of the daily routines in her palace.

Suddenly, she was startled and a plan came to her mind.

The next morning, after breakfast, she walked to the courtyard outside the bedroom and saw the palace maids and eunuchs were busy with their work.

So while taking a walk, she said to her personal maid Xiaohong: "Later, I want you to deliver a letter to the emperor. I already know who is the rumormonger behind the scenes. Go and help me prepare pen and ink." After that, Yunxi walked back to the bedroom on her own.

After a long while, a tall and thin maid among the maids cleaning the windows slowly stopped her work and turned to look at Yunxi's bedroom, with a hint of uneasiness in her eyes. After thinking for a moment, she looked around and saw that everyone was busy working. She gently put down the rag in her hand and slowly walked out of the palace. However, her every move was seen clearly by Yunxi from the window.

The thin palace maid walked out for a while, and then Xiaohong followed with light steps...

After about an incense stick of time, they returned to the palace one after another. Xiaohong came back first, and she went straight into the bedroom...

After the thin palace maid came back, she continued to work with the other palace maids and eunuchs as if nothing had happened.

At this time, the short and fat maid closest to her came over and whispered, "Xianxian, where have you been just now? I noticed that you haven't been working for a while. Aren't you afraid that the manager will catch you slacking off?"

The thin uterine girl's face changed color slightly, but she soon regained her composure. She slowly answered, "I don't know if I ate something wrong this morning. I have a stomachache and diarrhea. I just went to the toilet..."

"Oh, so that's how it is. How's your stomach now? But luckily the steward didn't come to check just now." said the short and fat palace maid.

"I feel much better now, thank you!" the palace maid named Xianxian said quickly.

While they were talking, the bedroom door suddenly opened, and Yunxi and Xiaohong walked out one after another...

"Stop what you are doing! The Queen has something to say." Xiaohong said to everyone seriously.

Yunxi's sharp eyes swept across everyone, finally stopping on Xianxian.

"Xianxian, do you admit your guilt?" Yunxi's voice was icy cold.

Xianxian shuddered, "My lady, I don't know what crime I have committed..."

"How dare you, Xianxian, collude with others behind my back to spread rumors and create trouble. Tell the truth now!" Yunxi scolded angrily.

Xianxian's face was as pale as paper, and her lips trembled slightly, "My Lady, it's unfair! I have never done such a thing..."

Yunxi sneered, his eyes were as cold as ice, "If you don't want others to know, then don't do it. Xiaohong, tell me everything you saw!"

Xiaohong glared at Xianxian coldly, then said without hesitation: "Reporting to the queen, I have been following Xianxian and saw her walk to the gate of Xiuzhen Palace and talk with Xiaocui. I only heard her say that the queen planned to write a letter to inform the emperor today that she already knew who was behind the rumors. I hid behind the pillar and heard everything she said clearly."

After hearing this, Xianxian felt as if all the strength had been drained from her body and she collapsed to the ground.

"I hate those who are disloyal and unjust to my master the most!" Yunxi gritted her teeth, her tone filled with anger and determination, "Someone, come! Drag Xianxian away to me and give her fifty lashes. Let others learn from this!"

As Yunxi finished speaking, two eunuchs came forward. They dragged Xianxian aside with expressionless faces, one of them pressed her down on a hard bench, and the other picked up a thick wooden board, which was used to punish those palace maids who did not follow the rules.

Xianxian was naturally filled with fear and despair when she was treated like this, but she could not resist. The eunuch holding the wooden board mercilessly raised the board and whipped Xianxian's buttocks hard. Every time the board fell, Xianxian would wail in pain.

The boards kept falling, making clear and loud sounds that echoed throughout the palace. Xianxian's screams became louder and louder, and it was unbearable to hear. The other palace maids stood aside, witnessing this scene, and they were so scared that their faces turned pale and their bodies trembled slightly.

Yunxi stood in the distance, watching everything happening in front of her indifferently. Her eyes were firm and ruthless, and she seemed to have no mercy at all. For her, loyalty was the most important quality, and any betrayal would never be forgiven.

After the fifty strokes of the cane, Xianxian was so weak that she could hardly move. Her buttocks were covered with bloody wounds, which was a horrible sight. The eunuchs lifted her up and prepared to send her back to her residence. Yunxi coldly ordered: "Throw her to the cold palace and let her reflect on her mistakes. No one is allowed to visit her without my permission." After saying that, she turned and left, leaving behind a group of terrified palace maids.

To know what happens next, please read the next chapter. If you like it, please add it to your bookshelf. Thank you for reading!