Return of the Pearl

Aunt Rong held the whip with a ferocious look on her face, and her fierce and vicious eyes seemed to want to kill Ziwei and Xiao Yun.

At this critical moment, Emperor Qianlong walked in from outside as fast as a gust of wind. Although the guards at the door knew about Rong Mama's evil deeds, they could only kneel down and salute when facing Emperor Qianlong's arrival, and dared not stop him at all.

At this time, Rong Mama was in a completely crazy state and had no idea that Qianlong was approaching. By the time she realized it, it was too late.

Anger flashed in Qianlong's eyes, and he moved as fast as lightning. He kicked out with his right foot. This kick was packed with powerful force and hit Rong Mama's body directly like thunder, kicking her out.

Rong Mama screamed and flew out like a kite with a broken string, falling heavily to the ground with a dull sound. Her body slid for a distance on the ground, raising dust.

At this moment, she felt as if her right hand was hit hard, and a sharp pain spread throughout her body. She tried to struggle to get up, but the bones in her right hand had been crushed by Qianlong's kick, and she had completely lost her strength.

Rong Mama's face was twisted in pain, and she let out a shrill wail. Her face turned pale in an instant, and beads of sweat rolled down her forehead. Her painful expression seemed as if she was enduring the most cruel torture in the world. Her eyes were wide open, full of fear and despair. She never expected that she would suffer such a serious blow in front of Qianlong.

Qianlong stood there like a majestic statue, his cold eyes like a sharp knife, piercing straight into Rong Mama who was struggling in pain on the ground.

Qianlong's heart had long been filled with anger and disgust. He could no longer tolerate Rong Mama's evil deeds against Ziwei and Xiao Yun.

Qianlong looked at Rong Mama coldly. In his eyes, Rong Mama was like a small and humble ant. There was not a trace of pity or sympathy in his eyes.

Qianlong tried his best to suppress the rage that surged like a huge wave. His eyes burned with rage, as if he wanted to burn everything to ashes. He glared at Rong Mama with a look of gnashing teeth that made people shudder. He shouted loudly, "You like to whip people, don't you? Come here!"

With a loud shout from Qianlong, the guards came in quickly and dragged Rong Mama out of Shufangzhai without mercy.

Rong Mama was filled with fear. She struggled desperately and cried, "Your Majesty, please spare my life! I am already so old. If you hit me twenty times, I will die!"

However, Qianlong remained unmoved. His tone was so cold that it seemed to freeze people. "Since you dare to come here, you should be prepared to bear the consequences. Take him away and beat him now!"

Rong Mama's cries echoed in the air, her face full of despair and pain. The guards pressed her to the ground without mercy and raised the whip in her hand.

As the dull sound of whipping rang out, Rong Mama's screams became more and more shrill. Every whipping seemed to hit her heart, making her feel excruciating pain. Her body trembled and her facial expression was distorted, as if she was enduring the most cruel torture in the world.

Qianlong stood aside and watched all this coldly. There was no mercy in his heart. He had to make Rong Mama pay the price for her evil deeds to serve as a warning to others.

Qianlong hurriedly walked to Xiao Yun and Ziwei with a look of concern and anxiety in his eyes. He asked anxiously, "How are you two? How are your injuries? Do you need the imperial physician to come and take a look?"

Xiao Yun hurriedly helped Ziwei up. There was still a hint of panic on her face, but she tried to appear calm and said, "Hongli, I'm fine. I was only hit lightly. But Ziwei is in terrible shape. She was hit multiple times. Actually, there's no need to call the imperial physician. Our injuries are mainly on our backs. We can just let Mingyue and Caixia apply medicine. There are some medicines left by the imperial physician in Shufangzhai anyway."

After hearing what Xiao Yun said, Qianlong nodded slightly, his brows still furrowed, his face full of heartache and worry.

Ziwei and Xiao Yun then went into the inner room to change clothes and apply medicine. Not long after, the guards came back to report to Qianlong that the twenty lashes of punishment for Rong Mama had been carried out.

However, Qianlong felt that the anger in his heart seemed to have not completely dissipated. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Take her around the palace, and then send her back to Kunning Palace." After hearing this, the guards had no choice but to do as ordered.

During this whole process, Rong Mama's right hand had been crushed by Qianlong, and she had suffered twenty beatings. Now she was being dragged around the palace. She was exhausted both physically and mentally, and was so ashamed and angry that she fainted.

The guards looked at each other with difficulty, but they still carried out Qianlong's order without hesitation and dragged her to continue to tour the palace. Even though she was unconscious, the guards did not dare to send her back to Kunning Palace on their own. They could only continue to drag her around the palace until they completed the task assigned by Qianlong.

Kunning Palace

When the Queen saw Rong Mama being sent back, she could hardly believe what she saw. At this moment, Rong Mama was no longer in human form, with scars all over her body. The bruises and bloodstains were intertwined, as if telling of the endless pain she had suffered.

Rong Mama's face was so haggard that it was heartbreaking. Her originally round cheeks became thin and pale, and her eyes became dull and lifeless.

The Queen's fury instantly erupted like a volcano. Her voice was filled with anger and shock as she demanded, "Who on earth is so audacious as to treat Madam Rong so cruelly? Tell me now!"

The guards lowered their heads, their hearts filled with fear. They gritted their teeth and answered cautiously, "Your Majesty, it's the Emperor's order."

When the queen heard this, she was filled with resentment, but she also understood that she could not pursue the matter any further, otherwise it might bring her greater trouble. So, she had to suppress her anger and let the guards withdraw.

After Rong Mama slowly woke up, the queen anxiously went to her side and eagerly asked about the details of what had happened.

Rong Mama was also filled with confusion. She frowned and tried to recall the events as she spoke, "Your Majesty, I thought I had completely sealed off all the news so no one would know. But somehow the Emperor still got wind of it and rushed over. Not only that, he even cruelly crushed my right hand."

The Queen has asked the imperial physician to treat Rong Mama's injuries, but she knows that Rong Mama is old and has suffered such a serious injury, and she is afraid that her right hand will be disabled in the future.

Thinking of this, the queen's resentment grew stronger. She felt that the emperor was clearly deliberately slapping her in the face, making her lose all her dignity and face in front of everyone. This made her feel extremely humiliated and angry. She secretly vowed to find an opportunity to take revenge.