Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace: Fawning

"Yes."

Rong Pei walked up to Lan Qi, lowered her head, and spoke in a low, fluent voice, "To answer Concubine Cheng's question, Eunuch Zhao secretly accepted bribes from the palace maids. Those palace maids and eunuchs who did the work were given easy jobs. Those who couldn't pay were assigned to such filthy places as the laundry department."

"I just made a few comments to Eunuch Zhao, and he beat me..." Rong Pei turned her face away, revealing the bloody slap mark.

Lan Qi had once been a palace maid and had experienced the pain of being beaten and scolded by her master.

Sizhiku was her happiest time.

When Lanqi was still Chunchan, her aunt from the Sizhiku once told them that there were four types of women in the harem: the mistress, the selected ladies who did not want to leave the palace, the families of ministers who had made mistakes and were forced to be sent into the palace, and the last type was girls from poor families.

Those palace maids who were used to being young ladies and princesses were naturally not used to doing dirty and tiring work. They were able to bribe the eunuch in charge to arrange a good place for them, but it was not like buying an official position. Besides, working in the palace required them to look at the masters' moods, so it was not an easy job.

"Concubine Cheng, you heard it. Eunuch Zhao is so inactive. As the person in charge of the harem, I have no choice but to punish him." Although Ruyi's voice was so kind, the disgust, contempt and impatience on her face were getting worse.

The pain of the past flooded back into her heart, and Yan Wan clenched her cold hands. Perhaps thinking of herself, who had once abandoned Ling Yunche in order to climb up, she suddenly felt pity and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine is kind-hearted. I'm sure Eunuch Zhao knows he was wrong and will definitely not make the same mistake again. Your Majesty, please don't hold it against him."

Zhao Quancai has been struggling in the harem for half his life, and no one has ever stood up for him when he made a mistake. Now, noble lady Ling is willing to offend the imperial concubine to speak well of him, and he will remember this kindness in his heart.

The mockery danced in his eyes, turning into a sharp blade that struck directly at the other's arrogance. "It is rare for your Excellency to plead for me, but I don't know what your Excellency sees in me that makes you willing to put aside your dignity and plead for me."

Ruyi paused and teased, "Oh, I remember now. Concubine Ling was once a palace maid too. She shares the same roots as these servants, so it's inevitable that she's a bit vulgar." She glanced at Lanqi and Yihuan. "You've been with Concubine Cheng for so long. How come she didn't teach you the palace rules? Concubine Cheng, you were born in the upper three banners after all. You should know the rules and regulations better than Concubine Ling and Concubine Shu."

Yihuan's face turned pale in an instant, veins popped out on her forehead. She stared at Ruyi, covering her handkerchief with her hand and started coughing.

Seeing this, Xihe immediately supported Yihuan and asked worriedly, "Young Master?"

Zhao Quancai closed his eyes in despair, his frank face showing an unshakable sense of righteousness.

He had never done anything bad in his life. The worst he did was to be greedy for a little profit and accept money from eunuchs and palace maids. He never expected to end up like this. He choked up and said, "Thank you for your kindness, ladies and gentlemen. I appreciate it. Since the Imperial Concubine wants to punish me to establish her authority, I will go."

Yan Wan seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world, and she snorted coldly, "Imperial Concubine, you are too overbearing. I know you don't like me, but this has nothing to do with my two sisters. Why are you so aggressive? Eunuch Zhao did some things wrong, so I just need to give him a little warning. When Guard Ling was beaten with twenty boards by the Emperor, he needed to rest for half a month. Moreover, Eunuch Zhao is not a martial artist, so he naturally couldn't bear the fifty boards awarded by the Empress. You are treating human lives like dirt."

"How dare you, Your Highness! You only caught the Emperor's eye because you resemble me. A fickle and treacherous woman like you dares to speak so harshly about me. I will definitely punish you severely."

"Sanbao, slap her in the face for me." Ruyi pointed at Yanwan angrily.

Yanwan's eyes were as sharp as torches, and she was not afraid at all.

Lan Qi stepped forward and held Yan Wan tightly behind her. "With me here, who dares—"

Yihuan also wanted to go forward, but she felt a stomachache, cold sweat broke out on her forehead, and her face turned pale, so she had to stand there in a daze.

Sanbao didn't dare to hit the concubines. The three concubines in front of him were all the emperor's favorites. He couldn't afford to offend any of them.

Seeing that Sanbao didn't move at all, Ruyi felt a surge of resentment in her heart. Just when she didn't know what to do, Rong Pei stepped forward, aimed at Yanwan's face with cold eyes, and raised her hand to hit her without any hesitation.

Suddenly, a pair of hands tightly grasped Rong Pei's hands. When she turned around, she saw Yihuan standing beside her, holding her arm tightly.

This is Rong Pei's chance to show off. She doesn't care who the emperor's favorite concubine is. She only knows that the imperial concubine in the sedan chair in front of her is the future empress of the Qing Dynasty and has the supreme status. As long as she can make Ruyi happy, she will be appreciated by Ruyi. She can get a decent job without spending a penny. Where can you find such a blessing?

Yihuan was weak to begin with, and she had just recovered from a serious illness. Rong Pei was used to doing rough work and had plenty of strength. She waved her hand and shook off Yihuan's hand.

Yihuan twisted her foot and fell backwards.

"Sister Shupin--" Yanwan rushed forward and grabbed Yihuan's hand.

"what--"

With a crisp sound of broken bones, Yihuan fainted while lying on Yanwan.

Lan Qi hurriedly squatted down and shook the two of them, "Yanwan, Yihuan, are you okay?"

Yan Wan looked pale and weak. She shook her head and said, "I'm fine, Sister Shupin~"

"Ji Tao, Xi He, quickly help the two ladies back to the palace. Lan Cui, quickly go get the imperial physician."

No one dared to delay and hurriedly helped Yanwan and Yihuan to Chuxiu Palace.

Lan Qi turned around and glared at Ruyi, who turned her head away guiltily.

"Noble Consort, you'd better pray that they are all right, otherwise your position as Queen will be in jeopardy."

Ruyi clenched her fists and said fiercely, "How dare you threaten me?"

Lan Qi bowed and gritted her teeth, saying, "I dare not."

Before leaving, he did not forget to glare at Rong Pei, who took a few steps back in fear.

When Hongli heard about this, he immediately put down the memorial and asked Li Yu to prepare a sedan chair to go to Chuxiu Palace.

At this time, Yihuan lies unconscious in bed, and Qi Ru is taking her pulse. Yanwan is also injured, and Doctor Zhang is bandaging her wound.

Seeing Hongli enter the room, Lanqi and Yanwan were about to stand up to greet him. Hongli quickly walked up to them and said, "I heard that Shupin fainted. What happened? And your hand was injured, your Highness. Is it serious?"

Imperial Physician Zhang clasped his fists and replied, "Your Majesty, the noble has injured his bones and muscles. I'm afraid he will need more than a month to recuperate."

"Emperor~"

Yihuan's weak voice came from the inner chamber. Hongli walked past Lanqi and Yanwan and went straight to Yihuan. He held her cold hand, sat down on the edge of the bed, and asked with concern, "Yihuan, are you feeling unwell?"

Yihuan supported herself with her arms and tried to get up. Seeing this, Xihe hurriedly took out a soft gold-thread pillow and put it under her.

Qi Ru moved to the side, looking embarrassed.

Hongli frowned, "Doctor Qi, what happened to Concubine Shu?"

Qi Ru raised his hand and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, then turned around and reported the good news to Hongli, "Congratulations, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Your Majesty, Concubine Shu is pregnant."