Resisting the Wind and Splendor

The door was kicked loudly.

The palace maids and eunuchs stood to the side with their heads bowed, not daring to breathe.

It was as if taking even one more breath would result in immediate execution.

In all my years in the harem, who has ever seen the emperor lose his temper like this?

"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Consort Rui rushed over to help him up.

Unexpectedly, the Emperor raised his hand and slapped Consort Rui hard across the face.

Consort Rui was knocked to the ground, completely stunned!

In all my years in the palace, when have I ever been so humiliated? This is the only time!

She even wondered if she was dreaming.

Your Majesty, you actually hit her!

"Your Highness!" Granny Xiu was heartbroken and quickly went over to help her up.

But neither master nor servant dared to utter a single word.

Granny Xiu glanced at the palace maids and eunuchs, who understood and were about to bow their heads and leave.

The Emperor roared, "Not a single one of them is allowed to leave!"

The palace maids and eunuchs were trembling with fear, not daring to take even half a step out.

Consort Rui wept, her face streaked with tears: "Your Majesty, what wrong have I done? You...you insisted on doing this in front of them..."

"So now you're starting to care about saving face?"

The Emperor walked to the chair and sat down, coldly snorting, "You know you have a sense of shame, but what about others? Your face is important, but other people's reputations aren't? I only slapped you once and you couldn't take it, but you give others a fatal blow sharper than a knife! Didn't you ever think that others might not be able to take it either? Your life is your life, but hers isn't?"

Consort Rui wanted to explain, but under the Emperor's sharp gaze, she dared not utter another word.

An Delu then glanced at everyone and said, "Go and get busy."

Ultimately, this is the Emperor's family matter. With so many people watching, will they have to be silenced tomorrow?

That would be too much noise; it's not advisable.

The palace maids and eunuchs finally left, and Consort Rui said in a hoarse voice, "Your Majesty, you have wronged me! I did nothing wrong..."

The Emperor looked at her, his sharp gaze as cold as ice: "I don't care about matters of the harem, but do you really think I'm a fool?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Rui was so frightened that she knelt down with a thud.

Granny Xiu also knelt down, trembling.

Consort Rui wanted to explain further, but An Delu said, "Your Majesty, this servant has already ordered people to investigate. The rumors about Miss Li and Prince Jin only started spreading today. They spread as fast as lightning, like a gust of wind, and in less than half a day, they have spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys of the capital. It's the same in the palace. Apart from the Empress's Kunning Palace, everyone in the other palaces knows about it."

With each word An Delu uttered, Consort Rui's heart sank even lower.

She didn't expect that Chu Yueli would act so decisively and launch a counterattack today, just after the news was released today!

If it had been two or three days later, there would have been no evidence at all.

Chu Yueli may seem gentle and weak, but she is surprisingly decisive and efficient, which is something Consort Rui never expected.

Jin'er said she was the most capable strategist he had ever met, and now, Consort Rui has finally experienced firsthand the truth of that statement.

Chu Yueli, she swears she will not be human if she does not avenge this grudge!

Consort Rui clenched her fists in secret, but when she looked up at the Emperor, her face was full of sorrow: "Your Majesty, I had no choice! Tuoba Feiyuan put aside her own family for the greater good and helped Jin'er get rid of the remnants of the Tuoba clan. Jin'er remembered her merits and now that she has nothing left, she brought her back."

"Who would have thought that Ali would be so petty, unable to tolerate any other woman by Jin'er's side! Jin'er is a prince, and in the future, there will never be only Princess Jin in the manor. How can Ali, who is so stingy, manage the entire manor?"

Consort Rui's tears rolled down her cheeks, her voice even more hoarse: "I just wanted her to understand that being in the royal family means you can't always only care about your own desires, and that throwing tantrums will be punished. Perhaps I used the wrong methods, but Your Majesty, my intentions were good! Your Majesty, please see the truth!"