The words fell, and the maid Zhu Ye's attitude remained as arrogant as ever, showing no regard for Gu Qian Ying.
Seeing her attitude and hearing her words, Gu Qian Ying was so angered that she laughed.
Gu Qian Ying turned to the maid Cai Xia, who was following behind her, and asked, "What... what was your name again?"
"Replying to the Princess Consort, the maid's name is Cai Xia." Cai Xia curtsied to Gu Qian Ying, her attitude respectful.
"Oh, your name is Cai Xia." Gu Qian Ying turned her face away, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes, "Cai Xia, slap this Princess Consort's face twenty times."
Cai Xia was stunned for a moment, then quickly understood the Princess Consort's intention.
"Yes, Princess Consort."
Cai Xia stepped forward, grabbed Zhu Ye's hair, and slapped her face twice.
Zhu Ye was stunned by the shock and the pain.
Cai Xia's blows were heavy, and her slaps were swift.
After slapping Zhu Ye's face twenty times, she returned to Gu Qian Ying's side.
Zhu Ye's mouth was swollen, and she whimpered at Gu Qian Ying, seemingly asking why she had sent someone to hit her.
But Gu Qian Ying would never respond to a servant. She watched Zhu Ye cover her mouth, her gaze towards Gu Qian Ying still disrespectful.
A cold smile played on her lips, "Cai Xia, how should a servant who so disregards hierarchy be dealt with according to the mansion's rules?"
Cai Xia replied, "Replying to the Princess Consort, such a crime warrants eighty strokes of the cane, but for a servant who defies superiors and shows no remorse, death by beating is also possible."
"Oh, then drag her out and beat her to death!" Gu Qian Ying's tone was indifferent, but her dark pupils were like ink, dense and unfading, like still water, chilling at a glance. Zhu Ye no longer dared to whimper. She knelt before Gu Qian Ying in terror, trembling like a sieve.
As she knelt, she wanted to beg Gu Qian Ying for mercy.
But Gu Qian Ying didn't even spare her a glance.
Beside them, the two maids holding the trays were terrified. They immediately knelt on the ground, holding the trays with their hands, not daring to put them down or speak further.
Cai Xia called for two guards, and as they dragged Zhu Ye out like a dead pig, Lan Qing Qing walked over.
At this moment, the tent outside the sleeping chamber was lifted, and through the screen, Granny Shi also sat up by the bed and looked over.
"Ninth Princess Consort, what are you doing?" Lan Qing Qing asked, feigning ignorance.
Gu Qian Ying looked at her and smiled disdainfully, remaining silent.
Lan Qing Qing's expression froze.
Cai Xia, standing beside Gu Qian Ying, then said loudly, "This maidservant defied her superiors and offended the Princess Consort. She deserves to be beaten to death!"
Lan Qing Qing glanced at Gu Qian Ying. Seeing her still looking at her with an attitude that disregarded everyone, her anger surged. However, she smiled and spoke for Zhu Ye, "She's just a servant who misspoke. Why must the Princess Consort be so cruel?"
She was merely a lowly servant; how could she care about her life? The reason she said this was merely to brand Gu Qian Ying with the "reputation" of being cruel.
"Hmm, indeed, she's just a servant who misspoke. Why should this Princess Consort bother with such trivial matters, right, Miss Lan...?"
Gu Qian Ying's words implied a deeper meaning.
Lan Qing Qing clenched her handkerchief tightly.
Gu Qian Ying, that bitch, was not referring to Zhu Ye, but to her!
"Cai Xia, this Princess Consort is tired."
Cai Xia understood immediately and quickly brought a chair for Gu Qian Ying.
Gu Qian Ying waved her sleeve and sat down. The two guards remained at the door. Gu Qian Ying beckoned them. One of the guards, as if possessed, dragged the nearly fainting Zhu Ye in front of Gu Qian Ying and released her.
Gu Qian Ying raised her leg and pressed down on Zhu Ye's back with her foot.
Zhu Ye, her face pressed against the ground, cried softly.
Gu Qian Ying used her internal energy, pressing down with her foot.
Zhu Ye, who had been crying moments before, immediately spat out blood and lost her breath.
The guard closest to Gu Qian Ying swallowed and was terrified.
He had never seen a woman so cruel.
At this moment, Lan Qing Qing was also stunned for a moment. She had not expected Gu Qian Ying to kill someone on the spot.
Gu Qian Ying's move had truly slapped her in the face!
"Ninth Princess Consort, you..." Lan Qing Qing was about to speak when an angry voice suddenly interrupted her, "How dare you be so... presumptuous in... my presence? Guards, seize the Ninth Princess Consort and administer the family law!"
The angry voice was intermittent. Although the words were domineering and thunderous, the voice of the speaker revealed a hint of powerlessness.
Gu Qian Ying looked inside through the screen. The figure beyond the screen was blurry, but she could see that the person had not gotten out of bed.
She understood in her heart that this person was likely Nangong Mo's wet nurse, Granny Shi.
Two old women, who obeyed Granny Shi, walked in. One of them held a long whip, its surface covered with dense fine needles.
The guard closest to Gu Qian Ying immediately moved aside upon seeing this.
Granny Shi held considerable power in the mansion, and no one dared to offend her, including him. He preferred to protect himself rather than provoke anyone from the Blue Stream Pavilion.
At this moment, Cai Xia stood beside Gu Qian Ying, shielding her. Just as she was about to intercede for the Princess Consort, Gu Qian Ying gently pushed her away.
"Cai Xia, this Princess Consort is truly a bit confused. Does this mansion's wet nurse have more authority than the Princess Consort? Has your Prince not dealt with such absurd matters?"
Although Gu Qian Ying asked Cai Xia, everyone present understood the sarcasm in Gu Qian Ying's words.
Cai Xia dared not answer immediately. Before the Princess Consort arrived, besides the Prince, Granny Shi held the greatest power in the mansion.
She dared not offend her openly, but she also did not wish for the Princess Consort to suffer a loss.
After a moment of silence, her scales ultimately tipped towards their Princess Consort.
"When we came, the Prince told you, Princess Consort, that from the moment you entered the mansion, the front and back courtyards were all yours to command."
As she spoke, Gu Qian Ying inadvertently revealed the black beast-faced jade token that Steward Qi had given her when he came. Cai Xia immediately held it high for everyone to see, and then quickly said, "Oh dear, Princess Consort, you're about to drop your things."
Gu Qian Ying said, "Oh," and put it away.
At this moment, the two old women who had been about to pounce on Gu Qian Ying dared not move forward.
They secretly glanced at Lan Qing Qing, wanting to ask what to do now.
But Lan Qing Qing was too preoccupied to pay attention to them. She stared intently at Gu Qian Ying, wishing she could cut her into a thousand pieces.
Why! And for what reason!
That was the black beast-faced jade token, a symbol of control over financial power. Whoever possessed it was the master with the greatest authority in the mansion, second only to the Prince.
Why did Nangong Mo give this item to that bitch Gu Qian Ying, why!
And why did she deserve to possess this item!
How could she be worthy!
Of course, this item alone did not prove anything. It was plausible that the Prince might have lost something belonging to him carelessly.
"Ninth Princess Consort, Qing Qing knows that you slept with the Prince all night and are familiar with the items he carries. But even so, you cannot have stolen such an important item from the Prince's side!"
Lan Qing Qing twisted the truth.
"Why are you all standing there foolishly? Cough, cough, cough... Aren't you going to... cough, cough, cough... seize the thief, administer the family law, and then... hand her over to the Prince for disposal."
Granny Shi seized the opportunity. Amidst her heavy coughs, she intended to punish Gu Qian Ying on the spot.
The two old women present, upon receiving Granny Shi's order, rolled up their sleeves. One lunged at Gu Qian Ying, while the other, holding the long whip, fiercely lashed out at Gu Qian Ying...