"My goodness, the sun outside is really scorching. On my way here, even with an umbrella, I was almost roasted. Lady Li is truly ruthless; she even punished Han Guiren by making her stand under the sun. Alas."
Noble Lady Ying sighed deeply, her words all pointed at Li Yuyu’s accusations.
Li Yuyu simply smiled without speaking.
"Lady Li, what you’ve done is indeed inappropriate. Punishing a maidservant is one thing, but Han Guiren is also the Emperor’s concubine. Even though her rank isn’t as high as yours, you can’t punish her so harshly. What if something tragic happens?"
Princess Consort De spoke gently.
She knew well that if she severely reprimanded Li Yuyu, the Emperor would certainly be displeased. Speaking in such a manner wouldn’t easily give the Emperor another reason to criticize her.
She had been scolded harshly by the Emperor due to the incident with Beauty Zhou last time, losing all prestige. This time, she was eager to regain her authority in the harem through this matter.
Li Yuyu: ...
She had made Han Guiren stand for half an hour, but she never said Han Guiren should stand until she fainted.
An hour. She didn’t forbid movement. The surroundings were shaded, how could there be heatstroke? Considering the time, Han Guiren had been standing for nearly three hours.
Li Yuyu certainly didn’t want to take the blame.
"When was Han Guiren carried back to Zilan Pavilion?" Li Yuyu didn’t heed Princess Consort De’s words, instead opting to take the initiative.
"To respond to Lady Li, it was around 3:00 PM." Feng Yin replied loudly.
Li Yuyu chuckled lightly: "That’s really strange. When I encountered Han Guiren, it wasn’t yet 1:00 PM, and I only punished her for half an hour. How could it be that she wasn’t carried back to Zilan Pavilion until 3:00 PM? Did Han Guiren faint in the garden and only be discovered at 3:00 PM?"
"Han Guiren, can you help me unravel this mystery?"
Han Guiren lifted her gaze, showing no sign of panic or disarray on her face. She spoke warmly: "Lady Li, I only mentioned that you punished me for half an hour; I didn’t say anything else. Why are you explaining the time issue in such detail?"
"Perhaps I fainted at 3:00 PM, or maybe not. I came back without consciousness; it was the people around me who informed me of what happened, and I answered Princess Consort De truthfully. Wasn’t I?"
Han Guiren’s voice was gentle, her enunciation clear, narrating calmly and steadily.
This direct countering attitude was entirely different from her past self.
Li Yuyu raised her eyebrow and smiled.
"I suddenly realize, Han Guiren has changed quite a bit."
"Yes, after repeatedly being misunderstood and humiliated, anyone would change. I just want to live my life well; I don’t have any desire to vie for anything. But when some people insist on seeing me as a thorn in their side, I have no choice but to..."
Han Guiren smiled at Li Yuyu in response: "Pick up my weapon and fight back."
Interesting.
Misunderstanding, humiliation—is that referring to her?
Li Yuyu flicked the folding fan in her hand, disregarding Han Guiren’s declaration of war, and turned to Yan Xiu with a sweet smile: "Emperor, don’t you think Han Guiren deserves some consolation for her grievance?"
Yan Xiu, who had been lost in thought while hearing the confrontation between the two, was pulled back to reality by Li Yuyu’s words.
"My beloved concubine speaks truly."
Yan Xiu, following Li Yuyu’s lead, replied while his deep gaze fell upon Shen Quan’s face.
Shen Quan: ...
Dear ancestor, at this moment you were distracted and didn’t hear what Lady Li was saying. Isn’t this inviting trouble... Argh, not to mention it could get you in a bind... Ugh! What’s the use of thinking about this, better think of how to relay what Lady Li said to the Emperor.
"How does the Emperor think it should be made right?" Li Yuyu didn’t overlook Yan Xiu’s glance at Shen Quan, instantly realizing something, and asked softly.
Yan Xiu: ? Compensate what?
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Released on November 17; updates will be at midnight thereafter.
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