The empress is both charming and seductive, rising through the ranks of palace intrigue.

After leaving Fengqi Palace, on their way back to the palace, Consort Xue looked around and whispered, "Consort Cheng is really bold, publicly contradicting Consort Rong."

Ning Shuyan smiled faintly: "The Cheng family has been military officers for generations. I suppose Lady Cheng's personality is just like her father's."

But often, those who wear their hearts on their sleeves are the least guarded against, while those who appear calm and gentle are the ones whose thoughts are hard to fathom. There's a saying: a barking dog doesn't bite! Those who seem honest and unassuming are the ones you should be most wary of.

Lady Xue smoothed a stray hair at her temple and chuckled softly, "Anyway, I should be as calm as my sister; we can't learn to be arrogant and domineering."

Hearing this, Ning Shuyan knew that Xue Yunu was intentionally trying to get closer to her, but she just smiled and remained silent. She didn't believe that Xue Yunu was genuinely trying to be friendly with her because she liked her.

"You are a beauty, yet you dare to walk in front of me. If I don't teach you a lesson, you will only become more arrogant and unruly."

The furious words reached Ning Shuyan's ears. She turned her head and saw that not far away, Consort Cheng was being forced to kneel on the ground by Consort Rong's maid, while Consort Rong was furious and her eyebrows were raised in anger.

Indeed, she couldn't vent her anger at Fengqi Palace earlier, so how could she let it go now that she had her braid pulled? Where would her authority be then? Wouldn't others say that one of the four concubines couldn't even handle a mere beauty?

Ning Shuyan didn't want to get involved in this mess and immediately tried to pretend she couldn't see it and leave, but unexpectedly Consort Rong, with her sharp eyes, suddenly called out, "Consort Ning."

Ning Shuyan had no choice but to step forward with a smile, followed by the imperial maid beside her. She bowed respectfully.

Ning Shuyan suddenly noticed that Cheng Meiren's maid had slipped away silently while she and Xue Yunu were bowing.

He wondered if the palace maid was going to Fengqi Palace to invite the Empress or the Emperor.

The golden sunlight shone on the gold-threaded, openwork pearl hairpin in Consort Rong's hair, making it shimmer and sparkle. But against the backdrop of her gloomy face, it gave off a cold gleam. She said coldly, "Consort Ning, you've come at just the right time. I was just about to slap Consort Cheng, but I didn't expect to get my hands dirty. It's you who's here. You'll have to do my work for me."

Ning Shuyan frowned slightly. She could have easily let the palace maid slap her, but instead, she was being asked to do it for her. It was simply a ploy to make her an enemy of Consort Cheng.

From the first look in Consort Rong's eyes, she knew that Consort Rong already saw her as a thorn in her side. Now, watching the two people she hated fight each other, she was undoubtedly satisfied.

How could Ning Shuyan have fallen into her trap? What would happen if the Emperor came and saw this later?

She knelt down in great fear and said, "Your Majesty, I am only a concubine, lower in rank than Consort Cheng. I am of lowly status and dare not trouble Your Highness Rong."

Consort Rong's beautiful, arched eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she said coldly, "This is my order. Do it now."

Consort Cheng showed no fear, raising her face and saying, "Your Highness Consort Rong may strike me today, but if the Emperor finds out, has Your Highness Consort Rong considered the consequences for you?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Rong's gaze suddenly sharpened like a sword, as if she wanted to slash Consort Rong's face. She was stunned with anger and said, "You think you can stop me from doing this just because you've brought up the Emperor? When I was favored, you were still a child! Pei'er, give her a good slap!"

Pei'er smiled sinisterly and said, "Yes."

After saying that, she raised her hand high and slapped Cheng Meiren across the face.

Consort Cheng's skin was already delicate and fair, but her face immediately turned bright red. Consort Cheng was in so much pain that she couldn't even speak, only glaring fiercely at Consort Rong as if she wanted to devour her.

Xue Yunu was terrified, afraid that making a sound would implicate her. She stood behind Ning Shuyan, not daring to move an inch.

Ning Shuyan then spoke up, "Your Highness Consort Rong, Consort Cheng is a newcomer to the palace and does not know proper etiquette. Moreover, if she continues to be hit, her face will be ruined. I beg Your Highness Consort Rong to forgive Consort Cheng this time."

She didn't genuinely want to plead for her, but she had to!

Consort Rong's stiff face relaxed slightly when she saw the bright red blood at the corner of Consort Cheng's mouth, as if seeing her in such a wretched state was the only way to vent her anger.

"Enough. I'm magnanimous and won't hold it against you today. But next time you speak to me, you'd better be more polite."

The May sun was quite hot after a while, and Consort Rong shielded her forehead from the sunlight with her hand. At this moment, her beautiful face contrasted sharply with that of Consort Cheng kneeling on the ground.

Cheng Meiren's hair was disheveled, her cheeks were swollen, and the bloodstains at the corners of her mouth were extremely shocking.

Cheng Meiren gritted her teeth, tears welling in her eyes, her gaze fixed on the ground, ignoring her.

As Consort Rong was leaving, she noticed Ning Shuyan kneeling to the side and said indifferently, "Since Consort Ning doesn't dare to slap Consort Cheng herself, then you will stay here and supervise her kneeling for an hour. When the time is up, you two can return to the palace."

With a triumphant smile on her lips, she helped Pei'er walk away arrogantly.

Xue Yunu let out a deep breath and said softly, "Sister Ning, I'll be going now..."

Ning Shuyan nodded, then stood up and looked at Cheng Meiren, saying, "Stand up for a while."

Consort Cheng glanced at her disdainfully, but then felt wronged, tears welling up in her eyes: "I have never suffered such humiliation at home. Consort Rong, she is truly domineering."

Ning Shuyan thought to herself: You two have similar personalities.

Just then, a group of palace maids passed by and couldn't help but look in their direction. Consort Cheng, who was a woman who loved beauty, knew that she looked quite ugly at this moment, so she covered her face and shouted, "What are you looking at? Be careful or I'll send you to the laundry department."

The palace maids quickly lowered their heads and hurried away.

Ning Shuyan thought to herself, "She's really impatient. Even in this state, she still can't hold back her words."

She took out a handkerchief and covered the area below the woman's eyes, gently tying it in a knot at the back of her head. She said softly, "Women always cherish their appearance. When you get home, apply an ice pack and then the medicine."

Cheng Meiren pouted and gave a soft snort: "Don't think that just because you're like this I don't dislike you."

Ning Shuyan had a faint smile on her lips. If it weren't for the Emperor's impending arrival, no one would bother with you.

Sure enough, when Cheng Meiren saw something, her eyes lit up and large tears rolled down her cheeks. She quickly got up.

Ning Shuyan turned her head and saw that it was indeed Xiao Yu who had arrived.

Consort Cheng rushed to Xiao Yu's side, hugged him, and cried, "Your Majesty, I have no face to see you."

The voice was extremely soft and delicate, yet tinged with grievance. Indeed, even the most strong-willed woman softens in front of her "husband."