Chapter Ten: The One Being Hit Isn't Me

“What are you standing there for? Hurry up and come over!” The mocking voice sounded again, seeing Hua Rong frozen in place.

“Well, sooner or later I’ll die anyway!” Gritting her teeth, Hua Rong took a deep breath, then marched forward with resolute steps as if heading to the battlefield, ready to meet her fate.

The others were clever enough to step aside, forming a path as if preparing a farewell scene for her impending doom.

When she reached the side of the dragon bed, Hua Rong’s face was even paler than Jun Yeli’s, trembling as she glanced at him, “Your Majesty, are you all right?”

“If a knife were stabbed into you, would you be unharmed?” The sarcastic reply left Hua Rong speechless, while those around enjoyed the spectacle.

“Hmph, that vixen is always seducing the Emperor—now she’s getting her just deserts!”

These were the jeering voices Hua Rong imagined behind her, and they were not far from reality.

“My God, what exactly did I do wrong?”

She had tried every way to survive, yet now, because the Emperor had saved her, she was about to be executed for no reason—wasn’t this a bit much?

“No, I can’t die so aggrieved!” If she was doomed to such bad luck, it would have been better to compete for the Emperor’s favor, enjoy riches for a while, and then be torn apart by those women in style.

In her panic, Hua Rong suddenly fell to her knees before the bed, hands pressed to the floor, knocking her head in terror, “Your Majesty, your concubine knows her mistake, please spare me!”

No matter what, she could not die today.

Behind her, faces were varied and every expression carried a hint of schadenfreude.

Only Jun Yeli, lying on the bed, his complexion pale, looked at the trembling Hua Rong and couldn’t help but smile faintly, suddenly asking, “What mistake did you make?”

“This…” Hua Rong felt as if someone had gripped her throat, unable to speak.

How was she supposed to know what her mistake was?

There was an assassin at her residence in the middle of the night—it was her who was attacked, her who was nearly killed, and now, her who was to be executed!

The more she thought, the more wronged she felt, but she had to say something, otherwise there would be no escape.

Her mind raced, and then suddenly she blurted out in terror, “Your Majesty, my mistake is that when the assassin tried to kill me, I didn’t run straight into the knife, and so your sense of justice caused you to be injured instead!”

Even if it was just an excuse, it seemed as if a flock of birds flew overhead, and the atmosphere turned awkward and silent once more.

Jun Yeli’s expression darkened slightly, tilting his head to glance at her, “So, you mean I meddled and saved you for nothing?”

“No! Yes!” Hua Rong choked for a long moment before forcing out a few words, “Your concubine means that, as the Emperor’s consort, not only did I fail to serve Your Majesty well, but I also caused you to be injured because of me. I feel deep guilt—this is a grave mistake! Please, Your Majesty, show mercy for my willingness to admit and correct my fault, and punish me lightly!”

Her words were forceful and dignified, but the group of women behind her took it as an opportunity for more drama, “Your Majesty, Lady Rong committed such a grave error and caused you harm—if this is let go lightly, how will you command respect?”

“You! If you don’t speak, no one will think you’re mute!”

Hua Rong turned, shooting a sharp look at the speaker, feeling the urge to stuff something into her mouth.

She glanced anxiously at Jun Yeli, afraid his judgment would be swayed.

Jun Yeli nodded thoughtfully, his attitude unclear, but instead fixed his gaze on the concubine who had spoken earlier, “Lady Jia, you spoke against your superior—how do you think this should be handled?”

Lady Jia was momentarily stunned—was this about the same matter?

Regardless, she pressed on, intending to target Hua Rong, “Your Majesty, according to the law, it should be twenty slaps. But since Lady Rong is a consort and knowingly broke the law, twenty is not enough—it should be one hundred!”

Hearing this, Hua Rong’s face changed drastically—there was no way out. Instinctively, she pressed her hands to her face, “Oh heavens, after a hundred slaps, I’ll look like a pig’s head!”

Her beautiful face was envied throughout the palace, and though it had brought her trouble, everyone loves beauty—she couldn’t sacrifice her looks.

Jun Yeli nodded, “Makes sense.”

“No, Your Majesty, please don’t act rashly. We can negotiate—maybe a little less?” At this moment, Hua Rong felt utterly desperate, trying to bargain.

Before she traveled here, she’d spent over ten years honing her bargaining skills—maybe now was the time to use them, however inappropriate.

But as soon as she finished speaking, Jun Yeli suddenly ordered, “Guards, Lady Jia has defied her superior and interrupted my conversation with Lady Rong—take her out and give her one hundred slaps!”

His command echoed in every ear, and Lady Jia was stunned, “Wasn’t the punishment for Lady Rong? What does Chen Qian have to do with this—I only—!”

Before she could finish, both she and her voice were dragged away by the guards, vanishing completely.

Those waiting to watch the drama were dumbfounded; even Hua Rong, who’d been trembling moments earlier, was stunned.

“Unexpectedly, I’m not the one being punished?”

She’d thought the Emperor’s injury would surely bring disaster upon her, but instead, not only did she avoid punishment, she even dragged down a meddlesome rival—how amusing!

Just as she was celebrating, Jun Yeli spoke again, “The rest of you, leave now.”

Hearing this, Hua Rong felt a weight lift from her shoulders, and she hurriedly prepared to rise from the floor, but suddenly, a cold voice interrupted, “Longfei, stay. The matter between you and me is far from over.”

The words made Hua Rong freeze instantly—there was definitely more to this!

“I thought you were reasonable, that you’d be released for stepping forward bravely. But now, this was just an appetizer—are you planning to deal with me more seriously?”

Hua Rong felt her heart pounding anxiously.

Though the group behind her was reluctant, with Lady Jia’s fate as a warning, they quietly withdrew.