MCSCPM -Chapter 246 Spare Her

The news of Prince Jing being assassinated did not spread. Elsewhere, in the Consort’s Palace.

At this moment, the side hall was extremely quiet, so quiet that only uneven breathing could be heard.

Lan Rao sat in the seat of honor, her expression cold as she stared at Lian’er, who was kneeling on the ground. Lian’er kept her head lowered tightly. Her face had already been slapped several times, yet she dared not cry out. She bit her lip hard, so hard that it was about to bleed.

Lan Rao suddenly stood up and walked over to her. Her vicious gaze fell upon Lian’er.
“How many times have I told you to take good care of Miss Yin? Yet you let her hand get injured. Do you know that even if I were to break both of your hands, it still wouldn’t vent my anger?”

“Your Highness, Lian’er knows she was wrong. I won’t dare again. I really won’t dare next time.”

“Next time? There’s still a next time?”

“No, no, that’s not what this servant meant. Your Highness, spare my life, please spare my life!” Lian’er cried as she kowtowed repeatedly, her forehead hitting the ground until it bled.

Lan Rao snorted.
“I have repeatedly told you that Miss Yin is a distinguished guest invited by this consort. If she so much as suffers the slightest injury, I will take your lives. Is it that you didn’t take my words to heart, or that you didn’t listen at all?”

“That’s not it. This servant has done her utmost to take care of Miss Yin. I truly didn’t dare be negligent in the slightest. Please see clearly, Your Highness, please spare my life. I will never do it again.” Lian’er’s whole body trembled, even her voice shaking.

Lan Rao suddenly lifted her foot and kicked Lian’er hard on the shoulder, sending her sprawling to the ground.

“You wretched slave, you still dare beg this consort to spare you? You really don’t know your place. Someone, slap her.”

“Yes.”

Several palace maids stepped forward and held Lian’er in place, while one maid raised her hand and struck.

“This servant truly knows she was wrong.”

A slap landed, followed by several more in succession, until blood flowed from the corner of Lian’er’s mouth. Yet before each slap fell, she would still say, “This servant knows she was wrong.”

Lan Rao turned away, unwilling to look at the scene. Even just hearing Lian’er’s pleas for mercy was more than she could bear.

“That’s enough, that’s enough. Stop.” Lan Rao raised her hand and glanced sideways at Lian’er, whose mouth was bleeding. “Today I’ll spare you. If you offend again, this consort will not leave you alive. Take her away.”

“Th… thank you, Your Highness.” Being beaten and still having to say thank you—perhaps only the palace had such rules.

Lan Rao was the woman in the palace who valued rules the most. Anyone who made a mistake would be punished by her, let alone this time, when Yin Qingyue had been injured. The fact that she didn’t take Lian’er’s life already counted as mercy.

That evening, Yin Qingyue did not see Lian’er. Lan Rao sent a maid named Xiao Ning to attend her instead.

“Xiao Ning, why don’t I see Lian’er? Where is she?” Yin Qingyue asked.

Xiao Ning was pouring tea. At the question, the teacup in her hands clinked repeatedly. Her face was full of guilt, but fortunately she had her back to Yin Qingyue, so it wasn’t noticed.

“Replying to Miss Yin, Her Highness sent Lian’er to work elsewhere. These few days, this servant will come to attend you.”

“Where did she go? Why did the Consort suddenly transfer her elsewhere?”

“Th… this servant doesn’t know.” Xiao Ning felt as if her heart were about to jump out.

Yin Qingyue wasn’t foolish. Even if she couldn’t guess everything, she had guessed most of it. While Xiao Ning brought the tea over, Yin Qingyue grabbed her trembling hand and asked sternly, “Where did she go exactly? If you still won’t tell me, I’ll go tell the Consort that you’ve been negligent toward me.”

“No! Miss Yin, I beg you, please don’t tell the Consort. Otherwise, this servant will die.”

“Then tell me quickly.”

Xiao Ning suddenly knelt on the ground, knocking her head hard as she cried, “Miss Yin, please don’t force me. This servant doesn’t dare say it. I truly don’t dare!”

Yin Qingyue sighed and stood up, touching her injured fingertip. She shook her head helplessly.
“Alright, I won’t force you anymore. Get up.”

“Thank you, Miss Yin. Thank you, Miss Yin.”

Yin Qingyue turned and went straight out the door, heading for Lan Rao’s residence. The palace maids outside became extremely cautious when they saw her, afraid of making any mistake and being scolded or beaten by their mistress, so they all behaved very properly and saluted her.

“No need. I’m not your mistress.” She tossed out that sentence and hurried inside.

At that moment, Lan Rao was drinking tea. When she saw Yin Qingyue arrive, she warmly set the teacup down and smiled. “Qingyue? Why are you here? Have you rested well?”

Yin Qingyue stepped forward, raised her injured hand, and spoke very earnestly. “Your Highness, Qingyue hurt her hand herself. I accidentally cut it while picking up broken pieces. It has nothing to do with anyone else. I hope Your Highness will not pursue anyone over this.”

“Qingyue?” Lan Rao seemed startled. She slowly stood up, looking puzzled. “What are you talking about? This consort doesn’t understand at all. And what happened to your hand?”

Lan Rao suddenly took Yin Qingyue’s hand and looked at the bandage wrapped around her finger. She deliberately put on a shocked expression and said with distress, “Heavens, Qingyue, what happened to your hand? How did it become like this? Who injured you? Tell this consort—I will severely punish them.”

“Your Highness, ever since I entered the palace, you’ve been the one taking care of me. Qingyue is truly grateful. I thought Your Highness had a compassionate heart, but why won’t you even spare a small palace maid?” Yin Qingyue’s tone was forceful, each word bitten down hard.

Lan Rao knew she couldn’t hide it anymore. Her heart jolted, and she seemed to regret having punished Lian’er so severely. For a moment, her words stuck.

Yin Qingyue continued, “Your Highness, please spare Lian’er. She did nothing wrong.”

“A mere servant—is she worth you doing this?”

“In Qingyue’s heart, Lian’er is not a servant.”

“Qingyue, this is the imperial palace. Do you know that mistakes cannot be tolerated here? Everything must follow the rules. When servants make mistakes, they must be beaten; when they say the wrong things, they must be punished. This is something no one can change.” Lan Rao’s words were firm and left no room for argument.

At this moment, Yin Qingyue wished she could cast aside all the palace rules, but for Lian’er’s sake, she couldn’t rebel.

“Your Highness, then could you please, for my sake, spare Lian’er? I injured my hand myself. I beg Your Highness to show mercy and let her go.”

“Spare her?” Lan Rao suddenly smiled. It was hard to tell whether she was mocking or laughing at herself. “I didn’t expect you to be so kind-hearted. Actually, this consort isn’t heartless either. It’s not that I must kill her. Since you’ve said so much, what else can I say?”

“I’ll spare her. But if there’s a next time, I won’t be lenient.” At this point, Lan Rao’s tone softened.

Though her words sounded like a concession, there was still a warning in them. Since she had already relented, Yin Qingyue could say no more.

“Thank you, Your Highness, for no longer pursuing this. I thank you on Lian’er’s behalf.”

“Alright. Your hand is injured. I’ll have the imperial physician come take a look.”

“No need. This small injury—I can handle it myself.”

Only then did Lan Rao react. “Look at my head—you’re a divine physician yourself. Which imperial physician in this palace could compare to you? Still, if you need anything, just have them do it for you, understand?”

“Yes. Qingyue thanks Your Highness for your concern. Then I’ll take my leave and won’t disturb you further.” After paying her respects, Yin Qingyue quickly left.

But Lan Rao felt uneasy—had she left a bad impression in Yin Qingyue’s heart? No, absolutely not.

“Someone, release Lian’er. Have the imperial physician examine her first, then let her continue serving Miss Yin.”

The palace maids exchanged glances, not daring to say much. One spoke hesitantly, “Your Highness, Lian’er’s… her face is covered in injuries. If she goes to serve Miss Yin, wouldn’t that be… inappropriate?”

“Never mind. Go summon the imperial physician to see her.”

“Yes. This servant will go right away.”

When Yin Qingyue returned to her room, she dismissed Xiao Ning. By the time night fell, Lian’er finally arrived. Yin Qingyue quickly pulled her into the room, but Lian’er kept her head lowered and swiftly pulled her hand back.

“Miss Yin, Lian’er is a servant. You are the mistress. Please don’t do this.” Lian’er’s voice was full of fear.

“Lian’er, lift your head,” Yin Qingyue ordered.

Lian’er shook her head vigorously, not daring to look up.

Yin Qingyue reached out, hooked a finger under her chin, and lifted her head in one motion. Fresh, burning palm prints were left on her face, red and already turning purple.

At that moment, Yin Qingyue’s heart ached unbearably. Tears welled up in her eyes. The Consort had really taken things too far.

“Miss Yin, Lian’er is fine. It doesn’t hurt at all, really.” Lian’er wiped her eyes, not wanting the tears to fall.

“How could it not hurt?”

“It really doesn’t hurt. Miss Yin cares so much about this servant—this servant is happy beyond words. How could it still hurt?” Lian’er said through sobs.

Yin Qingyue was furious, yet she had to restrain herself. Because of her, Lian’er had been punished—she couldn’t bear it, yet she couldn’t stand up for her openly. She could only ask carefully, “Did you apply medicine?”

“I did. The Consort had the imperial physician examine me.” She suddenly raised her eyes and said earnestly, “Miss Yin, you mustn’t blame the Consort. It was truly this servant who failed to take good care of you. The Consort was right to discipline me. At least this time she spared my life and even summoned the imperial physician.”

Lian’er had ended up like this and was still speaking up for Consort Lan. How could the girl know that it was only because Yin Qingyue had gone to the Consort and spoken many good words that she had been spared?

Yin Qingyue didn’t want to expose it. She smiled and nodded.
“I don’t blame the Consort. She follows the palace rules—that’s not wrong. It’s just that this time, I caused you trouble.”

“No, it was truly Lian’er’s fault. Miss Yin, how is the injury on your hand? Let this servant take a look.” As she spoke, she pulled Yin Qingyue to sit down and carefully examined her finger. Seeing that it was already fine, she finally felt relieved. “As long as it’s not bleeding, that’s good. Apply the medicine for another couple of days and it’ll heal.”

“Lian’er, do you know medicine too?”

“This servant doesn’t. Compared to Miss Yin, I’m nothing at all. But Lian’er really likes it. Studying medicine can save people. If I had known even a little, my mother wouldn’t have died of illness back then.”

Tears filled Lian’er’s eyes, and her voice trembled slightly.

Yin Qingyue reached out and gently patted her head, comforting her.
“Lian’er, if there’s a chance in the future, I’ll teach you medicine.”

“Really?”

“When have I ever lied to you?”